(30): Reminder

"Dude, Winnie knows ab-"

"I know" I interrupt harshly "You guys also didn't hesitate in throwing me under the bus"

"We couldn't lie to her" Nick defends.

"You guys didn't even have to mention Chelsea-Anne's name though" Kyle comes to my defense "I would have been perfectly okay taking the fall for everything"

Aww. That's kind of cute.

"She knows it happened at Betty's party and she knows that Chels saw" Kat says, trying to go over her summaries.

"We're sorry Chels but we had no choice" Nick apologizes softly.

I sigh "Well is she mad at you guys? Or just Kyle and I?"

"Just y'all" Nick answers awkwardly.

"Wow" I sigh.

Kyle sighs too "Typical Winona"

"You guys did tell us not to tell her even though we wanted to" Kat mutters accusingly.

I narrow my eyes at her irritated.

"Babe. Now's not the time" Nathan says.

She rolls her eyes "Whatever. I'm writing in ten minutes so I have to go. We'll speak when I'm done"

She can be so insensitive sometimes.

"Ignore her" Nathan excuses.

"Don't worry. I'll speak to Winnie. She probably needs time to cool off" Nick reassures looking at Kyle and I.

"Yeah, dude, whatever" Kyle murmurs.

"Well, I also have to get going now" He says walking away "Bye. We'll speak later"

"Bye" I mutter.

"Why'd you even come, dude? You're not writing today, remember?" Nathan reminds his friend.

"I had to drop off Chelsea-Anne" He says.

"I could've asked Nick to come pick me up if I knew you weren't writing" I excuse meekly.

He waves me off "It's fine"

"Wow..." Nathan drags, watching us.

I give him a puzzled gaze "What?"

He laughs "It's weird seeing you two not fight. So very weird"

"Dude, really?" Kyle deadpans dryly.

"We're friends now" I inform an amused Nathan "Didn't you know?"

He shakes his head "Nope"

"Well you do now so shut up" Kyle says.

Nathan just laughs "Okay, friends"

"What's with the tone, mister?" I accuse.

"Nothing. Just, you two can't be friends. You're polar opposites. Either you're gonna end up dating or go back to being enemies"

What?

"We can too be friends" I defend loudly.

He snorts "Okay. I'm giving you guys two months for either of these scenarios to happen"

I nudge Kyle "Can you believe this guy?"

"He's annoying" Kyle shakes his head but he looks kind of amused "So, what makes you think Chelsea-Anne and I can't be friends?"

"You're opposites" He repeats.

"So?" I ask.

"Opposites of different genders attract or they don't get along. They are never friends" He says matter-of-factly.

"What language are you speaking?" I deadpan.

"Just, trust me" He muses, shaking his head.

"Is that a challenge, Nathan?" Kyle asks "Cause you know I'll win, dude"

Nathan hums "Yeah, it is"

"Fine" I laugh intervening "Kyle and I will call you in two months time to confirm that we still very much are friends"

"Or more" Nathan teases.

Never.

"Or less" Kyle snorts jokingly and I narrow my eyes at him for even saying that.

"I'm starting to feel that this friendship is very one-sided" I complain pouting.

"Hey, how come he can be your friend and I can't?" Nathan also complains looking at me demandingly "I've known you longer"

"You were mean to me" I remind dryly.

He scoffs "So was Kyle. Still is, clearly"

He has a point.

I shrug defeated "I don't know"

"Dude, I'm special" Kyle boasts "Girls like me and not you. Even Kathrine's mom"

Who knew Kyle was this arrogant?

I breathe a laugh.

Nathan flips him off "Well, the girl that I like likes me back so fuck that"

"Wimp" I tease causing Kyle to laugh.

"Dude, seriously, what did Kathrine put in your food? You're like whipped" Kyle asks his friend.

Nathan shrugs "It's weird, huh?"

"So weird" Kyle snorts "You used to be my wingman. Well, not that I ever needed one"

They both smile looking to reminisce and I internally coo at how cute their friendship is. I know they both downplay it, but it's so nice to actually witness.

Bromance things.

"Good times" Nathan laughs.

I raise a brow at him "I don't think you're supposed to be reminiscing about getting girls, mister"

"Oh relax" He rolls his eyes "Kathrine and I are basically married"

I hum, acting like the overprotective best friend who makes sure that boyfriend is loyal at all times "You better be"

"Kyle, you should try it dude" He says.

Kyle raises a confused brow "Try what?"

"Getting a girlfriend" Nathan replies "It's really not that bad"

"Hey, that's what we spoke about yesterday" I remind Kyle excitedly "And yeah, Nathan has a really good point"

He shoots me a dry look "Do you really want me to try a relationship after what I witnessed with you and your ex?"

He has a point too.

"What happened?" Nathan asks confused.

"Noah showed up to this ice cream place that Kyle and I were at with this other girl. And he was shooting daggers at me and looked like he wanted me six feet under" I explain.

"Wait, you and Kyle were at an ice cream place together? Alone?" He asks amused, shooting us both curious and teasing stares.

Kyle shakes his head "Is that all you picked up?"

"Basically" He laughs "Looks like my theory might just come true"

I narrow my eyes at him "Okay. Seriously"

"She basically begged me to get her ice cream" Kyle defends.

"And you gave in?" Nathan shoots him a pointed look "Interesting"

I huff defeated "Kathrine is seriously rubbing off on you"

He cups his ear and acts like he didn't hear me "What was that? She's rubbing on me? Oh yeah, she does every night"

"Eww!" I shriek disgusted.

Kyle shakes his head "Dude"

"You know, Kat suspects this" I tell Nathan to which he looks at me confused "That you tell Kyle weird things about her. She thinks he doesn't like her because of that"

"You don't like Kat?" Nathan asks.

Is that all he got?

"I've never spoken to her" Kyle shrugs "I don't know if I like her or not"

Nathan hums "Then you should. I don't think Chels will appreciate it if you don't like her best friend"

"What?" I scrunch my face up in confusion "I don't really care. It's not like he's my boyfriend"

Nathan just laughs amused.

"Hey, were you there when Winnie asked the others about the whole Dee thing?" I ask him curiously.

He looks to think about it "I wasn't with them, but Kat told me about it later on"

"Oh" I trail off.

"She was with Nick. They've been spending a lot of time together lately" Nathan mutters.

Kyle snorts "Dude, are you jealous?"

"It's just Nicholas" He rolls his eyes.

"Sounds like you're jealous" I sing song causing him to scowl at me "I'm kidding. You know Nick is close with all of us. He has that effect on people"

"Whatever" He mutters lowly.

"Aren't you jealous, Chelsea-Anne" Kyle asks looking at me "Your two best friends are now each other's best friends"

I scoff immediately "Pshh, no"

"Really, now?" He asks knowingly.

Maybe a little. They've both been spending less time with me and more time with each other.

I shrug "You can be my new best friend"

"No thanks" He replies causing Nathan to laugh at me to which I show him the bird.

He puts his hands up in surrender "Don't hate the player, hate the game"

"I have another best friend" I retort "His name is Jacob, okay. So I don't need any of you annoying people"

I don't even know why I mentioned him because it makes me sad.

"Jacob?" Nathan asks knowingly "Isn't that the guy you were speaking about when you were on speaker?"

"Maybe"

"Don't you like him?" Nathan asks.

I shake my head "No. We're just friends"

"Sounded like you liked him or something. Or maybe he likes you"

I frown "He does"

"Why the frown?" He enquires.

I shrug "I don't feel the same. Now it's all awkward and stuff. And I hadn't even seen him in three years"

"Shame" Nathan mutters sympathetically.

"Do we have to speak about your girl problems?" Kyle deadpans watching us.

"Dude. Girls need support when they feel like this, not judgement" Nathan informs.

I high-five him "You tell him, Nate"

"Whatever" Kyle shakes his head.

"Oh right, I forgot. Feelings make you uncomfortable. Well, too bad, Chambers"

"Okay jeez I get it" He snaps defensively.

"You know, Chels, everyone thinks you're the innocent girl next door but you're out here breaking hearts, little player" Nathan teases.

I frown "I don't mean to! And don't call me a player, okay?"

He smirks "I'm just saying. Sounds to me like every guy is in love with you and you just don't feel the same"

It's kind of true.

"Do you think something is wrong with me?"

"Nothing at all" He laughs rubbing my shoulder to probably comfort me "I used to be like you too. Girls loved me and I didn't love them back"

"You can't compare me to you" I protest.

"Hate to break it to you, but you're a player"

I fold my arms huffing "I don't sleep with them! And I don't lead them on"

"Still a player" He laughs, egging me on.

"Dude, just leave her alone" Kyle tells his friend "She's too innocent to be a player"

It sounds offensive when he says it.

"Innocent?" I scoff.

He sighs loudly "Jeez, what do you want? You get offended when Nathan calls you a player and now you're offended when I say you're innocent?"

"It sounds condescending when you say it"

"Whatever" He mutters.

"Don't worry, Chels, he won't be saying that when you break his heart too" Nathan reassures, sending a smug smirk to his straight lipped friend.

Yeah right.

Kyle just laughs "Okay dude. You can't break someone's heart if they feel nothing for you"

Yikes.

"Maybe not now" Nathan smirks.

"You should stop hanging out with Kathrine" I deadpan.

These are things she would say.

"No can do" He grins.

"Wimp" Kyle shakes his head to which Nathan flips him off.

My alarm starts to ring which signals that I have five minutes to get to class. Hopefully my exam will go better today.

"Bye, you guys" I say "Wish me luck"

"Good luck, little player" Nathan says causing me to narrow my eyes at him and he just laughs at me.

"Lucks for suckers, Chelsea-Anne" Kyle says.

"Whatever. You two are the worst and if I fail, it's your fault" I grumble walking away "Bye"

I turn back after a while to see Nathan's arm sling over Kyle's shoulder as they also walk away from the spot we were standing at laughing their lungs out.

So cute!

****

Oh no no no. Why does this always happen to me? Oh god.

Kathrine's dorm is literally five minutes away from and off campus. I had two more minutes before I reached it. I didn't think this would happen again.

"Kitten, I need you to get in the car" Zorro coaxes impatiently.

A blue Mercedes Benz had been driving behind me but I didn't think it would be this. The car then parked and Zorro got out, to my absolute horror and fear. I tried to make a dash for it but he had already grabbed me by the arm.

"What do you want?" I whimper.

"I want you to get in the fucking car. My father is not a very patient man" He says, his grip getting harder causing me to yelp.

His father. Kyle's father.

"What does he want?"

Zorro groans annoyed "I could either nicely let you get in or drag in myself. You have two seconds to pick"

I sigh fearfully seeing as I have no choice. I start to move to car and he follows closely behind me. We enter in the backseat and it smells like and is clouded with smoke causing my start coughing.

The man who is in the driver's seat turns so he is facing Zorro and I. The eyes that greet me are exact replicas of Kyle's. But these ones are cold and detached to the point of no return.

"You must be Miss Chelsea" The man who looks just like Kyle greets.

They really look alike. Like, a lot. Same blonde hair, eyes and face shape. I'd be dwelling on how handsome his father is if it wasn't for the fact that he sends fear down my spine. He does look really good for his estimated age though.

"Hi" I squeak, way too scared to give him attitude. He looks like he wouldn't hesitate in breaking my neck.

He smiles "You're just as beautiful as I imagined"

"Thank you"

"Do you know why you're here, Miss Chelsea?" He asks calmly; relaxed as if he didn't just have me abducted.

I shake my head gulping "No"

"Kyle is a tough nut to crack" He starts off "You look like you're just what I need to crack him. It's nothing personal"

"Why me?" I ask softly.

"You look like the type of girl he would try to protect from any danger. I know my son"

"So does that mean you'll put me in danger?" I ask.

"Only to get to him sweetheart. It's really nothing personal"

"Kyle doesn't care about me like that" I feel the need to inform his father.

He just laughs "Really, now?"

"Yes" I say surely.

"Can I tell you something?" He half whispers "You remind me of my daughter. Surely you also remind him of her. He'll do anything to protect you because of that"

"Riley" I confront.

I remind him of Riley? I wonder how. I don't even know the girl.

"He told you?" Zorro snaps.

I shake my head "I googled your father"

"Off course you did" Kyle's father laughs "Did you like what you found?"

"No"

"At least you know the kind of man you're dealing with, sweetheart, that was smart of you" He tells me.

"Okay but don't tell Kyle" I ask.

His father tseks amused "Calm down, I don't even speak to him"

"He doesn't like to speak about you" I blurt.

"I know" His father replies harshly "He owes me. Did he tell you that? His debt is long overdue and I'm losing my patience"

"Owes you what?" I enquire.

"That's something he'll tell you himself. I need you to tell him that I want to be repaid or there'll be hell to pay. Starting with you"

I gulp scared, my eyes brimming "Okay..."

"I don't want it to get nasty sweetheart, because as I said you remind me very much of my dear daughter. But if it does, it will be his fault" He says, his eyes dark.

I'm so scared.

"Okay" I swallow hard.

His father nods as if satisfied with my answer. Thank goodness "Zach, you can let her out. I hope for your sake that we won't have to meet again, Miss Chelsea. Because next time I won't be this nice"

Oh lord.

When he's done, Zorro opens the door and I dash out as quick as lightning, my heart thumping in my chest.

I watch them drive away and breathe a soft sigh of relief before shakingly taking out my phone to make a call.

"Chelsea-Anne?" Kyle asks confused.

I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out. My throat hurts.

"Hello?"

"P-p-please come get me" I stutter.

"What?" His voice sounds alarmed and concerned "What happened? Where are you"

"Please come" I plea desperately, on the verge of breaking down.

"Okay" He sighs "I'm on my way."

***

So you guys finally met Jefferson Chambers. What did you think?