Unexpected Connection

CHAPTER 5

I knew that what I said to Heather would not have been the end of it but what I didn't know is how fast she would react. What do I mean? Well, I am in the bathroom and my skirt is covered in red dye. Red dye. Why? What did I say that is so bad that I deserve this? But it's cool, I have a reason to retaliate now. I sat down on my seat in class and it felt wet, I wasn't looking at where I was sitting, I was talking to Asher and Ian so I just sat down. My mistake. Right now, I am waiting for my order to arrive. I ordered another skirt online with something else, I am not going to spoil the surprise. I ordered them from my favorite online store, they have premium shipping, what ever you order would get to you in thirty minutes and up, depending on where you are like pizza. Asher helped me go sign for it when I was alerted that my order has arrived.

"Lils" Asher calls knocking the bathroom door. "Revenge is not the best" he adds when he sees my smile. That boy knows me so well.

    "I know" I say still smiling weird.

    "You are going to get back at them, right?" he says and I shrug. 

When I stood back up with a stained romp, the three H's start laughing, even the jocks until Asher looks over at them and they keep quiet, I guess they have to listen to their captain. The whole class laughed as I walked out. Didn't mean I lost my confidence, trust me, I gave them some twirls and turns before leaving the class. It was my last glass before we had to go for lunch.

I open my package and quickly change my skirt, I wrap my stained skirt in the nylon the new one came in and threw it away. That dye is never coming off. I look at my second item and I am excited. I carry it out of the bathroom still in it's package.

    "Thanks" I tell Asher who is still waiting. Ian is with him.

    "Sorry about Heather" Ian says.

    "It's fine, I've forgotten all about it" I tell him still smiling weird. "Lunch?" I ask and walk out the building.

    "Why is she smiling like that?" I hear Ian ask Asher.

    "It's her 'I am going to do something evil smile', creeps me out every time" Asher answers and they follow me into Leo building quietly. 

I drop my package on a table and go get my food. I am happy when I see Heather and Hailey walk in, I keep my eyes on them and quickly finish eating.

    "I'd see you all later" I tell the guys.

    "Lily, no" Asher says but I ignore him. "Just be easy on her" he adds.

    "Definitely" I say and stand up.

    "I should have known you were back to your old self when you came down this morning different but I was hoping I was wrong. I wasn't" he says sighing.

    "Bye" I say and peck him. I take my package and walk over to Heather and co. 

    "What is she going to do?" I hear Ian ask Asher.

    "I do not know" Ash replies.

    "Hey" I greet when I get to their table.

    "What do you want?" Hailey asks.

    "I want to thank you for the gift you gave me earlier" I say smiling.

    "What gift?" Heather asks. I know she just wants me to say it.

    "My stained skirt" I say.

    "Oh, that?" she says and they all laugh including Hailey. I join them in laughing, my laughter is louder and more dramatic than theirs and everyone in the cafeteria is now looking at what is going on. Even the people on Heather's stop laughing when they hear me laugh

     "Wasn't it funny" I say now giving a straight face. " This would be too" I say and open my package.

    "Wh-" Heather starts.

    "Shh" I say putting my finger across my lips, "Be patient" I say smiling. 

I bring out the industrial bottle of dye, I had already opened it in the bathroom so it is easy to open now. Laughing, I pour the red dye on her hair, it drips on her clothes, it is not good that she is wearing a camisole, her body is going to be red. The whole hall goes quiet in shock.

    "Isn't it funny?" I ask Hailey laughing like a crazy person and then proceed to pour the dye on her.

    "I am going to kill you" Heather screams getting up.

I push her back on her seat. "I am not done. Is patience to much to ask?" I say sounding impatient. I then bring the shredded paper I told Asher to get for me, it's easy to get in the trash. My school shreds every paper before throwing it away, for security purposes. I take the shredded paper out of the box the bleach was in and pour it on them.

    "Lily!" she screeches.

    "I said it is Liliana to you!" I scream back. They glare at me. "Do not mess with me. I always go the extra mile" I whisper to them. Hailey just sits there glaring daggers at me.

    "You know how I repay people's kindness back. You shouldn't have done that to me" I say.

    "Lily!" Brad shouts my name walking to Hailey's side.

    "For the last time, do not call me Lily, it's Liliana or the girl I betrayed" I shout back at him. "I haven't come up with your punishment, do you want to test me?" I ask him and he jut sits down quietly. "That is what I thought" I add and walk out the silent and stunned cafeteria. 

I go to my favorite place on the school ground, the back of the school with my tree. I climb the tree branch and sit there quietly. 

    "That was awesome" I hear Ian say. I look down and see him resting on the tree trunk. "I didn't know you had that in you" he adds sitting down still resting against the tree.

    "I had to thank her for what she did" I answer facing the view. I didn't know I am crying until I feel the tear fall on my still red hands, some of the dye got on me. I aggressively wipe the tears away, I shouldn't be crying over them but they really hurt me and seeing Brad run to Hailey's side hurt more than I would like to admit. A whimper escapes my lips and I regret it.

    "Are you crying, Lily?" Ian asks and I feel him looking at me. 

    "No" I answer lying. I just look into space as the tears just keep falling.

    "Come here" Ian says and I get down from the tree and he hugs me. "I am sorry they hurt you" He says. I guess it's easy for him to put two and two together about what happened, even a child could figure it out. I cry into Ian's warm hug. We sit back resting on the tree after I am done crying, I rest my head on Ian's shoulder and it just feels right. 

    "Are you going to tell me about you and Heather?" I ask.

    "What are you talking about?" He asks.

    "About how she's your ex" I say sitting up to look at him.

    "That easy to figure out?" he asks.

    "Let's say I just know from one dumpee to another" I say and he laughs.

    "Yes, we broke up. Or should I say she broke up with me"

    "And why would she do that. has she seen you?" I ask.

    "I know right? I am so hot" he says and I laugh.

    "Yes you are" I say laughing placing my palm on his cheeks gently. Why did I do that?. He places his hand on my hand laughing. We stop laughing and just stay like that just looking at each other. What is happening?

    "Sorry" I say and remove my hand.

    "No problem" he says running his hand through his hair and looking away. This is getting awkward.

    "Do you have any plan tonight?" I ask.

    "Maybe" he says. "Why?"

    "I wanted you to cheer me up" I say shrugging. 

    "I can do that" he says.

    "But you might be doing something else later" 

    "Yes, cheering you up" he says smirking.

    "And how do you know that whatever you want to do will cheer me up?" I ask with a raised brow.

    "I am that confident" he says smirking. I roll my eyes and laugh. He rest his back against the tree and taps his shoulder. I sit beside him and rest on them. 

***

I am home now and I've dinner with family. Asher shoots me a text saying he is sneaking out going out with his friends and that I should cover him. I am meeting Ian today. I know what to do.

    "Mum?" I call opening my parents room. They are on the bed snuggled and watching Netflix. It is a beautiful sight.

    "Yes, love?" Mum says and dad pauses their show.

    "Asher and I are sleeping over at Ian's place" I inform them.

    "Alright, Ian is a good kid" she says and they go back to their movie. My parents have to be the chilliest or they just trust Ian.

I shoot a text to Asher.

Mum and Da think we are at Ian's - L

Smart, thanks - A

Have fun - L

So you are going to be alone with Ian at his house at night? :)- A

Shut up - L

I go back to my room and change into shorts and a t-shirt with my wool jacket on top. I go down the slide and into the woods facing Ian's house. I get into the compound and it is all so light up. Every light is on in the house, I guess he does it so he wouldn't feel lonely. I walk to the front door and instead of pressing the bell, I use the pin with me and unlock the door. I walk into the brightly lit foyer, Ian isn't anywhere to be found, I checked all the rooms downstairs and can't find him so I run up the stairs and into them master bedroom. The room looks exactly like it used to be during the open house, in fact the whole house looks exactly the same, there is no personal item in sight. I hear him in the bathroom and quickly sneak out of his room and down the stairs to the kitchen.

I am eating the sandwich I had made for myself and watching Netflix when I hear Ian come down the stairs. 

    "Did I leave the television on?" he says to himself.

    "No" I reply and he slightly jumps and I laugh.

    "Did I scare you?" I ask still laughing,

    "How did you get in here?" He asks, "Never mind, do not answer" he says and sits beside me taking a bite of my sandwich.

    "What are we doing?" I ask when I finish eating.

    "A ride" he says and drags me outside with him.

We enter one of his cars parked outside, it is a black Lamborghini. I enter the car and he drives out his driveway unto the street and out to the express. I wound down the windows and stock my arms outside, the night wind hitting my hand as he drove fast. We seat in silence until he takes a turn and parks the car in front of a woods. He takes a basket out the trunk and walks into the woods.

    "Ian, if you plan on killing me, just know I wouldn't go down without a fight. I know kick boxing" I say and he laughs.

    "Are you serious?" he says and he sees my face. "I'm not here to kill you" he says draping a arm over my shoulder and keeps walking. We walk for about twenty minutes before we reach our destination. It is worth the drive and trek. We are on the edge of a cliff, not so high that you could die if you fall of it, just the perfect height for diving, I am getting ideas. The view in front of us is breathtaking and I am not talking about the cliff, see what I did there?

The moon is high in the sky and glistens on the lake, the mountains in front of the cliff makes the place not just look but feel serene. We have that in front and all round us, there are fireflies. This place is perfect.

    "You showed me your hide away, I thought it only fair to share mine" Ian says standing beside me.

    "Thank you, it's perfect" I say. 

    "You are perfect" I hear him say quietly but I pretend not to hear.

Ian sets the blanket from the basket on the floor and we sit down taking the view in. I am happy I brought my jacket, it is cold. We've been here an hour give or take when Ian gets up and removes his clothes leaving just his boxers.

    "Ian, what are you doing?" I ask covering my eyes. Okay, maybe I am peeking through my fingers but you cannot blame me, have you seen his body?

    "Midnight swim" he says running before jumping over the cliff. That looks like fun. I remove my t-shirt and short leaving only my underwear on, I follow him off the cliff quite literally. I make a big splash in the water as I land. The water is freezing.

    "Didn't think you'd join me" Ian says swimming to me. He splashes water on me and I return the favor.

    "And let you have all the fun?" I say laughing. Laughing he carries me in the water and I wrap my legs around him, my hands on his neck for support. We stay like that just looking at each other.

    "You have beautiful eyes" he breaks the silence.

    "You too" I compliment. "I love that our eyes match, like we're soulmates" I add. Why did that sound cheeky. There are other people with blue and green eyes, I'm not telling them we're soulmates.

    "I want to kiss you so bad" he says looking at my lips. "But I do not want to rush this" he says and places me back in the water and swims away to the shore.

Do you all understand what just happened because I do not

I swim out the shore with him and the cold hits my body like a brick. We walk back up the cliff and Ian wraps me in towel. I dry myself up while he does the same, I put my hair in the towel. I take the towel from Ian and on my tip toe, I dry his hair for him, I have to hold his shoulder so I do not fall because he is way taller than I am. When his hair is finally damp, I put my fingers in his hair and shake it, all the excess water splash off. Ian is looking at me the whole time.

    "You seem good at this, have you done this before" Ian asks.

    "Yeah"

    "Asher?" he asks

    "Yeah and Eli" I answer and Ian holds my hand stopping me. 

    "Wait what?"

    "What?" I ask confused.

    "You dry Eli's hair?" he asks.

    "Yeah, all the time. He says he likes when I do it for him" I tell him. Ian looks me in the eyes.

    "No"

    "What no, he said he like it but I just think he's lazy and wants me to baby him" I say smiling.

    "Don't smile when talking about him and dry only my hair from now on" he says and I laugh.

    "Oh, you're not joking" I say noticing he's unamused face.

    "You are beautiful when you do it" He says and am I blushing? I look at him but do not say anything.

    "Do you hear me?" he asks leaning towards me which I didn't think is possible, I am standing pretty close to him already. It suddenly becomes conscious how n***d we both are. "No other person's hair" he repeats.

    "But Eli and I are friends" I tell him.

    "Nobody else's hair" he says looking me in the eyes and I nod. he leans back and I finish drying his hair.

I wrap my towel on my chest while Ian wrapped his around his waist and we seat back down on the blanket by the cliff just watching. I am hoping my under garment would dry up a bit before we dress up.

    "Tell me what happened between you and Heather" I ask still facing the mountains.

    "If you tell me about you and Brad" he counters.

    "I'm sure you've figured what happened" I say looking at him. 

    "But not the details" he says looking at me. "I want to know everything about you"

    "You can't know everything about someone" I counter. I bring my knees to my chest and rest my head on my knees. 

    "Maybe, but I want to try" he says his eyes on me. 

I want him to be able to tell me things about himself and if that means talking about those backstabbers, so be it.

    "Okay. Brad, Hailes, sorry Hailey, Asher, Eli and I grew up together. We've known each other for years now. Our parents met during a school conference I think and we just instantly clicked" I am taken back to that moment in my mind. "Anyways, we became friends and everything was perfect. Then in middle school, I had a crush on Eli -"

    "You like Eli?" Ian cuts me off.

    "Liked" I correct. 

    "Did he know?" 

    "Let me continue" I tell him.

    "Sorry" he says making the gesture of zipping his mouth. "I liked Eli and I told him but he said he has a girlfriend"

    "Ouch" Ian says and I glare at him. 

    "Well, I was heartbroken and Brad was the one there to help me, he knew I liked Eli and encouraged me to tell him and when what happened happened, he felt bad. He was the one who brought me junks and watched sad movies with me. Asher was happy I got rejected because he didn't want me to date Eli, I don't know why"

    "I know I like Ash for a reason, this might be one of them" Ian says smiling. I smile back.

    "Brad asked me out after I was over Eli and I said yes. I was happy and so was Asher at first but then something changed. Asher stopped hanging out whenever Brad is around and then he wouldn't hang with Hailey too. Eli too stopped coming around when Hailey and Brad are around. I noticed the change but I didn't put it together. I thought we were all  just growing apart. When I asked Asher why, he said he and Eli met some knew friends and I believed him. looking back now, I feel so stupid"

    "You're not" Ian says coming close to me. I rest my head on his shoulder.

     "One day, I was hanging out with Brad and Hailey and Asher calls me out saying we had to go get grocery, I left Brad and Hailey at home watching a movie and went out with Ash. I knew something was up when we just went into the store and a shaving stick. I remember asking Ash why he brought me outside and he said he just wanted me to follow him out. When we got home, Brad and Hailey are no longer in the living room, I thought they left until Ash holds my hand and leads me up the stairs to my room. The first thing I hear from my door is giggling and laughter and I knew. I look at Ash and he looks back at me with sadness and anger in his eyes. I open my door and see Hailey and Brad kissing and laughing on my bed. My bed in my room. I was more livid than hurt in that moment"

    "What did you do?" Ian asks.

    "Well, I walked in and said I was sorry to interrupt them but that I needed my room back" 

    "You didn't" he says turning me to look at him.

    "I did. They jumped off my bed and started apologizing wanting to explain and all. Asher shouted at them to leave and as they are about to, I told them to wait that they forgot something. I then helped them pick their clothes off the floor, removed my bedsheet and duvet, wrapped their clothes in the bedsheet and gave it to them"

Ian just stares at me. I get very composed when I am hurt but then I breakdown after. I would hate for anybody who hurt me actually see me hurt because then they win.

    "Your turn" I tell Ian.

    "Another time, it's pretty late" he answers and get off the floor raising a hand for me. I take his hand and get up. I check the time, he is right, it's late. Our clothes are drier now so quickly dress up and leave.

    "Thanks for sharing that with me" Ian says when we get to his car.

    "I am glad I did"

 I am happy I am here with Ian at this moment. He makes me feel at ease and comfortable around him and he's confidence seems to be robbing off of me.