2

Quinnel.

"Bye Mom." I said.

"Won't you eat breakfast?" She asked coming from the kitchen.

"I know... I'm late for practice." 

"Regards to coach." 

"Kay... bye big man."

"Bye." Caspian muttered eating his cereal.

Today was the first day of school and yes we really do have practice... Crazy coach. I could ditch practice but I'm the captain so I can't.

I entered my Corolla and drove to school passing by the Thatcher's. Standing outside was a girl whose hair was packed into two ponytails or was it quacktails? I knew it was one animal tails staring into the air with no care in the world.

I drove past her and then to school. Running out of the car, I ran to the stadium.

"You're late, Ashford!" Coach bellowed.

"I know I know..." I said and dropped my bag on one of the bleachers.

"Why were you late?" Zaire asked me after practice.

"I slept in." I said and winked at him before gulping water.

"Well, let's go. People are arriving! It's our last year and first day! Yayyyyy!" Zaire yelled.

My best friend is a teenage child. We walked to school before the hooting started and then someone threw a ball at me. 

I smiled and greeted everyone winking at some girls even. Then I looked up and saw her... Navaeh Thatcher. Popular baby, Straight A student, my childhood friend.

Normally, you'd think because I said we're childhood friend's we'd be real close... That's not the story... We broke off due to some stupid nonsensical story. Sounds stupid to me even now. But what was 6 years old me supposed to know? I was foolish back then.

This was our last year... After this year, we might not see each other again? I had to at least correct my mistake and apologize to her.

After 13 years... My subconscious mind added.

Yeah yeah yeah.

I passed the ball to Zaire and walked to my locker. My number was 004. Then I saw myself approaching Navaeh who was mumbling something under her breath in annoyance.

I smiled at this and proceeded to open my locker. And then bam! 

She slammed her locker close and stared at me in surprise.

"His locker is next to mine?! Can this year get any better?!" She said absentmindedly.

"It can actually." I said holding the urge to smile. It was the first time in 13 years that she was speaking to me.

"I said that out loud didn't I?" She added again.

"Yes, you did."

She groaned and strode away. I smiled at her retreating back before Zaire came over.

"What are you smiling at, freak?" 

"A lady's ass dummy." I replied rolling my eyes.

"Your locker is 004?! How do you manage to do that? Mine is 100." 

"Be me and you'd know." I said smugly.

"Eww... I don't want to be you." He said and then grinned at me before running away.

I pursed my lips at his running back contemplating whether to run after him or revenge when he's least expecting it. I chose the latter and closed my locker walking go my first class... Biology.

Oh yay! Mr Finch's class.

I entered to see Navaeh talking to a girl with a smile gracing her beautiful lips. The seat next to the girl was not empty but the seat next to her was.

However you sat today would determine how you sat till the end of the year. I saw a guy with glasses eyeing the seat next to Navaeh. Without further ado, I took long strides and walked to the seat.

Right after my butt hit the seat, the teacher entered. Pleasantries blah blah blah. Then he called the register.

She still hasn't noticed I'm sitting next to her. Then I heard my name called. 

"Present." 

She turned her head looking around the class for me her eyeball turning around. Her eyes was still the green grass colour I remember it being. 

"Over here." I said.

She widened her eyes before turning her neck suddenly I was afraid it'll break. She bored her eyes into mine while I saw no reason as to why I should break off the eye contact.

She turned her head again while I kept my eyes on the side of her head a few more times. Soon class started and I focused on the teacher.

The bell rung just when I was about to reposition myself to enjoy the class. Everyone groaned including me. Hey, I love this class by far.

"Hold on now, I haven't chosen the class president." He said his eyes darting around.

"Any nominations?" 

"Navaeh Thatcher." I blurted out staring at her silently making a prayer for her to turn her head to look at me but she did not. 

Everyone agreed and the next thing I knew everyone was filing out of the class in a shuffle. Including Navaeh.

I grabbed my notes and bag and walked to my locker to take my next class notes. 

I didn't see her till lunch sitting with the two girls from Bio class. I pursed my lips and made my way to their table.

"This one here says Fries are better." One of the girls with blonde shoulder length with hamburger in front of her pointed to the one with fries in front of her.

"They are actually better!" She argued.

"Which one do you think is better?" 

"Hamburgers." I replied.

Navaeh turned her head sharply to look up at me. She turned her head again focusing on her hamburger.

"Umm... Sorry Ashley, but Hamburgers are more filling. Even in your stomach." Navaeh said smiling at who she called Ashley.

"Exactly why I said so." I said again.

"Why are you here anyways?" She asked.

"Finally!" I groaned.

"What do you mean finally?"

"Hey Cap!" Someone from the basketball team called. Alex.

"I'll be right there." I yelled back.

"I mean... you're finally talking to me. Intentionally." I said to Navaeh.

I saw her blush probably remembering what happened in the morning.

She didn't say nothing more as she lifted the hamburger to her mouth. Then I noticed there was no Mayonnaise. I didn't like it either. 

"I see you still don't like mayonnaise." I said watching the side of her face. 

She still said nothing. God, does she hate me that much?!

"And she's back." I grunted before I stood up walking to my table. The basketball team table.

"What were you doing there anyways?" Zaire asked.

Taking my seat next to Zaire my eyes flicked to her to see her eyes on me. Our eyes locked for a minute before a fry hit her face. I chuckled and answered Zaire.

"Talking to someone important." I replied mysteriously and ate my burger.

...

"Hey, Zaire could you umm... perhaps do something for me?" I asked leaning on the bathroom door while he was inside. Today was Friday and this prick just had to urinate.

"What's up?" He asked.

"Could you... umm... get me Navaeh's number?" I heard his urine stop and then he flushed and walked out looking at me like I was crazy.

He walked to the sink and washed his hands and then dried it with the drier his eyes on me the whole time.

"What?" I asked.

"Oh nothing. I was just waiting for you to perhaps laugh and you know say it was a joke." He replied collecting his bag from me.

"I'm serious." 

"For reals?" 

"As real as the fact that my Dad is dead." I replied.

"I mean... May his soul rest in peace... but sure I'll help you get your crush's number." He said and then walked out.

Zaire is really stupid.

It was Saturday evening when my phone notified me I had a text. I took my phone and saw Zaire's text.

"Dude... This is Navaeh's contact. I had to go through so much to get this. You both had better treat me to a meal when you start dating for reals." And then a wink emoji.

I shook my head and saw her number. It looked... regular.

What were you expecting? Unique number? My mind told me again.

"Hey Mum?" I called.

"Yeah honey?" She answered.

"Can I kind of go to my room for a sec?" I asked nervously.

She looked at me like I was crazy. I know... I never ask for permission to go to my room. I was nervous as fuck.

"I mean... sure?" 

"Thanks Mum. Be right back." 

I sat on my bed and looked at the number. I clicked on it and it directed me to my dialer.

I pressed call and closed my eyes holding my breath. The call was picked but she said nothing.

"Is this Navaeh?" I asked foolishly. 

Guy, you just saw Navaeh right on top of her name and you're asking if she's the one?!

"Yeah? Who am I speaking with?" She asked.

"Quinnel. Quinnel Ashford." I said and held my breath waiting for the whatever she'd say.

But I was only met with the dialing tone telling me the call had been disconnected.

I frowned and redialed the same result. I redialed again but she picked up the call this time around.

"Don't hang up...please. I know you probably hate me but..."

"I don't hate you Quinnel." She said cutting me off.

"You don't?! Oh my God! Thank you so much. Oh Goodness! I was scared you did." I said heaving a sigh of relief.

"Well I don't so..." She dragged.

"Oh right... Look I know what happened has happened but could you kind of... forgive me? That's all I need. Look..." I paused. I said look too much.

"I'm sorry for that time and all but I just need your forgiveness. Could you forgive me and let's be friends?" I rambled.

"Quinnel... I..." She said and pauses making me hear the song that was playing in background. Aurora Runaway.

"I just... I'm speechless really... I really am. Just..."

"Vee?" A small voice said from the background.

"Hold on." She said.

"Yes baby?" She replied. I still placed my phone on my ear listening to the conversation between her and the small voice.

"I'm hungry." 

"Oh. Aelin too?" She asked. I'm guessing the girl nodded cause she was still the one that talked again.

"Do you want noodles then?" 

"Ooh! With meat sliced in it?!" She asked.

"With meat sliced in it." Navaeh said again.

"Wait till Aelin hears!" The girl said and that was all I heard last.

"Quinnel? You still there?" I heard Navaeh's voice.

"Oh yeah. Yeah yeah. That was...?" 

"My younger sister, Aerin." She replied with slight happiness in her voice.

"So then who's Aelin?" I asked curiously.

"Her twin sister." She replied.

"Woah! Twin siblings?! That's so cool!" I gushed.

"Yeah... They're the best siblings you could ask for." She replied.

"Caspian is the best too." I replied rolling my eyes.

"Caspian? Does he attend Silva Elementary School?" She asked suddenly.

"How do you know my brother?" I asked instead.

"I knew the surname was yours. I just didn't think he was your brother. I thought your Dad..." She said and hesitated.

"Yeah... IVF. That's how my little boy was brought to life." I said without batting an eye. I had learned to accept that fact long when I was 5 years.

"Oh... Yeah that's cool." She replied lowly.

"You know you're the only person I'm telling this. Not even Zaire knows." I whispered.

"Thanks." She muttered.

The end was dead silent but I didn't want the conversation to end.

"You still haven't answered my question." I said.

"Oh right... Aelin reported him to me. Said the boy disturbed her in the class but it turned out he just wanted to share sweets with them." She replied.

"I didn't know Caspian was generous." 

"Neither did I know Aelin was nice. She's kinda the most wicked girl ever." Navaeh added and laughed.

"I'm sure she's not that bad." I replied joining in her laugh.

"She's... her. Just Aelin."

"Could you hang up for a sec?" She asked.

"Umm... why?" I asked but my question was left hanging as she didn't reply me.

I was about to hang up but I heard a something hit the ground and crashed sounding like glass.

I immediately flew up my eyes widening in fear. Without moving the phone from my ears I grabbed my shoes and denim jacket before I heard a middle aged woman's voice.

"Maybe if you stopped acting high and mighty, I'll consider answering you." 

"Oh please. Just shut your trap up you bitch!" Another voice said.

Note... There's a lot of cussing from here on. Skip if you don't like cusses.

"Just shut the fuck up! Both of you!" I heard Navaeh's angry voice cut through the phone right into my ears.

"You guys are pathetic! I fucking hate you. Both of you! You are a bitch and you a bastard. I'm pretty sure both of you know that yesterday was the end of the first week of resumption. But did you guys even give a fuck?! You came back last night and yell at each other like you always fucking do! Aren't you guys tired of this display of stupidity everyday? Cause I am!" I fell to my bed at that.

"And even if you guys aren't considering me at least consider the twins! They're just Five years old! Five, Mum." She said her voice breaking at the end.

I felt my heart break as she said that. She was facing that much at home? I had no idea.

"Oh honey... I..." The woman from earlier started again. I could tell she was crying with the way she sounded.

"You what Mum? You're trying? If you want to really try... please behave like a mum to Aelin and Aerin that's all I'm asking for." 

"I... I'll make dinner. How about that?" 

"Do you even know what we had for breakfast, Lunch? Oh, do you even know where the ingredients are?" She asked.

"No, you don't." 

I heard shuffling and then sniffing before a heard something hit the ground.

"Aelin what's wrong with you?" I heard Navaeh again.

"Sorry... Here's your phone. Seems like your call connected." I heard a similar voice to the one from earlier. 

"What are you..." Then I heard a gasp.

I have been found out! Shit! I pulled the phone down and immediately hung up.