Chapter- 5

Chapter- 5

Days passed one after the other. She doesn't know how these three days passed so fast just like how she wished. She can’t deny the fact that she thought about Nick in the past three days. Like an alarm clock, his thoughts will pop out every now and then. She wanted to know when exactly he will return, but her ego doesn’t allow her to ask anyone. 

But today, he might have returned from his trip and will be in his class now. With this thought, she walked by the side of his class after meeting her class tutor. 

When she was looking for him, standing beside the window, Magnus noticed her and came out thinking she’s here for him.

This is the last day of their school and the vacation starts from tomorrow, she thought at least today Nick will be here but to her dismay, he’s not in the class. And she doesn’t know when she will meet him again. 

“Hey, Nat. Why are you standing here? You could have given me a call,” he says.

Naomi smiles in pretense, “I just came out after meeting my tutor and thought whether you are inside the class?” she lies. 

“Oh,” Magnus smiles, “Good that you came. Let’s have lunch together,” he says and Naomi happily accepts as they are going out for lunch together after a long time without Nick.

They sat at the middle table after getting their food and every girl in that cafeteria noticed Magnus and Naomi noticed that. Having a charming brother is kind of cool too, especially, he looks smart in this boring school uniform. She hates this uniform and she badly wants to finish school because of this. 

Naomi also saw Lisa there with her friends, she quickly took a glance at Magnus and he noted her too. 

“Do you know when Dad will return?” Naomi asks, getting his attention. 

“Tomorrow, I guess,” he says.

“Oh. I really miss Italy, we should go there again, Magnus,” Naomi says remembering the trip last year. It was one of the wonderful experiences of her life. 

“Yes, I will ask dad. Maybe we can go this year,” Magnus smiles. 

“Do you know why Uncle Dan and Dylan and... even Nick went with him?” Naomi finally gave up and asked that one question that bothered her the most. 

And his reply is simple as always, “I don’t know, it’s just an important business and they all needed to go.” 

He didn’t look at Naomi while saying that, and she could sense that he’s trying to avoid this topic. 

“How was your exam, Nat?” He changed the topic.

“It went fine,” she answers munching the food. 

“Nat, can I ask you something?”

“Yes,”

“What do you think about your classmate, Lisa?” 

Naomi looked at him and wondered why lately, everyone turned so curious about Lisa? 

“Yes, Lisa. I am not close with her Magnus. Just talked with her one or two times,” she says. 

“Why do you want to know about Lisa?” She asks. 

“It’s nothing,” Magnus suddenly turned off the hype. 

“Come on, you have to tell me,” she asks with a smile.

“Fine, but don’t tell this to anyone,” he warns.

“Sure, I won’t,” 

“I like that girl and I am going to ask her out for a date,” Magnus blurts out.

“Wow, Magnus,” Naomi smiles, yet wondering whether Nick knew about this because he seemed to be interested in her too, and if not this could turn into a possible love triangle. 

“Is she single?” he asks.

“Yes, I guess,” 

“I don’t know, I am confused about how she will react,” Magnus's voice slightly showed his worry. 

“I think she likes you,” Naomi says, gazing back at Lisa who’s looking at them and she smiles back at her when Lisa smiles at her. This gaze and smile are enough to believe that Lisa is having a crush on her brother. 

“That’s what I am saying. In the past six months, this girl was there wherever I went. My friends and I have seen her at the playground during all my practice days and she never missed my matches,” he says. 

Naomi was surprised to hear that. 

“I don’t even know that Jorge only said to me,” Magnus says.

“Why didn't he tell me anything?” she frowns. 

“Because, I asked him not to tell anyone,” he reasons. 

“Why?”

“I don’t want mom and dad to know about this,” he says.

“Okay,” Naomi nods. Before she could ask Nick’s knowledge about this matter, her brothers and cousins came to the cafeteria. Naomi guessed they might have searched for her all this time because they all used to eat lunch together.

They filled the empty seats beside them. Julia occupied the seat next to Jorge and Derek sat next to Naomi. 

The students there took a moment to look at this group before continuing their lunch. 

Naomi feels that they are a separate gang in this school, and others think of them as someone they can’t make a friendship with. Their father’s strict rules and their bonding does not allow anyone inside their group. Yet, Magnus managed to make a few friends who were his football teammates. 

Things started getting weird, when Julia kept staring at Jorge, No one finds that odd except Naomi because she knows the truth. Jorge on the other hand, busy talking to Magnus and Leon. She tried her best level not to look at Derek but in the end, she gave up and turned to him to find him already gazing at her. He gave her a smile and Naomi smiled but she knew this was too weird. 

God only knows how long he has been staring at her like that and what’s going on in his mind.

She couldn't comprehend the thought that Derek is having a crush on her. It could just be a mere guess but ever since she heard that from Julia, she kept thinking about it and all those times when they were together. 

Why have I never noticed that? She thought.

As Julia said, Derek was there with her almost all the time. He’s her partner in quiz competitions and in all the clubs in which she has enrolled.

She always thought of him as her best friend but this sudden change is hard to handle and she can’t help but see him in doubt. 

Why are you so confused when you don’t even know the truth? Naomi said to herself and came out of her thoughts.

During this Vacation, she will be the loneliest person in the home. All her brothers would go to their extracurricular practices and she would be surrounded only by the books. Her mom said, she will take her to all the places where she will usually go to calm her mind and her dad said that he will take her to the office during those boring times.

“Hey, I totally forgot this, there’s a party tomorrow at my friend’s home. Naomi, do you want to come with me and Jorge. Derek what about you?” Magnus asks.

Derek turns to Naomi as if he’s asking for permission and in the other way, urging her to say yes. 

“Okay, I will come and Naomi you should come too,” 

Naomi reluctantly agreed. “Can’t we come?” Leon asks. 

“No, it’s only for high schoolers, not for you guys. My friend told me not to bring any small kids,” Magnus teased.

Julia’s face frowned but she got her informer so she need not worry about anything. She looked at Naomi and she signaled that she will help her. 

Then after lunch, they all went to their respective classes. Naomi was accompanied by Jorge and Derek.

“So what’re your plans for this vacation?” Jorge asks Naomi. 

“You have to tell me,” Naomi replies. 

“We should all go hiking,” Derek says.

“Good idea,” Jorge smiles. 

“Naomi, you should come with us,” Derek says. 

“Of course, Derek. I will be there,” she answers. 

Hearing that Derek smiles in happiness. Even that normal smile looked weird to Naomi. 

Ugh, you ruined my mind, Julia, she thought sitting across her desk.