"Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last, you create what you will." -George Bernard Shaw
Ashley's POV
I went back to the house after Grayson left and immediately I did, I came face to face with Lucas and Dylan's curious gazes.
It's time to tell them.
"You were right," I say and Dylan raises his brows at more.
"Grayson and I are together," I say and a smile stretches on Lucas' lips.
"Finally," Luc mutters and I raise one brow at him.
I was about to talk but then Dylan's voice stopped me, "So why did you deny it?"
I walk towards the couch and take it.
"Honestly, I don't know. It just came out like that."
"You know how hurtful that might have sounded to him?" Dylan asks, a frown on his lips.
"I know, I didn't mean to. I've apologized to him." I say in expectance that he understands.
"And what did he say?" his frown doesn't lessen even a tad.
"That it was okay," I answer honestly.
"That's exactly what he'd say. You don't expect him to say otherwise, do you? He wasn't okay, okay? As much as he may have said he was, he wasn't. Little sis, you're starting this on the wrong foot already." He sighs, "If I were in his shoes, I would be contemplating if you like me because denying him doesn't look like it."
"But I already apologized and he said he it was okay."
He shakes his head at me and Lucas chips in, "Just be careful with your actions and inactions. I think he genuinely likes you." To say I was shocked would be an understatement.
"Exactly." Dylan nods his head in agreement.
I sigh before saying, "Okay."
I thought everything was okay but boy I was so wrong, because the next I knew, Dylan was asking for more info. "I want to know how it happened and how come you didn't inform us." He asks, a knowing look on his face.
So I tell them everything when and how it happened.
"So why didn't you tell us?" Lucas asks.
I raise my brows at him because his interest in this matter baffles me. "Luc, remember you didn't like him when you first attended school with us. You literally had a so-called nice conversation with him on your first day." I air quote, "He was the only boy that seemed to be coming close to me yet you didn't like it. You were acting like the overprotective brother I never wanted, remember?" I shoot him a look and he only chuckles.
"That was then, but now I know better. He's a genuine good guy. Besides, do you also remember yourself warning me to back off? I did that."
"Of course! I do. But with the way you acted, some people were starting to think you were my possessive boyfriend instead of my supposed cousin."
"What?!!" Both Dylan and Lucas yell out, laughter following next, their uproar of laughter, loud. They continued to laugh to the point where Dylan had to clench his tummy cause it hurt from all the laughter.
To my best knowledge this isn't supposed to be funny, is it? It's just gross to think of Lucas and me like that. Eeeew, Incest!!
"That's ridiculous," Luc says after their laughter session slowly dies off.
"That's preposterous." Dylan chips in.
"You act the part very well, I tell you," I say, referring to Lucas.
"Luc, I think you'll be a possessive boyfriend. It's scary man." Dylan hits him playfully in the shoulder.
He purses his lips, "Is it that bad?"
"Very!" Dylan and I say in unison.
"Oh! Guys come on!" He tries to brush it off but both Dylan and I look at him, absolute seriousness masking our faces and no smiles on.
"Okay? Well," he lifts his hands in mock surrender.
About a few minutes later, Mum and Dad came back from wherever they went and we all had dinner together before leaving for our rooms.
I call Cam and when she picks up, "Hey you!" I say.
"What?" She laughs and I frown.
"Where have you been the whole day?" I ask.
"You know today is the day when the rest of my family members go back to their homes after spending the Christmas season with us."
"Yeah!" I respond, and she continues.
"I literally spent the whole day helping them pack. Girl?!! You should have come to see my male cousins. They've grown to be freaking hot. If not for the fact that we're related I would go for them."
"Cam!!" I screech. She can be so unbelievable at times.
"What?!!" She says, "It's the truth." I bet she's rolling her eyes right now.
I laugh, "You're senile and the worst mixture of crazy."
"Never said I wasn't." She points out, a hint of playfulness in her tone.
I clear my throat, "Lucas was asking of you."
Her voice quietens down and she takes a second or two before talking. "Oh! I will text him then."
"Please do!"
There was a sound in the background like someone talking and she groans, "I can hear my name being called, talk to you later. Okay?"
"Okay, bye then."
"Remember to greet lover-boy for me, Bye!" And then she hangs up.
Immediately it ends, and another call comes through. Grayson!
I answer it, putting the phone on my ear.
"Ash." He says my name. Soothing it sounded, from his lips.
"Yeah."
"I know I said I'd text you." He says.
"It's okay. I'd take it you're home?"
"Yeah. I got home not long ago. I freshened up and decided to call you after."
"Oh okay," I say and we fall silent.
Omg! What do I say? It's awkward not knowing what to say, isn't it?
"Um, goodnight?" I say suggestively.
"Night." He takes a long time before saying.
"Bye!" I say.
"Bye," His voice reduces an octave lower.
I let out a breath before placing my phone on my nightstand and changing into my nightwear. I climb into bed and put out my light.
_ _
Cam wouldn't stop talking about this party she invited me to. According to her, it was organized by a student from our school. She said Pierson invited her and she so badly wanted to go, so for these few days, she kept reminding me of how I shouldn't forget. I initially told her I didn't want to attend yet she wasn't hearing it. I asked my parents hoping they wouldn't permit me to go, but they did. I groaned and asked them why, and they looked at me like I was crazy for asking them why. Or am I?
Now, here we are in Lucas' car. He was to just drop me off at Cam's place but when we got there, he insisted on joining us for the party. I told him it was okay and that we could take care of ourselves but he wasn't having it.
I wanted to inform Grayson of my whereabouts in case he called and I wasn't able to pick up, so I sent him a text message as we sat in the car on our way to the party.
"Cam invited me to a party. We're headed there. Lucas is with us."
In a matter of seconds, he replies. "Okay, stay safe. Be careful, drinks are sometimes spiked at parties."
"Sure will." I text back.
"Do you want me to come there?"
"Oh no, it's okay. I'll be fine."
"If you say so."
"Bye!" I finally text before putting my phone away.
When we finally got there, the place was fully packed with people I could detect as students from my school, although there were other faces I couldn't recognize as those from my school.
"Come on!" Cam yells over the blasting music, excitement lacing her tone, as she tugs at my hand.
"Where are we headed?" I ask her.
"To find Pierson." She says.
"Lucas is right behind us, you know." I slowly whisper in her ear.
She turns to me with a shrug and I raise my brows at her.
"We're gonna let him miss us. Just follow my lead."
Third Person's POV
Lucas was intently and carefully trailing behind Cam and Ash when one girl who claimed her name was Melissa stopped him and as nice as he was, stopped to listen to her but he made sure his eyes remained on the two girls ahead of him as she spoke. Soon enough his attention was drawn to her instead of the girls ahead of him.
"You know, you're very handsome." She trails her manicured hands on his chest. He looks at her with a scowl before taking off her hands.
"Thanks." He says referring to her compliment, "but I have to go." And with that, he walks briskly past her, but when he scans the place in search of Cam and Ash, they were nowhere in his sight.
He decides that they can't be missing in the same party he's in, they're probably somewhere different so when a group of male acquaintances he's befriended ever since stepping in school calls out to him, he heads where they are.
The party goes on and on, it ticks and tocks, and slowly time flies. It was time for a truth or dare game decided to be played by a group of students. Of course! Anyone interested could play but just a few of the teenagers were interested in playing whilst a major part was involved in other things like drinking, getting drunk, dancing, flirting, seduction, and many other things termed as fun to them.
- -
The game was head-on, fun. The rules were simple, if you didn't want to say the truth or do the dare, you drink.
Amongst the people playing were Cam and Lucas.
Everyone had done a first round of the game and now it was the second round and Lucas' turn to be precise. Pierson volunteered to give out the questions of the truths and the dares. He wasn't involved in playing though, just giving out the truths and dares.
"Okay, so Lucas you're next. Truth or dare." Pierson asks.
"Dare." He says, not knowing what was in store for him.
Pierson smirks, the wheels in his head turning. "I dare you..." his eyes glint in mischief, "...to kiss Cam."
At the sound of this, Cam's eyes widened as she seemed to almost choke on saliva. With a panicked look, she stared at Lucas- who was sitting right beside her-shaking her vigorously at him. A sign that he shouldn't, but he ignores it. He'd been meaning to do this for a long time and now that the opportunity availed itself, there was no way he was letting it go. It's now or never, he encouraged himself.
*******
Hey!!!
So Lucas and Cam's story continues.
Guys?? What do you think will happen?
If you were in Lucas' shoes, what would do?
Please don't forget to add 'His Smile' to your reading lists.
And vote! Comment!