Chapter 25: 23 | IRIS-MANIA

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Iris

The day was so tiring but all of us had so much fun. We went bowling too, after. Today, I also realized that I hate bowling, and the bowling alley shares the feeling towards me, given that I literally almost broke the scoreboard.

I might be good in physics but the force and direction in bowling just had me: oh, the hell with this thing.

Only after Nick and Michael got tied in multiple games and they both agreed to that, we all went back to our homes.

"Goodness, I am so tired," I say, flopping down on my bed, after getting a shower and changing to my normal outfit; oversized sweaters and sweatpants.

"Should I just take the food away, then?"

Turning my body, a bit, I see Noah as he opens the door. He has changed into his normal dark attire.

"Noah? You are... here?" I say, sitting upright. "What are you doing here?"

Noah stops coming inside the room and looks at me. "I can leave—"

"Oh goodness," I groan, getting up from the bed to go towards him. "Sometimes you are so formal that you really make me think that we are strangers and not friends but then I remember that you bought me clothes, calling it a gift from a friend to another friend."

"You are not going to let that go."

"You got that right." I pull him by his hand and tell him, "Come in, stupid. You have my heart."

"What?" Noah stops me, looking at me in surprise.

"Food," I explain, gesturing towards the brown bag he has, in his other hand. "Food is my heart."

I laugh as we sit on the bay window while he says something in Italian. He runs his finger through his hair finally and gives me the brown bag.

I hold out the bag and, looking at it, I say, "Caramel cupcakes."

He looks at me, raising his eyebrows. "Nice guess but no, I got cinnamon rolls."

"Really?" I say, grinning, and open the bag. The fresh aroma hits me first and I have forgotten all about being tired. As I about to take one of them, I pause.

"I made them," Noah says, noticing my changed expression.

Keeping the bag between us, I cross my arms over my chest and inquire, "So fast?"

"I am a fast baker," He states, looking back at me with confidence. "And Tiffany helped too."

I sigh, taking a roll. "Only because of Tiffany, I believe you."

I take a bite.

Another bite.

Another bite.

He asks, looking at me, intensely, "How is it? Too much sugar?"

I swear when I say this—In each bite, I am in a different realm of sugar and cinnamon and damn, I love it so much. When they touch my tongue, they melt into this goodness that sparks up sugar fireworks in my mouth.

I want to tell him that they are so good that I may just—

"It is good—really good," I say, interrupting my thoughts. My cheeks flush with heat as I let my hair be the barrier.

"You're blushing."

I know Noah is confused about it but I can't let him know I am getting affected by—by—I don't know by what.

I don't know.

Deciding to change the topic, I look at him and say, "Wear something different, you stupid."

He looks across my face for a second. Maybe he wants to say something, maybe not. He takes another roll from the bag and says, "What is wrong with this outfit?"

"Too much of one color."

"Life is of one color."

Surprised by that, I look at him but he avoids my eyes, eating the rolls. Sometimes Noah feels so far off me, even when he is sitting right next to me. I want to reach him—I really do but I stop, thinking what will happen if I do.

"I have a great gift for Tiffany," I tell him, eating. "It might beat your gift."

He raises his eyebrows. "Emphasis on might."

"Oh, shut up," I say, rolling my eyes.

"Dearest Bella, if I may remind you, I am Tiffany's favorite brother and there is absolutely no chance that someone else's gift would be better than mine," He replies in a thick accent.

"Lemme guess, your Mum talks like that? You told me she had an accent like in Jane Austen's novels."

"You remembered."

"I have a good memory." He chuckles in reply. I say, "You are close to your Mom."

He answers, looking back at me. "Yes, I guess."

I refrain from asking about his dad since I know it is a very sensitive topic but he surprises me.

"He is half-English and half-Turkish," Noah says.

"Turkish?" I ask, grinning. "I thought you were biracial but you are one-fourth Turkish."

"Grandfather was Turkish," He states. "He was Muslim but he changed to Christianity for Grandmother."

"Wow, that's... sweet." I pause, realizing his words. "Your grandfather...?"

"He passed away long before Percy was born," he tells me. "I have got his eyes, though."

I smile at him, trying to lighten the mood, but I know it is not going to happen so soon. I turn to him, asking, "Have you ever been to jail?"

He freezes and looks at me, for three seconds. "Where did you get that idea from?"

"Just... something," I reply. "So, have you been?"

He asks back, "Does it matter, Bella?"

I recoil when he asks that. Even he doesn't say it but I hear it loud and clear in my mind, looking at him.

Does it matter for this friendship?

"No," I answer, honestly. I shake my head. "No, it doesn't. You don't need to tell me—I don't know what came over me to ask you—"

"Bella," He calls me. "No. That is all I needed to hear." He runs his fingers through his hair. "Yes, I have been to jail."

"How many times?"

"... a couple of times," He admits after I sigh, audibly.

"What did you do?"

"Curiosity kills the cat," He says, smiling at me.

The cramps in my stomach sharpen, suddenly, and I know this is a bit worse than rest; the type that comes at least once in the whole period. I get my knees to my chest, putting my head in between, as I groan out.

"What happ—?"

I say, "Pain. Abdomen. Ugh."

I hear paper crumbling and the cushion beside me dipping down. I try to lift my head to see what's happening but Noah stops me.

"Lay your head on my chest, Bella," He says to me, softly, near my ear.

Taking a slow breath out, I lay my head on his chest, and soon, I am engulfed with warmth from him. He wraps one of his arms around my head and another one on my lower back.

I tense at the latter touch.

Noah stops, immediately. He says, "I would not hurt you, Bella. Trust me?"

I, as hell, don't know why I go even closer to his touch when he says those words. Maybe because I feel secure—secured from all the memories that ignited from that touch.

"I trust you," I say, squeezing my eyes shut.

"Fuck, I hope this is right." I hear Noah murmur.

His hands slid underneath my sweater and I feel his fingers on my skin. Just for that moment, even though his fingers are cold, I burn and I like it. He starts drawing circles on my skin.

Relaxing.

So relaxing that I can call Noah a magician. It feels as if Noah knows every spot to ease me from the pain.

"Massaging the lower back helps in—"

"I know, Noah. Just please, don't stop," I say into his chest and he chuckles. It takes me two seconds to understand what made him laugh. "Shit. I di—"

"I know, Bella. You need to relax. You have had a long day." His voice relaxes me, even more.

"And an amazing day," I breathe out.

"For me, Bella, it was one of the perfect days."

I don't even know if he actually said it or was that a fragment of my imagination, as the darkness behind my eyes takes over me.

***

My conscience is awake but I just don't want to wake up. The sunlight falls on my eyes and everything behind my lids becomes orange. I dig myself more into my pillow. I stretch out my body, fully, and open my eyes. Before I know it, I fall—with my pillow.

God, why did you make me like this?

Groaning, I sit up on the floor and frown. "I want to be a koala. Why can't I be a koala? They are cute."

Well, too late for choosing your body type.

I groan at my inner self but I have to admit I love the inside human for her comments—sometimes, only sometimes.

I am about to take myself and my pillow onto the bed when I see it.

After some time, I freshen up and come down to the kitchen. I take out pop-tarts and start eating them, sitting on the chair of the dining table.

"She's smiling."

"Not weird but weird."

"Something happened, yesterday?"

"Not that I know."

"Women." I look up at Alyssa and Victoria. "I can hear you."

They are here to help me and Daisy get ready. It was Daisy's idea actually to get them—heck, she even agreed to pay them for this, after Alyssa went all smug about it. But they should get paid for it; Alyssa and Victoria are bloody good at make-up.

Alyssa pulls out a chair and sits on it. She narrows her eyes at me while I just chew, looking back at her. Victoria leans on the kitchen counter, looking between us.

Alyssa asks, "You know that you are dressing up, today, right?"

I answer, "Yup."

"You are not usually happy about that."

"I know."

"I am in charge of that dressing up, ya know, while Victoria looks after Daisy?"

I pause and look away. "Oh okay. I didn't know that."

I am not scared of Alyssa. I am scared of her 'making everything perfect so you should just listen to me' attitude which is scary.

Alyssa grins and pats me. "Now, you're back."

Yeti comes in and starts licking me.

"Hey! Hey, Buddy! Good morning to you too," I say, hugging him and kissing him on his mane. Then, he gets down and runs out of the room, probably going to Daisy.

Just now, Daisy comes in the kitchen with her hair wrapped up in a towel with Yeti, trailing behind her.

"What happened?" Daisy asks them, looking between us, confused.

"Discussion," I state, eating.

Ignoring me, Victoria turns to Daisy, grinning. "I think Iris had sex."

I choke on my food and I cough, loudly. Ignoring Daisy's wide eyes on me, I reach for one of the water bottles and start drinking. I swear, by how wide they are, Daisy's eyes can just pop out.

"I think so too," Alyssa says and both of the girls start to laugh.

"I DID NOT HAVE SEX!" I say, exasperated, finally.

"We know but it is so good to see you all flustered," Alyssa says, laughing.

"Thank goodness," Daisy says as she moves towards the coffee maker. "Dad and Mum literally ask me this question every alternative day."

I ask, gaping, "Why?"

Alyssa states, "You have the bod that heterosexual men and lesbians want to bang."

Daisy and Victoria laugh, giving each other high-fives while Yeti wraps himself and sits in his room.

Leave it to Alyssa to be blunt.

I scowl. "I hate you, all."

"Remembering that, when are you and Colt gonna be you know husband and wife?" Daisy asks Victoria.

"I, uh..." Victoria blushes.

Alyssa asks, "Where is Colt, though? I thought he is actually chaperoning you both."

"Practice," I reply.

Every Sunday, the soccer team has morning practices. I am exempted from today's practice because of Daisy who literally forced me to not go. The coach was upset but he said he can manage—I hope so too. This Sunday practice is quite special. There is going to be a special announcement.

Victoria asks, "So, who's going to chape—?"

"Ladies," Adi says, grinning, as he enters the room with a huge bag. "You, guys, need to lock your door, you know."

We, girls, look at each other, before looking at him. "Aditya."

"Geez, don't go all full name on me," He replies, setting the bag on the table, in front of me. He has worn a burgundy-colored patterned tux with a brown tie that compliments his eyes.

"You look good," I say, looking at him. "Handsome gentleman."

"I know." He tries to fix his tie but in a sudden movement, it goes up so much that Adi coughs. Loosening it, he says, coughing a little, "Never going to that gesture ever again."

"Okay, I really need to ask this," Victoria says, looking at Daisy, Adi, and me. "You, guys, are going to the eight-year-old's birthday party not the red carpet of Emmys, right?"

"Yeah, even I think the same," I say, shaking my head.

Daisy drinks her coffee and hums. "It might seem like that but, trust me, they do know how to throw a party."

"Oh, right. You did come to that party of..."

Adi trails away and the smile on Daisy's face drops too. Alyssa and Victoria give me a quizzical look and I shrug, telling them I don't know, too.

On cue, we hear the door open again, and in three seconds enters Tom, holding two bags.

What's up with people and bags, today?

"Hey..." Tom says, looking at us. "What's up?"

Alyssa stands up, properly. "Oh, just the fact that our Iris was probably losing her flower."

"WHAT?" Adi and Tom yell, looking at me.

"Why are you guys doing this?" I ask the girls as they laugh. "I literally woke up alone!"

Then, Victoria says, "Maybe you made the guy go out of the window."

Rest hum in agreement and I gape at them. "Can't I be just happy in the morning?"

Daisy shakes her head. "Nope."

"Go away," I state, getting up and putting my cereal bowl in the sink, as Yeti yelps. "You believe me, right, Yeti?"

I open his packet of dog biscuits and give it to him. I look up and see Adi and Tom still gaping at me.

Tom shakes his head. "Can someone explain that?"

Victoria laughs. "Just a joke, Tom."

Tom puts his hand over his chest and says, "It better be."

"I thought—" Adi pauses as if realizing we all are here. He smiles, sheepishly, and says, "Hi?"

"Anyway," I say and turn to Tom. "What's in the bag?"

He tilts his head towards the bag and replies, "Your and Daisy's dresses, you dumb."

"Go away, you dumb."

"Is this how you treat the person who—"

Daisy says to him, now, "Thank you, Tom." She turns to me. "I bought the dresses for us. Are you ready to get dressed?"

***

"What is wrong with this dress?" Adi exclaims, flailing his arms to prove his point.

Victoria gives him a glare while I face-palm myself, sitting on my bed in a bathrobe. Alyssa is with Daisy, getting her ready for the party. After a lot of negotiation (from my side, mainly), I got Victoria while Daisy got Alyssa. Going with Daisy, Alyssa gave me a glare and I stuck my tongue out.

I am, after all, my Mom's daughter.

"Dude, she is my sister, not some Regina George Wannabe Slut," Caleb exclaims, entering my room, with Colt.

"What are you doing here?" I ask them.

"Practice ended." He shrugs. "And Daisy needed some things. So, delivered it to her, right now."

That makes sense. Whenever Daisy needs somethings, she calls this guy to get it, just the way he does it with me.

"I swear that dress is so small that even Rome won't fit in it," Victoria states.

"That is an exaggeration," Adi says to her.

"Is not!" Victoria retorts back, scowling.

"Guys, we have been going on and on about this, even though we, all, know I will be wearing the one Daisy bought," I say, rolling my eyes.

"Daisy bought you a dress?" Colt asks me.

"I know—goodness, I hope it is good."

Adi looks at me, smirking. "I don't mind you wearing just that."

"Dude, if blue irises couldn't woo her then, these lines won't," Caleb says, giving him a look.

Victoria pushes me, yet again, to the bathroom with my dress. "Come fast. It will be time quickly."

Ten minutes and fifty-one seconds, later, I am looking at myself, smoothening my dress.

I have worn a red square-neck with spaghetti straps A-line dress. The length is almost till my ankle and has one slit from my knee. There is almost no back till the starting of my waist which troubling me a bit but I am okay with it.

My raven-black hair is in soft curls that come above my shoulders and I don't have much makeup—actually, it doesn't seem like I have any except the fact I have put on my favorite lip balm.

"Holy shit, that's you Doraemi?" I hear Daisy say and I look at her.

She is wearing a baby pink floral lace bodice with a deep V-neckline and slim-fit long sleeves as the skirt is floor-length. She has paired it with black low-height heels and her blonde hair has been straightened.

"You look amazing," I say, grinning.

"No, you look amazing," Daisy says, grinning. "I can, literally, hear Dad how much you look like a lady."

"He says that almost every day I go to school, wearing my normal attire."

"This time he would have meant it," Daisy retorts, back.

Victoria and Alyssa give each other high-fives. Alyssa says to her, "We did well."

"We did amazingly good," Victoria replies. "Oh, wait." She goes through my closet and pulls out a pair of black block heels.

"Where did that come from?" I say, looking at the pair.

"It was in your closet," Victoria says but, then, glances at Colt and I know.

"Colten Dias," I say, gaping at him.

"One thing your best friend got? But, seriously, Damn," Colt says, looking between Daisy and me, as I put on the pair. I look at Yeti who tilts his head, looking at me, and I swear he nods at it.

Okay, he approves.

"Ya, they look good." Like any brother, Caleb says, waving us off. Daisy flips him off, laughing.

And, there is Aditya Subramaniam.

"Daiz, Percy won't be able to keep his eyes off you," He says, looking at her. Daisy blushes, ferociously, and I laugh.

He turns to me and gasps. "Milady. Milady. Milady, I have to make sure crazy man-whores keep their hands off of you."

"Just call us and we will give them some brains to catch," Colt says, cracking his knuckles, and Caleb agrees.

"Guys, I do throw a good punch," Daisy states.

Colt, Caleb, and I say, together, "No, you don't."

"Shut up," Daisy says, pouting.

"Guys, you gonna be late. Go, now." Victoria says, looking at the clock. I pick up Tiffany's gifts, wrapped in pink and gold paper, and stand up.

"Ladies, you will be escorted by a charming man," Adi says, looking at us, and Daisy grins.

Daisy looks at me. "You ready?"

"Yeah," I reply back as I remember the letter Noah had written and put it on my pillow.

Bella,

You slept and I put you on the bed. I have to go now but I know we are going to meet soon at Tiffany's birthday party. So, see you tomorrow since it is not goodbye. Not yet.

Stupid.

Also, You mumble about sunny eyes a lot in your sleep.

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- a u t h o r ' s  n o t e -

hiiiiiiiii! i literally love greeting you all with my excited hi but this time i am even more excited. ask me why? (imma assume you asked) "Ineffable" won third place in The Platinum Awards under the chick-lit genre. literally the first award for this book and i am sooooooo happy because it gives me confidence to write more and better.

also. also. Also. appreciation for all of my readers—both silent and non-silent readers. i love you all. really. i didn't think anyone was gonna read ineffable but you all do so thank you—thank you so much.

until the next one,

au revoir,

Inerys