"Do anything stupid and you'll be doing the dishes for month". I threaten. She still doesn’t say anything, she just gives me a smile. "Listen to me I'm serious d..." Before I can even finish my statement she stands up and smothen the rumple on her skirt. I know she is going to do something quite mischievous but what I have no idea about is what she is really going to do. "What are you up to Andrea Ruebens". I hold her hand as she is trying to leave our table.She shrugs and pulls her hand away from my grasp. "Watch me". She walks away.I sigh, sit down and turn to watch her. My palms are getting sweaty. She is walking over where they are standing. She waves as she gets closer. From where I am sitting I can tell that she is exchanging greetings with them and then focuses on the stall owner and says something to him. I watch as the store owner goes in and comes out after a few minutes. He hands her a piece of paper and a pen. I stare visibly confused. 'What is she going to do with that?'. She turns and makes eye contact with me, then proceeds to write something on the paper. This definitely doesn't look good.I wipe my sweaty palms on a napkin, get up and walks over to where they stand. When I get there Rea turns and gives me a grin. "Oh you're here, I guess you've finally decided to give him the number yourself". I freeze, I was definitely not expecting this. She hands me the piece of paper. "Okay, I'll be at our table waiting for you alright". She gives me a hug and whispers. "Best of luck". I couldn't even get a word out and she leaves. I actually wish for the ground to open up and do it's 'thing'. "Hi". A soft masculine voice calls out to me. I look at him. Damnit, how is it possible that he's hotter than before. I drink in his masculine features for the second time today. "Hey man why don't we talk later". The blonde says and that is when I realized with quite a shock that I have been gawking. Why was the ground taking so much time. He gives me a smile, shakes his friend and left. Now it is just the two of us. I hadn't even responded to his greeting. I mentally face palm myself again for the second time today. "Hi, there". I say awkwardly giving him a small smile. "Sorry for taking the time to give you a response". I tuck in an invisible strand of hair. "It's okay, I'm actually flattered that you returned the favor". "Sorry?". What is he saying. "I meant that I'm glad and honored that you considered me a worthy sight too". He says and immediately I understand what he means. The color of the canteen we stood in front of suddenly looks interesting to me. I could feel my cheeks turn crimson and then I notice something. "Uhm weren't you wearing a bright blue shirt earlier how come you are in black now". I ask looking at his face. He's eyes are a beautiful shade of grey. He runs his hand through his black hair. "Well a mini disaster took place in my art class and I got stained". "Oh, sorry about that". I laugh softly. "Well I'd have love to stay and chat but I have to go to class, so are you going to give me that paper". He says playfully. I look at the paper in my hand, give a small smile and hand it over. My nervousness wearing away. "Alright, see you later. I promise to call".I nod with a smile on my face while in my insides I am jumping with joy. I turn and walk back to our table as I sit Andrea gives me a thumbs up and I know she wants details.
ANDREA’S POV
I groan as I slump on the couch. "I'm so so stressed out and famished". "So am I". Annalia says agreeing with me as she locks the door we came in through. The classes I had today were quite tiring I actually thought I was going to pass out before I'd get home. "Come on get up and go have a shower, you'll feel absolutely better after that". She says again and I reply with a grunt. She rolls her eyes and tugs my arm trying to get me off the couch but I don’t budge. I am so tired, right now I'm actually thanking God that today is Friday I'll definitely be able to sleep well and get a very good rest. "Okay that means you aren't hungry". She's indirectly threatening me with food who does that?.I give her a glare grumbling. "Fine, what ever you say mama". I literally drag myself off the couch and go into my room, strip my clothes and tie my towel. I go to the bathroom and turn on the shower, immediately the water hits my back I relax. Annalia was absolutely right the shower helped a lot. I get out of the bathroom and go back to my room to put on something comfy.
"Mmmhm, something definitely smells delicious". I say as I walk into the living room and sit on the seat behind the counter dividing the living room and the kitchen. "You feel better now don't you". Annalia says handing my food to me. I instantly get excited. "My favorite, spaghetti and meatballs. You spoil me too much Anna".She gives me a small smile and touches her chest dramatically. "I know right I'm the best". I laugh. "Of course you're". She grabs a plate of food and comes to sit beside me. "So are you going to the bonfire tonight". I ask as we eat. "Sure, I've been hearing about it since yesterday. I heard that it's really going to be fun. You'll go to right?". "Yeah I will . When we're done eating we'd prepare together". She gives me a nod.
I try stifling a chuckle but I cannot hold it anymore I burst out laughing. "We don't need to call the asylum do we?". Annalia asks giving me a funny look. "You know I still find it hard to believe that you didn't even ask for that guy's name, I mean you forgot to ask for his name. His name Anna, His name how could you even forget that". I say still laughing. "Ugh, please don't remind me. You know he didn't even ask for mine. I guess he was in a hurry to get to class. But then even though..." "Ah, come on Anna don't over think it. I shouldn't even have brought it up". "Nah, it's okay. I'm over it now and he still hasn't called so don't sweat it. Now give mama a big smile". She says with a wide grin. I return it.
"So have you decided on what you are going to wear". I ask Annalia from my bedroom still trying on my clothes. Our rooms weren't too apart so we're still able to hear one another. "Yeah I am, what do you think?". She comes into my room already dressed. She's wearing a ripped jean with a fitted halter-neck crochet top and she's holding a cardigan and her crocs. "Damn babe you're definitely going to turn heads". I say admiring her outfit. It's really true, Annalia is super beautiful and has a nice slim body with perfect curves and a caramel skin. Tonight she didn't tie her hair and you can see how curly her brown hair is. She just used pins to hold it back a little while she did a fringe in front. "I'm not the only one turning heads tonight". She smirks and motions for me to turn around. I did. I am wearing a black high waist jean short with pantyhose and a sleeveless top tucked in. "You think it's okay". I ask putting on my boots. "Yup, it's super cute. Come on sit let me help you with your braids". I sit down in front of my mirror and watched her as she did my braids. She did a beautiful fish tail braid and left a few strands in front. "You know, braiding your hair is one of my favorite things to do". She says smiling. I laugh.I have a straight black hair which goes pretty well with my fair skin. I stood up and grabbed my jacket off the bed. "Come on Anna, let's go". I say as I put my hand over her shoulder and walk out of the apartment.
The bonfire is being held in the school field. By the time we get there the party was already in full swing. Everyone is pretty much holding a drink and there's a large bonfire in the middle of the field. It lit up almost the whole field. The grasses around it were very low in order to prevent a fire. There's a soft pop song playing in the background. I look around as we walk, most people were either sitting or standing. I see a little makeshift bar and drag Annalia with me. "So what can I get you". The man behind the counter asks. "We'd like a mulled wine, non-alcoholic please". I answer. We take our drinks and walk over to the bonfire. I spot a grill not to far away and we walk over there. "Whoever organized this party must have really spent a lot". Annalia says as we get closer. The smell of grilled meat hits my nostrils. "I know right, I heard that it's some of the basketball players that are sponsoring the party. I wonder what they're celebrating". She just shrugs. "Uhm two beef kebab please". Annalia says to the man who's grilling the meat. Apparently this time around we're paying for it but the price isn't that high. "Do you need peppers and onion rings". He asks. "Yeah, put the onion and pepper in one stick and only onion in the other one". I say, I'm not really a fan of peppers. He hands us the kebab.Annalia brings up her wallet to pay but a hand from behind stops her. "Please let me pay for that in order to make up for last time". We turn and see the guy she bumped into few days earlier. From the corner of my eye I see that she's shocked, we never thought we'd bump into him again though.
"Uhm n-no don't worry about it, I'm just about to pay". Annalia says, looking at him.
"Please I insist".
I tap Annalia and give her a nod. "Alright since you're insisting so much you can pay". Annalia agrees but I can tell she isn't really happy.He pays for the kebab and turns back to face us. "Wow I didn't really think I'd see you again". "Yeah me too, it's quite a surprise seeing you here. How many days? Uhm four right and you didn't even keep your promise". She rants.I chuckle inwardly, I thought she said that she's over him. I wanted to walk away and give them some privacy but that's until a certain voice stops me in my tracks. "Hey man, where have you been?, We've been looking for you."I look over to the owner of the voice as he lightly slaps the back of the guy in front of us. My heart skips a beat as I meet a familiar pair of forest green eyes and dirty blond hair.I look at Annalia and her widened eyes are filled with amusement.
ANDREA’S POVAdrian is about to walk away but I hold his shoulder, stopping him. “I'm sorry”. He turns around and looks at me. “I'm sorry for the way I reacted at the cafe the other day, honestly it was really uncalled for and it shouldn't have happened and I'm going to say it again I'm really really sorry”. I say and avert my gaze elsewhere. I didn't want to look at his face. “Nah, I'm the one who should be apologizing. I overreacted and poured the coffee on you, sure I was really angry but then again that was uncalled for”.Whoa, that was fast. I actually thought that he wouldn't apologize for his actions at all. Okay so now that the apologises are all done, what's next. I thought. “Uhm, the girl that was with you, I need to...” “Oh, you mean my sister, Mariquita. She's supposed to be here somew
“You do know how to play drums pretty well". I say and nudge Matteo with my elbow. He laughs and tries to block it.“And you Adrian, you're really bad when it comes to playing the flute. I think you made my ears bleed". I say and shudder as Annalia laughs beside me. We were done playing the game and we are about going home. Group A won and the game was really fun. Matteo asked to take us home but we refused, we wanted to walk. It's not like the school is far from our apartment so then Matteo, Adrian and Mariquita volunteered to walk us to the gates. “You know I can play with some other thing that you would definitely enjoy". “Ha and what's that". Annalia asks. He smirks and says. “Your va...” Before he could let the word out Mariquita puts a hand over his mouth and smacks his head. Matteo just laughs and Annalia shrugs. “Come on let's walk faster Andrea I'm really hungry here". &ld
ANNALIA’S POVI wake up and as I sit on the bed I feel quite dizzy and I tiredly lay back on the bed, my hand touches something. I turn my head and see Andrea laying on my bed and then last night memories come flooding in.The tears fill my eyes again and I groan as I force my self back to sleep.I wake up again and the smell of pancakes wafts through my nose.I touch the other side of the bed and I find out that Andrea isn't there anymore. I stand up and go pick up my phone which is on the dresser. I check the time as I yawn and stretch. I grumble as I walk out my room and into the kitchen, as I get there I sit on the stool and watch as Andrea makes delicious looking pancakes.She turns around noticing me. “Ah, you are finally awake, here have some pancakes”. She says as she dishes it on a plate for me and then pours syrup. “Why are you up so early, aren't yo
“You with the brown curly hair, stop being goofy”. I hear my coach as I hit the ball again and I sigh. Seriously does this man thinks I'm doing this on purpose. We've been playing for close to an hour now, my palms and wrists are really hurting me. Damn, these girls do have a lot of energy, they play so vigorously and I fear that I wouldn't be able to make the team. I never knew a volleyball tryout was this nerve-wracking and exerts this kind of energy but then what can I say when there are ten girls trying out but only four gets picked. Two from each team.The ball comes to our side of the net again and then out of frustration I hit as I hard I can, scoring a point for our team and also increasing my chances of being on the volleyball team a little.I hear the coach blow his whistle, we stop playing and walk tiredly to where he is standing. “You girls did a great job today. I really wish you all could be on the team but that can't be possible”. Coach sa
“You’ve really got a big appetite Annalia, I mean you really eat a lot”. Levi tells me as we walk out the pizzariea after eating to our fill. The boys are still chatting about their upcoming basketball games. “Well you really didn't expect me to sit there and watch you guys wolf down that pizza while I don't get anything”. I look at him with my eyebrow raised. “You really know how to give the worst compliments Levi”. Matteo says. “Yeah, at this rate you'll never get a girlfriend”. Adrian shakes his head.I turn my head to them, I didn't know that they were listening to our conversation. “You guys should quit picking on him. He is being truthful, I do eat a lot”. I cover up for Levi when I understand what their statement means. “Bleh, we know but if he had said this to another girl who isn't you, she would have felt really offended, kind of”. Adrian is right not many people like being told that
“Help, Lia please help it's so hot in here”. She screams as I try to get to her. There is fire on both sides of where she is standing “I’m coming, just hold on and do not move. I'll be right there”. I tell her calmly as I prepare to cross the fire in order to meet her on the other side of the kitchen.I try to cross over but I can't. This place is so hot and I feel like I'm being boiled. I feel so dizzy and I can't think properly with the smoke clouding my vision and almost choking me. “Hurry up please, I am finding it quite hard to breathe”. She calls out to me again and I hear her cough. I let out a cough of my own. I look at her and see that she is huddled up in a corner as she clutches her shirt so tight. She is staring at the fire fearfully as she moves deeper into the corner not really realizing that she can't move backwards anymore. “Hey, listen, look at me”. I say to her with a
I groggily wake up from my slumber my eyes feel heavy and instantly I knew the cause of it. I had cried myself to sleep earlier this morning. I rub my eyes with my two fingers as I sit up on the bed. I stand from my bed and move to the mirror, I was right my eyes do look quite puffy. I didn't have the time to start making remedies for puffy eyes so I just left it that way, the puffiness will reduce soon. I glance at the little clock that is by my bedside table to check the time, it's eleven am. As I get out of my room with my phone in my hand —in case Andrea calls— and go to take a bath, I keep my hopes up that Andrea would be in the living room but sadly she wasn't. I enter the bathroom and immediately turn on the tap to fill the bathtub with water, as the warm water pours into the tub I pour in my scented shower gel and lavender oil. The bathroom begins to get a little steamy and now has a fresh scent of oranges and lavender. I take off my nightclothes, get into the water and start t
“So where did Mari say we should meet her”. I ask as I catch up with Andrea outside the Engineering building after my last lecture for the day”. “She just texted me to call her when we get to the basketball court”. She answers and then asks, “Didn’t she send you a text?” “I guess so. I couldn't tell my battery is flat”. “You forgot to charge your phone?” “Yeah, I slept off while reading that book. So are we going to take a shuttle or we should walk?” “I would prefer a shuttle so that we can get there quicker”. I only nod and flag down an approaching shuttle.I tell the driver —who is an elderly man— our destination and he agrees to take us there. There are a few passengers in the shuttle too.I and Andrea enter and we sit at the last
ANNALIA’S POVI go into the bathroom to perform my nightly routines. Matteo and Adrian had already left a few minutes back.Matteo had told me that after waiting for a while without seeing us and also calling back Andrea trying to get through but it wasn't reachable, they had decided to come search for us.Levi and Mariquita wanted to join them too but because of Mariquita’s test tomorrow, they prevented her from doing so and sent her with Levi to his place so that she could get some shuteye.They had to go pick up Mariquita from his place first and then go home.I giggle as I recall him telling me about how stubborn Mariquita was after she heard the idea of she going to Levi’s place. “She made a big fuss about it”. Matteo had said as he let out a big laugh.He and Adrian coming to search for us was the sweetest thing ever. Not everyone would have done
“Here, you should give me your bag, I'd help you carry it”. Annalia tells me as she releases me from her hold.I shake my head, obviously refusing. She still takes it from my shoulder anyway and I let her. I am too tired to struggle. “Your phone?” She asks as she spreads her palm. I look at my hand, forgetting that I still had the phone in my palm. “How about I just throw it away instead, so no one would be able to contact me. Then I'd move very far away from here. “Tsk, now you aren't making any sense right now. I understand that you are upset right now, but you shouldn't just spew anything you feel like”. She says softly and takes my phone from me, putting it inside the bag. “Now let's keep walking, we've got people waiting for us at home. That is if they haven't left yet”. She whispers the last part.W
ANDREA “You are right, you are the best”. I almost let out a short. “My grandfather would beg to differ”. I say sarcastically and give her a small smirk. She just smiles. “His opinion doesn't matter at all”.I don't say anything to her and look at the sky. “There is no moon tonight”. “Yeah just stars”. I say and we go silent, just looking at the sky. I take a glance at Annalia and look back at the sky smiling.She is right when she says that just by looking at the stars you instantly get comforted and feel relaxed.I feel her arm around me and I lightly rest my head on her shoulder.She raises her free hand and spreads her palm, closing it after a few seconds. I giggle at what she just did.She brings her closed palms near my face and opens it. I hear a sigh. &ld
“What is the matter with the both of you?” I ask as they occupy the vacant booth. “Oh, us, nothing at all”. Adrian says and goes on to pick a smoothie from the tray on the table.He takes a sip and then frowns. “Uhm Anna, this isn't what I asked for. You got me a different smoothie”. “What do you mean, isn't that your pineapple-coconut smoothie?” I ask visibly confused. I am sure that I bought one pineapple-coconut smoothie, especially for Adrian. The cups are all the same but have different straws and Adrian’s own has a blue straw. I remember because I had to keep his separately. I look at Mariquita’s smoothie and then at Andrea’s own. “Andrea, that's Addie’s smoothie you are taking”. I say and Adrian glares at Andrea.She looks up from Levi's phone which she is holding. ”Oh, no wonder it tasted pretty weird”. She says as she cringes. I let at out a laugh, so does Matteo and Mariquita. Levi just looks at us, not getting what is going on. “I know that you did this intentio
16 “Here is your jersey Annalia, welcome to ELITES FORCE volleyball team”. My coach says as he hands over the jersey to me and gives me a handshake. I take the jersey from him and shake his hand vigorously. “Thank you so much, sir. Thank you so so much”. I say with a lot of excitement, still managing to compose myself in front of him. “Here is our schedule, I hope that you'd follow through”. He hands me a piece of paper and my eyes scan through it. There are days for exercises and also days for practice. “You need to be on time for the exercises and also practice. Tardiness would not be tolerated at all”. He speaks to me without humour in his tone. I nod my head. “I will try my best sir...” He puts his hand up signalling me to stop my statement halfway. “I do not want you to ‘try’ your best Annalia, I want you to do more than your best. Do I make myself clear young lady?” “Yes sir, I will do more than my best”. “That’s more like it. You can leave now”. I gently le
ANNALIA’S POV “I am craving cakes”. I tell Andrea nervously as we walk to school. “Uhm, isn't it too early to eat cakes”. She looks at me puzzled. “I know but I am very nervous and I want to eat something sweet”. “Wait hold on a second is this about making the list for the volleyball team?” I nod quite sheepishly and steer clear of the moving car coming my way. A horn blows but we don't pay attention to it. “Please don't stress this Anna, you will make the team”. She says as she rubs her forehead with one hand and pats my shoulder with the other. “I really wish I could be as confident as you, you know”. “Excuse me” –she comes to my front and stops me– “you can be confident too if you want to, I have watched you play Anna and you play really well. So if your coach can't see that then he is really really really blind”. “Well, you didn't come for the tryouts so you can't say for sure if I played well”. I shrug and continue to walk. “I am not going down this lan
As soon as I get the spare keys to my apartment and say goodbye to Levi, I rush to my apartment to go take a shower and relax. I go straight to the bathroom pulling off my clothes in the process, I feel quite itchy.I get out the shower feeling refreshed and quite relaxed. As I get to my room and plop down on my bed, I pick up my phone and tap it twice. I am faced with twenty two missed calls. Three are from my dad and the rest are from Annalia. My chest clenches with hurt and I feel a pang of guilt.I dial her line in order to put her at ease and let her know that I am back home.Unavailable. It doesn't go through.My eyes are teary as I dial my dad's number. He picks as soon as the phone starts to ring. “Hello my darling, I have been expecting your call since. Are you okay?”I begin to sob and I don't hear the next thing he says. “No Daddy I am not okay”. I cry o
“Don’t you think that it is time for you to go home, you've been out for too long and you are still in your pjs”. Levi tells me and I give him a look. I'm not complaining, why should he. “Uhm I really don't care”. I tell him and instantly regret the tone that I use. “I’m sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out that way”. “Nah, it is okay. I understand that you don't want to go home now, but you still in your sleepwear by this time of the day doesn't really seem proper”. “Yeah you are right but I really don't want to go home now. I know that I'm being quite immature but I just don't want to go home”. “Must be some pretty fierce argument eh”. He says.Throughout the conversation I had with Levi, I never mentioned what happened between Annalia and I or even about my issues. We had just talked about school and other stuffs. I found out that he attends Bayweach College too and that he plays basketball. I still don't want to go home now because I cannot face Annalia. I fee