Chapter 35
Natalie's POV
It was lunchtime and the three of us were seated at the table munching our lunch, having small talks in between.
“Wait up Mira... You were going to say something earlier this morning.” I reminded. She took a bite from her burger.
“And what's that?”
“The boyfriend thingy. When did that happen?” I asked.
“Oh, that... Yeah, Darren and I went on a date last Saturday and that's where he asked me to be his girlfriend... And yeah sure, I accepted.”
“Really?” Ariana chipped in. “So tell me, how was it like. Was it super romantic??”
“If you call two people being alone in what seems like a fairytale romance. Yeah, it was.” She answered.
“And that's all? He just asked, and you agreed? Nothing else?”
“What did you want to happen? “I asked, pinching her cheeks. She swerved so I wouldn't be able to have more contact with her.
“I don't know... It's just dating someone like Darren. That's pretty ordinary. Darren is such a charmer!” She said wistfully. Mira cleared her throat and put her hair back in her ears.
“Actually... That's not the only thing that happened.” She muttered quietly.
"Ah! I just knew it!” Ariana squeaked.
“So what happened?” I prodded. She dropped her burger and played with her fingers for a while.
“We... Kind of....”
“Kind of what?..” Ariana prodded
“We made love.” She blurted and drank from her water bottle. Everyone was quiet for a while until Ariana started singing. I facepalmed myself.
“I just knew it!” She muttered and made a fist bump, then went on to hug Mira. “I know I just met you, but I know you're my kind of girl.... Unlike someone I know.”. She said and stared at me.
“Wait? Why are you looking at me like that? What did I do.?”
“Yeah... What did she do?” Mira asked quietly, giggling.
“Oh, nothing... She's just boring, you know. Doesn't know how to take the hint... You could bring a thousand guys and make them shirtless, and she would still stare at them. But you girl... Catch fast. So tell me, how was it? How was it!? How was it!” Ari squeaked. I just stared at them.
“Uh... I don't know. It was my first.”
“Ah....” Ariana flailed her hands in the air. Mira giggled. “Did you hear that, girlfriend? Did you hear that??”
“Hey! Stop that! What about you?” I shot back.
“Me? What happened? That my first was with someone I didn't get his name?”
“Wait, a sec... You didn't know his name?” Mira asked, laughter evident in her voice. I offered to tell the rest of the story.
“He only came for one week... One week! And the next thing I hear is... Natty guess what? I just lost my v card... And I don't know his name.” Mira burst out laughing now and crazily Ariana joined in.
“That one week was the best one week of my life. I almost fell in love... But then he had to leave to the army and there was a slight chance I'll never see him again.” Ariana confessed.
“Aww... That was the best gift you could ever give someone, without knowing their name.” Mira said, and they both laughed. I chuckled a bit. Then they turned to me, each sitting beside me.
”What?” I asked.
“It's your turn, sweetie. When is it going to happen? Those are great stories to tell on sleepovers.” Ariana said, and Mira giggled.
“I don't know, later or never?” I said and drank from my bottle.
“See? She doesn't even know. If not for the crazy bet she made when she first arrived, I'm pretty sure she'll die a nun.” Ariana said and pulled my hair. I winced.
“What is up with you Ari?”
“Maybe she doesn't want to give it to the wrong person,” Mira suggested. “You know, you have to be able to love someone that much to let them be your first... Even if it's only for a week and you don't know their name.”
“That's kind of true.....” Ariana pondered. “You better hurry, Natty. We'll be graduating from high school soon.” She said and went back to her seat. I shook my head.
“What about Celine?” I asked.
“Oh, we fixed that... He talked to his mom, who talked to his dad and the information we got back was that they are just friends, they weren't planning to tie them together for any reason, it was Celine's idea. So right now everyone's pretty cool... Except for Celine.”
“Is she that desperate?” Ariana muttered.
“Maybe more?” Mira added, and we all laughed. They were crazy, but they were fun to be with. They could almost make me forget what happened yesterday.
But I didn't, however, and every time I remembered it left a bitter feeling down in my stomach. Which reminds me, I haven't seen him anywhere in school today... Where is he??
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Tricia's POV
“First Natalie, then Mira, now Ariana?? Seriously, what is up with this girl??” I said out loud, frustrated. Bella and Celine just looked at me.
“What? Aren't you going to say anything??” I taunted. They both exchanged glances and shrugged. Then Bella spoke up.
“Well, one thing I'm going to say is, it's going to be hard to penetrate them again. Like, that Ariana is a complete badass, jokes apart.”
“Oh, now you're on their side...” I asked.
“I'm not on their side. I'm just stating facts. They are evenly matched.”
“Just shut up...”
“Sorry...” she mumbled and looked away. I sat on one of the chairs. I can't believe that everything I've worked hard for is slowly slipping away from me. I mean, I never even got a chance with the brothers and there are having a field day around them.
“All this is going to change, however.....” I muttered. “When the bait comes back.” I completed. Celine and Bella both stared at me.
”What do you mean, the bait?” Celine asked.
”Oh, you'll see... You'll see.” I muttered and smirked. They just stared at me with their faces filled with confusion.
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Mira's POV
I was in my locker, putting my books when someone snuck up behind me.
”Boo!” The person yelled and I flinched. When I turned I found the person chuckling.
”Darren you frightened me.' I muttered and hit his chest. He held my hands there. Seriously?
”Hey, girlfriend... Good afternoon.” He said and kissed me on the nose. Then Looking around, added. “Where is Ariana?”
”Oh...” I chuckled. “She found herself a spot in the football field. She's there now.”
”Well thank God.” He muttered a sigh of relief. I closed the locker and began walking to class, with Darren following me.
”But seriously though... Are you that scared of her?” I asked. “She seems pretty sweet... And a psycho when she wants to be.”
”That's because you are a girl... And a friend to Natalie. She put caterpillars in my boxers one time, and I was in the public. The most embarrassing day of my life.” I stopped and froze. Darren stared at me quizzically. “Wait.... Don't tell me you're embarrassed by it too.” I looked at him and tried to suppress my chuckle but so far it wasn't working as I burst into gales of laughter.
”Hey! It's not funny!” He said.
”I'm sorry... I'm sorry.” I muttered and went to hug him. “Don't worry, Mira's here now. You will never be scared anymore.” I muttered and patted his back.
”Still not enough...” He muttered. I looked at him and kissed him. “Better now?”
“Yeah... Much better.”
”Good...”
”Hey, I wanted to ask you something.” He said after a while, I turned to look at him.
“What is it?”
“Could we perhaps, go home together? Like your house I mean.”
”Sure... My parents would love to see you, especially my dad. He's been hearing stories about you.”
“Great... When the school closes?'
"Of course. “I nodded and was about to enter the class when Ariana showed up. Here goes nothing.
“Hi, Mira... Hey Darren. It's so nice to see you. Look what I found!”
”If you're holding bugs, please don't show me.” He said. Ariana only got more surprised.
”Well dear, aren't you such smartie pants? It's bugs. I found it on the football pitch. Come let me show you. There might be even centipedes and caterpillars in this stuff.”
Darren looked terrified. “Can you not come close to me? Wait, why am I even here? Mira, see you later.” He said and scurried away. Ari and I both exchanged glances at each other and I chuckled.
“I don't get why he's so scared. It's just bugs.”
“Everyone is scared of something. I'll go to class now, see you later.”
“And I'll go throw this away... In his backpack maybe?” She suggested.
“Please don't put it in his backpack. Other backpacks deserve that bug.”
”That's true... Tricia, here I come...” She said and left.
, I laughed. What sort of friends does Natalie have??
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It was closing time and after biding Natalie and Ariana goodbye, I and Darren went up to our house. My parents, especially my mom, were glad to see him. It was nice to watch him roll well with my family. He looked like a real gentleman. We couldn't get to see my sister, but we had an online chat with her.
It was splendid but as usual, all good things must come to an end and so did the evening. I had to see him off. We talked a bit before finally giving me a goodnight kiss and driving home. I heaved a sigh and touched the necklace around my neck. Love with the right person is beautiful... I'll have to admit.
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Xander's POV
After a long day outside, I finally found myself at home. Since Xavier didn't show up at all in school, I had expected him to be at home. So it was quite a surprise when I realized he still wasn't in from last night. I checked all the rooms in the house but still no sign of him. Then I brought out my phone to call him, but it went to voicemail. Something is not right here.
He couldn't be with dad; he'd have left a message but there wasn't any message anywhere to read. Called a few people that I thought he could be with, and they all replied in the negative, I knew something was going on. I made to call Natalie but stopped halfway. I'll do that tomorrow if he doesn't come home by midnight. Don't want to have her worrying over anything.
Wherever he is... I just hope he's safe, cause this rarely happens.