12: The Crown Has Fallen.

Casey

Connie nervously paced outside the restaurant. We could all see her from where we sat. This is the twenty second phone call since she was informed about the fire at their school. And I'm not kidding, I've been counting!

I saw her frustratedly grab her hair, but when she saw me watching her, she simply shot me a small smile, then turned the other way so I couldn't see her expression.

Natalya, being the drama queen that she's always been, hasn't stopped crying. I've always known she was emotional, just not to this extent. No offense, but it was almost annoying. This was the exact reason I avoid hanging out with her most of the time.

Mike has been completely quiet the entire time. Just like me, he had absolutely no idea what to do..

Compassion isn't exactly his strongest suit... So an emotional Natalya is getting on his nerves just as much as she's getting on mine!

" Can we help in any way Nat?" I had to at least pretend that I cared... For Connie's sake. This is her longtime best friend, it's probably the least I could do for her. Besides, she's actually not completely terrible... at least not when she's being this 'mature'. 

Natalya sniffed, looked up at me and wiped off the tears from earlier.

"Well... I guess there is something you could do..."

"And what's that?"

"Maybe get me an ice cream or something,"

"Just an ice cream?"

"A giant one... strawberry... Or maybe a smoothie?"

"Not exactly what I was expecting but... Okay I guess," as long as it was enough to shut her up for a while... I was willing to buy her any amount of ice cream or milkshake she may want... heck even both of them. Moments like these always leave me wondering how me and Natalya became friends in the first place... oh yeah right, it's because she was friends with Connie. Otherwise, the both of us would have never really been friends to begin with.

Her phone rang, and she took a while to comprehend that it was actually hers, despite her being the only person with such a pathetic girly ringtone. She looked at the caller ID, and her face literally lit up.

"Raymond! I'm so happy you called!" her boyfriend no doubt. The only person who'd make her smile that widely. I never really understood how her boyfriend could tolerate her for this long. The two have apparently dated for well over two years. According to what Connie tells me, they have occasionally broken up with each other a couple of times, but they never even lasted for a day... they always end up together again.

I've never really had a conversation with the guy, just crossed paths with him a couple of times on the field during our football games with Crown Academy. But he must be a really patient guy... that I had no doubt about.

Mike, who has been quiet the entire time, directed all of his attention to the glass of water in front of him. Ever since we arrived here around half an hour ago, Connie has been on phone calls after phone calls endlessly with a bunch of her schoolmates. And Mike, he hasn't said a single word... probably because he is very well aware that he still owes me an explanation as to why my cousin's denim jacket was in his room.

"I'd very much appreciate an explanation right around now___" I said, and he acted as if I wasn't talking to him... Even though Nat was still very busy on her phone call.

"Well... It's a somewhat long sto___" 

"We've got time,"

I visibly saw him swallow hard. This situation seemed a bit tense for him. But it was very much necessary, cause at the moment, there are a lot of wild thoughts running through my head, of all the possible ways that jacket  ended up in Mike's room... and to be honest, none of them are good!

Having nobody but each other all our lives, Connie and I have always been inseparable. We've always had each others back. And all offense to Mike, but I know him good enough to know that him and Connie as an item, wouldn't work out at all. And we may be friends and all, but I wouldn't even think twice to snap the guy's neck if he was to cross that line.

"So..." Connie appeared back at the table, yet again, postponing this conversation, "...the good news is, they've finally managed to contain the fire... bad news, the damage is massive!" she said, typing away furiously on her phone.

"How massive?" Mike asked, probably because he wanted to escape the main topic at hand.

"The gym was destroyed. They say that that's where the fire began. The library, the chemistry lab, computer room and like seven classrooms were totally burned down as well," that last part may have been the one that caught my attention, "And get this___" she said, finally looking up, "The fire at Crown Academy wasn't an accident... this was arson,"

"You mean someone set fire to your school?" Mike asked, possibly the dumbest thing he's said today.

"That's exactly what I said,"

"Do they have any idea who did?" Natalya asked out of nowhere. I didn't even realize when she ended that phone call

"No leads at the moment... the CCTV footage didn't reveal much," she immediately went back to her phone... paving way for Natalya to continue with her dramatic stories... And I took that as the perfect chance to order that Ice cream and milkshake that was supposed to shut her up.

Connie.

"Welcome to 'Tyrone's Restaurant," a petit short beautiful waitress appeared at our table. She had a somewhat Western accent that I have to admit wan kind of cool. Her hair was a dark shade of brown, shoulder length, and it was tied backwards with a bunch of colorful hairclips and hairbands. It was a bit childish, sure, but strangely enough, I liked it! And it most especially looked beautiful on her. I wasn't the only one who thought so... Casey and Mike were almost drooling! "What can I get ya'll today?" she gave us a smile.

"How about your number?" Mike said, and in all honesty, I can't believe he just said that. Okay fine, I can believe it... it's Casey we're talking about. He does the weirdest and dumbest of things... this probably being the least dumbest thing he's said and done in... what, his entire life?

"I'm sorry, but that's not on today's menu," the girl replied in a rather chilled voice.

"Not even if we ordered the house's special?" now it was Mike who spoke, and coming from him, it didn't really shock me.

"Not even if you ordered the entire restaurant,"

"What if I bought the entire restaurant?" Casey tried again.

"Then I'd quit my job," she chuckled a bit nervously... almost as if she believed Casey, and the mere thought of it gave her goosebumps. And this was probably the perfect time for a 'grown up' to intervene.

"Don't worry about it Leah," I read her name tag, "That's just their way of saying that you look stunning,"

"Thank you," she smiled, and I'd like to think that that was a genuine one.

"And your hair is gorgeous!" Natalya joined in, and her smile became bigger, "Where did you go to get it done?"

"I actually did it myself,"

"NO FREAKING WAY! You're kidding right?"

"Not really,"

"Then you have got to give me your number! I'll give you a call sometime... talk hair and stuff!"

"I mean sure... anytime!" she said, and I gave her my phone to put her number in it.

"I'd like to talk hair too," Casey winked at Leah as she gave me my phone back.

"You can 'talk hair' with your barber Casey,"

"You're still going to forward us that number though___"

"Not a chance in hell,"

She gave me a grateful smile, and then went ahead to collect our orders, all the while ignoring all flirty approaches by Mike and Casey. Totally out of topic, but I still can't understand why Mike is here. Casey didn't seem to have a problem with him tagging along... And I was genuinely too caught up with the whole fire at our school to actually care about his presence... but now, it seems to be getting under my skin a bit too much... more than it's supposed to.

"... and a giant ice cream," I said and she wrote it down.

"Anything else?"

"Your number?" Casey was still apparently, persistent... despite being turned down a couple of times. 

"I'll go get your orders," Leah simply excused herself... ignoring him yet again.

And almost immediately she left, my phone rang. These phone calls were beginning to drive me a bit insane. The caller ID read Sam. He's a schoolmate... my deputy actually. His call, I'm sure, like everybody else's, has everything to do with the fire at school. I'm already stressed out as it is. The last thing I need at the moment is Sam phoning me. The guy isn't exactly a fan.

"Aren't you going to answer that?" Casey asked, staring at my phone's screen.

"Not really. It's probably not important," I said as I declined the call. But Sam being Sam... the phone rang again.

"It's from school Connie... you're obliged to answer it," Natalya nagged... something I also didn't need!

"Yes Nat, thanks! I totally forgot that detail," the sarcasm in my voice clear as day... and yet, she wasn't able to detect it.

Although being Student Body President of probably the most prestigious school in the country has its advantages, it has its downsides as well. For example, as Crown Academy's S.B.P, I'm obliged to answer all calls from school. Whether it's a teacher, a concerned parent from school, any subordinate staff... As long as a Crown member is calling, I have to answer.

And yes! Even if that Crown member is simply a guy from school who just wants to invite me to prom... I still have to answer it. It's one of the duties that come with being president... and there's not really much I can do about it either. So at the moment, I had no other option but to answer that phone call.

"What's up?"

"Connie!" he shouted through the phone, and I can only imagine him pacing around at that moment.

"You don't have to shout to be heard,"

"Why haven't you been answering my calls?"

"I was in the washrooms. I just got back to find your missed call. I was about to call you back but you beat me to it. Do you need anything?" I asked politely.

"You should have picked up earlier," he continued complaining. Did he not hear my petty excuse? "Do you know how___"

"I'm pretty sure you didn't insist on calling me to simply scold me for not answering,"

Fun fact about Sam, the guy doesn't like me one bit... and I guess the feeling has become somewhat mutual. The fact that I was chosen school president over him, and he remained as my deputy, really pissed him off... it still does! And he hates me to this day... blames me for him 'failure'. He would look for every possible excuse to get me demoted so he could take my place.

"They've found a solution to the fire crisis! You have to be here as soon as possible"

"Well you should have simply began with that instead. I'm on my way,"

"You had better be! Because this is___"

"Could you maybe quit lecturing me? I've already said I'm on my way,"

"Connie___"

I hang up. Talking to Sam gives me a headache. All our conversations end like this. He's always finding new ways to make me mad. He should quit holding a stupid grudge over school politics... It's just politics! Plus he's lucky to have the seat he has... it's better than nothing.

"What's wrong?" Casey was the first to raise his concerns... the only one to ask. Natalya has always known about the bad blood between Sam and I... she doesn't need clarification on the matter. And Mike, I honestly don't think he cared enough to ask. 

"We're going to have to finish this another day,"

"Wait, where are you going?"

"Council meeting," I said, getting my bag.

"I'll come with___"

"That's okay Nat... You can sit this one out for today," I said hugging her. By virtue of she didn't argue with me on the issue, told me that she really did want to stay.

Casey didn't say much about it... maybe he was disappointed? A bit mad? I was sorry... I really was. But this was more important than dinner and all that other stuff.

I gave him a quick hug... but his mind seemed to be somewhere else. He had zoned out when I broke the hug. He stared right past me, looking mad? Not sure! I turned back, maybe catch a glimpse of whatever it was he was looking at... but I saw nothing! Nothing at all worth focusing his attention on.

"Cee, you good?" I asked him, and got no reply... he was still zoned out. It was only after I touched his cheeks that his eyes looked up at mine, "Are you okay? You kind of zoned out on us for a while there,"

"What?"

"You looked like you've seen a vengeful ghost of something,"

"Nah... just uh... I thought I saw a uh... a crazy ex. I was wrong,"

"A crazy ex? O-kay?"

 I didn't buy this whole 'crazy ex' excuse, but I had no time to question him further about it.

"I'll see you later at my place?"

"Sure,"

I had doubts about saying goodbye to Mike. Other than the fact that I didn't like the guy, I didn't trust him either. But to prevent the situation from escalating, I gave him a hug too. I still think Mike's a jerk... but I don't have to show him that... or tell him. Even though I have a pretty good feeling that he knows that already.  

"If you're going, who's going to pay the bill?" Casey asked, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out,"