Chapter 11

Chapter 11 - Don't reply with a K.

~~

"Why can't she just reply me?" Alan screamed in frustration, glowering at his phone as he paced from one end of the room to the other. That's what he had been doing since the past 10 minutes, after not getting any reply from Celia. 

I rolled my eyes at his impatience. "When did she message you?" 

He paused for a minute, looking at his phone. "Uh about 50 minutes back."

"Alan, there are some rules for texting a girl." I explained, pointing my right forefinger at him while I counted on the left hand. "1) Don't take more than 30 minutes to reply. 2) Don't reply with a K. 3) Use good grammar. 4) Ask questions. 5) Use Smileys but limited. "

"Now you know why I didn't reply you yesterday." Janice hollered, throwing a pillow at a surprised Dylan.

"Hey, I didn't know those rules." Dylan defended, throwing the pillow back at her.

"What did he do?" Logan asked, smirking at Dylan.

"He replied me with a K when I told him how bad my day was." Janice replied, her eyes narrowing at Dylan who shifted uncomfortably, looking sheepish. 

"I was playing video games." Dylan muttered, making Janice gasp and throw another pillow at his face. "Fucking jerk!" She exclaimed.

I looked at Britt and we burst out laughing.

"Another rule, whatever be your reason for late replies or disinterest, don't ever say video games. It infuriates the girl even more." Brittany informed, making the poor Dylan look more guilty and confused.

"I didn't know that too!" He finally exclaimed, throwing his hands in air, making the pillow fall down.

"Or you could just listen to Dear Future Husband by Meghan Trainor." I shrugged.

"Funny, these rules suck." Alan frowned in despair, looking at his phone in distress.

"Agreed. Girls are so complicated." Max piped in.

"Girls? Oh please! Boys are even more complicated. They just keep giving mixed signals." Brittany spoke, staring icily at Max.

"No, girls are complicated." Max argued back. "They do things for some stupid reason and we never know why. They think one smile, one wink, one bend and the world's a putty in their hands."

"Haww! Guys play with feelings, giving a girl mixed signals. It's so complicated to understand if he's serious or no. Say 'Hello' one minute and the next minute they are like 'Get the f out of my way', like seriously?" 

"Actions speak louder than words. No guy does sweet things for just any random girl." 

I looked at Janice who was also staring with raised eyebrows at the two individuals fighting like married couples, she turned to me and shook her head in a 'why do they fight so much?' gesture. I shrugged, tilting my lips downwards and glancing at them in a 'hope this ends soon' gesture. She nodded in agreement.

"Oh they do. Just to prove how much of a gentleman he is so that he can get into a girl's panties. Wham bam thank you ma'am." Brittany told sarcastically, giving Max a stink eye.

"That's the girl's misunderstanding. A guy's message is clear, if she is special now she will remain special, whatever happens. We just don't fall in love with any random girl walking down a street." Max stated.

"So is a girl's message clear. If she loved him, he will always hold a place if her heart no matter what. She will always care for him" Brittany announced. The fighting abruptly as they stared at each other. I figured they probably forgot there were other people watching them intensely. 

"Another couple with sexual tension." Logan coughed.

I instantly narrowed my eyes at him and Brittany just turned her mouth into a grimace while Max excused himself and Ace slapped Logan's back hard.

"Ouch dude, what was that for?" Logan muttered, trying to reach his back. "Who said I was talking about you? It could be Dylan and Janice."

"Logan." Janice warned.

Ace didn't say anything, but looked at him with his always-on-the-face scowl.

Logan winked at Janice and then wiggled his brows at Ace. "So you think there's sexual tension between you and Joanna?" 

"Logan!" I exclaimed in horror. 

Dylan chuckled and turned it into a cough when Ace glared at him. 

"Shut up dude, tell me what to do with Celia now." Alan told Logan, rubbing his forehead. 

Logan went to help him (which will probably end in a disaster) and Dylan went to talk with Max. Janice pulled Brittany with her going outside. I knew Janice was going to force out the story out of her. I debated on following her but then saw Ace alone and decided to sit with him instead. I don't even know why I decided that. 

Looks like my brains went for a stroll in the stupid lane.

"Hi." I said meekly, sitting awkwardly on the couch besides him.

He looked at me and then at the door through which Janice went. He was probably thinking why I didn't go. I myself don't know the answer to that. Maybe because I just wanted some alone time with him.

"Hey." He finally said.

"The fest is tomorrow." I tried to make conversation. 

He nodded. "Starts at 4 right?"

"Yep. Uh you'll come right?"

Ace grinned cheekily. "Of course. I have helped so much. The fest is basically happening because of me." He gloated, making me snort.

"Oh please. All you did was flirt with every girl and brag about your protruding muscles."

"Jealous?" He teased.

I rolled my eyes. "Why would I be?"

"Because you secretly want this." He pointed to his chest and then to his crotch.

I turned away, feeling heat rush through into my face. "N-nu not at all." I stuttered. Lie.

"It's okay. There's no need to hide, let your hormones take control." I felt his grin widen as he spoke leaning close to me.

"If they took control I wouldn't be a virgin any longer." My hand slapped my mouth after realizing what I had just said.

I just agreed that I was a virgin and that I indirectly wanted to have sex. 

Kill. Me. Now.

Ace coughed uncomfortably clearly not expecting such a reply. He neither had a sexual innuendo to that.

"So uh you are coming tomorrow right?" He asked, scratching the back of his neck.

"Yeah." I nodded, still embarrassed by my previous sentence. 

"So uh I'll meet you tomorrow?" 

Once again I nodded. I could feel the awkward air between us. We both didn't know what to say anymore and getting up and leaving would be more uncomfortable.

"Ace." Dylan's voice came from the other room.

We both sighed in relief at the interruption. He gave me a brisk nod and left me sitting there alone, making me wonder if things between us would become even worse now.

After all we were never friends and probably would never be.

-

♦

-

"Joanna. Joanna. JOANNA!" 

I turned my head to find the unfamiliar voice. Searching for the voice seemed a lot difficult in the pool of students rushing everywhere. I tried once more but found no one searching for me. Dismissing it as delusion, I turned back and walked further to find Janice. 

"Hey." I heard the same voice, this time with a panting effect right next to me. 

I turned. "Sean?" I gasped in shock after realizing who it is.

He grinned, flashing me his pearly white teeth. "In flesh."

Surprisingly I had forgotten about him. With the problems between Ace and me and Brittany still not telling about her past with Max, Sean didn't get a chance to cross my mind. In reality I didn't even expect him to remember me. 

I grinned back at him. "So you found out my name now?" I took in his ruffled hair and a drop of perspiration on his forehead. He looked really good in his lemon yellow V neck and dark blue low waist jeans.

"No no! I found out your name and number long back but with the football finals and coach's pressure on us, I didn't get a chance to message you." He explained. 

I nodded. "I know, our school football team is been tortured too."

He chuckled, a soft boyish laughter which was contagious. "Nice fest." He said, glancing around.

I followed his eyes and my heart swelled with pleasure and pride at the compliment. "Thank you." 

His eyes landed on the gaming section and turned mischievous. "Gift ring toss?"

"Janice's idea, my best friend. She wanted some guy to win a gift for her." I told, remembering how she fake cried to make me add gift ring toss in the games list. She had even demanded Dylan to win something for her and the poor guy had been practicing it since two days.

"What about you?" He asked curiously. 

I furrowed my eyebrows, "What about me?"

"You don't want any guy to win something for you?"

I shrugged my shoulders indifferently. "Doesn't really matter, I have to be busy making sure everything is right instead of asking someone to win for me."

He tilted his head, looking at me. I shifted on my feet, suddenly uncomfortable with the attention. He blinked, "Come on." He took my hand and pulled me towards the gaming zone.

I twisted my hand, trying to pull it free. "Sean I have to check the food counters also."

"Later." He simply said, not loosening the grip on my wrist.

I tried pulling my hand away once again but his grip only tightened. I sighed in defeat. I couldn't free myself so might as well enjoy it while it lasts.

I looked at the students and saw the biggest line for the tattoo Booth. We had successfully convinced, Mr. Frederick (teacher in charge of fests in school) to allow a tattoo booth and call a professional tattoo maker. It turned out to be the best idea ever. There were plenty of guys and even a few girls in the line. As we passed the Booth, I heard a faint scream from inside and shuddered thinking about the oozing blood. Thank God I didn't want tattoos. My mind drifted to Ace, he had two tattoos clearly but I knew he had more on his chest and back. Why did he do them if it pains so much? Did he want to cause pain to himself? If yes, why? Did something bad happen to him? Why does he hate girls so much?

So many questions and no answers. I wondered if I would know the answers ever. We weren't even considered to be friends yet.

"Joanna?" I blinked at the waving hand in front me, my earlier thoughts discarded.

"You on planet Earth?" 

I nodded in response to Sean's question.

He grinned at me and I felt my lips rise up. Is he ever not smiling? He was so much better than Ace and yet I didn't feel all the things I felt when I was with Ace. I took a deep breath deciding to not let Bryan invade my thoughts anymore. I was with Sean and was going to enjoy every second with him.

"Let's do this!" He exclaimed enthusiastically, standing in the line.

I rolled my eyes and pulled him ahead, I didn't need to stand in any line. The perks of being a class president and event organizer. 

"Hey Alex, one ticket." I said, reaching the counter. 

I heard groans and shouts from behind me but they all stopped when Alex declared 'she is the organizer'.

Sean took the three rings and scanned the gifts. There were three cheap perfume bottles, two small Teddy bears one was baby pink and the other white, both held a read heart with 'I love you' written on it. There was a fluffy cream cat, two Donald Ducks, three boxes of chocolates, a bunch of key chains all with various messages engraved on them, two small photo frames and three heart pendants that opened and could hold two small photographs. There were twenty two at the start so I figured five items were already won. I didn't understand why all girly items were chosen but now looking at the line I saw majority girls and a few guys who had clearly come to win something for their girlfriend.

"What do you want?" Sean asked.

I looked over the items once again, debating between the box of chocolates and the cat, the teddy bears and necklace was definitely out of the question. "Cat or chocolates." I finally answered, failing to reach a conclusion. 

He nodded and his eyes drifted from the cat to chocolates. The box of chocolates were nearer so he concentrated on it. In the first attempt just missed the box, the second wasn't even close. His eyes strained on the box of chocolates, looking like he was telling the box to surrender. I bit my laugh from laughing at his seriousness. 

It was the first time a guy was actually getting me a gift in the ring toss by his own will. Not going to deny, it made me feel extremely special and happy. I was so busy studying the emotions playing on his face that I didn't even realize his ring landed on top the box, making him fist pump in glee.

"Your box Milady." He offered me the box, faking a British accent.

"Thank you my Lord." I said, grabbing the box with delight, my eyes twinkling with bliss.

He chuckled and bowed, moving to the next counter, I followed him happily, the box of chocolates neatly held in my hands as I tried to open it.

There were 10 chocolates in total, two galaxy, two Twix, two snickers, two mars and two Toblerones.

I grabbed a snickers and offered the box to Sean. I mentally prayed he wouldn't take the left snickers, I love snickers. After debating a little he finally took snickers.

Lovely. I thought deadpanned, scowling at his head. As if reading my thoughts he turned and glanced at the snickers in my hand and then the one in his. He grinned, shaking his head at me and taking the Twix, keeping the snickers back in the box. I bit my lip guiltily.

"You can have it." I said, offering him the snickers. He shook his head. "You love it more. Come on let's see the next game."

I blinked at him and smiled a genuine smile, taking his hand in mine. He gave a squeeze, a faint blush creeping on his cheeks as he pulled me towards the next stall. I felt my heart go into an overdrive.

They next game was crazy birds, it was pretty much like the angry birds. The colorful blocks were stuck to each other lightly with 8 stuffed birds on it. The participants would get 4 chances to throw balls and knockdown all the blocks so that the birds are lying on the table and not on the blocks. Unless at least 3 birds are left on the blocks, no prize would be given. I heard a guy screaming in frustration as the fourth bird fell on the block instead of the table. 

"What next?" Sean asked, waiting for my decision. 

I shrugged, my eyes wandering to the food court. I was hungry. Very very hungry even after eating my snickers not that it is stomach filling especially since my stomach could fit in a whole pizza place. My stomach growled agreeing with my mind. I blushed, looking at Sean.

"Pizza?" He asked with amusement. 

"Please."

He grinned and grabbed my hand again, walking with me to the stall. His hand was soft and his hold firm. I liked the feeling. It felt safe and so-

"Muf-Joanna?!" 

I turned to face a completely furious Ace, standing beside an equally serious Max and an amused Dylan.

Sean's hold on my hand tightened and I felt Bryan's eyes follow our joint palms and his eyes narrow at the action. "Bryan." Sean said a monotonous voice, giving a single nod in his direction. 

"Sean." Ace spat the word with disgust, making Sean stiffen besides me.

They knew each other, how? Why are they speaking with such venom? Is there something I am missing?

"How are you?" Dylan asked Sean. He was trying to be polite but I could see the animosity for Sean in his eyes.

"Great." Sean said in a clipped tone. "We were just going to have pizza, so bye." He said putting his arm over my shoulder and turning us. I saw Bryan's eyes narrow at the gesture.

"We will join you." Ace said, clearly giving no space for a no.

I squirmed in discomfort. The awkwardness between me and Ace still hadn't completely left and now he was joining me and Sean. I could already feel the tension rising through the air, surrounding us with thickness. Sean and Ace stared at each other, more like glared, for a few minutes before Sean shrugged and walked to the stall, his arm still around my shoulder, tightening as we walked.

Slice the air filled with tension and you'll still find ninety more layers of hostility.

Neither Dylan nor Max tried to break the tension. It was suffocating me. I cleared my throat. "So um- how do you two know each other?" I finally asked, my voice sounding weird through the tensed air.

No one answered for a few seconds which stretched into minutes. The apprehension tripled and I gulped uncomfortably. What the hell was up with these people? My hold on the box of chocolates tightened, the chocolates seemed to be the only sensible thing right now.

Finally Ace answered. "He is my step brother." 

And just like that the axis of my world titled.

--

Well? How's that for a twist, huh?