Chapter 8
1296 Words
"I'm here." I reach our favorite sitting spot at Second Cup and Elle stands to give me a hug.
"Finally, my r****h has joined the club." She jokes and I roll my eyes before taking my seat.
We order our favorite milkshakes and trust me this place makes the best milkshakes and coffee in Sekon.
"So let's get to planning our three months vacation and making it the best vacation ever." Elle cracks her knuckles ready to type away on her laptop. She is so obsessed with holidays and vacation.
"Okay lemme go first. First starters, I think we should get out of Sekon for a change." She types her suggestion and I make a disapproving face.
"Oh no. Why that face? What?" She sips her strawberry milkshake whilst shooting me a questioning look.
"Well it's actually a great suggestion and seems possible and fun--"
"But?" She cuts in rolling her eyes.
"What about my underground club?"
"Mary John. You have to be kidding me." She exclaims making me chuckle. I sip my milkshake.
"The Gauntlet will take place during our vacation and I really don't want to miss it. I'm planning on winning it three times in a row." I smile wider at Elle who frowns at me.
"Ria, what you should be focusing on is the art gala you'll be hosting after the vacation, and not that dangerous place I really don't appreciate you going to by the way."
Here we go again.
"I get that it's you light house and all but I can't keep this secret and not advice you. That place is dangerous and you have to give it up." She advises like a mother hen.
"Come on Elle. Our identities are secret. Nobody knows who anyone actually is outside the club. I'm totally safe."
"Safe? Hiding behind face masks and hoodies isn't really a good description of safe. Anyone can just rip it off and let's not forget about the thugs."
I chuckle.
"Nobody ever does that and besides I always stay away from the thugs. Nothing could go wrong." I smile at her and she shakes her head.
I always have to reassure her of my safety whenever my underground club comes up. I get that she's concerned about me but I can't give up the club. It really helped me through some rough times.
"Come on Elle, it's just like your secret writing talent, you have to understand me."
She rolls her eyes
"Fine, but I'm keeping my word. If anything ever happens to you I'm telling your family." I shrug whilst smiling.
I've been doing this for almost three years. Nothing has ever gone wrong and never will.
***
I reach home early evening and run to my room to pack a bag for my sleepover at Elle's.
Zack is still throwing his stupid party and I really want my beauty sleep. Besides Elle and I are going to stay up all night and plan our vacation in Sekon.
I finish packing my bag and grab my precious camera before locking my room. I walk pass the party organizers who are busy with their jobs with Zack who is nowhere to be found.
I take out my phone to shoot him a text about my whereabouts in case he cares to know.
Whilst looking into my phone a pair of Adidas sneakers walk into my view.
I look up and Jyronne is smiling at me with his bag on his shoulder.
Oh gosh!
"Hey Zariah, going somewhere?"
I swallow to keep my composure.
"Yeah." I swallow again.
"Zack is throwing his stupid party and I need my beauty sleep, so I'm going to Elle's."
I somehow sound angry along my delivery so I smile a bit at the end.
"I've been wondering about this for a while now." He says with a quizzical look in his eyes.
"Is it that you don't enjoy Zack's parties or you want to stay out of trouble? Which is it?" I smile at his question.
"Trouble obviously. In case our dad is to suddenly pop up I'll be nowhere near the crime scene." He chuckles at my statement and I smile.
This almost feels like old times, but back then I wasn't obsessively crushing on him like I am now.
"That's really bad, I was actually hoping you would stick around."
I almost chuckle.
"Stick around at Zack's party? Nope, not my kind of thing."
"Then what is your kind of thing?"
Why does his questions usually catch me off guard?
Oh gosh, can he please stop staring at me like that? His gaze is like a fire and a drug.
"Probably watching movies." I shrug then look away.
"So how are you going to get there?"
I crease my forehead at him causing him to chuckle.
"Elle's, how are you going to get there?"
"Oh, that. I'll pick a taxi or something, it's just a short drive." I shrug but he shakes his head.
"How about I put down my bag and drive you there myself."
My heart literally skips a beat.
Alone time with him?
"Uhh, I don't want to bother-"
"It won't be a bother, in fact the party hasn't started yet."
I swallow the lump in my throat.
If someone is going to jump in and save me from this awkward moment, now is the perfect time.
No one? Ugh!
"Sure." I comply with a smile and he nods before rushing upstairs.
I sit at the back and stare at the beautiful interior of the car with its expensive leathers.
Sweet mackerel, even the inside of the car smells like him.
I inhale as much as I can and turn stiff when he enters.
"Why are you at the back?"
Oh s**t!
"Uhh.." I have no excuse, just move in front.
I join him at the front and he nods. He grabs his seatbelt and straps himself in before looking at me.
"Your seatbelt." He says and I realize I'm not strapped in.
I trying pulling out the seatbelt but it seems stuck somehow.
"Lemme."
He straps out of his seatbelt and leans towards me all in a second. I basically have to hold in my breath and try not to freak out at his closeness.
He pulls out the seatbelt with his strength before strapping it in for me.
"Thanks."
I try to hide my blush and the fact that I'm totally shaking.
"Sorry about that. The car is kinda old, I'm even thinking of replacing it with a motorcycle."
"Oh okay. That's cool."
That's all I manage to say as we drive through the gates. I input the directions to Elle's house and sit back in my seat with my heart pounding.
The whole 15 minutes ride to Elle's house is this unending silence that's eating my ears. I desperately want to say something but I don't want him to think I'm weird.
My opportunity to speak vanishes the moment we park in front of Elle's house.
"Thanks." I say before trying to unstrap myself but that too encounters a problem.
Jyronne leans over and pulls it out for me. Our faces stand just inches away from each other and I stare into his brown eyes.
"Thanks again for driving me here. I'm really grateful."
I grab my back and scurry out.
He clears his throat, "No problem." I nod and close the door before turning to Elle's house.
I need to say something to cure the awkward moment earlier.
"Have fun at the party." But hopefully not too much fun to the extent that he'll do drugs or anything bad.
"I will. And I'll see you tomorrow."
I nod then watch him drive away before I start breathing normal again.
***
End of flashback
- Writer
