I stood outside the cafeteria as I saw the whole long queue of girls packing their faces with makeup or adjusting their dresses. Ahem, minimal amount of dresses to be Xavier's girlfriend. I felt like strangling each and every girl in the queue. He is mine.
I wanted to scare them off but then I stopped myself. I wanted to see who'll be the one Xavier picks. Knowing him, he was going to pick a straight up bitch in a haste. I cannot blame him. Guys tend to make that mistake more often than we can count.
"Are you ready?"
Evie said snapping me out of my thoughts. I nodded my head at her. I don't know if I was ready or not. But if not now, then when?
"I'll be by your side." She said straightening her brown dress.
I joined the line before me, "Did you talk to Brian?"
She fell silent. I looked sideways to find her staring down sadly. She didn't. And I didn't want her to be with me when she could be talking to Brian and making things better. They deserve each other's love and not anger.
"I'll handle this. Xavier isn't going to pick me whatsoever." I put my hands on her shoulders. She looks at them before looking at me, "You should go and talk to Brian."
"He isn't here." She shrugged her shoulders.
"What do you mean he isn't here?"
"He is not in school." She stated coldly. I realized she wasn't liking the fact that we were talking about Brian.
"Then go where you think he would be! I don't know, just don't stay mad at each other!" I said incredulously.
She shook her head, "You don't see Liya? It wasn't my fault. It was all his fault...He doesn't act so possessive about you! Then why me?!"
Because he loves you!
I wanted to yell at her face. Ofcourse I didn't. It wasn't my place.
"Because you are better friends than me. He cares for you more than me." I said calmly trying to make her understand.
But damn this girl won't listen.
"You were not wrong, right?" I asked.
"Yes." She said crossing her arms over her chest.
I looked around before sighing. Sorry Brian, I need to do this.
"Then go and give him a piece of mind. Let him know that you weren't wrong. It was him. It was his fault. Yell at him. And if possible you can kick his ass too. He won't mind I am sure. Just don't stay mad at each other....the next time I see you guys. You better be clinging to each other."
Evie fell into deep thought. She nodded her head slowly at me telling me I was probably right. She hugged me before wishing me luck and leaving me to stand there.
I sighed through my noise. One problem down. Another one to go.
I looked back to realize that I did come forward in the line but even more were standing behind me. Come on! Not each and every girl could be single?! It's like they have been waiting for their whole life to be here.
I tiptoed to look in the front at the table that was laid down while the XAN trio sat there with pencils and papers in front of them.
I didn't know they were this serious when they said auditions. For all I thought it was going to be a random contest. But they have this all thing planned out like professionals.
I looked again to find Xavier sitting in the middle looking bored as he dismissed each girl. As I saw the new girl come forward I noticed him roll his eyes again before they settled into some distance to look at me. As soon as his gaze met mine I saw him sitting straight up in alertness and shifting his gaze from me to the girl in front of her nodding and looking at her as if she was the most interesting thing.
"Hey, isn't she the one he broke off with? His fiancee?" I heard a whisper behind my back.
"Oh my god. You are right. It is her. What is she doing here?" I heard another girl whisper.
I looked down at the floor a little embarrassed. Don't people have so much decency as to not let any other person listen onto their conversation? Especially when that person is none other than the one whom you are talking about?
"Look at her. Doesn't she feel embarrassed to be standing here even when they broke off?"
"Pfft...I wonder what did Xavier even see in her."
"It doesn't matter now, does it? As long as he has come into his right senses and decided to have a girlfriend. Such hotness should not go to waste."
"Right. But seriously, she sucks."
I clenched my fist tight. They were so gonna have a punch from me. I suck? It's them who sucks. They left their boyfriends to stand here for another man. Not me.
"Hey! You should not bad mouth about anyone. Especially when they are innocent!" I heard a girl yell loudly.
"We can talk about anyone we want. Why does it bother you?"
It was now that I decided to turn back to find not so far away from me two girls standing against one. I knew instantly who spoke for me. She had her hands on her waist. Even though her back was turned to me. The way she was standing I could tell she was full of confidence.
Is she here for Xavier too?
Unknowingly I left my place to go and stand next to her. The two girls facing against her had their faces packed with makeup.
"We are just stating the truth!" They rolled their eyes.
"We don't know what is the truth. So better yet keep your traps shut." The girl beside me looked furious.
"Whatever. Just mind your business." One of them said, going in search for something in her handbag. While the other just started texting on her phone.
I put one of my hands on her shoulder. She fell silent before looking at me sideways, a little annoyed expression on her face before it changed into a genuine smile.
"Thank you." I muttered gratefully.
Even though I didn't need anyone to stand up for me. Even though I believed I was strong enough to stand up for myself. It felt good to have someone speak up from your side.
I looked at her appearance. And I was right. She had the aura which screamed elegance. She had medium Auburn hair which sat perfectly around her shoulders. To top her beauty she even had green grass like eyes. Her eyes were gentle while her smile it was the purest I had seen. All in all she was one heck beautiful girl.
She placed her hands on top of mine before nodding at me. I returned her gesture before thanking her again and retrieving my hands to go back to my spot. I looked in front to see it was already eaten up by a girl. Ofcourse it had to be.
I groaned internally. I looked back to find I'll have to wait as much as I did by now.
"You can come here." I looked up to find the elegant girl smiling down kindly at me. She was standing a few feet away so that there was a vacant space in front of her.
I wanted to cry. How can someone be so good? I thanked her before going and standing in front of her.
"Now she even allows her to take our place." I heard the two girls hush again.
"Don't bother them. They are just a bunch of monkeys." I felt a whisper in my ear. I slightly turned back to find the elegant girl standing back in her full height looking straight. Elegant girl, yes that is the name I have given her.
She was even taller than me. Unlike me she will actually look good with Xavier. Both of them are good looking, both of them tall, beautiful.
I shook my head ready to slap myself. What am I thinking? Pairing Xavier with other girls myself. There might be something really wrong going on with my mind to think this way.
Focus Liya. Focus.
°°°°
Can I scream out of happiness that I finally got my turn? Because after whole load of yawning, staring at other guys wating in the cafeteria looking at their crushes/ girlfriends while the girls waited for their turns and ofcourse, listening to all the insults thrown at me by a few girls (miraculously the number increased), it was finally my turn.
I knew there wasn't in hell's chance that I was getting chosen. And I might even say that I just wasted my most precious time for Xavier. But I want to give my hundred percent.
"We don't have the whole day incase you have noticed." The familiar cold voice said.
I looked up to find Xavier throwing daggers at me. While Alec and Nathaniel both seemed content to see me there in front of them I wish I could say the same about Xavier. He had that expression he had whenever he was mad at me. While he looked relaxed in his chair I could still see his jaw clenched tight and his skin taut.
I stepped forward to stand in front of the trio. Nathaniel wished me luck while Alec just smiled at me softly assuring me that everything was going to be alright.
I returned his gesture before going on to look back at Xavier. His hazel eyes were as dark as a night sky as I stood in front of him and stared directly into his eyes.
He never tore his gaze away from me trying to intimidate me. I could not help but meet his glare head on. I wasn't going to be afraid of him.
"Haha." Alec tried laughing while holding onto Xavier's arm and forcing him to tear his eyes away from me, "I think we should start with the questions, right Xavier?" He said Xavier looking at him in a threatening way.
Nathaniel put his arms around Xavier's shoulders, "Alec is right Reed. I think that is enough staring."
"Glaring you mean." The hazel pair turned towards me again, "Liya." He finally said in a sickening sweet voice, "why don't you step a little aside? You sure are a difficult competitor. Why don't we find an opponent for you?"
"Xavier," Alec started but he was cut short by Xavier when he ignored him and continued to talk to me,
"You won't mind, would you Liya?"
I shook my head at him stepping aside. He had a smug expression on his face as he called, "Next."
I looked beside me to find the elegant girl coming and standing beside me. It wasn't shocking at all.
As soon as she took her place she turned her head towards me to pass a small smile. I smiled back at her nodding my head even though it faltered as soon as it came.
"I am Olivia Bridget." She told the three dumb expressions sitting in front of her.
"Are you new?" Nathaniel asked, his eyes never leaving her face.
"No." She shook her head.
"How come I haven't noticed you before?" He looked at her in awe. Olivia giggled at this not saying anything.
Xavier cleared his throat snapping our attention back to him, "It's nice to meet you Olivia. And I would be lying if I say you are not beautiful."
Alec and Nathaniel coughed as they both looked at me.
Can someone hand me a baseball bat? I have certain someone to smash and knock their teeth out.
Xavier never called me beautiful! And here he called this girl beautiful in front of me. Me. His fiance. I mean ex fiance. No not yet. Ughh. It's complicated.
Xavier looked at me smilingly. Dimple forming onto one of his cheeks, "Then shall we begin Liya?"
I grinned at him, "Ofcourse Xavier. I am ready."
"You sure? Olivia seems a tough competition. I can see."
"Unless you have noticed I love competitions. I am the one who gives them the invitation." I rolled my eyes.
"Indeed you do." There was a different tone in his voice.
He claps his hands lightly, now sitting straight in his chair. Leaning in front he puts his hands on the table clasping them together before looking at both of us,
"There are no rules as it is. It is as simple as I'll put up a question and you'll answer. Don't try to answer everything too good to be true because let's be honest no one is a pure soul here. And yes, as you can see I have my two best friends judging with me." He pointed at Nathaniel and Alec, " As I made everything clear, shall we begin?"
We both nodded at them. I felt myself getting nervous as Xavier thought of something to ask. I could not help but looks sideways to check if Olivia was as confident as before.
It was difficult to tell if she was feeling anything because she had a straight face.
"Let's see, I won't take much of your time so," I looked back at Xavier to find him talking to both of us, "just imagine if I were to be your boyfriend. And just like any boyfriend would love to, I pick you up in the morning for school everyday,"
I think I knew where this question was going. But the reference? Jut like any boyfriend would love to? No. No. Did he forget the part where he would throw me out of his car so that no one saw us together?
Xavier's eyes landed on me. They were yet again dark, "My question to both of you is, will you ever leave me stranded outside your house, waiting for you while you already left for school?"
I felt my throat dry up. Olivia was the first one to answer, "No, ofcourse not. I would definitely inform him. Saying if I love him and don't want him to be late." She laughed a little at her last sentence.
A smile appeared on Xavier's face as he nodded at her and looked at me mischievously, "What about you, Liya?...I am sure not informing your boyfriend would be your thing."
I shrugged my shoulders lightly, " Actually I'll do. I will inform him. But sometimes the person is not feeling upto talking to their boyfriend."
Xavier's face turned hard as he grinded his teeth, "And yet the person can call and tell them."
"The person might not feel like talking and doesn't call."
"That doesn't justify making them wait for you."
"It does. Sometimes they should get the taste of their own medicine." I snapped back.
Now he was full on glaring at me, sitting on the edge of his seat, "I never behaved like that towards the person."
"The person wanted to go to school with her friends for once! What did she do wrong in that?"
"The person should have informed me!"
"The person shouldn't, when the day before she got hurt by him!"
"I am sorry if the truth hurts the person, but wasn't she the one who promised big?"
"And the person is keeping that promise." I finished letting him know that in the end I was still standing in front of him.
We both glared at each other with intense gazes before I noticed that it was deadly silent. I looked around to find everyone around us staring at me and Xavier. They were frozen in their spots as they looked at us puzzled.
I sighed frustratedly and faced in front of me again to find a confused Nathaniel sitting there with furrowed eyebrows and Alec with a raised eyebrows before he spoke up breaking the silence,
"Ohhh...", he rounded his mouth into a big blown circle, "The person was the reason for Xavier's spoilt mood in the morning."
"Shut up." Xavier snapped at him.
Alec couldn't help but laugh lightly as Xavier glared holes into him.
"I don't get my mood spoilt by other people. They don't matter to me." Xavier looked at me and said that with as earnestness as he could.
"Are you sure they don't?" Alec's smile faded as he asked looking at Xavier intently.
Xavier gulped lightly looking down before looking at me and clenching his jaw tight, "They don't. They never did."
Enough. I had enough of this conversation. Coming here was already difficult for me knowing I didn't stand a chance. But still I did. I did for him. But all I get in return are insults. Everytime.
And I am full of them today. I am not weak. I can take any insult he throws at me. But telling that he never cared for me? That shit hurts. The least he could after all these years is atleast care for me.
I took in a deep breath and turned to my side facing Olivia, "Congratulations, You can suck faces with Xavier now."
She opened her mouth to say something but I could definitely see shock evident on her face. But I already beat her to it. I turned around and made my way towards the exit.
"You are not allowed to leave like that." I heard him say.
Without turning back I said, "Yes I am."
___