. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dress – Check!
Sandals – Check!
Make-up – Check!
Backpack – Check!
I was looking proudly at myself in the mirror when mom opened my bedroom door to give a heart-warming smile to me. I love my mom, she’s the best thing happened to me in my whole life and I know that she thinks the same about me. After being satisfied that I’ve packed my backpack perfectly, she left placing a gentle kiss on my forehead. A few seconds after, I heard a whatsapp notification and smiled to myself imagining who it was.
__________
{Message from Max}
[Baby, please come soon. I want to see you ASAP. Don’t make me die just by waiting for you. Love You.]
I blushed with a smile reading this and quickly replied,
[Just coming. Love You Too]
__________
Hurriedly taking my bag, I rushed towards my vehicle and left for my college. Whoops! Sorry! I just realised that I forgot to introduce myself. “I’m Riya, Riya Roy. It’s my last year of high school. And for the truth, I love my high school as it has given me many happiness and surprises. I’m truly thankful to it.”
After reaching my destination, I parked my two-wheeler and literally ran inside the building. I was out of breath by the time I reached locker room.
”Hey Rie, Why late?” Alyssa aka my best friend, asked me.
“I’m late? No! Now he’ll kill me.” I said in a tense mood.
“Who?” she asked with confusion.
“No one, forget it” I replied.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“LOOK WHO’s HERE!”
“OMG Ash!”
“He is looking so HOT”
“Please somebody tell him to date me”
Our, Oh’ so typical high-school bimbos have started with their usual chatter. They were talking about Asher Wesley, our school’s bad boy and the most popular personality here. He and his gang entered like they rule the whole school and that made those bimbos to go crazy. There are three of them, the first one is Sid, he happens to be the closest one to Ash—Asher, although he is nowhere near to that bad boy image like him. Second is Max, he is the childhood buddy of Sid and Asher. He is not like Sid but neither like Asher. So, he comes in the middle.
I saw all of them coming towards us.
Firstly Max came and hugged me, greeted with a good morning. It’s like a ritual, every single day he does this and now I’m familiar with it. After our hug, I looked towards Asher who was…throwing daggers at—me? ‘What happened to him?’ I ignored my little thought, and turned towards Aly who was busy chatting with Sid. I can bet that they like each other, but the main point is, they are not accepting it. I’ve told Alyssa many damn times to think about it, but no! She’s not getting it.
__________
I’m proceeding towards the locker room as I’m intend to do that. Once again I opened the piece of paper which was thrown towards me in my second lecture, and start reading it.
{Come and meet me in the locker room. I‘ll be waiting for you. – M.}
As I reached the locker room, I saw a male figure standing there. I’m facing his backside as he was shuffling something in his locker. “Who’s this?” I asked. “Don’t you know me? Really?” the voice was of none other than Asher. I’m so going to leave this room now…
I walked past him coldly but couldn’t move beyond two steps ‘cause I felt his firm grip around my wrist and the very next second, he pulled me towards him. My body crashed against his and hands rested on his shoulders. Our faces were inches apart. I couldn’t move to release myself from his hold. It was like his touches had paralyzed my body.
“Leave me, Asher.” I ordered him.
“No way’s,” he said in dazed voice, staring at me. “I like the way you fit in my arms. Perfect.”
“But I don’t. So leave me,” I ordered Asher again, sounding much annoyed.
“I won’t babe, and why are you annoyed? Don’t you know who am I? I’m ‘THE Asher Wesley. The most popular guy of the school and every girl wants me,” he said, showing me his infamous ‘annoying’ smirk.
“That List DOESN’T include me, Mr ‘THE Asher Wesley’. I’m no-where like that vulgar bimbos who revolves around you every time, just to make sure you notice them. And I will never be like them.”
“All the girl says that, but no one can resist me babe,”
“Don’t babe me Asher, I’m not your babe,”
“You are my babe, babe,”
“Oh just…” as I was going to answer him, I heard someone’s voice.
“Ash? Oh baby you’re here. I was looking……YOU?” ladies and gentleman, a big round of applause for none other than—Mia. The most popular girl of our school. Not for her studies, but for her (not so) good looks and for her careless behaviour in front of boys. She is the biggest “b****” of our school and my childhood bestie cum present enemy.
As she entered, Asher got distracted and I escaped from his hold.
“Yes me Mia, any problem?” I asked Mia in a challenging voice.
“Shut up Rie, you s**…”
“Don’t. First, get it straight Mia, you ‘CAN—NOT’ call me Rie. You have lost that right many years ago and second, never ever dare to call me anything which makes you bring down more and more in front of me. You’ll regret it”
“You’re literally too stupid to insult ‘Riya Roy’.” Mia came back, more strongly than I would have thought of.
“Whatever,” I mumbled to myself as I start forwarding towards the door.
“B-bye, Loser.” I heard her before I turned to face her. She was smiling widely, showing me her whole-lot of teeth’s. She thinks she won? No way Riya, can’t you let that happen. Think about something…
“Nice teeth. Are they available in white?” I witted, probably with my best comeback till date and heard a chuckle coming from Asher.
“Nice one, babe.” He told me in a hushed voice so Mia can’t hear, and I left the room with an amused smile lingering on my face.
“OMG Rie! You said that? to Her?” asked my over exited BFF Aly, after hearing the whole locker room drama.
“You should’ve seen her face, it was priceless,”
“Yes, I should’ve but I can’t, and I won’t.” Aly replied, sounding sad.
“Don’t worry Aly, this wasn’t the last time. It’s just a beginning to the end of her popularity.” I told her, with an evil smile forming my face.
“Look, who’s in the house.”
Anyone can guess from her over excited tone that who it is going to be…Obviously, our three—‘MUSKETEERS’. They entered the cafeteria and immediately wandered their eyes as if they were finding someone.
Suddenly my eyes caught Max’s and his’ twinkled with pleasure. He then flashed me a cute smile and whispered something in Sid’s ear. Sid then passed it to Asher and immediately his eyes found mine. Asher’s eyes are so intense that anyone could get mesmerized with them. But, this has to be his eyes only cause’ his bad boy nature is a 100% no-no for me. His careless attitude and his player image is getting on my nerves. Seriously.
Without even waiting for a min, they came by our table and occupied the seats.
Asher sat on my left and Max on my right. Aly and Sid were on the other side of the table.
“Hello Babe,” no need to introduce. Yes, it’s the smirking guy.
“Hey Max, how’s it going,” ignoring him, I asked Max.
“All is awesome Rie……umm Riya, how about you?” Max replied, sounding nervous. God knows why?
I opened my cell phone to check for any whatsapp notify. And as my instance, I’ve got one. It shows…
{Message from Max}
Got something to tell you. Meet me tonight.
I replied:
Okay. Hope everything is alright. ‘ll surely meet you.
This message made me nervous. What happened between the boys? Any fight? Ugh, I can’t wait. I want to know.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Come on everyone, let’s play STD.”
“Yeah”
“Great idea”
“No”
“Yes”
We have a free period and the game they could think of—have to be the only one—Bl**dy STD!
I’m telling you guys seriously, that this game is a piece of—sh*t. How come a person without his/her will, will have to do or have to say/choose something which his/her friends/strangers asks or tells them for THEIR fun. No ways, I’ll not play it.
“Rie, come, let’s play.” Aly came and said to me.
“No Aly, You can play if you want.”
“You have to. Please play, for me…”
Anyone could melt after seeing Aly’s puppy face and being her BFF, I couldn’t deny.
“Yay! It’ll be fun this time. Really…”
“You always say that.”
“You always buy that.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Tina tell us the name of your crush.”
“No!!!”
“You have to”
“Yeah Tina, come on…”
“It’s Rohan”
“OMG Him!”
“Tina, you seemed to be cleverer than that”
“Okay stop now, next spin.”
“Alyssa! S-T-or-D?”
“Dare”
As she said dare—I, without wasting any second, took that chance and put a dare in front of her.
“Ok Aly, you have to propose Sid for a coffee date”
“No Rie!”
“Aww Alyssa…you like him?”
“Sid? As in THE Sid?”
“Yes Aly, you picked the dare”
“Oh god! He’s Ash’s bestie”
“Riya, please….Pretty please?”
“No pretty no ugly please Alyssa, you are doing it”
“But he isn’t here”
“You’ll do that after the school gets over and I’ll be the chief witness of it.”
“Yeah.”
“Sure?”
YES! Now, can we proceed?”
“Sure.”
*NEXT SPIN*
“Riya, what do you choose?”
I can’t choose truth. Can I choose situation? No. I can’t take any risk.
“Dare”
“WOW”
Same as me, Alyssa was much happy that I chose dare. I can feel that I’m in a BIG trouble.
“Rie, Okay…Sorry if this is long, but don’t argue after listening because this is a dare and you chose dare so you have to do anything we tell you. Okay?” Yeah, talk about TROUBLE.
“Okay. Go ahead”
“PretendtobeinlovewithAshforfivedays”
“What? What did you just say?”
“Pretend-to-be-in-love-with-Ash-for-five-Days.”
“WHAT!”
“YES!”
“Are you out of your mind Aly, this isn’t even a legal dare. No, I AM NOT doing this.”
“No Riya, you have to”
“That’s not fair”
“You are breaking the rule”
“Alyssa also agreed to your dare na”
“Please Riya”
“Riya!”
“OKAY! Okay stop, I agree.”
“What Rie? Please repeat”
“I AGREE to PRETEND to be in LOVE with Asher for ‘five’ Days.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oh my gosh! What I’ve got myself into? Why did I even agree? Now I’m dead. Literally “D-E-A-D!”
Alyssa and I are standing in our school parking, waiting for our very own ‘Musketeers’. I know that I made a big mistake by playing S-T-D. Aly used my dare as a weapon and now I’m in a big trouble and I’ve also got a song fitting my current situation. Its Taylor Swift’s – ‘Trouble’ Just kidding. Nah!
Putting my thoughts aside, I saw them (guess who?) entering the parking area and a mischief smile replaced my tensed one. I saw Aly and found her tensed.
I’m so excited that now she will propose Sid for a coffee date and I’ll get a privilege to watch her doing that. I know they like each other and now they’ll have to accept it. By hook or by crook.
“Aly, go!”
“No Rie, I can’t”
“It’s not fair. Are you going or I call them here?”
“NO! I’m going, (mumbling to herself) God, please help me. “Om bhur bhuvah svaha…….”
I chuckled and said “Gayatri mantra will not help you Aly. This isn’t an exam. So, stop overthinking it. Just go and ask him.”
She begins to make her way towards them. She took two steps forward, but then again came back. It’s been 3 minutes and she still hadn’t reached half of her destination. Seeing her actions I got an idea that she won’t do it herself, means she’ll need someone to show her the right path. And I’m there na? I’ll do that for her.
Without even waiting for a second, I hold her hand and immediately dragged her towards the boys, leaving her standing exactly in front of Sid.
The boys were confused—obviously, because they don’t know what has happened today. They don’t even have a slightest idea of what I and Aly have done…I will have to tell him about this.
“Sid, Aly is here to tell you something.”
“Alyssa? What? “Asked Sid.
“Umm…..Sid, Will you….wiill yyoouu….ummmmm”
“Just say it Aly.” I forced her.
“Will you….goonacoffeedatewithme?”
Typical Alyssa style. Let me tell you one thing, she have this weird thing going on. Like when she is nervous or when she knows that what she was going to say is not valid, she will do this. She will say it FAST means without……WITHOUT any spaces or stops. And now, I’m thorough with that.
“Huh, What?” All of us said at the same time.
“Jinx! Yes, I got you all. Now, do not say a word and just listen to what she is saying” I said to all three of them, bounding them in the curse of jinx so that they can’t speak.
********************
FOR INFO. ONLY: MEANING OF JINX.
A jinx can be initiated when at least two people say any same word or phrase at the same time. One of them then calls “jinx” on the other.
The game ends when someone speaks the jinxee’s first name, or the jinxee speaks. In the latter case, the jinxee loses the game, and often a penalty is exacted, typically a punch on the arm.
********************
“Aly, last time I’m telling you. Say it.”
“Okay. Sid, Will you go on a coffee date with me?”
({Sid shocks, Alyssa rocks (wink-wink)}
“Sid, you can speak now. You’re free from the jinx.” I informed him, even when I know it isn’t the reason why he is mute.
“Alyssa,… yes.” Siddy boy answered.
“YES!” I exclaimed, feeling excited.
“Okay, so…tomorrow?” She asked him, behaving like he is our principal and she is there asking for his permission.
“Tomorrow, 7:00 pm”
“Okay, bye”
“Bye”
As we turned to leave the place, Aly took me to one corner and then with an evil smile on her face said, “ Now your turn Ms Riya Roy, go and start pretending as you are in love with Asher Wesley. I’ve done my part, now you!”
“Aly, but how can I suddenly go and do something like that. It’ll be weird.”
“No more excuses, start something. Today is just a trailer Rie, your romance movie is going to start from tomorrow and will last for five days. I’m so
much excited to see that.”
“You are not the Aly which I know. You can’t be my BFF. I hate you”
“blah…blah….blah….You should have thought about that before letting me ask Sid for a coffee date. Who was the one behind all this? YOU! Now suffer.”
“I hate you”
“I love you too.”
“I don’t love you”
“I know, because now you love Ash na?”
“No”
“Yes, you love Ash and make him also fall in love with you.”
“You are just unbelievable!”
“Thanks! I take that as a compliment. Now, you go. Show me what you got baby.”
I proceed towards Asher for, god knows why? I don’t even know what I’ll do after reaching there. How can someone pretend to be in love with someone and with the addition of half of our school knowing, watching that?
I was in my thoughts, and didn’t know what happened. Someone collided with me and my leg twisted. I was just going to fall when Asher came to my rescue. He held my waist, preventing me from falling and when I saw in him, I got lost in his eyes. The world around me stopped and I can see only him.
Looks like it isn’t much hard to pretend to be in love with someone this handsome. Isn’t it?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
It’s been like Fi—five minutes? *Blink* *blink*Come on! I’m still in Asher’s hold and is desperately waiting for the world to start forwarding. NO? Why aren’t they moving?
Now, I’m out of my dreamland and confused by my surrounding. Why isn’t everyone moving? Is it just me—or?
Oh no! So there was no dreamland world stopping. The people around me literally stopped, for real. And do you want to know why? Because they freaking know what’s happening. Till now I’m sure half of the school knew about it.
As I am thinking about all this, I heard a sound *BAAM!!!*. No, there’s no need to worry, because it followed with a stinging pain in my back and mostly towards my lower back. “What the….” I cried and glanced towards Asher. How can he leave me falling? Then I see the person he is talking to, Mia. And my blood starts boiling seeing her there.
“What Mia? Why did you push me?” He questioned Mia. Okay, now I know the reason of me falling.
“Ash, the headmaster is calling you.” Mia replied, putting a hand on his shoulder. Is touching this necessary? Really Mia?
“What now?” Came Asher, sounding more frustrated.
“I don’t know” Mia told him, pretending to be worried. Ah! Worried? My foot.
After their convo. Asher left the place and went, mostly to the dean’s office. Let me tell you, I’m still on the floor and he didn’t even had a mere glance towards me. He left, just like that. As I shifted my gaze towards Mia, I saw that smile. It’s not just a simple smile, it’s a victory smile for her. I returned a fake smile and tried to stand up. My back is still paining, but I can’t let Mia get that.
A few seconds later, I saw one hand extend towards me. “Need help?” asked Mia. That’s it. She’s getting on my nerves now. Her fake concern got me and I stood up on my own. I was just going to start with some nasty comment when Aly, came beside me.
“Hey Mia, I just learned a new poem today. Wanna listen?” Alyssa asked, excitedly.
“What are you? A 3 year old?” Mia replied.
But Aly is not the one to stop “Please Mia, its great. Don’t you want to listen?”
And in the end Mia agreed “Okay”.
“So it’s like this. Listen carefully. I’m starting now…3,..2,..1,…GO! ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE, GOD MADE US BEAUTIFUL, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU?”
I burst out laughing after hearing that. Totally a punch on that b***h’s face. Mia was shocked after that beautiful poem, and couldn’t bother to hear more. As she left, I turned towards Aly and again burst with laughter,
“Wow Aly, you showed Mia her real place. Kudos man”.
“What should I do then? Can’t just stand here and see her laughing on you. You’re my bestie.”
“Aww! I love you Aly”.
“Don’t” replied Alyssa.
“What?” I asked.
“You don’t love me, you love A….S…H”.
“Oh! Don’t tell me. You just saw na what happened? He doesn’t give a shit about me. How can you even think of me and him?”
“I don’t care Rie. A Dare is Dare. And a dare is there.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I’m passing through our school’s corridor towards the library. By reaching its end, I heard some noise coming from the room besides the library. As I got near, I knew that it’s not coming from the room. The noise is coming from the dean’s office.
“Asher, it is not a way to talk with your teachers.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but he was the one who insulted me. Please teach him how to talk to his students.” Asher took his stand.
“Principal Sir, I didn’t…”
“Mr. Khanna, I will not tolerate your violent behaviour in my school. It’s my last warning to you.”
“Sorry sir, it won’t happen again.”
“Now leave.” Dean commands.
“Not you Asher. I want to have a talk with you” he said when he saw him, leaving.
What am I doing here? I am not a stalker one, then why am I still here. I should go now. What if Dean sees me? But, I also want to know about the matter. After knowing that this is related to Asher, it itself becomes 100% more interesting. He’s our bad boy after all.
“Asher, you’re not doing well in your studies.” Dean said to Asher, sounding quite worried.
“I know.” He replied under his breath.
“Don’t you want to pass your high school?”
“I don’t know.” Why doesn’t he know if he wants to pass it or not? Why is he behaving like that?
“Asher. It’s your last year here. If you want to pass, no one can stop you. Don’t be distracted by anything, just focus on your studies.” Said Dean, sounding more and more concerned.
“Please. I’ve heard enough of these speeches. Can I go now?” he asked, shifting in his chair.
Dean replied, sounding low, “You may.”
As Asher left the office I too, hurriedly made my way towards the library. I don’t want him to see me. But why did Dean sounded worried about him? Is Asher hiding something? I’ll have to talk to Aly about it. I was just about to enter the library, but the next thing I know that I collided with some wall. And now, I’m back on the floor with an additional pain, stinging in my buttocks.
“Don’t you have eyes? Why do you always keep falling?” I heard the voice. Don’t tell me—Asher? Please god! Not him. As I lift my chin up, I get to know that I didn’t bump with a wall. I bit my lip nervously, avoiding the eye contact.
“Hello. You alive? Get up!” I was so anxious, I didn’t even notice him offering a hand to me.
Not making more fun of me in front of him, I accepted his help “Thanks.”
“No problem Rabbit. Next time take care.” He replied.
What? Rabbit? “. My name is Riya, not Rabbit.” I acknowledge him.
“I know that, Rabbit.” He mocked, which only caused me to narrow my eyes. And he is also having that irritating smirk playing on his face.
“Don’t. Please call me Riya or nothing would be just fine.”
“Thanks for the suggestion, Rabbit.” Again! Why is he playing around? I’m already fed up after today’s whole dare drama, and he’s messing it more.
“Okay. Call me what you want, as if I care.” I hissed and he shrugged.
“I might just do that.” He sneered. Taking out his bike keys from the pocket.
“Jerk” I whispered to myself.
“Woah! So the good girl isn’t that good. She can curse.” He replied, faking shock.
I didn’t reply, merely rolled my eyes and made my way inside the library. Ignoring him.
“It was nice meeting you Rabbitt. Good bye.” I heard him chuckle, and then he left.
How can I be able to be with him for the next five days? FIVE DAYS. After what happened today, I’m sure it’s not going to be easy. I’ve gotten myself in a deep trouble. How can I pretend to be in love with Asher, without letting him know that he’s just living a lie?
I took one book out of the shelf and start reading it. The name of the book is ‘Someone Like You’ by Durjoy Datta and Nikita Singh. Durjoy Datta is one of my favourite Indian writers. I just love how he portrays every character in his stories and knows our interests and disinterests. I’ve read some of his books, like ”You Were My Crush”, “Hold My Hand” & “World’s W̶o̶r̶s̶t Best Boyfriend” and now I’m going to read this one. I want to read a book right now because I know I’m in a mess and want an escape from it. I still can’t believe I agreed to Aly over a silly dare. Asher is nowhere near to what I’ve imagined my guy would be. He is a bad-boy, and yeah, a player too. What if he gets to know about all this? Oh god! He’ll destroy me. I can’t do it. NO!
I saw Alyssa in the corridor, confused seeing my horrified expression.
“What?” I asked her, as if I don’t know anything.
“What what? Look at you. It looks like someone has sucked a life out of you.”
“There’s nothing like that” I lied and she laughed.
“No, really. I’ve never seen you this horrified, just look at you.”
“Thank you so much for making me feel better.” I said with a hint of sarcasm, which made her stop laughing.
“Oops! Sorry. I know why you’re scared. It’s about Ash, right?” She asked as soon as I made my way towards the parking area.
“Yeah, it is. I have no other drama going on in my life right now.”
“Sorry. I know I shouldn’t have given you that dare.” She says and reaches to take my hand in hers.
“So are you going to call it off?” I asked with a hint of hope in my heart.
“No ways. This is so much fun Rie. I want to see how you’d get along with him” She says and I rolled my eyes.
“I knew it. Thanks for being my best friend.” I said, jerking my hand from her hold. “I’m going home. Should I drop you?” I asked her after getting on
my vehicle.
“Nah! Rahul is coming to pick me up. Bye” Rahul. Yaa, her long gone London returned cousin. I remembered when the three of us used to play together at her house.
“Okay. Good bye” I know that I’m still mad at her, but it’ll not change the fact that she’s my one and only best friend.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Maa, I’m not in a mood to eat anything. Please, don’t disturb me, I need some rest.” I said as soon as I saw my mom in the kitchen.
“Riya, what happened? Is everything all right?” She said, sounding worried.
“Yes maa, it’s just some headache. Nothing else. I want some sleep.” I said whining.
“Okay. But if you want anything, then come to me.” I smiled seeing her concern and assured her while nodding.
As soon as I reached my room. The first thing came in my mind was to call Max. I still remember our chat from the afternoon.
I grabbed my backpack, shuffling the things inside to find my cell phone. I can’t find it. “Where have I kept my phone?” My heart beat accelerates and I start to remember each and every place I went today.
“I had it back there when I went to the library. Did I lose it there? No, no, I remember I had it in my hand when I was in the parking area. Where is……” Then I remembered Aly taking my hand…”Oh no! She did it intentionally. She took my cell phone so that I can’t be able to talk to anyone. Arghh! I hate her” I mentally scold myself for being careless and decided to go to Aly’s.
“Maa, I’m going to meet Alyssa. Don’t wait for me because I’m going to be late. Bye. Love you.” I hurriedly blurted out and left the place without even bothering for her reply.
I reached her home and immediately rang the bell. I prepared myself to shout at her as soon as she opens the door. Surprisingly, her mom opened the door.
“Aunty, Is Aly home?”
“No Riya. She just left with Rahul, they were talking about some party…” she tells me and my mind starts to remember every possible party I’ve heard going to happen tonight.
“Oh okay. Thank you so much.” I said and went towards my vehicle.
Where is the party tonight? Think Riya think…ugghhh! Please god help me. Just one hint, one. I saw one toy shop across the road and my mind caught up with what happened between me and Asher today. I really don’t like the way he called me Rabbit. I have a name of my own and I don’t want someone to change it, and especially if it happens to be him. Ash…Ash…Asher! Yes. There’s a party at his house today. I went back when two days ago, Aly had told me about this late night party at his place, but I refused it on the spot because seriously I’m not into parties. Parties always make you feel worse and from what I’ve heard from Aly about them, I wish not to go to any of it.
What do I do now? Should I go there? No, I don’t think it’s a good idea. I should just go back home and sleep. Yes, I should just go home.
I don’t know how I ended up in front of the Asher’s house. I had mentally made a note to go home, but I can’t. I don’t even know how I am supposed to get in. I’m not dressed up for this. I can’t. I’m going home right now, yeah!
I’m making my way through the crowd with a loud music hurting my ears. It’s nearly 200 people roaming here, all stinging with alcohol and I don’t know where to go. At last I found a less crowded place. It’s the kitchen. I went inside and opened the fridge, hopefully finding a bottle of water. I drank more than half in one go and again went on searching Alyssa.
I went outside continuing my search for Aly. After checking a couple of places, I stopped at one corner watching the scene in front of me. It wasn’t Aly, but unfortunately for me, it was Asher and he was hanging out with Mia.
Mia saw me and her mouth quickly turned into a smirk.
“What a pleasant surprise. Our little good girl showed up at the party” She said dropping all the venom from her mouth.
Asher turns and just stares at me. His face held no emotions, no surprise, and no shock.
“I didn’t mean to disturb you. I was just looking for Alyssa” I said facing the floor, nervous.
“Then what are you doing here, go away” she said insulting me, making my blood boil.
“Oh please don’t think I’m here to listen your insults Mia. I don’t even care about you anyway. So you just shut up” I snapped and saw that Asher was coming towards me.
He stands in front of me and moved towards my side to whisper something in my ear. “This is not where you belong Rabbit. Go home.” It sounded more like an order than a concern coming out of his mouth.
“Who are you to tell me where I belong. My father?” I asked with my fake laugh.
“I can be anything you want me to be Rabbit. Try me.” By now I know that it’s not him talking. This is the alcohol in his system who’s talking.
“I am not interested in you Asher. Go and please Mia. She must be feeling cold standing alone there.” I tell him and I know I skipped a heartbeat there. I don’t want him to go to her. I don’t know what I’m feeling.
“No. I want you. You’re so innocent, and so beautiful and so……..” It took a second for me to process why he’s leaning too much on me, but then it hit me. He is not leaning, he’s freaking fainting.
“Oh no no no”, a fearful plea escapes my lips as I try to hold him with my weak hands. Yeah! They are weak. I mean, look at him, how can I manage him alone?
“Baby, what happened?” I hear Mia and see her approaching us.
“God! At least she’ll be the reason of my relief for once.” I mentally thank the God.
“Ash? Baby, open your eyes”, Mia said to the now fainted Asher, while shaking his shoulders to wake him up.
“Mia, please take him with you. I have to fetch Alyssa urgently. Take him”, I tell her, by gently moving Asher’s body off my shoulder towards her.
She didn’t reply, but shrugged her shoulders, indicating her approval of my request.
Suddenly, from no-where, a stranger collides with her, spilling all his drink on her oh so revealing dress.
“NO! My dress, YOU BASTARD! You spoiled it. No…” And with that Mia leaves the place without even giving a second glance at me.
“MIA” I call out, but all in vain.
“Riya, you sooooo pretty……go home….no safe….here” Asher mumbles in his unconscious state. I let it slip from my mind that for the first time he called me Riya and scanned the hall in order to find a familiar face. No, no, no one. I can’t even find a single person I know. ‘Who the hell are these people? What are they doing here? And what am I going to do with Asher now?’
If this is how it’s gonna be, then I have only one option left—Asher. I have to do something to get him back into his senses and ask him what to do. He’s passed out on my left shoulder. I can feel his steady breathe on the back of my neck, making the hairs stand there. He looks like a small child right now, so vulnerable and no one can tell from this look of him that he’s the biggest Casanova of our school. I drag him by his jacket towards the kitchen where I went earlier on. After adjusting him on the chair, I opened the fridge to find something worth my use. Grabbing the lemon, I cut it into two halves. Removing the seeds of one of the half, I went towards him. Holding up his chin with my left hand, I squeeze the lemon in his mouth after opening it.
Oh, he’s made a movement. Much to my amusement to push my hand down from his chin. ‘So the bad boy doesn’t like the lemon. Let’s do it again.’ Further grabbing up his chin, I drop more of the lemon juice in his mouth.
“What the f**k” Asher cries out.
“Good morning Ash. How are you now? Feeling better?” I ask, trying to hold back my laughter.
“Rabbit? What are…? Where am I?” Okay. The bad boy is back.
“Can’t recognize your home? It’s your kitchen drunken boy.”
“Kitchen?….Ouch! This blo*dy headache is killing me.” He says, holding his head in his hands.
“Asher, I don’t have enough time right now. I want to meet Aly immediately. Help me to get out of this house.” I tell him, stating the truth.
“Hmmmm? Okay. I’m calling Sid, hope she’s with him.” Fishing his cell out of his pocket, he calls Sid.
“Sid, Where are you guys? What? When?…….and Alyssa?……ok…..no no……I’m fine……ok…….bye”
“What?” I ask as soon as he ends the call.
“They left” he replies, rubbing the corner of his eye.
“Who? Where?” the question left out of my mouth almost immediately.
“All the three of them. They left about an hour ago for a long drive…….and……ummmm….they aren’t coming back.”
“Aly! She’ll be my death someday…ok…..I have to go home right now….I have to”, I murmur, grabbing my handbag from the kitchen counter.
“Wait. It’s too late for you to go now” exclaim Asher, with an unknown concern flashing in his face.
“No. I can’t. I’m going” I stride towards the hall for an escape. I can hear his call for me, but I can’t stay. Why did I even come here? I knew about these disgusting parties and even though I took a chance. I have to reach home as soon as possible. I couldn’t drag myself more into it.
I reach the main door and grasp the handle to open the door. Much to my surprise, the door is locked.
“Who did this? Who locked it?” muttering to myself, I peek towards Asher and shoot him a murderous glare.
“Open the door. Why did you lock it?”
“Oh I didn’t. I didn’t lock it.” He says, making a pout face. Obviously, the side effects of an alcohol.
“Okay. Do you have the key?” I’m sure he’ll have one. It’s his home by the way.
“Yeah! “ He shrugged his shoulders, putting his hand in the back pocket of his jeans to find something which hopefully, is the key. He took back his hand and glanced towards me, showing me his terrified face.
“Shit!!” he growls, making me jump in my place.
“Asher? What? Where are the keys?” I ask, hiding my nervous state in front of him.
“No! I mean sorry…..I don’t know…”
“Huh? Please Ash, don’t play these silly games with me right now. I really have to go home.”
“Please, I’m not playing games Rabbit. I do not have the keys….do you understand…I DO NOT HAVE THE KEYS” he says, raging beyond his anger. The alcohol is still running in his veins.
“Ash…er…so, what now?” a small plea escapes my lips after seeing his anger.
“Come with me. You can’t stay here. We are going upstairs.” Asher says, forwarding his left hand towards me.
“Upstairs?”
“My room. Don’t worry, I’ll not kill you Rabbit. I’m telling you this, because I care about you. Come” Care? This word seems so foreign coming from a bad boy and especially for a girl like me.
“But, Asher…your…”
“Just come on Rabbit..ok…don’t come. I’m going.”
And just like that, he turns his back towards me, making me squirm in my position. He can’t leave me alone. NO! After completing my mini marathon and quickly joined him towards the stairs. As we reach the first floor, I scan the surrounding with my wide eyes. Everything looks so beautiful here. There are 2-3 bedroom doors on each side of the place, leaving a huge corridor in the middle. The whole corridor is decorated with various antiques and flowers….
“Are you coming in or not?” before even I know more, Asher calls me from inside of his room.
“Yeah! Wait.”
His bedroom is big. Much bigger than mine. A faint dark blue colour complimenting the walls and then the bed, or I can say the king size bed, laying in the middle of the room, calling me.
“Ok. I know that you’ll probably want to take the couch, so take it. I’m perfectly fine with the bed. Thank you.” Dumping my handbag on the study table, I make my way towards the bed.
“Stop. Who said I want the couch. No babe, it’s my room and I have the right to sleep in MY bed.” He says, emphasizing the word ‘MY’.
“I’m a girl Asher. I’m sleeping on the bed.” I quickly jumped on the bed.
“Woah, woah GIRL! And what makes it different if you are a girl?” sitting on the edge of the bed, he asks.
“That….that….” Oh my GOD! I’m running out of words.
“Ok, so, let’s make it easy. We’ll play one game and whoever wins it takes the bed.” he says, putting a tempting offer in front of me.
“What’s the game?” I ask, curiously.
“We’ll play…..ummm……a staring game, yeah a staring game….ready?” he asks, after thinking for about a couple of seconds.
“Staring game? Ok….I’m in.” Blinking my eyes a couple of times, I shift on the bed to sit right in front of him.
“Ready, Three two one start!”
And we keep staring in each other’s eyes. I know I’ll win because I pretty own this game. No one has ever beaten me in a staring contest. Asher is surely gonna lose this game, as well as his bed. hahaha.
I keep staring into his eyes. The colour of his eyes is slightly unique from the others I know. It’s something like brown, mixing with the yellow. His eyes are deep and as in deep—DEEP! You can even swim in there if you want to. He’s watching me with much intensity in his eyes and even if I’m on the bed, my legs feel like jelly.
Seddenly the bedroom door opens, revealing the person I’ve known for most of my life.
—To be continued
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A/N: This is my first article in TU, so please write down your suggestions below.
Do not forget to like and comment your views.
A/Q: Do like Riya and Asher’s hate-hate chemistry? 😉