4. Almost kiss

Briar's POV

"Get ready quickly, dolly day dream." Ariana said ruffling my hair and Gretchen laughed.

I threw my hairclip at her and she ran out the door laughing.

“You’ll come by yourself, right?” Gretchen said and I noticed everyone had already left.

“Yeah sure.” I said smiling.

“Don’t be late.” Gretchen said tapping her wrist watch, walking out the door, closing it.

Another reason for us being best friends is because we're roommates. We shifted to the new dorms when we were promoted to high school. And us being six girls, we ended up getting one of the biggest rooms on our floor. Obviously, being together practically all the time, we are more like a family.

Suddenly while dressing up my mom's face came in my head. It's been months and I haven't met my mom and dad. Being a single child, I am pampered thoroughly. But the family legacy of sending your children to boarding school has been a part of the family traditions. So, I was admitted to the school by my parents. But originally belonging from Canada, I meet them once in a year during my vacation, when I get to go back to my home city, Vancouver.

When I was a kid, I used to cry a lot, always asking my parents not to leave. But as I grew up, I became used to living in this school. It's my second home now, though I miss my parents a lot. But I couldn’t escape the tree of familial traditions keeping in mind how even my grandfather's father is a boarding school graduate

When I was born my dad wanted to continue this chain so he got me admitted into this boarding school and Culford Rempten senior secondary school, was one the best school to pick. It's reputation for its academics, sports, dance and music is famous enough for my dad putting me here. My mom wanted me to study in somewhere in Vancouver, but dad insisted for me to study here. He surely didn’t make a bad decision.

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted when I heard the morning bell. It was almost a quarter past eight, the starting time for morning service. I quickly took my badge and pinning it to my uniform, went to the door. I took my hand forward to open the door and it jammed. Again.

From past ten days this door has been troubling us. I've put so many complaints and requests to get it fixed but no one came. I tried very hard trying to pull it. I saw the clock again. Time was running fast like bolt, today.

Fuck! I can’t be late.

Pulling the door with all my strength but the lock was stubbornly fixated in one position. Only one option was left. Scream. Call out for someone, if available. So, I did it.

"EXCUSE ME! HELP! IS ANYONE THERE?" I shouted, banging on the door.

"PLEASE HELP ME!" I shouted again.

I screamed while constantly trying to open the door, praying simultaneously maybe some fairy will whack their magic wand and this gate will open. I had almost lost hope but after a few seconds I heard footsteps. I shouted again and I could sense the footsteps getting clearer and faster.

"Who's there?" The man outside asked.

It must be a teacher. Oh! My lifesaver.

"Yes, sir. This door is stuck and it's not opening." I said in panic.

"Wait I'll try." He said and I could sense the pressure on the door.

We both were trying hard for the door open, one pulling from inside and other pushing from outside. My palms were almost red applying so much force on the door handle. But I could feel the door jerking a bit, I knew it would open soon enough. But we both didn’t really look at the consequences and foolishly put the pressure in the same direction.

The gate opened but the person pushing from outside landed right on top of me, as I was right behind it. Lying flat on the floor with a heavy body on top of me, I grumbled in pain and opened my eyes seeing someone unexpected. I was shaken to the core, with butterflies making a feast in my stomach.

Mr. Wilson’s rose with hands on either side of my head and our faces inches apart. The close proximity was enough for his cologne to surround my mind with a lovely mist of the fragrance. But realising the position we were in, he quickly stood up scooping back, while I couldn’t stand up, because my revival from the shock was yet to be confirmed.

He came towards me lending me a hand to get up, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, t-thank you.” I held his hand getting up.

"Is the door always like this?" he asked, pointing at the gate.

"I don't know sir. I've put the fixing request in the office as well, but I didn’t get any response." I said, furrowing my eyebrows, getting embarrassed whenever I catch a glimpse of him looking at me.

"Hmm. Okay, don't worry I'll get it done." He said and I nodded, letting out a weak smile.

"Also, why are you late?" He asked furrowing his eyebrows.

“Actually sir, last night I was doing my work so I slept late and today I woke up a little late and my friends don't let me use the bathroom so I wasn't able to get ready quickly and then they all left me here saying that get ready quickly but when I got ready It was already past eight and I realised I'm late but when I hurried the door jammed but thank god you came and saved me otherwise, I would've gotten late." I said all of it one breath. I was rambling, something I do this when I'm tensed.

“Okay.” I looked up and caught a smile on his face and he left the room, hinting me to follow him behind.

I absolutely hate him.

Luckily because I entered after Mr. Wilson, I wasn’t asked any questions for my late advancement for the assembly. He stood at the right end, with a few teachers, standing out in the crowd. I don’t mind losing my focus, when he is the one, I’m distracted by. But I didn’t like the idea of him teasing me, so my dislike for him was higher.

"Where were you?" Bianca from behind whispered, when I stood in front of her in the hall.

"I'll tell you later." I replied.

"Have a nice day everyone." our teacher said, after giving the last announcements of the day.

"Thank you, ma'am!" Everyone said in unison.

After the dispersal, coming out of the hall I united with my friends. "Who asked you to shut the door so hard? You know, it got stuck again!" I almost shouted.

"It wasn't me. It was Ariana." Gretchen said, looking terrified seeing me angry.

"Why always me? I remember it was Bianca!" Ariana said with her eyes wide pointing at Bianca, a little scared. 

"Shut up, I didn't do it, the fuck!" Bianca said irritated.

"Wait, if the door got stuck then how did you come out?" Rosé asked.

"Don't ask." I said making the most horrible face.

They all pulled me to the garden area forcing me to tell what happened. As uninterested I was, I still had to tell them the entire scene and as expected they all laughed.

Bastards!

"So, you guys almost kissed." Bianca said between her laughs.

"I wish I was there to encounter it." Rosé said pouting.

"Me too!" The others said in unison.

"Shut the fuck up y’all." I said going away.

I was so damn irritated. My anger and angst were at a stage where it was ready to be dropped out of my eyes in form of tears and I hate crying, making my eyes go puffy. Maybe it was a funny situation seen from a third person’s perspective. But me being the main protagonist, it was nothing even close to enjoyable.

Weirdly it felt strange because something happens in my stomach every time he's around, but the intensity was a lot higher today. Was it the close proximity? I was not sure, but my heart was beating unnecessarily fast. Especially when he gives me that teasing smile it irritates me and this tickling sensation starts.

I don't like it.

"Sorry, Briar." Ariana said, pulling me towards her. I hugged her, letting out an exhausted breath, resting my face on her shoulder.

"Let's not think about that. It's not like you deliberately wanted that to happen. Right?” She asked and I almost on the verge of tears, pouted.

“Aww, my baby. It was just a coincidence. Don’t think about it much." Ariana said trying to calm me, patting my back, hugging me tightly. I hummed and nodded.

I won’t think about him.

Can I?