The First Rule

Chapter 4b: Pray Tell

Apparently, something popped your fairytale bubble. You dart your attention back to the boy in front of you.. to find him already eating his favorite chips with a look of boredom plastered all over his face. You try so hard to ignore his annoying crunches by rolling your eyes and continue the rant and rave, "And kinda?! What the heck is ‘kinda liking’ someone?!"

Ignoring him? Nah, since he's the one ignoring you instead.

He keeps munching those chips with narrowed bored eyes and raised eyebrows. Not once, but many times. Closing his eyes—chomping and moaning, showing how he's savoring—every bit of his beef flavored chips.

But definitely not this conversation.

While huffing and sulking, you steal the bag of chips from his hands. Probably already reaching the ultimate level of disinterest, he lets you steal them whilst still chomping his chips.

"Got the point, Romeo? Either you don't like someone—or you like someone," you angrily add in between your munch. He just stares at you nonchalantly for a little while, but when he finally opens his mouth—

"You read w*****d too much sis, I'm telling you. You're just clarifying my concerns by showing how bad it is for your health."

Then take off to the bathroom.

Your glare follows his back, feeling deeply insulted. He lightly closes the door, blocking your sight, nevertheless you can hear the sink's faucet turned. Eating away the rest of the chips, you offendedly reply,

"First of all—how dare you. belittling my favorite fanfic. Second of all, you should've bring her to that place I talked about—!"

"Hut! No. Not that lake by the mountains again! Shush—now hear me out—" he cuts you off, utilizing the gap in between your munching while getting out of the bathroom with a hand towel in his hands. "There's no such thing. as romantic confessions in real life. Keep. Dreaming!"

"Third of all. For someone who's so popular, how come you're so un. creative!" you shout the same time you seal the remaining chips with a rubber. You're about to put the bag of chips on the drawer—to have your hand slapped by his towel! You turn to him and sigh defeatedly, greeted with bewilderment spread all over his face.

"Me?! Uncreative?! Come on now, see what I did to your cute date back then? Hell he even asked you on a date through text! Bet with me. Wanna bet with me?!" he scoffs, his forehead creased out of annoyance. When his pride's at line, there's no other choice but to taunt you.

"He's definitely not one to take you to your 'lake by the mountains', Winny."

Bringing up your date was the low blow—now the lake by the mountains? Now you're starting to get worked up too.

"Yeah?! You wanna go there?!" you taunt, your grip on the bag tightens. The sound of the chips crumble seems to ignite more flame in him as he crouches lower to tower over you. Maintaining a good amount of fire in your eyes, you snicker, "You can only call yourself creative before I made yours puke. twice!" Cavill scoffs as he throws his head to the side in distress. You see him starting to slap his hands together and rubs roughly, struggling to contain his temper.

"Plus—you gotta lower your standards every once in a while, grand gestures don't work when I have a bodyguard like you!"

Oh that's when something flicked. He snaps his head back to you, eyes burning as you've bruised his ego. But still, you lift your chin, challenging him.

"Bodyguard?! Oh you're so going down!"

He fumes as he slaps his towel inches from your face, making you flinch! By reflex, you punch his chest with a force—knocking him off balance, making him recoil a few steps away from you! The time he gains his balance back, Tyler shoots daggers at you, tongue protruding on his left cheek—with a hand holding at a place where you hit him.

"If you still want this to continue, I'll leave."

Tyler's voice went down a few notches, serious. When it reaches the point where he wants to leave.. you know that means your fight is getting out of hand. He needs to calm his ass down. You both glare at each other with him awaiting your reaction. You stand your ground—but not until a sense of weariness wash over you.

And he's right.

Again.

You don't want this fight to continue either.

When the fact that you've hit him sinks down on your skin, guilt starts to surface. You let out a heavy sigh and plead, "I'm sorry—I didn't mean to hit you—" Eyebrows starting to knit, you feel a heat of shame start to wash over you. Fighting the urge to cry in front of him, you squeeze your eyes shut, and turn away. You lean your back on the drawer and hide your face behind your hands as you finally let out a tiny cry, "I just—I thought you told me everything."

Too focused on your breathing so you could hold the tears from falling, you don't hear his footsteps approaching you—not until you feel his hand on your hair, stroking them gently.

"Hey.. don't worry about—whatever you just called—that. You really hit like a girl anyway, heh—" Tyler jokes, trying to lighten the air. Hesitantly, he gently went to remove your hands from your face, wanting to see you. Your soft sniffle causes him to flinch, eyebrows knitting as he mutters a "Winny.."

Finally putting down your hands yourself, you wipe a tear quickly before he could see them. Hands crossed upon your stomach, you look down, turning your face away from him. You try so hard to hide your face from him, just to have him put your hair behind your ear. Gently, Cavill lifts up your chin just so he can see you face to face.

Ultimately, you give in. You see him observing you, worry painted all over. Sadly, you could catch a glimpse of hurt in his face. Feeling guilt starts to wash over you again, your lips start to tremble, before he sighs and rests his arms on the drawer. Still stroking your head gently, he murmurs, "Well.. I thought you told me everything."

Squeezing your eyes shut, you desperately argue, "How can I be honest with you if every time I have a date, you send them to the edge of the cliff like that!"

"What? I never—"

"Figuratively, and literally. Remember Dan?! You brought him to The Rocks so you could hear him say he’d cancel our date, Ty!"

Eyes already swam with tears, you keep throwing pointed fingers on his chest—just to have him catch your fingers. Holding them lightly, he strokes the back of your hand with his thumbs, trying to calm you down. He's now on the listening mode. No more comebacks, no more loud arguments.. your favorite version of him. Just gazing at you softly.. intently.. while squeezing your arms. Maybe he's tired too, or maybe.. he's just relieved this fiasco finally ends too.

Arguing.. has been our love language since childhood. But it'll sure as hell drain us after. As much as we enjoy arguing, we never wanted us to fight—who loves a fight—?

Nevermind, you know what? Ty—he loves it so much. Because the second the fight's end with me at fault, it's burger time for him. And who doesn't love a good after-fight treats, right? But for now, it seems like he's surrendered. It's not like this is the first time though, but well—maybe my pout face is finally growing on him.

"Sugarcane on me?"

He tilts his head slightly just so he can scan your expression attentively. Tyler lets out a slight smile as he wipes a tear from your deflated cheek. You nod tiredly.. and he pulls you into a big apologetic hug. Melting in his embrace, you let out a big sigh. So tired of this silly.. exaggerated argument.

Putting his chin upon your head, he closes his eyes before he asks, "So that's why you're keeping it a secret from me?" whispering in a low tone, soft enough to make you forget all the annoying things he'd done to you.

"Because I know what you'll do to him.. I want to have dates, Tyty.." your explanation falters, scared you'll say anything wrong. But this is now or never. He's on his soft side. This is the time. Your pitch should work. And so you let it all out, "I want to have normal dates without worrying you'll scare the heck out of them. You're too scary, Ty! We're in high school goddammit! I want to have dates!" you complain, squirming in his hug.

Cavill lets out a chuckle before squeezing you to a stop, saying, "Winny.. you know I'm just helping you. You know how boys talk—sheesh I'm a snitch to them when it comes to you—I tell you everything! Dates—come on we have dates! Bro it's no different—"

"I want proper dates.."

He rolls his eyes as he replies, "Ok that—that hurts, chico—"

"Ty you know what I mean."

Hearing your stern voice, he knows how serious—how desperate—how bad you want this right now. He releases you ever so slightly just so you're face to face.. studying your miserable face for a while.. before finally—finally, proposing something you've been waiting for.

"Want to stroke off the ninth from our list?"

Yes.

Instant grin spread across your face as you nod enthusiastically. Agreeing instantly to the proposal, you shove a pinky to his face. A little bit startled by your eagerness, Cavill lets out a bewildered chuckle as he accepts the pinky promise.

"Ok so no snitching to each other's mom and dad anymore, deal?"

“Deal. Bestfriends?"

Beaming, you seal the deal with the chant, letting out a pleased giggle as he lets out a relieved grin. Happy you're happy.

"Forever. Now, let's get ready for the party and find some boyfriends."

Rule #10: Always be happy if they're happy—even when their decision is s**t.