A TALE OF TWO LOVERS

JOKES

He definitely knew what he was doing... yeah, definitely. I threw my head on the pillow, that smug face of his taunting me and I breathed out a laugh. A love struck puppy is what I had became and all because of two encounters. It was an important day for my sister but he left me in such a state that I couldn’t think of anything else but him. Fiona, that psychopath paired me with the most forward yet dashing individual I had ever met and I was paying for it.

Was the kiss on the cheek necessary? No. Did I enjoy it? Yes but why? Why was I so comfortable with him? I kept waking up in the middle of the night, too awake to sleep all because I could still feel his lips on my cheek. The damn blush refused to go away, the giddy feeling refused to slow and the memories kept playing like a tape. One day worth of memory turned in to fifty pages of some romantic encounter where it could have gone about twenty different ways. What was I doing with my sleep time? Romanticising an accidental friendship? What even were we at this point? I spent the first three hours of my sleep time admiring his everything and the next two hours making him look undashing and here I was back to dashing. To be fair, this was the first time someone was so annoyingly attractive to me and since I was annoyed, I made sure to annoy the instigator at two in the morning.

“ Fiona you sociopath” I said.

“Amanda you maniac. Do you know what time it is?” she countered and I pushed the sheets away.

“It’s a half past two. I wonder Fiona, why do I know that?” I asked.

“How should I know?” she asked, her voice sleepy and I mocked her.

“You. That’s why. I’m unable to sleep because of you” I said, reaching for the glass of water on my nightstand.

“I’m the reason you sleep soundly at night. I’m your beloved BFF” she said, sounding smug despite constantly yawning.

“Not this time and all because of the photo you sent. Why did you have to alert me of his existence?” I asked and I could hear the crumpling of sheets as she sat up.

“What?” she asked, suddenly awake “Are you awake because of Max?” she asked and I could hear the smile.

“Stop smiling” I warned and she laughed.

“That level? What did he do to make you stay awake?” she asked, finding the situation amusing.

“Existing, I guess. He is the most annoyingly dashing and attractively forward person I have ever met. He crosses the line without crossing the line” I explained, taking a gulp of the water.

“You got all that from one encounter?” she asked and I shook my head.

“No no no. That would be crazy, two” I said, snuggling in to the pillow.

“Still crazy. What tipped your night?” she asked, sounding like some therapist.

“A kiss on the cheek on our second encounter” I said, getting tired.

“I can not begin to explain how proud I am of you. Already using words such as ‘our’ and overthinking a kiss on the cheek” she said.

“Don’t be sarcastic” I said.

“I am surprised at how fast that was though. Didn’t think you had it in you, congratulations” she said and I rolled my eyes.

“So, you like him and from what I hear, I think he likes you too. I’m a matchmaker I tell you and you two are my first successful clients. You are welcome” she narrated.

“Stop overreacting and yes you might be right. I do like him” I said, unable to lie to her or myself.

“Go to sleep. Don’t you want tomorrow to come, you lovesick chihuahua” she taunted.

“Too far” I said.

“I will be at your door in about seven hours to get the details so you should get some rest. I’m bringing Max and Blake and you don’t want to look sleep deprived, do you? No. Good bye” she informed before hanging up.

I appreciated her concern and I forced my self to sleep afterwards. The snippets of thirty minutes of sleep turned to five hours. I looked at the clock, it was 8:05 AM and I had managed to get enough sleep to get me through the day. We were to have breakfast together in forty minutes so I made my way to the bathroom. After a quick shower and light makeup, I dressed up before heading downstairs. Clad in a high waist trouser and a tight white t shirt topped with a light blue button up, I sat in the dining area.

“Wanna bet on who will arrive first?” my dad said after returning the greeting I had shouted before taking a seat.

“What’s the prize?” I asked, taking a bite of the chocolate covered toast.

“No prize. The loser wears these socks until we leave” he said, his full eyebrows going up suggestively.

His hazel eyes were shining and the smile on his face warmed my heart. A pair of socks that looked like a mixture of trash, vomit, an animal’s poop and haphazardly mixed paint. It had holes at the back and I narrowed my eyes at them.

“Where do you even get something this hideous?” I asked and he placed them in a box that was conveniently near him.

“At a second- hand cloth shop. So, who’s your bet?” he asked and I took a moment to think.

“Fiona” I said, remembering our conversation.

“Sure? I bet Aaron” he said.

“You spoke to him today?” I asked, squinting my eyes at him. Aaron was in another state for university and the last time we spoke, he had promised to come.

“No. That would be cheating” he said, taking a sip of his mango juice.

“Okay. Let’s see” I replied and he hummed.

“One more condition. The socks have to be seen so one has to either wear it on top of their pants or fold the pants” he said and I nodded.

“Fair” I commented when my mother placed a plate of muffins on the table.

“Why are all your bets about embarrassing each other?” she asked, taking a seat near my father.

The penalty for today was mild compared to other days despite the subject of our bets being ridiculous each time.

“Thanks” my father said before taking a muffin “It would not be fun otherwise and besides this isn’t that embarrassing” he defended and I nodded in agreement.

We made small talk as we cleared the table, my parents seeming to reduce whatever worry we might have had about the day. Our conversations ranged from school to my shopping and life in general but it never went to today’s event. They showed faith in Brandon and I loved the atmosphere that they created with the slight joking. We were done after thirty to thirty five minutes and as we cleared the table, the door bell rang. My mother went to get it and we peered from the kitchen, trying to see who it was.

“Mom. You look beautiful” Aaron praised and I let out an exasperated sigh.

My father let out a celebratory laugh as he retrieved the ugly socks and waved them in front of me. I took the socks, taking my defeated self to the couch as Aaron made his entrance. I scowled at him as I sat down to put on the socks.

“What, I just arrived and you already have a problem with me?” he asked, walking towards my father.

“She just lost a bet because of you” My mother explained and he hugged my father before narrowing his eyes at me.

He sat near me, watching as I finished putting on the hideous socks and he smiled.

“Really compliments the look on your face” he commented making me smack his arm.

He pulled me in for a hug and I returned it with so much energy. I had missed him a lot since it had been two months since I last saw him. “No gift?” I asked and his mouth went wide.

“Gift? I wasn’t in another country and besides don’t you think the occasion is a bit…” he asked expecting me to understand.

“Fine. Did you come alone?” I asked.

“My friends dropped me off at the nearest bus station” he said and I nodded as the doorbell rang again.

Aaron made his way to the kitchen as I stood to open the door. Our parents were in the dining area, cleaning the table and he rummaged the fridge as I swung the door open. He raised his head and I watched as the slight worry dissipated from his eyes. He smirked, looking me up and down and his eyes narrowed at the socks making me clear my throat.

"Why the hideous socks?" he asked, ready to burst out with laughter.

"Why the hideous hat?" I countered, noticing how the blue hat didn't match the dark clothes he wore.

"You're right" he said after a nod "It maches your look better" he explained before placing the hat on my head,

I couldn't help the smile that graced my face as I adjusted the hat on my head.

"General. How are you doing?" I said and Blake shook his head.

"It's Mr. President. Try to keep up Amanda" he said.

"That's impossible but I'll try" I promised with a smile before greeting him with a hug.

"Good morning" Max greeted as I pulled him for a hug before greeting back.

I moved aside to let them in as Fiona came to my view, a smirk plastered on her face. She waved her hand at the outfit I was wearing.

"Is this what lack of sleep does to a person?" she asked and I gave her a deadpan look "Your fashion sense, is it getting some rest?"

An unbelieving laugh came out of me as she pulled my wrist, leading me to the back garden.

"You guys are already joking with one another? Why am I so happy about this?" she squealed and I hit the back of her hand, making her stop jumping.

"So, how does he make you feel?" she asked ater a while and I smiled.

"Great. It's scary how my heart flutters at his sight" I said, plucking a flower from the garden

"It's good though, he took your mind off of today's event" she said.

Brandon and Hayley made an entrance as soon as the statement left her mouth and I watched as they walked hand in hand, spotting smiles. They were not afraid, there was no worry in their mannerisms and I was thankful that I hadn't spent the night worrying about them. It felt wrong and as though I didn't trust in the love they showed, that would have been disrespectful to Brandon. The stone wall separating the garden from the main house obscured them from view.

"I'm glad he did" I replied and Fiona snickered.

"Smitten, are you?' she teased and I hit her with the flower.

The door opened and everyone filed out "Amanda, remove the socks. We are leaving" my father shouted and I facepalmed as everyone let out a short laugh. I held the flower between my teeth as I sat down to remove the hideous socks. Aaron brought the car to the door, taking my parents and the couple. I took the socks inside as Fiona climbed Blake's motorcycle. I placed them in the box, hurriedly making my way out as I closed the door. The driveway was empty, except for Max, who was leaning on his motorcycle and I approached him with an eyebrow raise.

"Was I abandoned?" I asked, mock shock sounding in my voice.

"Rude" he commented, walking towards me with a helmet and a wave of his index finger "I'm here, aren't I?" he asked, placing the helmet on my head.

"Thanks" I said as we sat on the motorcycle and drove away.