"He is so rude." Evie whisper yelled at me from beside me. We were sitting in our history class while Ms Garcia went on with her lecture.
"How dare he even talk to you like that?" Brian looked at me in disbelief.
Evie looked at Brian and smiled at him. I looked at them and raised my eyebrows in question. Is there anything I am not aware of? And I should be knowing about it? Because from the moment they have come back they are acting very friendly towards each other. Which is rare considering Evie is always smacking Brian in any way possible.
"You guys good?" I asked them looking in front at Ms Garcia so that she doesn't catch us.
"Of course we are good, right Brian?"
Brian nodded his head sincerely, "Yes we are."
I looked at them skeptically. Something was going on. I could sense it. Did Brian confess his feeling to Evie?
I looked at Brian to find him concentrated ahead listening to Ms Garcia. He would time and again glance at Evie from the corner of his eyes but that was it.
If he did confess to Evie, well like a mature person I am, I will just pat him on the shoulder for being so brave. And and...I will do a happy dance. Throw maturity into garbage... My ship sailed! I will throw a party and shove down the drink down their throat with my own hands.
"Though I loved how you stood up for yourself." Evie smiled mischievously at me.
I was telling them about everything that happened after she left for Brian. I had already told her about Xavier's question to his confession that he doesn't care about me. Everything.
"Me too. Somehow I feel great and strong." I put my face in my hands, "But I think he is already doing all the things with Olivia that I don't want to think about."
"She won?"
I don't know who won. After I left all I received were some pitying looks. Which I definitely didn't want from people who like to poke their nose into someone else's business. My guess being Xavier definitely chose Olivia over me. Over anyone else. Why won't he? She gave the answer he wanted to listen. She was beautiful. And most of all...she was standing against me.
He makes me feel like rather than finding love for himself it is a sort of his mission to make me feel miserable in any way possible.
"I don't know who won! But he called her beautiful and the way he looked at her...it...it just infuriated me. And I am betting he chose her!" I yelled loud enough for Brian and Evie to hear.
Some girl from the front seat shushed at us, looking annoyed. We all said sorry before going back to our conversation.
"That bitch!" Evie cursed but I shook my head making her stop. She looked at me with disbelief before asking me what was the matter with me?
"The worst part is that...she is kind. And good." I said softly looking down at my hands.
I looked back at both of them. Their jaws literally on the floor. I chuckled before helping them put their jaws back in place.
"No Liya. You don't call your enemies worthy. Or kind for that matter. God, I leave you for an hour and you change your personality? What happened to your fierce side?" Evie said in a way that she was trying to put some sense into me.
But I knew otherwise. Olivia helped me when those girls in the cafeteria were picking on me. She even invited me to stand with her. And she was tall and beautiful. And her voice was sweet honey like. She was kind and everything a boy would love to have in his girl. And she was everything a girl dreams about becoming.
"That fierce side told Xavier to fuck off." I said rolling my eyes.
"You did?" Brian asked me excitedly. Can I say I could sense hope in his voice too.
"Of course not. I want him to love me not make him run away from me for the hills." I scolded Brian, "but his recent behavior has really thrown me off him."
He nodded his head before pouting. He turned his pouted face to Evie who laughed at him. I looked at both of them again with a confused state of mind. And now they are smiling and looking at each other with... is that adoration I see in their eyes? What the hell happened in my absence?
"Please enlighten me what happened between you two?" I asked smiling slyly. As much as I have very much in my plate, I cannot forget that I have two of my friends too.
They both looked at me. Their brows furrowed.
Wha-? No. They don't get to give me that expression. It should be me to be sitting with that expression. And not them.
I urged them to tell me. Evie looked down before clearing her throat,
"He said sorry."
My head snapped towards Brian. He apologized? It's not like it wasn't his fault. He was very much at fault. But considering his mood before. No, I can't even imagine Brian being in his right senses to apologize to Evie.
"It was my fault. I just acted like an asshole. And didn't seem to notice that I hurt you." Brian said sincerely-- looking at Evie.
"You did actually. But it's fine now." Evie said waving her hands dismissively.
Brian leaned forward and put his head on the table facing me and Evie. His honey eyes turned towards me,
"I am not going to lie Liya, but we need another plan. If going after Xavier and showing him how much you love him had to work it would have in these past what?...seven years? The point is, it didn't."
"He has a point." Evie whispered from beside me. She was sitting there with her head on the table too now, copying Brian's action.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
If I was not to show him how much I loved him how was I supposed to make him fall in love with me? But again, as much as I would hate to admit it, Brian had a point. I have tried anything and everything in my power to let Xavier know that I care. It's always him who doesn't get it.
"Realization girl." Brian said, his cheek was pressed against the table and as he spoke you could see him struggling a bit to speak.
"Play hard to get." He continued.
I couldn't help but be confused. Play hard to get? One must want me to let me play hard to get.
Brian rolled his eyes at me before putting his hand on my head lightly and giving me a few good solid ruffles making me swing in my chair,
"After school, you both are coming with me to my apartment. We need a plan now. Going blindly after Xavier with just a ray of hope to hold is just like expecting a cancer patient to cure without any treatments."
"Although he is dumb, sometimes he actually makes sense." Evie mumbled from beside me. I couldn't help but chuckle at her response.
The bell rang indicating the end of class. I sighed as I collected all my books which were spread in front of me. Evie did the same before waiting for Brian and me.
"Evie. We will both catch with you in a bit. Can I talk to Brian for a minute?" I asked her.
Although she seemed a little suspicious she nodded her head and went smiling at both of us. As soon as she was gone I got up from my seat too. By now, the class was almost empty.
"What do you wanna talk about?" Brian placed his arms on my shoulder.
"Let's talk outside." I said looking at Ms Garcia who was busy looking at some papers on her desk. As soon as I said those words she looked up and smiled,
"I wasn't eavesdropping anyway." She said.
"Actually you-" Brian started but I pinched him on his arm making him yelp before going silent. I smiled at Ms Garcia before pulling Brian out with me.
"You noticed that she was eavesdropping, right?" He asked.
I nodded at him sighing. We both looked at each other before giggling to ourselves.
"So what is it?" Brian asked steadying the books in his hands so that they were comfortable.
"Ummm..." I bit my lip looking around. Everyone seemed in a haste as they went onto their next classes. Our school isn't that small but with all the number of students in corridors at the same time made it seem so small.
I felt hands press down on both of my shoulders. When I looked up I saw two eyes looking at me incredulously, "No." He said sternly.
I looked at him confused. What is he talking about? I opened my mouth before he shook his head vigorously,
"No. No. No. No. No. No. It can't happen." He shook me.
If it wasn't for my steady legs, my soul would have been floating somewhere around in here.
"W-what are you talking about?" I asked. My voice didn't come out as I expected it to be. Partly because of the fact that Brian was still shaking me.
I slapped his hands away from me finally and looked at him in a questioning way.
"It can't be." He repeated, "You have Xavier!"
"Huh?" I could still feel all my organs shaking inside me because he didn't make any sense right now.
"As much as I care about you, I actually have someone whom I like." He said looking down.
And it was then that it hit me. All this drama that Brian was doing, it was because he thought I was confessing to him.
He is really dumb. I am asking for his help with Xavier, why would I like him?! I mean he is cute but GROSS. NO. He is Evie's guy.
I couldn't help but chuckle as I looked at him looking around helplessly. As if he wasn't sure what to do.
He looked at me incredulously before asking me the reason for my laughing.
"You are dumb." I finally admitted. He pursed his lips tight but I could see a smile on his lips, "I am not confessing to you idiot. I am here to ask you about your confession."
"My what?!"
"Did you confess to Evie?" I asked cutting straight to the point.
He looked at shortage of words as he tried to find what to say. He looked around baffled before shaking his head,
"No. Why would I confess to her?" He asked trying to maintain his cool.
"Because you like her." I said with deadpanned expression.
"No! I don't." He started but I stopped him by elbowing him in the stomach,
"Don't lie to me. I know it."
He fell quiet before looking down and nodding his head at me, "I do. I like her."
I took his hands excitedly on the verge of jumping when he shook his head,
"But I didn't confess to her. Not yet. And I don't think I can ever. I mean, she has always thought of me just as her friend. I don't want to ruin what we have right now to want something more. Which I doubt is possible." He ended sounding sad.
"It is possible." I whispered.
And I wasn't lying. It was possible. True, Evie just saw Brian as her friend and I know just how it feels to be friend-zoned but he could be more to her. She doesn't realize it but they are perfect together. And in order to make her realize that he has to let her know.
"I think it is time that you let her know about your feelings so she can start seeing you more than a friend."
He looked down a little upset. I wanted to sound reassuring. But I could see Brian didn't believe me. He knew what was to come if he confessed. And I knew it too. But there's always a hope. And I want him to hold onto that hope for as long as he can. And looking at him this upset made me upset too.
I gave his arm a reassuring squeeze and gave him a side hug, "Now wipe that frown off your face or I will ask Evie to kick your ass once again."
All at once his head snapped to me looking at me with betrayal, "You were the one."
I was the one who advised Evie to kick your ass? Yeah, that was me.
I looked at him shaking my head--on the verge of laughing, "She actually did it?! I didn't expect her to do it in real life."
He heaved a deep sigh before waving his hands in the air in frustration, "It is Evelyn we are talking about, Liya! That girl doesn't leave an opportunity to beat me."
I couldn't help but giggle at his expression because he looked like he was just betrayed by his two most loyal friends. But I could still see into his eyes. The adoration he held for the both of us. The warmth, the love. And this is what I love about Brian.
"But you still love her." I said nudging him. I love doing that to him. Nudging. Sometimes he gets irritated. Sometimes he just return them back to me with much more intensity.
"Yeah I do." He said, "And I love you too but I won't forget what you did!" He yelled before throwing me on his shoulders so that all I could see was his back. I felt his arms wrap around my legs and my waist so that I was steady on his shoulder before jumping once or twice and then catching the speed.
I screamed as he ran down the corridors with me on his shoulders, "Beep. Beep. Heavy Liya and her ride coming your way! Step aside people!"
"I am not heavy!"
"Oomph. You are! But the ride will only stop at its destination."
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