4

With a furrowed brows, I continued to stare at Quinnel who was also staring at me with both hands in his pocket.

"Dude, what the fuck?" Was the first thing that flew out of my mouth before I could even process it.

"Hold on, I mean... What are you doing here?" I corrected shaking my head.

"Right. Can I come in first?" He asked and I blinked and then nodded.

"I think I saw a ladder there this afternoon, check that side." I said pointing at the wall.

"Oh okay." 

I nodded my head and then leaned on the window pane. Turning my head briefly to my room, my eyes widened.

"Ah geez, this ladder is heavy." He said placing it on the side of my wall.

I would have asked him to climb the tree, but my room is not like the typical cliche girl having a tree by her room.

Shut up, Navaeh... That's not the point right now.

I turned my head back to him and he was already on the second to the last step.

"Stop!" I yelled holding his shoulder and he froze blinking at me.

"Don't look into the room. Just close your eyes or turn around or something. Stay right there." I said and closed the window without waiting for his answer.

I pulled the curtains and turned my head back to my room. Bras were lying around. Oh my God, this morning was a disaster.

I was trying to look for my favorite bra and I just threw everything the rest out of the wardrobe out frustration.

When I finally, found it... I promised to tidy it up when I was less busy. Then I watched movies with the twins, went to the park and when we came back, I did my assignment, laid down and then Quinnel called.

I immediately ran to the chair where all the clothing were laying and threw it into the wardrobe in a hurry.

Looking around the room, I gulped hard and nodded my head. I remade the bed and then paused.

Why am I remaking the bed? I rolled my eyes and scattered it. Throwing pillows here and there. One landed beside the chair I just took my underwear from. What is wrong with me?

I was about to grab the pillow back from the chair when I heard a knock. At the window.

Meh, I'll just take it when he leaves.

I took a deep breath, put on a smile and went back to the window pushing the yellow curtains away and then opened the window.

"Come in." I said gesturing into the room.

He looked around the room and looked back at me tilting his head.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing." He replied shaking his head and then pushed one of his long legs into the room.

The rest of his body followed and then he was in the room. I closed the window and turned back to him. His eyes was looking around the room and then over the bed and he paused blinking.

I knew I should have made it neat!

"Take off your shoes." I said instead blinking.

"Why?" He asked moving back.

"Hey!" I yelled.

"W-What?" He stuttered.

"My room. My rules. Take off your shoes if you don't want to go back home barefooted." I said and he gulped.

The next thing I knew, his shoes were in his hands.

"Good boy." I said and he smiled at me.

He placed the shoes on the floor beside the window and then turned back to the room.

"Have a seat." I said gesturing at the chair.

"Thanks." He replied and sat down.

Silence enveloped the room and only Under the Influence by Chris Brown was the only thing sounding in the room. I pursed my lips my legs dancing to the beat. Then I noticed he kept squirming.

"The chair is uncomfortable?" I asked bobbing my head to him.

"Huh? No, I mean... Yes. I think I'm sitting on your cloth." He said and reached back pulling out whatever he was sitting- Hold the fuck on.

Why does that look like my- Ah!

In his hand up in the air was a Hello Kitty white bra that I knew too well. How could I not? It was mine. 

My eyes went from the bra to his face to see it pink as he kept his eyes on the bra.

"Quinnel!" I yelled and he blinked clearing his throat.

I scratched the back of my head and bit my lips in embarrassment. I looked down at my white fluffy slippers that had small touches of black.

"Here." I heard and I couldn't bring myself to look up at him. I saw the bra drop to my lap and I immediately took it sitting on it.

I darted my eyes around looking for something to distract me. I suddenly took interest in the dream catcher by my door.

"So..." He started and then cleared his throat.

I cleared my throat as well and then I felt the bed space next to me dip.

I turned my head to him to see an amused smile on his face. I raised an eyebrow at him and he grinned.

"This is amusing to you?!" I asked getting up on my feet.

"Did I say anything?" He asked not so innocently.

"You- You're a- Ugh!" I groaned dropping to my bed.

Then it hit me.

"Hold on... How did you get my contact?" I asked and his smile dropped at that.

"What?" He asked looking away.

"You heard me the first time Ashford." I said and he turned to me before he grinned.

"Who doesn't have your contact? You're pretty famous." He said and I smiled.

"Yeah, I don't buy that. That's shit." I said and his smile fell.

"How did you get my contact?" I asked again and he sighed.

"I had Zaire find it and give it to me." 

"Zaire Hemple? Your best buddy?" I asked in total confusion.

"Hn." 

"But how? He doesn't have my contact." I said.

He looked at me and then moved his eyes away. Then back at me.

"What's wrong with your eyes? How do you expect me to know? I have no idea how he got it. All I know is, he said some shits and then gave it to me." I replied shrugging.

"Zaire Hemple." I said and smirked.

I'll find out how our dear ol Zaire got my contact. Then I would kill him and whoever and wherever he got it, so help me God.

"Hold on, so Zaire also has my contact?" I asked.

"I believe so. Since he gave it to me, so Yes." He replied nodding his head.

"Ha!" I said and pursed my lips turning to him.

I saw his Adam apple bob which means he gulped and then he whispered a what?

"You just couldn't come and ask it from me?" 

"Would you give me if I did?" He asked instead.

"Huh, I see what you mean there." I replied nodding my head.

"Anyways, why are you here?" I asked.

"To talk." He said and I nodded slowly.

"Bout?"

"Us. You and I." 

"Us, huh? Alright. Bring it on." I replied and he nodded his head.

"So, as you may have found out... I already know your secret, if you would like to call it that." He started.

"You meant eavesdropped?" I corrected.

"Well, if you put it that way..." 

"I am correct." I said.

"Ugh! Leave me." He replied rolling his eyes.

"Fool." I said shaking my head and he frowned.

"Why would you call me a fool?" He asked slightly offended.

I pursed my lips and sighed before letting out a whisper of sorry.

"Anyways, I'm here to bargain with you." He replied and I turned my eyes to him my brows furrowed.

"What bargain?" I asked.

"It's something we'll both benefit from. I keep your secret from the whole school and you be my friend by forgiving me." He said and I looked at him in disbelief.

"That's all?" I asked.

"Affirmative." He replied nodding his head.

"I mean... Sure." I said and scoffed.

"Very good." He replied.

"But, why do you so badly want to reconcile?" I asked curiously.

"I thought of it. I mean, I've been thinking of it for some years now." 

"Years?!" I cut him off.

He nodded his head before he continued.

"So the day I thought of it, I realized it was my fault and Vivian's... That little devil. Then I decided I had to apologize but I couldn't work up the courage to walk up to you with the thought of you turning me away in front of the whole school." He said and I looked up at him.

"And so, when you talked to me..." 

"Subconsciously." I cut him off.

"... subconsciously, you have no idea how happy I felt. That was all it took for me to build up the courage. I guess I just wanted an assurance that you wouldn't... you know." He finished and I nodded.

"Well, I would have felt the same way. I mean you're a popular bastard... How bad would it look on your image and person when a girl turns you away in front of the whole fucking school?" I asked and he thought of it before laughing.

"What's funny?" I asked and he shook his head.

"Never mind." He said waving at me and then he shut up.

We heard a knock at the door and I looked up. The door slowly opened and Aelin poked her head in.

"Hey, Vee. About that noodles..." She said her eyes looking to Quinnel and then to me.

"Hold on, you look like someone." She said opening the door wide and I saw Aerin looking at me as well.

Then her eyes went to Quinnel.

"Don't you think so, Aerin?" She asked and her sister nodded.

"He looks so familiar." They started eyeing him suspiciously and they stepped into the room closing the door behind them.

"There it is!" Aerin said suddenly snapping her fingers.

"There is what? You got it? Where?" Aelin asked turning her head to her sister who had a smile on her face.

"He looks like Caspian." She said and then smirked.

Aelin turned her head back to Quinnel and then she nodded taking her hand to the back.

"Hold on, that's true!" She said smiling.

"Are you relate to Caspian Ashford in any way?" Aerin asked stepping forward.

"Who?" Quinnel asked and I almost slapped the back of his head.

"Caspian Ashford." Aelin said with an irritated tone. Her patience was running thin.

"Guys. That's because this guy right here is Caspian's older brother." I said stepping into the conversation.

"Really? You're his elder brother?" They asked.

Quinnel nodded his head and they nodded as well.

"Well... Are you a friend of Vee's?" Aelin asked her eyes widening.

"Why do you think I'm her friend?" He replied with an amused smile.

"I mean you're the first person she had brought to this house since like... forever!" Aerin replied her eyes widening and she snapped her fingers continuously.

My eyes widened. 

"That's not true." I said and I gulped eyeing the two of them.

"Don't eye us!" Aelin said stepping in front of her sister with a protective gaze at me.

"Well, if you're her friend, Caspian's brother, nice to meet you." Aerin said.

"Nice to meet you as well. I'm Quinnel by the way." He said extending his palm. 

"Pleasure is all mine. I'm Aerin." she replied taking his outstretched handshake.

"My sister right here is Aelin." She gestured at her sister who offered a slight smile before her eyes thinned as though she was analysing him.

I held in a laugh pursing my lips and Quinnel grinned at her.

"Pleasure meeting you." He said waving at her. 

"I wouldn't say it's nice to meet you unless I know you that much." Aelin replied.

"Fair enough." Quinnel replied dropping his hand.

"Can I get you the noodles now?" I asked and they both turned to me smiling.

"Yes please!" They yelled and I grinned at them.

"Go bring out five sachets of noodles and the pot. I'll be right there." I said and they nodded their head walking away.

"Oh yeah! Adios, Quinnel!" Aerin said popping her head back in.

"Oi! You normally greet me like that!" I said and she giggled running away.

"Aish, that betrayer." I said looking at the closed door.

I looked back to Quinnel who had a smile on his face. 

"Why are you smiling so creepily?" I asked.

"Nothing. Your relationship with your sisters seems good." He said pointing at the door.

"Well, that's how your relationship is with your brother, right?" I asked.

"Hn. Just you guys seem a little bit more closer." He said pinching his index and thumb.

"Well, we've had ourselves to rely on for about Three years or so." I replied shrugging as I dropped back to the bed.

"Oh after your parents..." He said and paused.

I nodded my head and sighed.

"Anyways, I should go make the noodles for them." I said getting up.

"Hold on, you asked them to go take the pot and noodles out, do they know where it is?" He asked.

"Of course. They know this house much better than I do. And we arrange the house together, buy groceries and cook together so they know where everything is." I replied shrugging.

He nodded his head and pouted. 

"Well, I'll go make the noodles for them now." I said and bounced out of the room only to come back a few seconds later.

"Don't you dare look through that drawer..." I said pointing at the braziers and pants drawer.

"Ooh! What are you keeping in there?" He asked eyeing the drawer.

"Quinnel Ashford, if you don't want to go home incomplete, don't you dare touch that drawer." I warned pointing at him.

"Yes, Ma'am." He replied.

"Good boy." I nodded and walked out of the room.

I would have invited him to join us but my parents could come downstairs any time and do what they know how to do best.

I saw Aelin and Aerin already beside the five packs of noodles and the pot.

"Let me get the meat." I said walking to the freezer.

"We got it already." Aerin said and I nodded my head turning around.

"As expected, my babies are grown." I said and they grinned at me.

"What should we have for breakfast tomorrow?" I asked and they looked at each other while I turned on the gas cooker.

"Can we just have pizza?" Aelin asked.

"Pizza? Do you want that as well, Aerin?" I asked turning around. She nodded her head and I nodded turning around back to the gas.

"Sure. What toppings?" 

"Let tomorrow come. Then we'll order what we feel like." She replied.

"What if... We don't order?" I asked turning to them having placed the pot filed water unto the gas cooker.

"Are you going to make Pizza?" Aerin asked her eyes twinkling.

"Should I?" I asked and they nodded at once.

"Alright then. We'll go grocery shopping according to both your choices of toppings." I said and they beamed at me.

"Yeah!" 

I grinned at them.

Quinnel's POV

I was playing with the dream catcher when the bra on the bed caught my eyes again.

I looked at the door and then shook my head. I was just curious what size she used. 

Dude, you sound like a pervert. My mind said.

I shook my head and darted my eyes to the pictures on her table. I walked towards it picking it up. 

Then I heard a knock at the door.

Navaeh won't knock at the door to her own room neither will Aelin or Aerin.

"Are you in there?" A man's voice followed.

My eyes widened as I looked around frantically looking for somewhere to hide. I saw the closet and made for it at once.

I closed the door and Navaeh's sweet smell overwhelmed my whole body and nasal sense.

The door knob twisted and the man stepped into the room. He looked around and then sighed walking back out.

I heaved a deep sigh of relief and counted to fifty for two main reasons. One, for him to leave and two, I don't want to leave this place. It smells so great. 

Having reached fifty, I pushed the door open stepping into the room. Then I looked down at the photo in my hand.

The man that came just now was the one in the picture in my hand. Navaeh was in the picture, so was her two siblings even though they looked younger than they were right now and then an older woman.

I'm guessing the woman was her mother, the man her father and then their three children.

I tilted my head my eyes focusing solely on one face in the picture. Navaeh's.

She looked so happy in this portrait. They all did. So what went wrong? God, I wished I knew the whole story.

But, I just can't walk up to her and ask, "How did your parents grow apart? What happened to your family?" now, can I?

I dropped the picture back to it's spot and saw many pictures above her bed. The first thing I noticed once I stepped into the room.

I reached out and took a familiar looking picture.

This was about 13 years ago though yet it still looked neat like it was taken yesterday. I can't believe she kept this picture. 

I was in the picture pouting at her for something she had done and she was laughing at my face. My Mum took the shot and printed the picture handing us one each.

I happily collected it and then looked at her to see her laughing yet again at the face in the picture.

I remember shaking my head in disbelief. I still have this picture as well. I just can't believe she never threw it away despite what I did to her.

I stuck it back to the rest of the pictures and was about to take another when my phone rang.

I dipped my hand in my pocket and looked at the caller ID. "Mum." was written with red loves by it.

I immediately swiped it and answered.

"Where in heaven's name are you?!" She yelled and I moved the phone from my ear bracing the impact.

"I'm fine Mum. I'm just a few blocks away. I'll be home soon." I said not even making the mistake of pressing the phone to my ears.

"Come home right now!" She yelled and before I could utter a meaningless excuse, she had hung up.

Well, I guess I'm going home then.

I slipped out of the window and went back home. I totally forgot to send a text to Navaeh as I went to bed after.

On Monday, I was walking in the hallway with Zaire walking beside me talking about the show or whatever it is he always said.

Then I spotted her. Smiling at her friends. The ones from the cafeteria.

Then I smirked as an idea came to my mind.

"Hey! Isn't that my best friend?!" I yelled and made my way towards her with widen eyes.