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Iris
The whole day, on the thirteenth, was soothingly calm and silent. I didn't go to schoolâpunishment for being out late at night. Oh yes, I got grounded via video call with my parents directly from London.
It was worth it, really.
Everything was just the same except the long talk with (my favorite) Aunt Gabriella which turned out to be the best thing of the whole day.
Alyssa and Colt came home and got me a bucket of vanilla ice cream with cherries on top to make my mood better but it was, already; it was better than all the seven times this day had arrived.
But, the starting of today was oh-so-bad.
I got my period. Period.
...that was bad, I'm sorry.
That is not the only thing. The dance fest is tomorrowâcue stressful music in the background.
Last but not the least, Daisy irritated me to death to make me go out of the house or at least get off the couch. I curse her that she gets my period pain for the rest of her life and I get none.
I know it is too much to ask but, please Lord, she needs to stop annoying me.
Right now, I realize walking in the supermarket is the most random thing Adi has decided to do. I remember like fifteen minutes ago, I saw Adi's car passing by and all he told me, then, "Hop on, we are going somewhere."
"Isn't randomness amazing?" Adi says to me and winks at some girls passing by behind me.
"Why are we here, Aditya?" I ask, rolling my eyes.
"Woah, calm down, the caller of my full name," He says and pulls out a long list. "We are shoppingâoh wait it is in Hindi. Wow, Ma, what a good way to get me back to Hindi?"
I squint my eyes at the letters. "Never tried to learn Hindi...I know Spanish, Tagalog, and English, like entirely, and some words of Korean," I tell him.
"I know French and Portuguese, apart from Hindi and English," He says, getting a shopping cart. "Oh, fun fact. Actually, my mother tongue is Tamil, but since I have practically lived my life in the northern part of India, I am more fluent in Hindi."
I look at him, confused. "I know there are a lot of languages in India but..."
Adi gives me a guilty expression. "Sorry but if I go on teaching you the dynamics of that, it will take more than six months."
"Okay...so later?" I give him a hopeful expression and he laughs, agreeing. "Do you know any words of Tamil?" I ask him after he tells me to get a pack of Skittles.
Of course, Skittles exist on that shopping list.
Adi thinks, pouting visibly. "Except swear words, nothing."
"Obviously," I say, rolling my eyes. "So, Adi, is it weird that I have known you for sixteen days twenty-two hours, fifty-nine minutes andâ"
"That long, huh?" He looks at me, wide-eyed, as he puts three different packets of cereals more.
"Yeah..." I nod my head. "So, tell me facts about you. Also, that's a lot of cereals for breakfast."
He gives me a weird look. "Who said that they are for breakfast only?"
"Right," I say. "Adi-ness runs in the family, I guess."
"Not offended and it is Subramaniam...ness, for starters," He tells me and I laugh.
Giving me a grin, he continues, "So, we came here when I was 12 years old and my sisters were 15 and 16 with my superwoman Ma. Dad and Ma divorced before we came here but sometimes, we see him. Honestly, even when their marriage didn't work out, they still are best friends.
"Ma works under an IT company. She is a software engineer; I guess I get my computer geeks from her. Both of my sisters are in India, completing their medical degree." He pauses. "Wow, we really are a stereotypical Indian familyâfull of engineers and doctors."
"I am still impressed," I say. "Wait, who operates Sky when you are like... doing other stuff?"
"My favorite cousin." He grins. "Veer Bhai is cool."
"Bhai?"
"Older brother."
"Oh. Damn, people, like us, only know the true meaning of being the youngest."
"I know, right? Always getting the hand-me-downs. Not clothes, though."
"Yeah but, honestly, I don't mind. Daiz is taller than me but I am curvier than her. So, her dresses do fit me and I like it," I admit, shrugging.
"My sisters fight over them like nuts and include my other cousins in that, it is a mess. I have some ten first cousins and then twelve second cousins. Veer Bhai is the eldest."
"Wow, thatâ"
"Large. Yes, I know." He stops the cart in the middle, gaping at the list. "Sweet mother goddess"
"Oh my god, what?" I ask, concerned.
"Ma kept Oreos in the list. Let's go to the Oreo aisle." He looks at me, frantically. "Quickly."
"Wait whaâcome on, Adi, don't leave me," I whine but Adi is long gone without the shopping cart.
I catch up to him with the shopping cart and what I see in front of me is... not describable. All I see is Adi hugging the counters, which have Oreos and Oreos only.
"Oh, my second love of life." He takes one of the packets and kisses it.
I don't know if I am scared or proud of that but I know I am definitely questioning my friendship with him.
"Yeah, he does that a lot."
I jump a little and turn only to look at the skyscraper of a humanâNoah Arthur.
He smirks and says, "Bella."
"Noah," I hold him by his shoulders (I am definitely not checking out his arms). "You are creepy as heck."
He scrunches his eyebrows. "I am not."
"Youâ" For the first time, I am seeing him out of his monochromatic phase. He has worn a maroon sweatshirt and black denim with black boots.
I comment, "Nice boots."
Just as Noah opens his mouth, a packet of Oreos gets thrown on his face. To be shocked is an understatement.
"You are late," Adi says to him, frowning. He stands beside me and puts an oreo in his mouth, telling him, "I called you long ago."
Noah curses something that I dare not say, but looking at Adi, he is too accustomed to this.
"Want one?" Adi grins, holding out the opened packet of Oreos.
"Aditya Subramaniam," Noah pinches his nose and closes his eyes. "You do understand that you called me here by telling me that someone is going to beat the fuck out of you?"
I look at him in surprise. "He said that and you came here so fast?" I keep my hand over my heart and say, "Aww."
"He really is my good boy." Adi grins at Noah and pats him (caution: never do that).
Noah? He definitely is not taking it well since he looks like a lion ready to jump on his prey i.e., Aditya. But he settles on letting out a breath. Noah looks at me and shows me his phone. "Look at this."
"You gave him the geographical location of the store?" I say, gaping at Adi.
Adi replies, "In my defense, it is fun!"
"Fun?" Noah and I ask him, together.
Adi looks at both of our faces and lets out an exaggerated sigh. "Let me explain how a treasure hunt works. I, as a host, give you, the player â no pun intended, clues so that you can reach your treasure."
"But," I say, "It is not a treasure hunt."
Adi explains, "No, I am just preparing Noah if either of the things happened. If someone punched me or if it is a treasure hunt and I want a good partner."
While I wrap my head around that, Noah gives him a dry look. "Where's my treasure?"
Then, Adi smirks. "You are looking at him, bro. I am your treasure. You are the Chad to my Troy. You are the Ted to my Barney. You are the Monica to my Rachel."
"Monica and Rachel?" He asks back, eyebrows raised.
"Yeah, no offense to Monica but Rachel is way hotter than her just like I am way hotter than you," He says, shrugging his shoulders, and moves forward. Noah just rolls his eyes and I laugh at his reply.
"I heard you didn't go to school too," I say to Noah as we move behind Adi.
"I was not in a mood but definitely came for practice," He says back and I nod.
"Yeah, Colt told me before he rushed away to go somewhere..." I trail away looking at the soft toy section of the supermarket.
"Only to be kissing Victoria in the kid's section," Noah completes my sentence.
People see two people kissing in the corner, beside the shelf having soft toys but what I see? I see Colten Dias getting his first kissâI am fuh-reaking out.
Noah looks at me still gaping at my best friend's guts. "You okayâ"
"Oh," I laugh. "I am goodâgreat even to kick this guy in his guts to show how happy I amâeeep!"
Adi gives us a questioning look as he comes towards us with a half-full shopping cart. "What are youâoh look that isâwait a moment is he..."
I pull Adi and Noah out of the aisle. "No disturbing them and, Adi, will you just go through your list?"
"Fuck, Ma will kill me but I am definitely teasing themâ"
Noah says to him, sternly, "No."
"Butâ"
"No."
"Fine." Adi holds up his hands and rushes before us.
I turn to Noah. "Why were you against that? Mine is reasonable."
Noah shrugs one of his shoulders. "I have never been in a relationship but I know that what happens between them is between them and if they want to tell us, they will."
"How nice of you, Noah." I smile.
He blinks. "That is notâ"
I point towards the empty carts and give him a smug look. "Wanna do something fun?"
"No."
"Killjoy." I punch his arm, before grabbing him towards the carts. "Live your life a little, Stupid."
"I am not a killjoy."
"Then, let's do it. The loser has to pay for ice cream."
"No."
I raise an eyebrow. "No?"
He smirks. "The loser has to take the winner on a date."
"What? A da-date?"
He raises his eyebrows and leans down to my height. "Scared?"
I narrow my eyes at him, before tying up my hair in a bun. "No. Let's do this!"
***
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" Adi exclaims, looking at us. "This is not what I expect of you, both. Cart racing in the supermarket?"
"Adâ"
"Why the fuck didn't you tell me? I would have beaten you both in like seconds!"
Well, the backstory goes like we race, tumble a few things as we try to kill each other with broomsticks, some employees running behind us, and yeah, most importantly, I win!
Just as the race ends, the manager steps out, in front of us, banning both of us from the supermarket.
Oh, that's not the end.
"Yeah, well, who would've fought the old lady for the last set of batteries and almost get beaten up by her stick?" Noah says, looking at Adi who blushes a bit, as he keeps huge bags of things in his car.
"That was the last setâ"
"Aren't you guys not even a bit concerned that we practically got banned from the supermarket?!" I snap, looking at both of them.
Both of them look at each other and turn to me, stating, "No."
"Ugh! You, guys, are no help!" I groan out. "First, Julio makes us swear on our souls not to dance tonight and save energy for Saturday morning. Second, my periods had to start today. Third, the vanilla ice cream has finished over a few days. Fourth, this parking lot is weirdly dark orange. Fifth, everyone's so happy. Sixth, my phone has been confiscated by Daisy."
I continue, "Because of what? Oh, because I was blasting out rock music. How irrational? Why can't people be sad? Why can't people be quiet? Why can't people justâ"
"Iris!" Adi holds me and shakes me by my shoulders.
"Stop shaking me, Aditya." I huff out, getting out of his hands, as I lean on Adi's sedan.
"I just let out my whole day's energy," I say and sigh. I look at Noah who is looking at me, intensely. "What?" I ask him.
"Nothing," He says as he turns and walks away from us.
"Did I say something?" I ask Adi, concerned.
"Don't worry about it, Iris." Adi looks at Noah's retreating figure and in one second, he goes towards him.
Before I can even ask anything, I hear a voice from my right.
"Tanner?" I say, looking at him. He smiles, brightly.
"Hey, Iris. Heard that you are at the dance fest, tomorrow. All the best."
"Thanks!" I say, smiling.
"I think you should know our school's students are also participating."
I am taken aback by this. "Josephine participating in the dance fest?"
"Yeah. After you guys defeated them in regionals, she is trying to make the best out of the team."
"Oh."
"Yeaâ"
"Tanner Hood." I hear Adi say.
I look at him only to find him, glaring at the guy. His body is particularly very stiff as he looks at Tanner and he looks damn intimidating, towering a bit over Tanner.
Tanner looks at him, now, shocked. "Aditya Subramaniam."
"You better get out of here, before I call Noah back."
I look between them.
Tanner sighs and looks at me with a small smile. "Bye, Iris."
I smile back as he goes away too. I smack Adi, who scoffs loudly.
Giving me a look of confusion, he says, "What?"
"What was that?"
"He is bad news, Iris. Trust me. Now, let me drop you off at your place." He opens the car door for me, before going towards the drivers' seat.
What the hell just happened?
***
"I am ho-oh!" I quickly turn around.
I sure didn't know I would come home to see this.
Daisy and Percy making out on the sofa in the living room â like the make-out before you know what.
"Iris!" I hear them exclaim.
"I am going to my room. Bye and ya, be safe." I say to them, rushing towards my room. She scarred my eyes, by the way.
"Oh, and I told you that both of you cannot be friends!" I say, loudly. I open the door and see Yeti jump up in the room.
"You are the light of my life, Yeti!" I say, hugging him and putting Yeti back on my bed.
"I thought I was the light of your life?"
I let out a small screech at the voice only to find Alyssa laughing at me as she is sitting on the bay window.
"Aly! You scared me!" I say, putting a hand on my chest.
"Wuss."
"Shut up."
"I got caramel cupcakes!"
"I love you! Not you, I love the cupcakes," I say, taking the bag out of her hands as I sit beside her. She looks at me, eating the rolls, and starts to laugh.
"So, how did you come?" I ask her.
She shrugs, saying, "Daisy. Oh, the guy, damn hot."
"Theâah, you mean Percy?"
"Yeah. She is having a good valentine's day for sure."
"The best. I literally walked into the home seeing them..." I cringe a bit. "Wait. Today's valentine's day? I literally was in school and nobody mentioned that to me?"
She rolls her eyes. "Honey, you are pretty clueless for a smart person."
I glare at her. "Shut up."
"Sâ"
"IRIS COOPER!" Tom exclaims, entering my room. Aly and I share a look.
"Can you lower it down, Tommy?" Aly says to her twin. He glares at her before looking at the cupcakes I am eating.
"Away. Away. I swear Tom if you take oneâ" Suddenly, a pang of pain hits me and I groan.
"On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad this time?" I hear Tom ask me.
The twins, Colt, Caleb, and I have been friends before we were friends with Nick or Michael. So, it is a pretty obvious thing that we are so close that the guys know when we, the girls, have the time of the month.
"7.5"
"Point 5? That's new." I glare at Alyssa. She doesn't get them pretty hard like me.
Lucky.
"Whatever." Tom takes one of the cupcakes and flops on the floor, crossed-legged, between our legs. "So, Iris, ready for tomorrow?"
I glare at him. "Nope."
Simultaneously, Alyssa and Tom roll their eyes. "Sarcasm not appreciated." They both reply, together.
"Freaky, people," I state. "Wait, Aly, how are you not on any date?"
She scoffs. "Remember that Simon?"
"Yeah..."
"He turned out to be a jerk who wanted sex. So, pretty much we are coming here after egging his house." Tom says, casually.
I gape at them. One thing that is common between these two is the love of revenge. "You, both, egged his house?"
"And his car too," Alyssa says, casually.
"Well, I'll be damned if he woâ"
"Oh, we also kept a dead fish inside his car and mixed some whipped cream," Tom says, this time.
"Wow. So, you both are here to grace yourself from your Dad's wrath?" They, both, nod their head with identical smiles.
Honestly, Mr. Jones is really cool but when it comes to handling his children's adventures, he is very strict. The twins try to be very discreet about it but given the fact that Mr. Jones's the town's sheriff, that is not possible.
"I am, seriously, questioning my friendship but I'll admit it was pretty cool," I say, grinning at them.
"It was literally so cool that Frozen can't beat that much cold," Tom says, grinning.
All three of us laugh but I can't help think about the bet Noah and I had.
...a date? Is it weird I am intrigued about it?
ââââââââââââââââââââââââ
- a u t h o r ' s n o t e -
hello all! me back with another update!
are you excited about this date? it just can be a non-date date or... something else ð
until next chapter,
Inerys