Unexpected Connection

CHAPTER 2

I lay on my bed looking up at the ceiling of my room and remembered yesterday. It's the beginning of a new school year and I cannot believe Ian, the boy next door, more like next compound, goes to my school. I have been up almost all night mostly because I haven't been able to sleep for sometime now. The sun is beginning to rise peeking though in my blinds. I picked up my phone to check the time.

6.30am.

I get up from bed to shower and get ready for school, I have to be at school by 8.00 so that gives me about an hour and half. I look at myself in the bathroom mirror and run my hand through my long jet black hair, I had just changed the color from brown during the summer break, it was brown and short, so I would have a different look, it might not seen different but my hair was light brown before. I go into the shower and stand under the hot water to wash myself. I wish I could wash away that memory from my head but I know that isn't possible. I change into a two piece long sleeve knit dress and pair it with my brown boots. I look at my reflection and I could barely see the girl I was. That is what a breakup does to you. I changed myself into a wallpaper, my life into a routine of school, home, assignment, sports, game and programming. I used to be a social butterfly but I am more of an housefly now. All because of them.

When I am done with my makeup and styling of hair, it is 7.15 so I go downstairs for breakfast.

    "Morning mum" I greet pecking her.

    "Morning" she greets back and serves my breakfast in a plate. It is bacon with scrambled eggs and toast. 

    "Where is dad?" I ask not seeing him seated in his regular breakfast spot.

    "Woke up late" mum answers. "Here you go", she gives me my plate.

    "Where's mine?" Asher asks walking into the kitchen. He takes a bacon from my plate and goes to peck mum before coming back to seat beside me with his plate. I take my bacon back from his plate.

    "Mum, Lily stole my bacon" he shouted to mum.

    "Lily, if you are going to steal his food, don't let him see you do it" she says backing us. I poke my tongue out at Asher.

    "Yes Lily, you do not let him know you have taken his food" my dad says discreetly taking a bacon off Asher's plate. Asher is too busy making faces at me to see it happen. "Like that" dad says swallowing the bacon.

    "Dad!" Asher shouts having figured what happened. My dad gives me an high five before kissing my forehead. He then goes and holds mum by the waist from the back and kisses her neck. I don't know how my parents are still so in love with each other. They are high school sweethearts, I wonder if I would have an high school sweetheart. Ian comes to mind and I quickly shut down that thought. We all eat our breakfast talking about what the plan for the day is.

    "We are having yesterday's steak today" Mum says. We didn't get to eat the steak yesterday because they got busy at work, it was one of those days. 

The ride to school is uneventful, Asher connects his phone to the aux and plays music because the ones on the radio are dead songs. I park in my spot beside Asher's spot and yes, I drove to school today. Everyone is looking at the car, it is a new sports car, only five of it in the world. I get down with Asher and again everyone surrounds him, I sneak away and walk into the school. I feel someone's eyes on me and when I look around looking for who it is, I see Brad, my ex. I just keep walking ignoring him. He is the last person I want to see. 

Because you all are cool people, I would tell you all about Brad Adams. Brad was my boyfriend, I have known him since elementary school. He, Asher, Hailey and I were the best of friends. You remember Hailey from class yesterday, the girl with Heather. Anyways, I had a boyfriend and three bestfriends and I was happy until, there is always an until. Until I find out that Hailey and Brad were seeing each other behind my back. What jerks, right? Anyway, enough about them.

I walk to my locker and like yesterday everyone gathers when someone walks in but this time, I know who it is. Ian. Everyone stares at him as he walks in and I can see why. He's very handsome,  with jet black hair like mine, his hair falls on his face giving him that 'I just woke up look'. He's got a perfect jawline, so sharp they can cut glass, his heterochromia eyes, green and blue just like mine, nose and mouth are perfect. His entire face is just perfect. The white shirt, black pants and black leather jacket with his black boots gives him this bad boy look. He is holding a motorcycle helmet in one hand and his backpack was hanging off his shoulder. Maybe, just maybe, he is a bad boy but I am not going to assume. He is resting against a locker, people surrounding him, with the smile on his lips, you would think he is enjoying the attention but the look in is two colored eyes plead to be taken away from there, his green and blue eyes match mine but in opposite side. Let me explain, his blue eyes in on the left, mine on the right while his green eyes is on the right, mine on the left. I didn't realize I was staring until we lock eyes, we stay like that for like a minute before he smirks. 

Am I blushing?  

Nope. I quickly take my English note and walk to class, I can feel his eyes on me. People haven't arrived in the class yet, they are probably still hugging and greeting each other, I plug in my air pods and by the window looking out at all the students still loitering around. It isn't long before people start coming into class. Just has everyone gets seated, a teacher walks in, she's new. I watch her as she walks to the small podium in class and puts her books there, she would be in her late 20s or early 30s, she's got brunette hair that is currently packed into a tight bun with bangs in front. She is pretty and small. She's dressed in a navy blue corporate gown with a small black belt at the waist and black heels. 

    "Hi, I am Miss Emily. Your new English lecturer" she introduces. The class returns the greet, as per usual with a new teacher, we all introduce ourselves. It is something the schools adopts, they say it makes the teacher feel more at ease. After introduction, we open a page in our text books. I lay my head on the table reading from the textbook when the door suddenly opens and bangs shut startling everybody in the class including myself causing me to seat up to see who it is. If you guessed Ian, you deserve a prize.

    "Sorry" he says smiling.

    "You must be Ian Carter. You startled me" Miss Emily says.

    "Sorry about that" he says still smiling. The whole class swoons because of those dimples. if you haven't noticed, I am a sucker for dimples, I am happy I have one too. Even Miss Emily blushed slightly.

    "It's Okay" she says. "Why are you late?" she asks.

    "Huh?" Ian starts. Our school takes lateness seriously. If you are late once to class, you clean the classroom for a week after school.

    "Yes?" Miss Emily asks and Ian just stares at her. 

    "It is my fault" I say raising my hand. Asher and the rest of the class stare at me.

    "Care to explain?" Miss Emily asks.

    "He asked me this morning where the bookstore is and I told him, he said he wanted to buy the textbook for this class since he didn't have it" I explain.

    "That doesn't explain how it is your fault" Miss Emily says.

    "I guess I should have let him borrow mine especially when I knew how far the bookstore is from class. I should have known he wouldn't make it back to class on time" I elaborate. Asher and Ian just stare at me. I do not know why I lied for him. 

    "Is that true?" Miss Emily asks Ian and he nods. "If that is the case, I would let you go but please do not be late next time" she adds.

    "Hey" he greets sitting down.

    "Hi" I greet back being the polite person that I am.

    "Nice ride" he says.

    "Excuse me?" I ask confused.

    "You are the owner of the sports car outside, right?" he asks. I am actually shocked that he knows it is mine, he wasn't around when I got to school.

    "Yes but how could you possibly know that?" I had to know.

    "I asked around" he says smiling. 

    "Stalking much?" I say smiling. His smile got bigger.

    "You shouldn't be the one to say that. Miss binoculars" he says.

    "Well, I am a certified creep, no doubt but why do you have a binocular" I gasp dramatically, "Are you a creep?" I ask. A smile creeps on his face.

    "I might be a creep" he says laughing quietly.

    "That makes us a couple of creeps" I say smiling.

    "I like you already" he says.

    "I've liked you since I saw you with that binoculars" I tell him.

The class comes to an end without and hitch and so did every other class till lunch time. I quickly drop my bag in my locker, I am meeting Asher at Leo building for lunch, he has a meeting with his coach so instead of coming back up here, we would meet at Leo. I notice someone is already occupying the locker beside mine, I wonder who it is. The person better be cool like Asher and I.

    "Someone is using the locker now" I hear Asher say beside me.

    "I know right, I was just thinking about that" I tell him. "Was I not supposed to meet you at Leo?" I ask him.

    "Yeah, I decided to come meet you instead, we would go together" he says and links his arm with mine. Just as I shut my locker door, Ian walks up to the locker beside mine and opens it. Of course, it's his locker.

    "Hey. I am Asher" Asher greet shim waving with his free hand. Ian looks down at our interlocked hands. "We are twins" he adds noticing the look on Ian's face.

    "Oh, I am Ian" Ian greets and waves back. Why are they waving at each other still standing in the same spot.

    "We were just talking about who occupied the locker next to ours" Asher says being the friendly guy that he is. I just stand there.

    "Let's go" I say tugging Asher along.

    "Do you want to join us for lunch?" Asher asks and I groan internally. That is what I am avoiding.

    "Sure" Ian says and walks with us.

We sit down on a table away from the crowd outside in the garden. I love the garden tables because, the air is fresh and its shielded from the sun. We have our tray and begin to eat.

    "Lily told me about how you guys first met" Asher says.

    "Yeah, we are a couple of creeps" I tell Asher.

    "I am happy you now agree" Asher says laughing.

    "Why were you looking over at my house" Ian asks.

    "She is infatuated with that place" Asher answers. Ian looks at me confused and I shrug.

    "I don't know what he is talking about" I say and eat my meal.

    "Well, she watches that house everyday because every one that moves in moves out in a year. Sometimes, Liliana sneaks into the house" Asher explains.

    "Really?" Ian says laughing and Asher nods. "Do not sneak in again" Ian says to me.

    "I would think about it" I tell him.

    "No promises" Asher completes.

 Everything is fine until, Hailey, you remember Hailey, right? Yes that Hailey walks up to us.

    "Leave" I say at the same time she says;

    "Hey"

    "What do you want?" Asher asks when she sits down.

    "I just want to talk" she says. "Hi" she says to Ian, he ignores her and I am grateful.

    "I don't want to so leave" I tell her getting angry.

    "When would you be ready then?!" she asks raising her voice.

    "Asher, can you still see the knife in my back?" I ask Asher turning my back to him.

    "Yes" he replies flatly.

    "When I get the knife out of my back" I say at Hailey venomously.

    "You don't have to be such a witch!!" she shouts causing a scene.

    "So now I'm being a witch?" I ask and she nods. "Oh my bad, I didn't know I was being a witch but then again, you are the queen of witches so I guess you would know best" I say raising an eyebrow at her. She stomps her feet her walks away.

    "Don't break those heels!!!" I shout after her before going back to my food. I am not loosing my appetite over her.

    "Wow" Ian says looking at me.

    "I know right" Asher says. "Hailey is the queen of witches" he adds and he and Ian laugh.

    "I knew I liked you for a reason" Ian says. 

    "I thought you liked me because I covered for you?" I say with a raised brow.

    "There are multiple reasons now" Ian says and I laugh.

Still eating, someone hands came from behind and cover my eyes. I did not have to think twice to know who it is.

    "Eli" I say with a smile.

    "How did you know it's me?" he asks pecking my cheeks and sitting down.

    "I would recognize your scent and feel of hands anywhere, besides you do this every time" I say still smiling.

Meet Eli Mason, my best friend. Eli, Asher and I grew up together. Eli lives on the acre behind my house. Eli is athletic, he plays the same sports as Asher. He has sharp jawlines, curly brown hair and matching brown eyes. He was my crush in middle school. I told him I liked him and he said he has a girlfriend, I cried a lot for weeks. Eli gave me my first heart break. It hurt at the time but at the end of the day, I am over him and we are great friends now. 

    "You recognize my scent?" Eli asks skeptical.

    "Yea, I recognize the scents of people close to me" I tell him,

    "Do you recognize my scent?" Ian asks whispering in my ears. i involuntarily shivered.

    "I think so" I whisper. I see Eli looking at me weird.

    "Eli, this is Ian. New kid, new friend. Ian meet Eli, my best friend" I say introducing them.

    "Hey bro" Eli greets shaking Ian.

    "And just like that our friend group increases" Asher says.

    "Too much people if you ask me" I say and drink my juice.

    "Who would you kick out if you have to? Me or Ian, I know you wouldn't kick out Asher, he's your twin" Eli asks. I put my finger on my chin thinking.

    "Well..." I say trailing.

    "Are you serious, you just met Ian" Eli says pouting.

    "Yes but we have so much in common, we are both creepers while you on the other hand have not had our time in so long, you are busy with your girlfriend of the month" I explain.

    "So you would pick Ian?" Asher asks.

    "Yes" I answer.

    "Thanks" Ian says putting his arm on my shoulder. Eli eyes the movement but doesn't say anything.

    "Are you still coming over today?" I ask Eli.

    "And miss steak?" he asks. That is a yes.

    "How do you know we are having steak?" I ask.

    "Your mum called to invite" he answers.

    "Of course she did" I say. Mum loves Eli, you would think she doesn't have a son. 

    "We are replaying that game from the other day" Eli says.

    "I am not playing you again" I say.

    "I agree with Lily, you kept asking for a rematch till two am that day" Asher said.

    "You even slept off on my bed" I add. At that sentence I think, think I felt Ian tense beside me. It could just be in my head though.

    "I always sleep on your bed" Eli says eating from my plate while I drink his juice.

    "Anyway, see you tonight but no game instead we would have movie night" I say.

    "I'm down" Eli says.

    "Wanna come?" I ask Ian.

    "You do not know where he stays, we are neighbors he might not be" Eli answers instead.

    "Actually, he lives in Lily's favorite house, the one beside our house" Asher says.

    "Wow, what a coincidence" Eli says but it sounded forced.

    "Gonna come?" Asher asks Ian who shrugs.

    "I guess I'd see you in class tomorrow" I tell him and he smiles.

    "He's in your class?" Eli asks looking at Ian.

    "Yes, he sits beside me" I tell Eli.

Eli studies Business while Asher and I study Business and Computer Science. The bell rings and signals the end of lunch, we throw away our trash and walk to class, Ian's arm still on my shoulder.

After school and practice, Asher and I go home to get ready for dinner. I quickly shower and change into a cotton short shorts and white tank top. I wear my favorite slippers and put my hair in a messy ponytail. I wonder what Ian is doing so I take my binoculars and go to the balcony. I peer out of them and look over to Ian's house. I had forgotten how beautiful the house is at night. There are lights in the floor, and on the walls. The backyard looks so neat and better now, looks like some landscapers had fun with work. There is a clear difference between yesterday and today. There are lights in every room of the house, I guess Ian's family are in now, I didn't get to see them before. I look over at the new building in the back and see light coming out of it but I cannot see anything inside. I look back over to the house and my heart skips a beat. Ian is over there on a balcony watching me. I quickly remove the binoculars from my face for a minute and then look through them again. He is still looking at me. I quickly rush inside to get a note pad.

'What are you looking at' I write on the pad and show him. He points at me and I smile. he then goes inside and comes out a long while later.

'What took you so long' I write.

'I haven't unpacked yet, was looking for a notepad' he writes back.

This would take a long time, give me your number' he shows me.

I quickly write it and show it to him. I look down at my phone waiting for a text. I look back at him and see him laughing.

'I am not texting you' he writes and I poke my tongue at him.

'Do you stay alone?' I ask and he doesn't move for a while.

'Yes' he simply writes, I can tell he doesn't want to talk about it so I don't question him.

'What are you having for dinner?' I ask instead.

'Steak' 

'Just like us'

'Yes'

    "Ready?" I hear Asher ask in my room.

    "Yes, give me a moment" I say. Asher walks out to the balcony.

    "Talking to Ian, huh?" Asher asks.

'I have to go for dinner' I write to Ian.

'Me too' he writes back

'See you after?' I ask 

'Maybe :-)' he writes with a crudely drawn smiley face.

I wave at him and go inside with Asher. Eli is already downstairs helping mum set the table for dinner.

    "Set a place for one more" Mum tells Eli.

    "I didn't know we had company" I say to my mum helping her place the food on the table.

    "It is last minute" mum says. It was definitely not last minute, mum likes preparing ahead.

    "Who is it?" Asher asks placing the cutleries.

    "Someone that we work with, his company makes games so we want him to work with our software development" Dad explains.

    "He just moved to the neighborhood" Mum adds.

    "What game does he create?" I ask.

    "Deadly Shooters, Snipers and Zombie Hunters" Dad answers.

    "For reals?" I ask even Asher and Eli stare at my dad.

    "Those are the games we play" I say excited.

    "They are awesome" Asher adds. 

    "I never seem to win" Eli adds pouting.

    "That's because you are bad at games" I tease but it's true though, Eli is so bad at video games for some reason.

Ding Ding

The bell from the gate rings.

    "I've got it" I say and run to the home security system. I see a nice car by our gate through the monitor. Must be the guest we are expecting. I open the gate and allow the stranger in. I know you are thinking, 'Stranger Danger Lily'. Yeah well, it is too late.

The door bell rings and I run to the door, the front door is far from the home system, 

I open the door and you would not guess who it is.

"Ian?''