HATE FALL LOVE

Chapter 18

[BRIANNA's POV]   

James took care of me for the next three days, changing the gauze of my wound and making sure I don't overwork myself too much. He was so weirdly overcaring that sometimes I find it funny that he's way too paranoid. It was just scratches but he's acting like I had a major car accident and I couldn't walk by my own.

"When's your re-sched appointment at the college?" I ask him one time while he makes milkshake at the kitchen. Beth and Evan already knew what happened to me but aside from their obligatory concerned calls, the two seemed to be far too busy of their own lives. I still haven't asked Beth how her date had gone nor I even ask for any updates from Evan about our school project in English where we were partners. They were both MIA this day at lunch, leaving me alone to have my snack at our table, thinking what had happened to the both of them.

"Next week Tuesday," James tells me. It's Friday afternoon and we just got home from school.

"You better attend it now, promise me." I demanded, watching him move through the kitchen with ease. He was wearing an apron, the one dad usually wears with a picture of a cupcake on it. He looks so cute but somehow still manly in it, making me sigh in admiration because not all guys look good in a girly apron. Not even dad, to be honest. But still, dad can pull it off.

"Promise, princess," James says, turning around with two glasses filled with milkshake.

"Good," I grin at him, taking a sip on the milkshake he put in front of me.

"How's school?" he asks me. He leans on the counter with interested eyes on me. I blushed because he was too close. Sometimes, I still forget that he's my boyfriend and I'm not just some silly girl with a huge crush on him anymore.

"Are you blushing?" he asks, "Why? What makes thinking of school bring out that blush, huh? Don't tell me you've met a guy..." he says, totally misunderstanding my whole 'fangirling' expression to him. I laughed at his jealousy, finding it funny that he's even have the urge to be jealous.

"No," I tell him, shaking my head. "It's not school that's making me blush."

"Then what is? Don't tell me that blush is just there because of no reason," he says, smiling then suddenly frowning, "Wait... Do you feel sick? Are you fine? Is it because of the wound? Come here."

He tries to touch my forehead and I gently swat his hand away, "James, stop it. I'm fine, I'm not sick. It's you that's making me blush, okay?" I reply, blushing worstly.

"Oh," James smirks back, and his total smug look appears, "Well, then it's good you're blushing, princess."

"Ugh," I groaned, dropping my head down on the counter with my utter humiliation, "You're impossible."

My phone chooses that moment to ring and I quickly answered it to have a reason to ignore the annoying smirk James is giving me.

"Hello?" I say, without checking the caller ID.

"Please tell me, you're not mad at me," Beth's voice greeted me from the other line and I suddenly recalled my lone moment back at the cafeteria. We didn't even have the chance to talk at our History class because Beth showed up the last minute and she walked out so fast after dismissal I didn't manage to chase her.

"Are you and Evan both avoiding me?" I ask, offended. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Oh no, Shai," Beth replies back immediately, "You didn't do anything. This is just... I thought you've talked to Evan at lunch and he might have said something that I... I don't know, I'm just too paranoid. I thought you would ask questions and..."

"What are you talking about?" I frowned, "What's with Evan and you? Why would I ask you questions? About what?"

"It's..." Beth sighs heavily, "It's just... Have you talked to Evan?"

"No, I didn't see him today," I said, "Why?"

"Did he call?"

"No," I reply, frowning harder, "Beth, what's wrong?"

"Shai..." Beth hesitates then sighs again, "I'll call you later, okay? Bye."

Then, she hung up, making me frown more, staring deeply down the phone.

"What's wrong with Beth?" James asks me as he looks at me across the kitchen counter.

"I don't know," I told him, "She won't tell me but I think it's about Evan."

"Are they two still in a fight?"

"I'm not really sure," I say, feeling suddenly worried, "But it seems really serious."

"Then, we'll visit Evan." James tells me, making me look at him with widen eyes.

"What?"

"Let's go to Evan and see him. You didn't see him today, right?"

I nodded.

"Then, let's see what happened to him and why he was missing at school today," James says, smiling at me as he takes off the apron he was wearing then picks up my keys above the fridge. I watch him as I quickly finish my drink and stand up when he gestures me to follow him out of the house.

I watch him as I quickly finish my drink and stand up when he gestures me to follow him out of the house

Evan wasn't home when we got there. His parents were both on an out-of-town business trip while his older sister was staying in Michigan over the weekend at her dorm. Only their house helper was the one who answered the door when James and I came.

"I'll call him," James offers as we stood in front of Evan's house, and I nod. Silently, I begun wondering how they got to exchange numbers without me knowing. Were they like hanging-out buddies now? Have they really become that close?

"Hey, man," I hear James speaks through the phone and I was again, relieved that he got a response.

"It's me, James. Just wondering where you are?" My hopeful eyes went sour when I realized James only got to reach Evan's voicemail instead. "Shai, wants to talk to you about something. It's kind of urgent, man. Just call me back once you get this message. See you."

"He's even turning down calls..." I mutter, "What is happening to him?"

"Hey," James gently puts his arm around my shoulder, giving me a side hug, "Don't worry. He'll come around. Maybe he's just not in a good mood right now. But I'm sure he'll see you once he becomes fine, okay?"

I nod back at him and he kisses me on the forehead. I sigh in relief... At least he was here to make me feel better. His hugs make me feel better.

"Shane?" A voice interrupts us and both James and I turn around, only to see Miranda standing beside her car. She had parked on the driveway of the big house in front of Evan's, staring straight to us. I forgot she also lives here, so was Peter. Peter used to bring me here on weekends and the three of us would always bond together by their front yard—just talking or making fun of each other. It was those days when everything was good and Peter was still fine. Miranda was Peter's younger sister and she was also my ex-best friend... Miranda used to be nice and shy before but after Peter's death, she had changed. And that was also the death of the relationship between Miranda and me. Our friendship was broken because Miranda blamed me for Peter's death... And I suffered blaming myself for everything that had ruined us too.