Twisted in my own way

"Amy wake up" Dia jabbed me.

"Let me sleep for some more time." I groaned in my sleep.

"We have reached home. Let's go to the room and you can sleep all you want."

"Shhh go away" why are they hell-bent on waking me. I'm having the best sleep of my life.

"You are all over Jason and hugging him Amy. Do you want me to click pictures? You both make quite a sight. Mom would be thrilled to see it." I heard Ryan's voice.

That was enough for me to wake up from my sleep. I'm leaning over Jason's shoulder hugging him and gripping his graphic tee with my hands. And his tee wet with my drool. I jerked back to create some space between us and tried to wipe the drool from his tee.

Dia and Ryan are standing by the car door and giggling at us. Jason is not even looking at me. He is looking out the window with his cheeks colored, is he angry or embarrassed? I can't make it out.

Jason walked into the house first with few shopping bags in hand. Ryan and Dia continued to give me amused looks. I ignored them and turned over to Sameer.

"It was so nice meeting you Sameer. Hope we meet again." I told him smiling.

"Oh sure, do plan something so that I can meet you again."

"Hahaha sure. We will plan another one but not to rushy markets." I told him with a wink.

I walked back to the living room to see Grandma and Grandpa with worried expressions and Jason standing before them awkwardly shuffling in his feet.

"Dia, what happened to Jason's hand. Why is he hurt? Is anyone else hurt??" grandma asked anxiously.

"What happened? Who is hurt?" Aunt Seema also came out of the kitchen with a worried face.

"No we all are fine grandma." Said Dia. Grandma looked over at me and Ryan but we just didn't know what to tell her. Dia already told us, to keep this a secret because they would worry unnecessarily.

"Jason, How did you get hurt ?" This time grandpa asked.

"It's nothing, I'm fine." Jason fumbled.  Sameer walks with the remaining shopping backs from the car's booty.

"Sameer, no one is answering us. What happened? why is Jason hurt?" Grandpa asked  Sameer with a commanding voice.

"Nothing grandpa, some guys at the.."

"Some guys passed comments on my hair because it's blonde and I got angry, so I got into a fight with them." Jason cut Sameer before he spoke too much.

Why is he lying? And he is a terrible liar. Who would buy that!! Importantly why is he showing like the whole thing is his mistake,  which was not by the way? Maybe partly his mistake to beat the boy to a pulp. But he didn't start it.

"Uh okay. You can go and take a rest. I think everyone is tired." Grandpa said easing the tension.

"What was that?" Dia asked me as we walked into our room.

"What?"

"Jason taking the whole blame on himself!!!"

"Yeah I know, I think that's because he doesn't want grandpa and grandma to worry. And the reason he gave is so lame." I giggled.

"Okay but what he just told could damage his image in their eyes you know that right? They wouldn't like someone who gets into fights unnecessarily." She pointed out.

"Then I will tell them the truth," I told her. It's simple.

"Now what was that in the car?" She asked again. This girl has so many questions to ask.

"What me hugging him? That's nothing. It's just me in sleep. I thought he was my pillow or something and cuddled." I shrugged my shoulders, it doesn't mean anything.

"Yeah maybe you thought he was your pillow but what made him put your head on his shoulders?" She raised her eyebrow at me.

"What are you talking about? I'm the one clinging to him.  He is completely nonchalant looking out the window." I stated to her.

"No no my poor Amy, Jason scooted near you when your head is swaying. He placed your head on his shoulder. He was SMILING looking at your face and I bet you this is the first time I saw that guy smile genuinely in the past 1week." She said emphasizing the word smiling.

"Come on what nonsense are you talking?  As much as we love to irritate each other we practically grew up together. That's him just lending his shoulder for me to sleep." I told her. I think she is gone insane. 

"Then what about the fight at the market? Jason fought with that guy because he touched you inappropriately." She is thinking too much.

"No, he is already irritated with this whole trip. He probably wants to spend these holidays with his girlfriend and pals but he is stuck here because of me. So the anger and frustration made him get into the fight. And for heaven's sake, he has Jessica. I can say for sure that he will behave the same way if it happens with any other girl not only me. So now please stop grilling me."  I can't help but raise my hands in exasperation.

She didn't ask further and changed the topic.

After dinner, I walked over to my grandparent's room and knocked. Grandma opened the door looking surprised to see me.

"What happened dear everything alright?" She asked.

"Yeah, I mean I just want to talk with you both," I told her shifting in my feet.

"So what do you want to talk about?" Grandpa asked me.

"Jason lied to you guys earlier.  There were some boys and they misbehaved with me, he got into a fight for me. It's not his fault." I told them. I can feel the weight lift off from me. I don't want them to think bad about Jason.

I want them to think bad of him because he irritates me but not for the one single time when he actually stood up for me. Yeah, I'm twisted in my own way and I know it.

"And why are you telling this now? Why didn't you tell when I asked earlier?" Grandpa asked looking intently at me.

"We decided to keep it secret because we don't want you to worry, but I don't want you to think bad of Jason soo...," I told him.

"I'm older and wiser than you Amy. I know something happened and that everyone is keeping it a secret. And I didn't believe what Jason told me. He was a bad liar, a very bad one." grandpa chuckled and I can't help but giggle with him.

The next day Harsh, Dia's cousin came over. He looked handsome with his tanned complexion and jet black hair. He is always joking around. He adores Dia and dots on her. There was always this gleam in his eyes whenever he is talking. Even though we met for the second time, I and Ryan liked him so much for his joyful nature.

He is Dia's maternal aunt's son. He is around the same age as Jason. We are on the terrace garden all day long sitting on the wooden benches and joking around.

"Let us all go to watch a  movie tomorrow," Harsh said enthusiastically.

"I'm in." Shouted Ryan and Dia at the same time.

"I so wanted to go out somewhere but after the last experience. I felt it's better to stay at home, but yeah we could go to watch a movie." I told them.

"Ryan go and ask Jason too." Dia pushed Ryan to go.

"What no way, we usually don't talk much or hang out together. Amy spends more time with him than me at least like fighting with him. Let her go and ask him." He stated.

Dia looked at me and I raised my hands in defeat. "I can't go and talk with him."

"Why are you all petrified to talk to an 18year old. I guess I will go and ask him." Said Harsh raising from his place and walking downstairs. We can't help but follow him downstairs.

Harsh knocked on the door, while we three loitered close in the corridor.

"Jason right? Hi," Harsh gave one of his charming smiles.

"Yeah hii, come in," Jason mumbled awkwardly.

"I'm Dia's cousin. Harsh. We are planning to watch a movie tomorrow. Do you want to join us?"

"Amy is coming?" Jason asked. I'm surprised that he asked about me. Dia nudges me in the ribs and gave me a 'see I'm right' look. I chose to ignore her.

"Yeah, she is coming."

"Well for starters, I don't think it's a good idea.  Amy shouldn't go to movies." Jason declared.

"Woah Woah!! You can't decide for her mate." Harsh said pissed off with Jason's attitude.

"Yes I can decide for her because she does not have the brains to think, she can't go to movies."

That's it I lost it. Who the hell is he to tell me what to do and what not to do. I barged into the room.

"Who gave you the right to decide for me?" I asked him angrily with my hands placed on my hips.

"My mom, I'm here to look after you." He says with air quoting look after you. "Remember?"

"I guess not. You can't decide for me." I shouted back at him.

"Harsh please book tickets for tomorrow," I told Harsh turning to him. He just shakes his head to me in acceptance.

"Amy listen to me." Jason tried to speak calmly but I cut him off saying "Fuck off Jason,  you are getting on my nerves from the moment we got into the plane. I don't want to argue with you and spoil my mood." Saying I  stomped out of the room.

"I guess... I'm also coming then." That's what I heard Jason say while I walked out of the room.

And I give a damn whether he is coming or not!!