Fire & Snow

Chapter 2

I was standing outside Faith’s door. I wanted to knock but I was too nervous and scared to do it. What if she did not want to see me or what if Liav was not around. I do not know what I would do if that happened because I happen to actually like them both. I had never found people like them who just understood me the way that they did.

‘You can do this,’ I said to myself and took a deep breath to ease my growing anxiety. I had to stop being so scared of doing things, especially when it came to meeting new people and actually having a complete conversation with them.

Finally finding the courage locked somewhere within me, I knocked on the door and waited.

“Come in,” came Faith’s voice.

I plastered a smile on my face and opened the door. Faith was seated on her bed while Liav was sat on a chair overlooking the huge window in Faith’s room.

“Hey!” I said while standing by the door.

“Have a seat,” Faith said and I sat down. I was nervous as hell but I hoped my smile was convincing enough. I did not want them to know just how uncomfortable I really was. “How are you?” Faith asked.

I risked a glance at Liav who had a straight face but there was a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. It was as though he knew exactly how I felt but was not going to say anything about, which I was grateful.

“I’m okay and how are you?” I replied still smiling. Why was I here again? I asked myself then I remembered that I needed the job and I had to play nice and do whatever I was told without messing up badly.

Faith shrugged, “I could be better,” she replied with a straight face. “I haven’t been to class for the past two weeks. But I’m not complaining I can easily catch up with whatever it was that they learnt.” She explained and I sat there shocked.

Faith was an enigma, someone who you could never really understand. One minute you think you understand her and the next thing you know, you do not know her anymore.

“Why?” I asked. My big mouth just had to open and ask more questions. Could I not ask too many questions and stay where I was supposed?

“Haven’t been okay for a while now,” Faith replied. She moved and leaned her head against that wall. “Hopefully I can be back into class by the end of this week or the start of next week.”

I noticed something about the dynamic of Faith and Liav’s relationship. Faith always did the talking while Liav sat back and watched. The entire thing was a bit off because it was as though Faith was the one running everything while Liav just did the work.

“That’s great,” I replied. Seriously? That was the best I could do. I scolded myself because I sounded as though did not know what to say, which I was but I did not want them, especially Faith to know.

Liav laughed aloud making Faith and I stare at him. “Don’t mind me, I just happen to find this whole thing very hilarious,” he said in response.

“Seriously Liav,” Faith said with an eye roll.

“Your conversation is so dry it’s making me wonder why I became friends with any of you,” Liav replied with a smile. “Be more like Aydan and I, we never seize to have a great conversation.”

Faith moved at the edge of her bed and stared at Liav incredulously. “You mean Aydan, the one you screwed over, that one?” she asked with an arched eyebrow.

“Yep, that very same one,” Liav replied still smiling and then he turned to me when he saw the look I was giving both of them. “Ahh, you don’t know Aydan,” he commented.

Of course, I did not know Aydan. How would I know him? Liav and Faith were the only juniors that I had associated with since I came to the school.

“Aydan is our best friend,” Faith said in response, “And Liav here screwed up his chances of getting the girl he liked.”

I wanted to laugh but I did not know what they would both think of me so I smiled. Who screws over his best friend like that? This was just too weird but hilarious in some way.

Liav moved his chair closer to where I was and adjusted his glasses. “The thing was, Aydan is a player and doesn’t really date a girl for more than a week but then there was this girl he met last year and he may have gotten feelings and even wanted to change for her,” he said. This was sounding interesting so far. “For a smart guy, Aydan sure was dumb.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Liav sighed, “A few days after he told me he wanted to change for her, a few of our other friends came over and they started talking about girls while I just listened. Now don’t get me wrong, I do love girls but not like Aydan,” Liav said with a smirk. “But that’s beside the point, they talked about that very same girl that Aydan wanted to get and betted on her. They betted on who could get her and when I tried telling them how stupid and immature that was, they said I just couldn’t get her.”

“Liav here loves challenges,” Faith added. 

“And I joined them in their little stupid game,” Liav said with a smile as he seemed to be reminiscing. “One by one, I took them out of the game until it was only Aydan and me.” Liav sighed.

This whole story seemed almost made up but by the look on both Faith and Liav’s faces, I had a feeling that Liav was telling the truth and I did not know whether to be terrified or impressed.

“Aydan got too cocky and thought he could win so he challenged me to see who could take the most vodka shots, straight from the bottle,” Liav continued. “Now, I don’t easily get drunk and I warned him about it but he insisted. Seven shots later, Aydan was a drunk mess and I was still perfectly sober.”

Faith shook her head at what Liav was about to say.

“And since I am a very nice friend, I took Aydan to the girl’s room, knocked and shoved him in,” Liav said. “After that, seems as though Aydan did some really stupid thing because she kicked him out and that was the end of their game.”

Okay, that just seemed cold and really mean of Liav to do.

“I know that look, you think I’m a terrible person but I’m really not. Aydan had it coming for what he did to me during freshmen year,” Liav said with a shrug.

I arched my eyebrow at that. “What did he do for him to deserve that? And after a year of him doing it?” I asked.

Talk about being petty. Why would someone hold a grudge for that long just so you could catch him or her unaware?

Liav raked a hand through his hair. “That’s another story,” he finally replied. “But stay aware from him, he might be my best friend but he is not someone I want to associate with ever,” Liav gave me a stun look just as a knock came from Faith’s door.

We all looked at each other before Faith rolled her eyes.

“Come in,” she said.

Moments later, the door was opening and a guy with the bluest of eyes entered. There was a casual around him and he did not seem to care about anything and anyone. He sat down on the chair next to Liav and made himself comfortable.

“Hey man, hey Faith, how are you feeling today,” he asked.

I sat while subtly throwing glances at him. He was handsome no doubt but he seemed like those cocky people who thought they were better than everyone else was. He did not seem to have noticed me and I was not going to say anything.

“I’m much better today Aydan,” Faith replied.

So, this was the Aydan they were just talking about. It explained many things.

“Cool,” Aydan replied and then looked at me. Like really looked at me and I suddenly felt self-conscious, something I hardly ever felt. “And you are?” he was still giving me that and all I wanted was to leave.

“This is Neva, my new and improved assistant,” Liav piped in. “She is the one who has replaced Tracy.”

A look of recognition swept across Aydan’s face. “You mean she is the one you have been talking about nonstop for the last 24 hours.”

“Yep,” Liav replied.

“Hey,” Aydan said.

I swallowed before I answered. “Hey.” Talk about liquid courage, I thought to myself.

Aydan turned to Liav after that. “So what major is she doing?”

Seriously? I was right here and he could not even ask me but rather had to ask me. Who the heck did this guy think he was? A celebrity?

“She happens to be a CS sophomore,” Liav replied.

“Cool,” Aydan replied as he turned to look at me. “If you need help with Math or anyone you know needs help, just tell them I can help. But I charge for my services.”

Faith scoffed, “She isn’t paying you anything Aydan, she is now one of us and has the same privileges as us,” she said.

Aydan’s head snapped so quick that I was almost afraid he would get whiplash. “Why the hell is that? I did not agree to any of that,” he said through narrowed eyes. “I don’t have time to babysit a sophomore; I’ve got important things to do.”

That felt like a blow to my ego and me. Was that all I was to these people, just some other stupid sophomore?

“Is that because you would rather be hanging out with one of your many side chics, is that it?” Liav asked with a smirk.

Aydan rolled his eyes. “Of course, why should I waste my time with a sophomore who won’t give me anything when I have a line of girls who all want to get with me,” he replied with a shrug. “I’m a busy guy with lots of females to please,” he winked as he said that last part.

“She is now one of us and hence, you will treat her the same way you treat us and show her some respect,” Faith said through narrowed eyes. “Or so help me, I will kill you out of my room and never talk to you again,” she warned and I saw Aydan swallow.

“Fine, whatever,” Aydan said and turned back to Liav. They started talking while I watched him until Faith started talking to me.

My attention was on Faith and what she was saying but I could feel someone’s eyes on me. I looked at Liav and Aydan and Aydan had a distasteful look.

This was going to be one hell of a job and I almost wanted to quit immediately.

“I think I’ll be heading to the library to study for a bit,” Aydan said as he stood and stretched.

I did not mean to be looking at him but as he stretched, his shirt rode up and I could see a perfect and well-tanned torso. I was definitely going to be screwed if I continued looking at him.

Liav stood up as well, “I think I’ll go with you. I need to get some studying done,” he said. “I will email you my timetable and everything I like,” he said whilst looking at me.

“Okay,” I replied. I wanted to ask him how he already knew my email when I clearly recall not giving it to him.

Aydan and Liav left me with Faith and the awkwardness returned. I had to get out before the awkward conversation started again. I could not handle that much awkwardness after meeting Aydan.

“I will be going to,” I said while standing up. “I have a quiz I need to study for.”

“Okay,” Faith replied and I left.

The whole thing played in my head as I walked to my room. I was going to stay away from Aydan even if he was handsome and a total catch. I was not going to be one of his side chics as Liav put it.