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Iris
"Come on, Iris." He pokes me. "Tell me, no?"
"Nope," I say, moving away from him.
"What's got you so Armstrong standing on the moon first time happy?" I give Adi a look at the comparison and he shrugs. "What? Are you not into space things and all?"
"Adi, give up."
Coincidentally, Mom and Ms. K dropped us off at school at the same time. After a small introduction between them, they hit it off soonâI am not kidding. They might be in Starbucks, right now, gossiping about Adi and me.
Since we are earlier than usual, today, we are sitting in the grassy area, near the parking lot. I am trying to complete my homework for AP Physics but can't because Adi keeps on asking me why am I so happy for thirty minutes and forty-three seconds now.
As if he doesn't know it.
"Hey, if you share your happiness, there will be one star at nightâ"
"It is Noah," I say, finally. "Okay? I am happy because the team won the match. And Noah's happy which makes me happy."
"I knew but I wanted you to tell me." He grins, shamelessly.
As I type in my laptop, I ask him, "And why is that?"
He nudges my shoulder. "Because you guys are cute and I like it!"
I laugh. But it is true; Adi really likes the fact Noah and I are together, finally. So much that he even made a presentation of the events that led to it for the 'future'âwhatever that means in his dictionary.
Anyway, Noah isn't coming todayâor for that matter, anyone from the soccer team. The team was so happy that they thought deserved another break from school. Apparently, Coach gave them permission which doesn't make sense because their attendance would for sure have been absent in it.
"Um, hi?"
Both of us look up and see a girl standing in front of Adi. She pushes back her specs on her nose, nervously, as she glances at Adi. I look behind her and notice her best friends looking at this scene.
Oh.
"You are Anna Stephen, the president of the coding club, right?"
Adi being himself, smiles, charmingly at her and makes her blush. She glances at her friends who give her thumbs up while I lean against the tree, excitedly.
Anna nods and finally says, "Yeah, yeah I am."
Adi grins. "I really liked your robot app ideaâI have been trying to come up with some ideas for mine but most I forget after a good night's sleep."
"Yeah, that happens with me too." She laughs, tucking her hair behind her ear, and I can feel her nervousness slowly vanishing.
"So, tell me, Miss President, what can I do for you?"
"Um, actually, I needed some help with my code."
"Oh?" He straightens up. "Do you mind...?"
"No, I don'tâbut is it alright with you?" She asks, expecting that he is alright with it.
"Yeah, of courseâit will help my coding skills too."
Anna smiles. "Then, we can meet up tomorrow at Ricky's?"
At this Adi pauses, taken aback. His finger starts fidgeting on the material of his jeans and he looks at me. For the first time, I notice nervousness in him and I almost am shocked. But being a good friend, I give him an encouraging smile.
He sighs and turns to Anna, who seems like she can die of all the anxiety. "Tomorrow at Ricky's, I'll be there."
She nods, smiling. "Okay."
"Okay."
"Okay."
"OâI think we need toâ"
They laugh, looking at each other. Anna waves him off with a smile, before going towards her friends. Adi smiles, looking down at the grass.
"Hey, guys!" Alyssa says as she and Tom come towards us.
Tom asks us, "What are you guysâ"
"Adi has a date!" I tell them, excitedly.
"Iris!" Adi exclaims.
The twins look at each other for a moment and then at Adi with wide eyes, before they start speaking simultaneously.
"Tell meâ"
"âeverything!"
"It is not a date." Adi stands up, dusting him off, and turns to me, holding out a hand.
"It is!" I say to him, holding his hand and standing up. I put my laptop in my bag as Alyssa starts questioning.
"Who is it?"
We start walking towards the building and Adi answers, "Anna Stephen."
"Junior year?"
"Yes."
Now, Tom asks, "The one with specs?"
"Yes." Adi sighs and turns, walking backward. "But it is not a dateâShe asked me for some help and I agreed."
"What about all the laughing?" I ask back.
Tom turns to me, surprised. "There was laughing?"
"And giggling! And they did that okay thing from FIOS!"
Adi points at me, saying, "I stopped before that could've happened!"
"You like her," Alyssa says, grinning. "You like like her, don't you?"
He turns again, his back towards us and he mumbles, "She has a cute smile."
"Aw," The rest of us coo and start laughing when Adi tells us to shut up. But he has a smile on his face too.
"Can we please talk about something else that doesn't include my love life?" He groans.
"Why, your love life is more amusing," Tom says, wrapping his arm around Adi's shoulder. Adi groans again and pushes him away, making him laugh.
Alyssa laughs, before saying, "But yeah, I have something. A party."
"In which I am deejaying," Tom inputs. "But it is a high school party, nevertheless."
"Let me guess, a winning party?" I roll my eyes. "Noah would kill you all for dragging him again."
Alyssa slides towards me and gives me a smug smile. "What if you convince him this time?"
"Ha, bold of you to assume I'll come." I look at Tom and Alyssa. "Remember the last time I partied?"
The woman grins. "I do, but you don't."
The last time I went to a party, I don't remember anything from that. All I know is that the next morning, I had a headache almost like a big boulder was on my head and I couldn't stop vomiting my guts out. My parents didn't ground me for that, I grounded myself to never go to parties.
The only person who remembers what I did then is Alyssa. And she refuses to tell me what I did.
"What did she do?" Adi asks her, eagerly.
"Uh-uh," Alyssa waggles her finger. "No chance, I'm spilling that tea."
Victoria is standing in front of her opened locker, when we reach my locker. But there's something about her expression that's odd. She stands still and seems to be holding something in her hands in the locker.
Tom calls out, "Hey, Victoria!"
"Everything okay?" I ask her, opening my locker.
Almost immediately, Victoria turns and looks at me, wide-eyed. "Iris, don't openâ"
And out comes square-sized photographs from my locker. Not just a few, a whole lot of the same pictures that were circulated at the school last year fall onto the floor.
I hear Alyssa gasps, "Is thatâTom! We hadâ"
Tom says, looking at the pictures, "Fuck yeah, we had burned them all!"
"What the actual fuck..." Adi trails away. "What do you mean you hadâ!"
"Every locker got one," Victoria states. "But I guess, you gotâfuck man, who would do this to you?"
"I know who." I slam my locker shut and turn around. "That freaking expired coupon!"
Walking towards his locker, I'm hyper-aware of my breathing pace and it is nothing like normal, while the whole memory of last year's incident comes to my mind. Any other day, I would've definitely gotten the panic attack but this time, it is different.
Because I'm about to explode on that asshole.
Thomas's locker isn't far away from mine, so it isn't long when I see his bloody blonde head. His friends notice me first and then, he sees me approaching. He doesn't seem fazed at allâmore like turns smug.
"Hey, Irisâ"
I swing my fist into his jaw, instantly feeling the pain in my knuckles, as I hear the oohs from my friends behind me. I don't know if it hurt him or not, but he surely is stunned.
Once I do that, all the anger I feel for him dissolves and I sigh in relief. "Gosh, that felt so good."
One of his friends, then, says, "What the fuck, Iris?"
"None of your business," I snap, before turning my gaze to my ex-boyfriend.
Thomas is rubbing his jaw with a grimace on his face; surely getting a bruise by the looks of it. "We could've just talked."
I look at him, incredulously. "There's literally nothing to talk about."
"I love you, Iris!" He says, loudly, "Why won't come back to me?"
"These fake photoshopped pictures around the school say otherwise. And about me coming back to youâdon't even dream about it, you cold bowl of soup in Antarctic winter."
He scoffs. "I thought you were different from other girls, Iris. But I guess, the good guy never gets picked."
"Good guy? You?" Alyssa says, points at him, "I think you need a reality check."
"And you thought there were choices?" Victoria laughs. "Man, were you in a huge misconception. Also, if there were, in what right mind did you think you were on the list?"
Thomas looks at us and then, turns to his friends. "You guys knowâ"
"These pictures say a lot, Thomas. I'm out of here," His friend, Adam, says, and turns to me, before walking away. "I am sorry, Iris, that you had to deal with this piece of shit."
And just like that, one by one, all of his friends leave him while Thomas just gapes at them.
"But guysâ" Thomas looks around for help but instead finds a gossip-searching crowd and my friends.
"Like always, you are wrong." I walk towards Thomas and this time he steps back when I approach him. "The good guys always get picked."
I reach out and trail my finger on his jaw until I reach the bruise, I have given him.
"Listen to me and listen to me good, Thomas Scott. Don't you dare come near me and the people I care about or I'll rip you off. Bone. By. Bone." I press a finger on the bruise. He hisses in pain and glares at me. But I smile, sweetly. "Okay? Have a good life. Buh-bye!"
I turn around and put my arms around Victoria's and Alyssa's arms as we start to walk away from the crowd that was formed, with Adi and Tom following us.
"That was crazy," Tom comments.
"Chaotic," Victoria inputs.
Adi then says, "Nope, it was clearly psychotic."
Alyssa laughs. "Hell yeah, but you gotta love it too."
"Guys," I say and all of them turn towards me. I smile, genuinely. "So about that party, today..."
***
Getting ready for the party doesn't take me much time. I've worn a black bodysuit under my good pair of blue denim, which are ripped near the knees, with the black boots, Daisy gave me months ago. For once, my hair is nice, soft, and wavy as I've let them down. Except for mascara and my lip balm, I don't have any other makeup.
But since it is chilly at night, I've got my puffed jacket with me. I don't bother to bring a purse, so I stuff my phone in my pockets and I am good to go.
So, here I am, walking downstairs and hoping my parents don't notice me as I just sneakily go out. But who am I kidding? They are my parents.
They are literally waiting for me at the end of the stairs.
"My, my, my," Mom muses, looking at me. "You are all dressed up this evening."
"Are you going somewhere?" Dad asks, narrowing his eyes.
I sigh, standing in front of them. "What do you think, Dad?"
"Uh, uh, I'm the parent." Dad holds up a finger. "I ask questions."
I shrug, crossing my arms over my chest. "Okay, ask away."
And he starts, "Where are you going?"
"A party."
He presses on. "What kind of party?"
"Dad," I say, "What kind of parties do teenagers go to?"
They share a look and Dad says, "I fell right into that, didn't I?"
Mom pats him on the chest. "Yes, you did." She turns to me, seriously. "Whose?"
I reply, "Someone from the football team or softball teamâI don't know. Alyssa told us."
"Okay, so," Dad asks, "You and the whole gang are going, right?"
"Caleb canceled at the last minute. Said that he has some brushing up to do with school stuff." I say with a grimace. "But yeah, all others are going."
"Cool, cool." Dad nods, thinking. "Who's going to take you there?"
I look at Mom for a brief moment and, noticing my look, her lips lift to a smile.
Mom, of course, knows about Noah and me.
She found out after she caught Noah sneaking out of my window, last time he was here. It was an... interesting conversationâof three sentences.
"So, you both are..."
"Yeah."
"Oh, goodness. Finally."
But one good thing comes out of it. She has been covering for my dumb butt when I almost crack in front of Dad. Almost like right now.
"Umâ"
"Oh, Steve, come on," she says, wrapping her arms around his arm and almost pulling him down to our height. "Of course, someone from the gang is going to take her there. She won't walk to the party."
Dad stares at Mom, dumbfoundedly, as Mom smiles at him. His ears turn a little pink and he looks away, clearing his throat. He mumbles, "Why so cute?"
"You love that." Mom nudges him.
He glances at her from the corner of his eyes. "That I do, Mia, my love."
Now, usually, I groan or make a face of disgust at their open declaration of love. But still, I've got to admire the way they are in love for so many years and also the way they both remember all of their important dates.
So cute.
"What did you just say?"
Dad turns to me, shocked, while Mom murmurs something about lord or Jesus. She gives me a look after and I realize I talked out loud.
Feigning innocence, I say, "What did I say?"
Dad drops Mom's arms from his arm and puts his hands on his hip. "Iris Cooper, not once in all eighteen years, have you called us cute or even awed at us. I wonderâ"
The doorbell rings.
The color in my face drains away. This is the worst timing anyone can ever imagine. Still, I think I can make it when I try to run towards the door, but Dad beats me to it. With a twist of the doorknob and a pointed look towards me, he opens the door.
And there stands Noah Radcliffe.
He has worn a grey plain t-shirt, under a flannel maroon shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and top buttons opened. Along with it, he has worn blue jeans with white Vans. He is surprised at first seeing Dad, but he regains himself and puts up his usual blank face.
Dad says, "Noah."
Noah nods. "Steve."
Then, Dad does the stupidest thing he has ever done in my life. He shuts the door literally on Noah's face.
Mom gapes. "Good lord, Steve. What the hell?"
"Dad!" I glare at him.
He glares back. "You're dating him!"
I puff my cheeks, before saying, "Yes, he is my boyfriend and I am his girlfriend. We're dating."
For a long moment, we just stare at each other, not even backing down. And then, he groans and looks around, before looking at Mom.
"You knew?" He asks her.
"I knew," She replies, shrugging.
He huffs like he can't really believe itâmore like offended. "And you didn't tell me?"
"I thought it was obvious."
"For you, since you knew!"
"Steve," Mom starts. "You're overreacting."
"Oh, please," Dad rolls his eyes and turns to me. "You didn't tell me? I thought I was your favorite parent."
"Dad," I say, ignoring his last statement, "I had heard what you said to Percy when we dropped Daisy at the airport."
He makes a face. "And you thought I would use the same tactics for Noah? God, no. I am smarter than thatâNoah is smarter than that."
I sigh, moving forward to open the door. When I do, Noah is still standing with his head down low and his foot bouncing up and down. Noticing the door open, he looks up and smiles when he sees me.
"Bella," is all he says.
"Now, listen here, young man," Dad points his finger at Noah. "Youâyouâ" He pouts and turns to look at Mom. "Why can't I threaten this kid?"
"You like him, Dad," I say, giving a soft nudge on his chest. "You know it, too."
He frowns. "But I don't want to like my little girl's boyfriend."
I groan but turn serious when Noah takes a step forward. "Steveâor do you want to be called Mr. Cooper, right now?"
Dad straightens up and dusts off his shirt. "Mr. Cooper, for now."
He nods, before giving me an assured look when I look at him, confused. "Mr. Cooper, I..."
He pauses for a moment, before continuing, "I have feelings for your daughter. I do not know what words would assure you that I am good for your daughter because, in fact, she is too good for me. But for some reason, she requites my feelings and trusts me."
Then, he looks at me and says, "And I am no fool to take that for granted."
My cheeks light up and I feel both of my parents' gazes on us. I glance towards them and see Mom grinning while Dad tries hard not to.
"Man," Dad groans. "Why you gotta make it hard for me to hate you?"
Noah shrugs. "You've always liked me, Steve."
Dad nods but lets out a smile, finally. "Yeah, or you can step up in my books by buying me some tickets for the Phillies match onâ"
"Alright," I interrupt him and grab Noah's arm, making us walk towards his car. "We have a party to go to! Bye!"
Dad says from behind, "By 11, I want her back!"
Noah replies, "Yes, you will!"
"And no forâ"
And the door shuts close.
***
The both of us stare at the house that is hosting the party. The house is so bright, not to mention the low hum of techno music which will be ten times louder inside, that we can literally see it from a few blocks away.
Many kids are outside of the house on the front lawn, literally waiting for their turn to enter mickey mouse's clubhouseâyup, that's what I am calling it because I don't whose party we're actually going to.
Some are trying their hardest to get in or are waiting for their friends, furiously texting them to hurry up. Then, there are others who are taking a break, no wonder after almost getting suffocated in there. People are drinking, dancing, and making out in any given space as usual.
It is only then I realize that this is the first time Noah and I are going to be together in front of everyoneâlike officially officially.
As if realizing the same, Noah wraps his hand around mine. "Bella, you sure? We can wait, you haven't even told Caleb yet."
Caleb... he has been different nowadays and with Colt and Caleb thing, I don't really know when's the right time to tell him. I am not scared and I do want to tell him but it just seems like he is the one who is ignoring me, all of a sudden.
I tell him, "I called him today to come over to bake or study or do something but he told me that he wants to study alone. I know I said I wanted to tell him, first, but honestly? I can't wait anymore, Noah. I don't want to hide us."
Noah takes his hand out of mine and puts it around my waist. He smiles when he looks across my face, as his eyes shine with the brightness of a thousand suns.
"What?" I ask as the corner of my lips lifts too.
"Nothing." He shakes his head with a small laugh. "Nothing, you look beautifulâjust like you always do, but I think I am going to put on my boyfriend instincts on soon."
"Or, you can start right now." I stand on my toes and give him a quick kiss. He smiles and leans down for another one whenâ
"About time!"
Nick puts his arms around Noah and me, standing in between and looking at us. "You, two, love birds have been killing us with all that tension andâhey, Iris, you look good."
"Step away, Wills," Noah says, irritated. "That's my woman."
And there goes the chorus around the group, "My woman!"
Noah and I, forcefully, pull away from each other as we look at our friends. Colt and Adi are grinning, looking at us, while Victoria looks surprised. Nick has his hand around Noah, teasing him about me, while Mike looks between Noah and me and laughs.
"What's so funny?" I ask him.
"Nah," He says, smiling, "A lot of things from the last week make sense."
"He smiled?"
"A lot. And laughed too."
I smile, hearing that, just as Adi comments, "Wow, you don't look like Iris Cooper at all."
I ask him, confused, "What does that mean?"
"That means you should happily take a compliment and say thank you in reply."
"Alright, Sassy pants," I say, rolling my eyes. "Thank you."
"Aw, my babies are finally together!" Victoria says, hugging me. Noah makes a face and opens his mouth to say something when I give him a look to shut up.
Colt and Adi look at each other and give each other high-fives. They say, bowing together towards us, "You're welcome."
Mike gestures towards both of them. "You both rehearsed that, didn't you?"
Colt points his thumb towards Adi. "It was all his idea."
"Hey! I thought we wouldn't reveal that." Adi pouts.
"The whole ride," Victoria starts to tell me, pointing at the idiots. "They were too excitedâand when I asked why, all I got you will know." She mimics Adi's voice, making all of us laugh.
"Anyway, where are the twins?" Nick asks us.
Looking back at the clubhouse, I ask back, "Why do you think this party is such a hit?"
As we enter the house, after a deep in-depth conversation with the bouncers outside, I realize the sight of a party irrespective of host never changes. Loud music, hormonal and drunk teenagers, provocative dancing, and, of course, alcohol.
Of course, the only sane thing is the music which is curated by the one and only Tom Jones.
"Damn," Victoria says to me, over the loud music. "I knew Tom was a good deejayâbut didn't know he is this good."
"He's a natural," I say back to her.
Just then, Alyssa comes towards us in a sequined dress and goddamn heels that make her way taller than us. "Guys, I've been waitingâ" She stops when she looks at Noah's and my intertwined hands. She squeals and hugs both of us. "Finally, both of you bitches are together!"
Noah clears his throat, making Alyssa roll her eyes and leave him. But she keeps on hugging me. She pulls away and tells me, "I need details. Okay? Every detail."
Just then, Adi slides towards us. "You can contact me for all the details. After all, I was their cupid."
"You weren't," Noah states.
Adi feigns innocence. "How would you know, asshole?"
Alyssa laughs and turns to me. "I'm so happy for you, babe."
"I'm happy for me too!"
"Now, let the fucking party start! Come on!" She grabs my arm leading me towards the main floor. "Your field. NOW LET'S HAVE SOME FUN!"
Alyssa twirls and jumps with the music. A moment later, Nick and Victoria join us as even I can't stop myself to move with the beats, laughing with them. Tom's playlist is, like always, really good; the songs aren't just EDM or per se party songs or considered 'good' nowadays. People, too drunk or not, seem to enjoy themselves.
And all this makes me realize that no matter how much I say I hate parties, I do like them sometimesâor given my history, like them too much.
I don't know much time passed away but when I look back, I notice Noah, leaning against a wall awkwardly, with a red plastic cup. When he starts to look around, his eyes meet mine and he smiles at me.
I look at my friends and as they seem to be enjoying themselves, I take a step back and more steps back until I turn and walk towards him.
Noah comments, when I stand next to him, "Nice exit."
"One of my special talents, Stupid," I say, pulling myself up on the table next to the wall. I look at his cup. I lean, asking loudly as the volume goes up, "Is it beer?"
"Water," He replies. "My ears are ringing from the volume."
I laugh. "Yup, that's how all parties are."
"Adi told me that you punched Thomas." He shakes his head, laughing. "I just wish I had been there to see that."
"He had that coming," I say, "Trying to ruin what I have, now? Yeah, hell no."
"By the way," He leans down until his lips are next to my ear. "I loved your moves back there."
I feel my face getting heated up, but I roll my eyes and say, "Still shameless, I see."
"Oh, that isn't anything compared to what was going on in my mind." He smirks, making my cheeks light up like Christmas lights.
"Noah!" I push him away and he laughs, as I try my best not to laugh with him.
Noah takes my hand in his. "What do you say we skip the party and go to Corals'?"
Before I can even reply, Tom's voice comes, loud and clear above the music. "Before we start partying, a huge huge shoutout to Noah Radcliffeâthe captain of our soccer team!"
Everyone hoots and turns towards us, clapping. Noah smiles and gives a two-finger wave, thinking that's the end. Hell no, it isn't.
Colt comes beside him and starts dragging him while Adi is hooting and recording on his phone.
Noah looks between them. "What theâ"
Colt says to me, "We are gonna borrow your boyfriend for a moment, and then you can stuff your faces with each other."
"Just take him!" I wave them off. Noah gives me a look but I just blow a kiss in return. "Enjoy!"
They take him out to the garden with all of the soccer team players, shouting 'Sea-kings' and I laugh, jumping down to the floor. I am about to walk off towards the deejay counter to Tomâthe only not-drunk person left to interact when I spot cupcakes on the next table.
I remember I learned about magnetism in human bodies but are they that powerful? Because I'm getting too much attracted by those cute little cherries on top of those cupcakes.
Just for a trial, I reach for one of the cupcakes, eating it down. By heavens, it is so delicious. So much that it just melts on my tongue.
Before I can even think for a second, I shove another and after that, another and... I think I lose my count after two or is it three? Well, who cares about numbers when the stuff is so good?
Cupcakes are happyâcuteâcuter and happier. Oh, like how Ed Sheeran's lyrics areâ'I want you to be happier', these cupcakes want me to be happppppiiieeeerrr.
"Woah, woah, woah, don't eat too much."
I tilt my face as Stacy takes away the plate. They put the plate on some other table and when I try to reach it, they slap my hand.
"Ow."
"Yup, that is exactly what your stomach is saying."
"Why?"
"Because you are overconsuming cupcakesâmore like inhaling them like oxygen."
"Sorry, tummy," I murmur, half-guiltily. I've no idea why but then, I say, "Gummy."
Stacy blinks. "What?"
"Mummy, Lummy, Yummy, Chummy... Timmy?"
"Now, who the fuck is Timmy?" They exclaim.
Their voice, suddenly, seems far far away from meâlike those castles in fairytales which are in a far far away land, safe from the cruel and real human world. This is insaneâthey are standing near me on my left.
Suddenly, I feel lightâmore like uber-light. Almost like white clouds on a bright sunshiny day. Sunshine. Sun. Noah.
"Iris!" They shake me. "Are you listening to me?"
"Noah!" I murmur, frantically. When I look around and don't find him, tears pool into my eyes. "Where's Noah?"
"Woah, Iris, calm down," Stacy says. "Heâhe must be somewhere."
"Did he leave?" I sniffle. "Everyone just leaves."
"Iris, just look at me for once." They look across my face as I do, and suddenly, their expression changes from calm to shocked. "Oh fuck."
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