The First Rule

Chapter 8a: Love Me Not

"Em, remember anything—anything, from last weekend?"

In the classroom, Wyatt leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he asked the impending question. You furrow your eyebrows and lean your head slightly to the back. In a careful motion, you roll your eyes upwards, attempting to turn your brain upside down—

"As much as you rack your brain upside down," Tyler chimes in swiftly. He stomps a leg on the chair across from you, settling on the table beside Liam. "You won't remember anything, right?” he hollers, holding an apple in his hands as he takes a bite and raises his eyebrows before he continues,

“Sandman?"

Your dark brown eyes widen as Eve laughs with ultimate satisfaction beside you. You bring your palm to your forehead, supporting your head and hide your face in shame as you mutter under your breath helplessly, "He threw me in the sand again, didn't he?" throwing the question not only to Cavill, but to the whole group before you.

"Let's try it with a different perspective," he mumbles in squinted eyes, hiding his hazel eyes between those two eyelids while nodding slightly. One hand still holding the bitten apple, another with a finger pointed at you. "How about we go back to the part when you—" he moves his pointed finger right to Dom's temple who's been closing his eyes wearily, "stupidly drank this moron's tequila—" and pokes at it harshly, making Dom's head bounce lazily, before continuing his speech, "and almost got two guys escort you to out of nowhere!"

"Let's not take it a little too far, Ty—they're just dancing," Eve interrupts with a mischievous grin, matching her boyfriend's.

Tyler turns to her in disappointment and complains, "Reed? I thought you're on my side, senorita?"

"Yada yada yada, now I know you're just exaggerating, Ty," you sass, rolling your eyes as you move your head right and left, disregarding his speech.

Tyler throws both of his hands in the air in defeat as he says, "You're welcome to ask anyone in here, princess."

You share unwary glances to the other three, but they can barely contain their laughter, well that's a little bit.. confirming whatever story that annoying Tyler just spun. Burying your head in your arms in defeat, you let out a groan, feeling utterly embarrassed for yourself. However, a surprising compliment hangs in the air as someone chimes in,

"You're good at dancing though."

And all heads turn to Dom, the person behind the flirtatious act. Tyler eyes him like a predator sizing up his prey and says, "You looking for a fight, Hunt?"

With a slight side shrug, Dom nonchalantly remarks, "Just sayin."

You gaze at him with sudden building hope as he seems to be the only one who's on your side—

Besides Eve—she doesn't count—I mean—She's Eve. She should be on my side.

Feeling a bit flustered, you decided to shift the focus by sharing an unexpected twist. "Nevermind, actually—guys I got a love note on my locker, asking me out on a date!" you announce joyfully.

The group's attention swiftly shifted, vibes turning into a mix of tense and surprise. 'How the hell could she say it lightly when Tyler’s around,' echo in their minds as all eyes turn to Tyler. To everyone's more surprise, he merely raises any eyebrows, leaving everyone intrigued by his unexpected lack of reaction. Wyatt, eager to add some drama to the situation, finally addresses the unspoken question lingering in the air.

"Uh.. what's going on? How can—Ty.. ler, should we—like—interrogate—"

"Should I break it off? Or you?" you smirk as you turn to Tyler, excitement bubbles within you. He simply nods in your direction in disinterest, giving you the freedom to decide.

"THE RULE IS OFF, BABY!"

Squeezing your palms in delight, you shout with the top of your lungs, grabbing the whole classroom's attention. Tyler rolls his eyes as he throws his head back in exasperation as he corrects you, "The ninth."

Shrugging both shoulders in joy, you explain, "Well, that's the only rule they care about, right? Heck—bet that's the only rule they remember—"

"WHAT?! No more fun interrogations?!" Wyatt snaps, letting out a disappointed sigh while Eve eyes you with amusement.

Even Dom, who usually remained composed, seems on the edge of his seat, displaying a keen interest in the unfolding drama. "Oh so I wasn't—looking for a fight?"

Glaring at him from the side of his eyes, Tyler swiftly traps him in a firm headlock, murmuring over Dom's ear, "Rule #8 still applies, asshole. Let's go."

He signals Wyatt with a slight tilt of his head, and jumps off the table with grinning Dom. Instead of following them, Wyatt tilts his head to the side, pondering while staring at his girlfriend. In return, Eve gives him a confused head tilt, following him.

But then he claps his hand!

The four of you jump! Tyler and Dom get the most impact as their shoulders jolted in surprise! Removing his arms from Dom's shoulder in brisk annoyance, Tyler curses, being the first to turn around to face the three of you again, before Dom follows with a look of irritation on his face.

"What again, baby.." Eve murmurs apologetically with her hands on her chest, calming her just-electrocuted heart. The circle falls into a curious hush as Liam's mischievous silence hangs in the air.. until he finally opens his mouth,

"What about a bet?"

Liam announces in a broad grin. Eve matches Dom's rolling eyes as Tyler puts his hands on his pockets in swift movement and tilts his head in disinterest, too familiar with Wyatt's clownery. Except for you, who wonders in curiosity, slightly tilting your head in anticipation. "A.. bet? What bet?" you ask, exchanging perplexed glances with the others.

Pointing a finger to you and Tyler, he declares, "If you guys could get a boyfriend or girlfriend," before even continuing his sentence, Cavill throws his hands in the air, turns around and runs his hands through his hair.

He's pissed.

So pissed that he turned around just for this bullshit. Ignoring his reaction, Wyatt raises a single finger to his face as a signal to prevent any interruption, and proceeds, "By the end of graduation—"

Matching Tyler's reaction, you shake your head in disbelief as you butt in, "Even the deadline's so f****d up—"

"If you don't find your 'true love' and it turns out that you're both in love.." he challenges as suspicion flashes his eyes. Shooting a bouncing eyebrow to the two of you, he declares,

"Then I win."

Then the whole group erupts into chaos, one side clapping and supporting, the other side screaming and swearing.

Guess. You know who's who.

Huffing in disbelief, you immediately go hostile, "You're lucky I'm only a white belt, Wyatt! I swear I could karate kid you in the face if I'm—"

"Baby you know I support you in everything, right? But don't you think this is too much though? I'd prefer it if you'd only be obsessed with me—" Eve cuts in as she points her index fingers to her chest—

"Wyatt I can never stop admiring your creativity in stirring things up—" Dom shakes his head as he butts in, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Cavill scoffs and fly a pointed finger to him in distaste as he grumbles, "Oh for f***s sake why are you so obsessed with us—"

"Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the chicken of them all?"

Liam dramatically interrupts the chaos with a pointed finger with a voice so low and enticing, just like The Evil Queen taunting her Snow White. Sneaking around Tyler, Liam squints his eyes menacingly, circling him as he persuades, "Come on, Cavill. You took the dare and we saw you kiss her.." Liam's arm then swoops around Tyler's shoulder like a hawk in slow-motion. As if his magic works, Tyler goes calmer.. and peeks an upwards glance at you as Liam whispers in a sultry tone, "in sweet.. sweet kiss—" and you look away when the memory starts to surge in. Then, with pop, Wyatt ends his evil speech.

"This bet would be nothing to you right?"

Before he snatches Tyler's apple, finishing it off, then returns it back to his palm. Giving you a long glance, Tyler's expression transforms from a ponder to determination as he declares, "Fine," and tosses his apple towards the trash can.

"Let's find some hot girlfriends."

However, the apple missed its mark. Tyler rolls his eyes and make his way to the apple as Dom chimes in, "Oooohhh, too confident—"

"Well let's find some hot boyfriends then."