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Iris
After two hours of intense practice in the basement and after coming back to my room, another hour of dance, I am still dancing.
Trust me, I realize this right now as my phone vibrates on my bed. Reducing the volume of the music player, I groan as I pick up without seeing the caller's name. I mean who will call me at night except for Caleb?
"Sex better be worth calling me at 3:15:36," I say, holding the phone to my ear as I grab a towel on the way to my bathroom.
For a long time, I don't hear anything as I look at myself in the mirror of the bathroom. Then, a voice says, "Well, it wasn't. She was too eager and too talkative. Not a good combination."
I look at my phone, surprised, only to see it is an unknown number. I don't know if it is fortunate or not, I know the voice very well.
"Noah? Why are you calling me at this ungodly hour?"
"Were you waiting for someone else's call, Bella?"
"No," I answer, "I thought you were Caleb."
"Why?" He sounds surprised.
"Goodness, Noah, you ask a lot of questions."
"Bella," He says as I hear him smirking, "Did you just use my line against me?"
"Seems like I did," I tell him, putting the phone on my counter and the call on speaker.
"Where are you?" He asks while I wash my face with cold water.
"What an asshole type of question is that?" I say, laughing.
"Hey, I am not an asshole but I can definteâ" Before he can say anything related to sex, I interrupt him.
"Oh, my goodness, I don't want to know. My ears are just too innocent," I say, muffling my laughter into the towel as I dry my face, softly.
"How do you know I was going to say something... not innocent?" He asks, his amusement too evident.
I change the topic. "Noah, why did you call me? Wait, how did you even get my number?"
Entering my bedroom, I flop down on the bed as he answers, smugly, "I have connections. But I could have just asked you your number and I know you must have given it to me."
"I would have if you would have kneeled down in front of me and begged for it."
"I don't beg for anything, Bella." I hear him say, seriously.
"I know you won't but it would be nice to see that the bad boy can do some serious puppy eyes shit."
"Yeah, if I were you, I wouldn't expect that from me."
"Whatever, Noah."
"As for answering your other question, I was bored."
I look at my phone, trying to make sense of him. "You were bored and that is why you called me at this time?"
"Yes."
"Seriously, do you really like to puzzle the hell out of me?"
I can hear him smile as he replies, "You puzzle me, too."
"I don't."
"You do."
"No."
"Yes," He replies, stubbornly.
"You are so stubborn."
"But you like it," He pipes in.
"Iâwhat? no, I don't like it," I tell him, "Anyway, Daisy's here. You know that, right?"
"Yeah. Everything's going according to the plan."
"What plan?" I try to ask, again.
"Bella," He says, denying to tell me.
"Fine," I reply. "If it is a disaster, don't you come running to me."
"It won't be." I roll my eyes and don't reply. "Don't roll your eyes now, Bella."
"Don't smirk now, Stupid," I say back, knowing him well, now. He just chuckles in reply.
***
I don't know how or when I drifted off to sleep while talking to Noah. I wake up with my phone in my hand and hear some voices in the hallway towards the stairs.
"Damn, Mia, we aren't going there for a month." I hear Dad say, loudly. I can imagine him carrying the suitcases one by one towards the living room. "You don't even get these many suitcases to my place?"
Not this again.
I groan as Mom replies to him, sassily, "Well, Steve, darling. One of those many suitcases carry medicines â unnecessary, I must say. You aren't anywhere near sick neither I am."
"Hey! I am a doctor. I have pledged myself to help everyone, whether family or not."
"I am a woman and I have pledged myself to look good every chance I get."
"Oh-kay, Mother and Father, stop this banter. It's 5:26 am." Now, enters Daisy.
"Tell yourâ"
"Seriously, blamingâ"
My family, as it can be noticed, aren't 'let's wake up before the sun rise' people.
I tune out them as I get up and stretch my hinds and limbs, preparing myself to grace my lovely audience with my presence. After two minutes and five seconds of brushing my teeth thoroughly, I open up the door, thinking they are still here.
"Good morning peâOf course, no one's here." I look around only to find Yeti running towards me and thus, in three seconds, starts to lick my feet.
I bend down, letting my fingers run through Yeti's fur. "I think you understand to keep my embarrassment between us, right?"
"Woof!" He barks, licking my hands.
I know he agrees, okay? I am his favorite after all.
In a minute and six seconds, I, along with Yeti, reach the living room. I stop myself to look at Mom telling Daisy something as Dad looks between both of them, before turning towards me.
"And, there's my second daughter! Come, now, give your old man a hug." Before I can even protest, this 6' 3'' man pulls me towards his chest.
"Dad! You both are goingâ"
"Don't ruin the moment, sugar cube."
"I am not sugar cube," I mumble into his chest, hugging him back, as I hear laughter from Mom and Daisy.
"Don't crush her tiny little bones, Dad. She isn't tall like us," Daisy says, laughing. Dad pulls away, chuckling, as I glare at her.
"You aren't even near his height, Dumbass."
"Numskull," She says back.
"Dunce."
"Pudding head."
"Dullard."
"I am not a dullard. I am interesting than your ass can ever me."
"Yeah, right. That's why you are studying psychology."
"That wasn't even a come-back."
"I'll show youâ"
"Oh-kay, this trash talk session is officially over now. Damn, Steve, I just realized we haven't taught my daughters to trash talk well," Mom says, breaking our fight.
Daisy and I groan as Dad laughs in reply. I look at Mom and see her recording this on her phone.
"You are recording this?" Daisy asks, looking at her.
"Memories," Dad and Mom state, together.
"Looks like cab's here," I say as I hear a car horn. Mom and Dad hug us together, before stepping towards the door with the luggage.
"Okay, womenâ" Daisy and I share a look as Mom continues. "We don't care if you have parties or invite boys here but we don't want a single thing broken, scratched, or stolen. Got that?"
"Yup."
Both of them step on the porch and Dad, suddenly, turns towards us. "Before I forget, don't get pregnant and Iris, I hope you are a virgin still when I return."
"Oh, my goodness." I roll my eyes at him, even though I expected this comment sooner or later.
"Dad, chill, I'll make him use protection," Daisy replies, dryly. Dad's eyes widen at her comment.
"Whoa, whoa, who iâ" Before Dad can even complete the question, Mom drags him towards the black Sedan on the main street. "Mia, I need to know the boy's name," Dad says to Mom who rolls her eyes as they both look like the nineteen-year-old them in college.
"Honey, we will miss our flight." Then, Mom turns towards us on her heels. "Bye, kids. Even though I trust you both, I will still call, irrespective of the time difference."
"Bye, Dad. Bye, Mom."
Daisy and I share a laugh as we see Dad still struggling in Mom's grip only to ask Daisy what she meant.
***
"Hold on."
I hear Alyssa in the living room as I open the staircase door, making Yeti enter first before he goes off running to somewhere. I can imagine her putting up her newly manicured index finger, looking at Daisy.
I haven't been in the house for two hours, thirty minutes, and five seconds as I was on my daily jog and people are here this early on a Sunday?
"You told Steve that you are going to have sex?"
"That's the only way Dad can go from cool to possessive. No father, I repeat no father, is that cool when his daughter is going to have sex," She replies, coolly.
"Oh, by the way, I got laid, yesterday." Tom comments in between.
"When do you not get laid? Last time I checked you taking away some college girl's virginity," Alyssa tells him, dryly.
"Almost."
"Can you all stop talking about fornication?" I groan out as I pass them to go upstairs.
"Thank you for coming back so fast. Anyway, let's get you ready for that lunch date, now." Alyssa joins me on the stairs. I stop and look at her, confused.
"Doraemi, you didn't tell me you had a date." Daisy wiggles her eyebrows, teasing me. "I need to thank Mike for this."
"What dateâoh, my goodness, I forgot," I tell them, surprised. "I don't even haveâ"
Tom gives Alyssa a bag and she holds up like a trophy, grinning at me. "I know you don't have any dresses. So, I am lending you one of mine."
I grin at her. "Have I ever mentioned how amazing you are?"
"Yes," She flips her straightened hair. "But you can continue to do so."
"Now, I won't."
"Hey, even I helpedâget him away from me!" Tom jumps on the couch as Yeti comes near him. "What is he doing here?"
"Tom, he is not going to do anything," I assure him. Tom is not scared of dogs but just specifically Yetiâmaybe because some months ago, Yeti chased him for the biscuits in his hands.
Alyssa takes out her phone, opening the camera app. "Yeti, keep him exactly like that... and done." She clicks a picture and grins. "This is going on Twitter."
"No, you wonâDaisy, do something." Tom is now standing. Daisy sighs, smiling, before calling Yeti towards. Yeti glances at her and goes towards her in a second.
"Good boy," Daisy tells him, rubbing his mane.
"So, how are blind dates are supposed to be?" I ask, looking at them.
"Trust me, most of the blind dates are the worst," Alyssa tells me.
"Aly, not helping," Tom says to his twin, giving her a look.
"I prefer if she knows the truth beforehand." She just shrugs, before turning towards me. "But hey, not all blind dates are bad. There are some which are good."
Just now, Colt, Caleb, Nick, and Michael enter inside the house. Colt gives me a look as if telling me to get ready fast.
'I just came from my daily jog,' I mouth.
He mouths back, 'then, get ready soon. I need to turn my best friend protection mode on'
I roll my eyes at his antics.
"What's going on?" Caleb asks, sitting on the couch. All of us give him looks as if he doesn't know what's going on.
I turn towards Michael and smile. He has worn a striped shirt and trousers with loafers. He looks way too ready for this date.
He catches my gaze and asks, sheepishly, "Too much?"
"No, you look good," I tell him, smiling. "Honest, I swear."
Just now, the door opens and someoneâor some two people falls so fast that my mind couldn't really process it properly. As everything gets clears, what we see is nothing compared to how we react.
Victoria had fallen on top of Colt and they are now staring back at each other.
"...hey?" Victoria says to him, blushing.
"Um, hey yourself," Colt says to her, smiling, sheepishly.
I look over at Daisy and Caleb and tell them to click their picture fast for future references. But they understand something else.
"Well, this is a compromising position." Caleb grins. The rest of us look at each other, amused.
"Look at you, both, blushing so muchâcute," Daisy says and leans down. "By the way, I am Daisy Cooper, official unpaid guardian of Colt and Iris."
"You are not our guardian," Both Colt and I say to her.
Victoria and Colt stand up, quickly, flustered and I hear Nick say, "How cute."
Victoria smiles at Daisy. "Hi, I amâ"
"Victoria Grace Mendes, it is finally nice to meet you," Daisy says, glancing at Colt for a second, before looking at her. "Heard a lot about you. Also, you are really cute."
She smiles. "Thank you."
"You know," Daisy slings an arm around her arm. "I think we are going to get along really well." Daisy subtly winks at Colt and Colt looks up, praying.
Victoria looks at me and she doesn't bother holding back her expression. "Why are so underdressed? Did you decide to not go?"
I reply, "By looking at Michael, I really don't think that is an option today."
She looks at Michael. "You are really ready for this date."
"He just wants to get laid," Nick comments, chuckling, as sits beside Caleb.
"No, I don't just want to get laid." Michael shrugs. "I am thinking of trying to be in a relationship."
"Whoa," Victoria utters, just like all of us look at him.
Tom straightens up. "Damn, you are actually serious about this?"
"Yeah, right," Alyssa huffs out, before turning towards me. "Iris, let's get you ready for this date."
"Yeah, I got my makeup kitâdon't worry, I won't put much," Victoria adds the last line after she sees my panic expression.
"I can help," Colt says, holding up his hand. I roll my eyes, knowing why he wants to 'help' as Alyssa and Victoria look at him. "I...am her best friendâI know her choices byâ"
He gives me a look to support him. I can but...
"Uh, uh, you ain't coming, Dias," Victoria states as both of the girls take me to my room.
"Also," Caleb speaks up, loudly from the living room. "Don't make her look way tooâ"
"Fuck off, Caleb," Alyssa says to him just before we enter the room.
***
The last time, I had gone on a date was with, obviously, Thomas. It was exactly one week and two days before we ended it.
We went to some fancy restaurant in Seattle. Yes, we went on two hours and twenty-one minutes' drive while I was in a baby pink knee-length dress and black six-inch heels with my hair that ended above the abdomen, longer than it is now. He had worn a black tux and had this blonde hair gelled, I didn't like it, even when it made him look really good.
"We have been dating for three months, now, Iris." He said, suddenly, as he chewed the spaghetti with his mouth close. We had been talking about our families and the recent happenings in our life.
I wanted to say the exact time but stopped myself. I didn't want him to freak out about the fact that I can count time, unconsciously.
"Yeah but seems like-"
"We've known each other for ages?" He interrupted me, looking at me with a smile.
"Kinda, yeah." I smiled back at him, ignoring the butterflies in my stomach, as he reaches for my hand. "I am sorry for being so distant, lately. I ha-"
"I know, Iris. You don't need to justify your actions. I know you that much that I will know when you would want to ignore me." He said but the tone was not much assuring to me.
"Would you both like some champagne?" The waiter came, breaking us from each other's gaze. Thomas nodded and he poured some of the champagne into our glasses, before going away.
"To us," I said, smiling, as I lift the glass to his.
"To the future dates, I will have with you and you only," He said before the glasses clink together.
What I didn't know at that moment was that after eight days, ten hours, seventeen minutes, and a second, there wouldn't be an existence of us.
And look at me now. I am sitting in front of a guy, speaking only and only about himself.
Of course, my blind date has to be like most blind datesâbad...or worse.
Michael took us to this Chinese restaurant downtown, telling me how his date, Sarah, loves Chinese food. He gave me as much information about Shawn, my date.
Well, as for me, I couldn't help my disappointment when I found out he is not even close to what Shawn Mendes looks like. Neither is the guy subtle as he has been glancing down at my chest every once in a while.
Michael had noticed this tooâhe tried to end the date before it started but I just... couldn't. I didn't want to ruin his date with Sarah.
"... you know what I did?" This Shawn guy leans towards me, across the table, and I lean away.
"I did what every man does. I crushed him by breaking his nose and some of his arms. That's what he gets for challenging me to a duel." He scoffs out, sitting straight now.
I urge myself to not eye roll at the statement.
I look at this guy. He is good-looking, I will give him that, but he is self-obsessed about his looks and his builder's body, unlike Noah.
Noah can be a bit narcissistic but he is, definitely, not like this guy. After yesterday, I am, definitely, sure about the person, Noah tries to hide behind his bad-boy cool demeanor.
"Hmm..." I say, uninterested, looking at him. He chews his food openly and grunting all the way. I swear I have never ever seen a disastrous turn-off.
If Noah would have been hereâWhy am I thinking about him?
Thinking of something else, I look towards Michael who is sitting few tables away from us but it looks like at least one of us is having fun.
Unlike Shawn, Sarah is short and petite. She seems like one of those girls who think they are fat even though they aren't even near being fat. Ignoring that fact, I can say Sarah is really sweet and converses with me on every topic she got before we went our separate ways to the dates.
"...looking at you, I think you can lose some weight."
I snap my attention towards the guy in front of me.
"Excuse you?" I look at him, controlling my every instinct to kill him.
"Oh, come on, babe," He starts and I want to rip off his arms as he called me babe.
"You can't ignore the fact that your body's fat is showing up so much. You can resort to exercises. Girls should be like my sister; she has a perfect zero figure. She eats salads, fruits, and juices, unlike five hundred calories of noodles you just ate."
"Let me get four things straight." I lean towards him, intertwining my hands and placing them on the table. I glare at him.
"First, don't ever call me babe. Second, as much as I like Sarah, I wouldn't even hesitate to put the fact that she seems malnourished. That is some minus figure you are making her keep. Third, zero figure is a stereotypical way of society to control girls. Every girl can look however they are and however they want to be. Fourth, I don't need your expert opinion on how my body looks."
Before he can even reply, I stand up and pour a whole glass of apple cider on him.
"What the-? This shirt alone cost hundred dollars!" He says, gaping at me.
"Too bad, the shirt had more quality than its owner," I say, taking my bag and putting my part of the bill money on the table, as I turn away from the table and go out of the restaurant.
I let out a breath of relief, leaning on the wall, in an alley, near the restaurant.
"That was one hell of a show."
I turn my face to look at a green-eyed guy. He is not that tall but his broad shoulders even it outâhe looks young, probably of my age.
Leaning on a doorframe, on my left, he is wearing a black apron, with the restaurant's name on it, over a white polo shirt and black pants. I can see the tattoos that have covered his arms and neck.
"He's a jerk," He says, looking behind him. I give him a confused expression. "Shawn. His family isn't much of a problem but that guy... I think the guy has his dick the size of a pea."
Surprised by his statement, I laugh. "I don't even want to know."
"Obviously, someone as pretty as you don't deserve a guy like him," He says, confidently, and I can help my cheeks to burn.
"Oh, you don't take compliments well, I suppose?" He says, again, grinning.
"You suppose right."
"I am not going to take it back. I mean..." He gestures to my body. "That dress really suits you,"
"Oh, well, thank you," I say, taken aback by his comment.
I look at myself. Since today is one of those few sunny days, I am wearing a white plain wrap dress, that ends at my knees, under a maroon red leather jacket with red three-inch heels. My hair is done in a half messy bun as the small black hair strands land over my forehead.
I remember when I walked down the stairs into the living room, Alyssa said how after a very long time I actually dressed up.
To be honest, I just don't find there's any need to dress up so much, and for what? School? That's the most absurd thing to do if you ask me. I like being fashionable, doing my hair, and go shopping but only and only when I am in a mood for it or it is an occasion (...or times when things look like they are made for me â the boots and the sneakers). Right now, the occasion is a waste.
"Tanner Hood. 18," He says, lets out a hand, as he straightens up.
"Iris Cooper. 17... soon to be 18." I shake his hand, smiling. His green eyes sparkle, softly, as they look at me.
I say, after the handshake ends, "So, it doesn't take a genius to know that you work here."
"Yes, ma'am, I do." He salutes, cutely. "I am actually one of the chefs, here."
"Wow, that's impressive."
He backs away a bit, asking, "Want to know what happens behind the scenes?"
Thinking that Michael may come any moment, I shake my head. "My friend, Michael, is still with his date. I should wait for him."
"Oh, then would you just wait a moment?" He says and disappears into the other side of the door before I can even answer.
Twenty-two seconds later, he comes back without his apron.
"Where's your apron?" I ask him, looking at him.
"I am free for the rest of the day. I wouldn't like to go out of the restaurant wearing that apron."
"How come you are free? Your boss will be angry, I guess." I say, curiously.
"Here's a secret. My mom is the head chef. I am just an intern and anyway, I did do a lot of work today. Are you questioning my ability, Iris?" He smiles.
Not a smirk. Noah would have smirked, definitely.
Wait, why am I thinking about him, again?
"Actually, no. I am just curious." I shrug my shoulders, ignoring my thought.
"So, Iris, there's an ice-cream truck next turn." He looks at me, expectedly.
Knowing the time and feeling that Michael will end the date much later, I don't want to disturb him. So, I take out my phone and type a message to him.
"A 'Nilla would be good right now, I guess," I reply, finally looking at Tanner.
He grins, showing off his dimples, and leads the way.
Thirty minutes and eight seconds later, we are both have completed our ice-creams and are sitting on the bench, in front of the truck, conversing freely. I found out he goes to our rival school, Crescent High, which made me feel weird at first but then, he said how he hates it and couldn't wait to get out, I relaxed. He loves food and cooking. The way he said he wants to become like his mom, made my heart swell.
"...what? It isn't a joke," Tanner says, before bursting into laughter.
I laugh at his pathetic attempt at a joke as my phone beeps with a message from Michael, about my whereabouts.
"I must go, now," I say, looking at the phone, and we both stand up. "It was nice meeting you, Tanner."
"It was nice meeting you too." He replies, smiling. "Wait," He says as I almost turn away from him. I look back at him and see him giving me a piece of paper. "My number. I hope we meet again, Iris."
I smile, taking his number. I look at the paper but when I look back, he is nowhere.
Uh, okay. That was normal.
"Where were you?" Michael asks me as I reach his car in a minute and a half. He narrows his brown eyes at me as I shrug. "Tell me what happened? Why was Shawn fuming so much after Sarah and I ended our date?"
"I have never ever been on such a disastrous date. Shawn is a scum." I state, rolling my eyes. He tilts his head in confusion and I tell him everything.
Both of us are leaning against his car as I complete telling him, everything.
"Wow..." He scoffs. "Seems like we both had bad luck, today."
I ask, concerned, "Why? What happened? Was the date not good? I really thought she wasâ"
"No, no, no," He laughs, shaking his head. "The date was good but..."
"But what?"
He looks down at me with a smile that didn't reach his face. "Just didn't have any connection."
I nod. "I understand that, really." I nudge him by my shoulder. "You have a long life to find a connection with someone."
He grins, looking forward. "That is optimistic and I like itâthank you, Iris, I needed that."
I grin back. "What are friends for? By the way, I hope you kept your urge to lick the plate."
"That will show up in future disastrous dates, I am telling you," He states, grinning. "I had to control myself. I mean the food wasâ"
"âamazing. I know!" I say and we start to laugh, getting into the car.
***
Finally, when we reach my place, his mother calls him. He sighs, before looking at me. "I think Mother has some errands for me to do. So, I will come in later."
"Cool. Bye." I give him a sideways hug, before walking into the house.
Opening the main door, after five seconds, I hear a scream, the excited one, and that too by a boy.
Rephrasing the above sentence, an excited scream by Aditya.
"Fuck what? Youâyouâyouâ"
I look at Colt laughing and then, the shocked expression of Adi.
"Yes, I am Iris, Adi." I roll my eyes as his mouth is still open.
Colt throws popcorn into his mouth and then, Adi closes it, chewing and blinking at Colt.
"Point!" Colt yells, his fists in the air.
"What the fuck, man?" Adi says, gaping at him, as we start to laugh.
"So, what are you doing here?" I ask him after the laughter dies down in ten seconds.
"I wanted to test my new game. How was the date?" He narrows his eyes, looking at me.
I groan out. "Don't ask. I needâ"
Before I can even complete, a glass shattering in the kitchen stops me, followed by Daisy's voice filled with swearing.
"Shit, Anna, be careful." Someone says next.
ââââââââââââââââââââââââ
- a u t h o r ' s n o t e -
hello, everyone. i hope you all doing okay. please take some time to read the next lines.
As per WHO, mental health problems affect around one in four people in any given year and around 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide. [source: https://www.who.int/whr/2001/media_centre/press_release/en/]
our mental health is just like our physical health: everybody has it and we need to take care of it. mental health problems are more frequent than cancer, diabetes, or any heart diseases. it can be life-threatening if not treaten well.
there is a quote i always live by: "sometimes the people around you won't understand your journey. they don't need to, it's not for them" ~ Joubert Batha
look it is going to be hard to come out and talk about it but always remember that your story is not over; you've come a long way... why give up now?
until the next chapter,
Inerys