Chapter 16

Mira's POV

I stared at Natalie wide-eyed. I couldn't believe she could ask so outrightly. Even though it's the truth, she could at least cut me some slack!

“Of.. of course not!” I stuttered helplessly. “I'm just excited that's he back, that's all!”

“Cut me the crap, Mira. I've seen the way you stare at him you went all googly-eyed when he requested to seat at our table, not to mention how you suddenly spoke up when he mentioned my best friend Ariana which before then you had been sitting so quietly.” She countered. I sucked my breath in. Natalie was right, she did notice everything. I breathed out and confessed.

“Okay fine. I do have a crush on him,” I whispered. “But don't tell anyone, okay? I don't like talking about it.”

Natalie stopped for a while, staring at and grinning at intervals.. then sat back and clapped her hands.

“Oh, my gosh Mira! I can't believe it! You, of all people! My oh my!”

“I just said you should tone it down!” I whisper yelled. “Do you want every finding out? For goodness' sake, he just came back!”

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm just surprised, that's all... So tell me...” Natalie muttered, inching closer. “have you told him about your undying love for him?”

I sighed sadly. “No... Not yet.” Natalie looked confused.

“Why? He was sitting here a while ago!” I looked at Natalie, shaking my head slowly.

“It's not that easy to confess your feelings for someone you secretly like,” I muttered.

“It's not? Well, that's new... Is it that hard??” I chuckled softly, seeing the expression on Natalie's face... She seemed completely clueless.

“Yes, it is... Especially with guys like Darren. Girls like me are not their type.' Natalie raised her eyebrows.

“Really? Who's their type then?”

“I don't know... Popular girls, pretty ones? Once with the style and charisma. I'm just a regular girl with a normal life.” Natalie smirked.

“You don't look like a normal girl to me. I think you're just scared. Scared of being rejected.”

I gasped out of surprise. How can she read me so easily?? Of course, I'm scared of being rejected!!

“Yes, yes, I am scared of being rejected! Now can we drop this topic? I'm losing my appetite!”

“I knew it. Don't worry, I won't talk about it anymore.” She smirked and began picking her food.

“But seriously, I think you should tell him. If not for him, for yourself. Let him know how you feel about him... It'll go a long way and help you free your mind from unnecessary guilt.”

“What unnecessary guilt?”

“You know... All these things you girls usually do... I wish I had told him I liked him earlier. Perhaps he'll still be alive!” She groaned, making a crying face. I laughed.

“Darren is not dying!” I said between gulps.

“I know, I know. But you get my point, don't you?”

“I do. I really want to tell him, but I don't know how!”

Natalie looked at me, smiling softly. It gave me hope.

“I can help with that, but you have to do the confessing part yourself!”

I widened my eyes, happiness filling me.

“You'll do that for me?”

“Of course! That's what friends are for, isn't it?” She asked. I didn't know when I stood up and went to hug Natalie tight, smiling happily.

“Thank you a lot!! You're the best friend ever!” I said a little too loud.

“That's okay. You're making me feel gay.” She whispered, glaring at me. I laughed as I went back to my seat.

I'm so lucky to have someone like Natalie as a friend. She's the best person ever.

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Darren's POV

I was busy fooling around with a guitar since I didn't know how to play and was with the rest of the guys. Since it was still recess, we still have fifteen more minutes to classes begin.

“Stop making that stupid noise!” Xander complained.

“It's not stupid, it's not like you know how to play it, anyway!”

“But am not using for stupid reasons as well,” Xander retorted. I scoffed and glanced at Xavier. He was staring at something unseen. He looked out of place in the room. I turned and sighed deeply. Unlike Xander, Xavier was more sentimental and thought before he did things. I could bet that he's wondering how the hell he's going to get out of this mess without severing the threads that still connected him and Xander.

So, Darren...” Arden spoke up. “You've met Natalie before? Like for real??” He asked with interest.

I smirked and dropped the guitar I was holding. Then put my hands behind my head and relaxed.

“As a matter of fact. Yes.”

“Woah! And how was she like?” Peter asked. I observed as Xander, and Xavier slowly picked interest. I brought out my phone and opened the gallery of my phone, then passed it to Arden with Peter peeking over so he could see.

“Those were the pictures my cousin Drake took while I was there. See for yourself.”

“Woah! Is this really her? She looks completely different here!”

“Guess so.”

“What other things as well.”

“Uh... She's pretty unpredictable. that is about that much I know... And it's quite hard to decipher her and just when you think you know her, you realize you don't know her at all.”

"Really?”

"Yeah. She's like a chess game. Just because you don't know her next move doesn't mean she can't be taken by surprise.” And with that, I dropped the hook and took the guitar, playing useless tunes.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Xavier and Xander glance at each other before facing their separate ways. I wonder what's going on in their heads...

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(Closing)

Natalie's POV

I and Mira were walking down the hallway to our lockers, when I noticed a note sticking out of my locker.

“What is that?” Mira asked, opening hers. “Another threat, or a letter bomb?”

I chuckled. “Very funny Mira. I hope not. “I said and took the note. I widened my eyes when I read the contents.

“What happened? Why are you staring like that?” Mira asked, peering at me. I looked around the hallway as if looking for one, but none of the people around seemed suspicious. Then I turned back to Mira.

“Guess what?” I asked in disbelief.

“What?”

“I've just been asked to go on a date.”

“WHAT?! By whom?” She asked. I grinned.

“By Xander. I'm going on a date with Xander.”