"Do anything stupid and you'll be doing the dishes for month". I threaten. She still doesn’t say anything, she just gives me a smile. "Listen to me I'm serious d..." Before I can even finish my statement she stands up and smothen the rumple on her skirt. I know she is going to do something quite mischievous but what I have no idea about is what she is really going to do. "What are you up to Andrea Ruebens". I hold her hand as she is trying to leave our table.She shrugs and pulls her hand away from my grasp. "Watch me". She walks away.I sigh, sit down and turn to watch her. My palms are getting sweaty. She is walking over where they are standing. She waves as she gets closer. From where I am sitting I can tell that she is exchanging greetings with them and then focuses on the stall owner and says something to him. I watch as the store owner goes in and comes out after a few minutes. He hands her a piece of paper and a pen. I stare visibly confused. 'What is she going to do with that?'. She turns and makes eye contact with me, then proceeds to write something on the paper. This definitely doesn't look good.I wipe my sweaty palms on a napkin, get up and walks over to where they stand. When I get there Rea turns and gives me a grin. "Oh you're here, I guess you've finally decided to give him the number yourself". I freeze, I was definitely not expecting this. She hands me the piece of paper. "Okay, I'll be at our table waiting for you alright". She gives me a hug and whispers. "Best of luck". I couldn't even get a word out and she leaves. I actually wish for the ground to open up and do it's 'thing'. "Hi". A soft masculine voice calls out to me. I look at him. Damnit, how is it possible that he's hotter than before. I drink in his masculine features for the second time today. "Hey man why don't we talk later". The blonde says and that is when I realized with quite a shock that I have been gawking. Why was the ground taking so much time. He gives me a smile, shakes his friend and left. Now it is just the two of us. I hadn't even responded to his greeting. I mentally face palm myself again for the second time today. "Hi, there". I say awkwardly giving him a small smile. "Sorry for taking the time to give you a response". I tuck in an invisible strand of hair. "It's okay, I'm actually flattered that you returned the favor". "Sorry?". What is he saying. "I meant that I'm glad and honored that you considered me a worthy sight too". He says and immediately I understand what he means. The color of the canteen we stood in front of suddenly looks interesting to me. I could feel my cheeks turn crimson and then I notice something. "Uhm weren't you wearing a bright blue shirt earlier how come you are in black now". I ask looking at his face. He's eyes are a beautiful shade of grey. He runs his hand through his black hair. "Well a mini disaster took place in my art class and I got stained". "Oh, sorry about that". I laugh softly. "Well I'd have love to stay and chat but I have to go to class, so are you going to give me that paper". He says playfully. I look at the paper in my hand, give a small smile and hand it over. My nervousness wearing away. "Alright, see you later. I promise to call".I nod with a smile on my face while in my insides I am jumping with joy. I turn and walk back to our table as I sit Andrea gives me a thumbs up and I know she wants details.
ANDREA’S POV
I groan as I slump on the couch. "I'm so so stressed out and famished". "So am I". Annalia says agreeing with me as she locks the door we came in through. The classes I had today were quite tiring I actually thought I was going to pass out before I'd get home. "Come on get up and go have a shower, you'll feel absolutely better after that". She says again and I reply with a grunt. She rolls her eyes and tugs my arm trying to get me off the couch but I don’t budge. I am so tired, right now I'm actually thanking God that today is Friday I'll definitely be able to sleep well and get a very good rest. "Okay that means you aren't hungry". She's indirectly threatening me with food who does that?.I give her a glare grumbling. "Fine, what ever you say mama". I literally drag myself off the couch and go into my room, strip my clothes and tie my towel. I go to the bathroom and turn on the shower, immediately the water hits my back I relax. Annalia was absolutely right the shower helped a lot. I get out of the bathroom and go back to my room to put on something comfy.
"Mmmhm, something definitely smells delicious". I say as I walk into the living room and sit on the seat behind the counter dividing the living room and the kitchen. "You feel better now don't you". Annalia says handing my food to me. I instantly get excited. "My favorite, spaghetti and meatballs. You spoil me too much Anna".She gives me a small smile and touches her chest dramatically. "I know right I'm the best". I laugh. "Of course you're". She grabs a plate of food and comes to sit beside me. "So are you going to the bonfire tonight". I ask as we eat. "Sure, I've been hearing about it since yesterday. I heard that it's really going to be fun. You'll go to right?". "Yeah I will . When we're done eating we'd prepare together". She gives me a nod.
I try stifling a chuckle but I cannot hold it anymore I burst out laughing. "We don't need to call the asylum do we?". Annalia asks giving me a funny look. "You know I still find it hard to believe that you didn't even ask for that guy's name, I mean you forgot to ask for his name. His name Anna, His name how could you even forget that". I say still laughing. "Ugh, please don't remind me. You know he didn't even ask for mine. I guess he was in a hurry to get to class. But then even though..." "Ah, come on Anna don't over think it. I shouldn't even have brought it up". "Nah, it's okay. I'm over it now and he still hasn't called so don't sweat it. Now give mama a big smile". She says with a wide grin. I return it.
"So have you decided on what you are going to wear". I ask Annalia from my bedroom still trying on my clothes. Our rooms weren't too apart so we're still able to hear one another. "Yeah I am, what do you think?". She comes into my room already dressed. She's wearing a ripped jean with a fitted halter-neck crochet top and she's holding a cardigan and her crocs. "Damn babe you're definitely going to turn heads". I say admiring her outfit. It's really true, Annalia is super beautiful and has a nice slim body with perfect curves and a caramel skin. Tonight she didn't tie her hair and you can see how curly her brown hair is. She just used pins to hold it back a little while she did a fringe in front. "I'm not the only one turning heads tonight". She smirks and motions for me to turn around. I did. I am wearing a black high waist jean short with pantyhose and a sleeveless top tucked in. "You think it's okay". I ask putting on my boots. "Yup, it's super cute. Come on sit let me help you with your braids". I sit down in front of my mirror and watched her as she did my braids. She did a beautiful fish tail braid and left a few strands in front. "You know, braiding your hair is one of my favorite things to do". She says smiling. I laugh.I have a straight black hair which goes pretty well with my fair skin. I stood up and grabbed my jacket off the bed. "Come on Anna, let's go". I say as I put my hand over her shoulder and walk out of the apartment.
The bonfire is being held in the school field. By the time we get there the party was already in full swing. Everyone is pretty much holding a drink and there's a large bonfire in the middle of the field. It lit up almost the whole field. The grasses around it were very low in order to prevent a fire. There's a soft pop song playing in the background. I look around as we walk, most people were either sitting or standing. I see a little makeshift bar and drag Annalia with me. "So what can I get you". The man behind the counter asks. "We'd like a mulled wine, non-alcoholic please". I answer. We take our drinks and walk over to the bonfire. I spot a grill not to far away and we walk over there. "Whoever organized this party must have really spent a lot". Annalia says as we get closer. The smell of grilled meat hits my nostrils. "I know right, I heard that it's some of the basketball players that are sponsoring the party. I wonder what they're celebrating". She just shrugs. "Uhm two beef kebab please". Annalia says to the man who's grilling the meat. Apparently this time around we're paying for it but the price isn't that high. "Do you need peppers and onion rings". He asks. "Yeah, put the onion and pepper in one stick and only onion in the other one". I say, I'm not really a fan of peppers. He hands us the kebab.Annalia brings up her wallet to pay but a hand from behind stops her. "Please let me pay for that in order to make up for last time". We turn and see the guy she bumped into few days earlier. From the corner of my eye I see that she's shocked, we never thought we'd bump into him again though.
"Uhm n-no don't worry about it, I'm just about to pay". Annalia says, looking at him.
"Please I insist".
“So where did Mari say we should meet her”. I ask as I catch up with Andrea outside the Engineering building after my last lecture for the day”. “She just texted me to call her when we get to the basketball court”. She answers and then asks, “Didn’t she send you a text?” “I guess so. I couldn't tell my battery is flat”. “You forgot to charge your phone?” “Yeah, I slept off while reading that book. So are we going to take a shuttle or we should walk?” “I would prefer a shuttle so that we can get there quicker”. I only nod and flag down an approaching shuttle.I tell the driver —who is an elderly man— our destination and he agrees to take us there. There are a few passengers in the shuttle too.I and Andrea enter and we sit at the last
ANNALIA’S POVI go into the bathroom to perform my nightly routines. Matteo and Adrian had already left a few minutes back.Matteo had told me that after waiting for a while without seeing us and also calling back Andrea trying to get through but it wasn't reachable, they had decided to come search for us.Levi and Mariquita wanted to join them too but because of Mariquita’s test tomorrow, they prevented her from doing so and sent her with Levi to his place so that she could get some shuteye.They had to go pick up Mariquita from his place first and then go home.I giggle as I recall him telling me about how stubborn Mariquita was after she heard the idea of she going to Levi’s place. “She made a big fuss about it”. Matteo had said as he let out a big laugh.He and Adrian coming to search for us was the sweetest thing ever. Not everyone would have done
“Here, you should give me your bag, I'd help you carry it”. Annalia tells me as she releases me from her hold.I shake my head, obviously refusing. She still takes it from my shoulder anyway and I let her. I am too tired to struggle. “Your phone?” She asks as she spreads her palm. I look at my hand, forgetting that I still had the phone in my palm. “How about I just throw it away instead, so no one would be able to contact me. Then I'd move very far away from here. “Tsk, now you aren't making any sense right now. I understand that you are upset right now, but you shouldn't just spew anything you feel like”. She says softly and takes my phone from me, putting it inside the bag. “Now let's keep walking, we've got people waiting for us at home. That is if they haven't left yet”. She whispers the last part.W
ANDREA “You are right, you are the best”. I almost let out a short. “My grandfather would beg to differ”. I say sarcastically and give her a small smirk. She just smiles. “His opinion doesn't matter at all”.I don't say anything to her and look at the sky. “There is no moon tonight”. “Yeah just stars”. I say and we go silent, just looking at the sky. I take a glance at Annalia and look back at the sky smiling.She is right when she says that just by looking at the stars you instantly get comforted and feel relaxed.I feel her arm around me and I lightly rest my head on her shoulder.She raises her free hand and spreads her palm, closing it after a few seconds. I giggle at what she just did.She brings her closed palms near my face and opens it. I hear a sigh. &ld
“What is the matter with the both of you?” I ask as they occupy the vacant booth. “Oh, us, nothing at all”. Adrian says and goes on to pick a smoothie from the tray on the table.He takes a sip and then frowns. “Uhm Anna, this isn't what I asked for. You got me a different smoothie”. “What do you mean, isn't that your pineapple-coconut smoothie?” I ask visibly confused. I am sure that I bought one pineapple-coconut smoothie, especially for Adrian. The cups are all the same but have different straws and Adrian’s own has a blue straw. I remember because I had to keep his separately. I look at Mariquita’s smoothie and then at Andrea’s own. “Andrea, that's Addie’s smoothie you are taking”. I say and Adrian glares at Andrea.She looks up from Levi's phone which she is holding. ”Oh, no wonder it tasted pretty weird”. She says as she cringes. I let at out a laugh, so does Matteo and Mariquita. Levi just looks at us, not getting what is going on. “I know that you did this intentio
16 “Here is your jersey Annalia, welcome to ELITES FORCE volleyball team”. My coach says as he hands over the jersey to me and gives me a handshake. I take the jersey from him and shake his hand vigorously. “Thank you so much, sir. Thank you so so much”. I say with a lot of excitement, still managing to compose myself in front of him. “Here is our schedule, I hope that you'd follow through”. He hands me a piece of paper and my eyes scan through it. There are days for exercises and also days for practice. “You need to be on time for the exercises and also practice. Tardiness would not be tolerated at all”. He speaks to me without humour in his tone. I nod my head. “I will try my best sir...” He puts his hand up signalling me to stop my statement halfway. “I do not want you to ‘try’ your best Annalia, I want you to do more than your best. Do I make myself clear young lady?” “Yes sir, I will do more than my best”. “That’s more like it. You can leave now”. I gently le