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Iris
"I need another hot bath," I groan, stretching myself a bit, as I walk out of the dance room. "When did practice get so tiring?"
"Since you and Keisuke became the captain," Justin points out. "Also, it is nationals," Justin says, smiling.
"Exactly, babe. What do you expect?" Juliet says, grinning.
"Hey, don't pin this on us," Keisuke gestures between me and him and I agree.
Justin and Juliet, the 'it' couple of our dance team, and Keisuke have been three of my dancer acquaintances since the starting of high school. Justin and Juliet, both of them, are in the group routine for nationals while Keisuke and I are doing solos.
"Just saying," Justin says, holding up his hands in mock surrender.
"So, we meet for practice on Saturday at Julio's studio, right?" I ask, looking at them. Juliet groans, putting her head on Justin, while Keisuke nods, excitedly.
"Obvio, Iris," He replies to me.
"You both just proved our point," Juliet tells us. "Well, anyway, we should go. It'sâ"
"Making out time?" Keisuke says in and I don't hold back my laugh. Justin smiles, shrugging, as if saying, 'can't help it' while Juliet narrows her eyes at Keisuke.
"You fucâI am going toâ"
"Okay," Justin holds back Juliet as she almost jumps on Keisuke while Keisuke takes shelter behind me which is a stupid decision given that I am few inches shorter than him. As Juliet and Keisuke start to banter, my eyes fall on the leather jacket guy leaning near his motorbikeâbad boy, much?
With the way his wet hair strands are glittering under the soft light of the sun, I know he has come from showering after practice. As if he feels me staring, he looks up and meets my eyes. Since I have got his attention, I hold up a finger and mouth to him, 'Wait'
It doesn't take me more than five seconds, after bidding a bye to Justin, Juliet, and Keisuke, to reach him.
"Hey," I say to him, holding my bag on my shoulders.
"If you are thinking to sayâ"
"Is this Triumph Street Twin?" I say, trailing my fingers on Noah's motorbike. He pauses for a moment as if not expecting me to say that. When I look at him, he clears his throat and looks away.
"Yes, I got him on my 15th birthday. His name is TS," He says with a slight English accent.
"Wait, when did you turn to be English, huh?" I ask him, surprised, turning to look at him.
"Since I was born in Britain and lived there for the most part of my life," He says, slowly, narrowing his eyes at me.
I nod and say, changing the topic, "You are coming to my place and I am not taking no for an answer."
"Look, Bella," He starts, straightening up. "Your cousin clearly has some problem with me, apart from football, and I am not looking for any trouble. It will be good if I don't."
I look at him, straight in his amber eyes, and reply, "Didn't take you as a type who actually care about what people think."
"I," He says, stepping closer to me. "do not give a fuck about what people say or think about me."
"Then why, now?" I ask, standing in the same place. He pauses, taken aback. He looks between my eyes as if trying to find something but doesn't know what.
"Fine," He says, stepping back and sitting on his motorbike.
I raise an eyebrow, surprised. "Fine, what?"
"Yeah, I will come," He says, running his finger over his hair.
"Good," I step back, grinning. "Tell AS, he is invited too. Long time since I met him."
"You met him, yesterday."
"Like I said," I grin. "Long time since I met him."
I turn towards my car, saying to him, "Any-hoo, bye and reach on time, okay?"
I don't get any response from himâso, I figure he is distracted by something. But just when I open up my car, I hear him.
"Expectations and I don't go along, Bella."
Before I can even turn, he has revived the engine of his motorbike and has left the building.
***
When people are given a particular, why do they not come at that time? There will be lame excuses for being late but are there any for being early? Please enlighten me.
"You are really early," I say to Noah, opening the door for him. "I said to be on time."
"And I said expectations and me don't go along," He retorts back. "I know you heard me say it."
"I did but I thought that was some creepy cryptic message."
When he enters, he flinches and I realize why. "Music's too loud," He states.
If I have to rate today's afternoon on a scale of 1 to 10, I will give it a minus one. It is one of the most stressful afternoons of my whole 17 years. Starting from cleaning up the basement to completing all of my assignments, I am just tired but not tired enough to blast 5SOS loud in my room which, of course, can be heard distinctly downstairs.
"Music's never too loud," A voice from Noah's behind pipes in. "Also, not everyone like you is like a freaking giant. So, move."
"Adi!" I say, moving Noah, and hug Adi. If he is surprised by the hug, he doesn't show it as he wraps his arms around immediately.
"It's been so long since we talked!" He exclaims as we pull back.
"I know!" I say back, grinning.
"You both met yesterday, may I remind you?" Noah says, going into the house.
"No, you don't," Adi says to him and now, turns to me with flowers that areâ "Irises for Iris,"
"Thank you. You are such a gentleman," I say to him and I hear a scoff from Noah which I ignore.
"Iris, can you lower yourâ" Mom comes out of the study but stops short, looking at one intimidating guy and another cheerful guy. "Why, hello there."
Noah and Adi both look at her and introduce themselves.
"Hello ma'am, I am Aditya."
Aw, a perfect gentleman.
"Hey, I am Noah."
Really? This is such a Noah way.
Mom nods looking at both of them. "I am Mia Cooper and that's my daughter," Then, she turns to me with a serious face and says, "who has a band fetish."
"It is 5SOSâI am not apologetic about it," I say to her, walking upstairs to my room. I look at the boys, keeping the flowers in an empty vase. "Make yourself home, I guess, and I will back in some time."
When I open my room, I almost jump, feeling something on my feet. I look down and scoffâjust a sock.
Entering, I look around my room and I sigh.
I really love my room.
The bay window with cute white plush pillows is on the right of my bed, which is in the center of the room while the closet and a mirror on its left side. A huge bookcase near my study table always saves time while my awesome blue wall of photos shows up memories.
But it is messyâtotally messed up.
All of my clothes are pushed so tightly into the closet that I think, in some amount of time, it just might burst out. Not that only, the walls behind my bed and in front of my study table are full of my favorite quotes from different songs or authors or anyone, in fact.
Not to forget, the three plates from the past three nights are lying under my bed â a girl gets hungry at two am, people. On top of this, all of my books are lying around the whole room.
I am a really messy person but I don't like "neat". Messiness calms me down.
"I swear upon my...hunger for pizza, I will clear some of the clutter!" I mumble, moving towards the stereo to pause the music.
Just now, Alyssa calls me and I look at the phone, weirdly.
"You don't call. You text," I say, answering the call.
"Hello to you too, girl." Alyssa laughs. "I am a texter until something good comes up. So, did you do something about Victoria and Colt?"
I grin, remembering how Victoria and Colt subtly flirted with each other today. Alyssa and I noticed this and thought of doing something.
"Yes, yes I did."
"You know, the guy is whipped."
"I know, dude." I laugh.
She groans. "Come on, tell me."
"You are coming here, aren't you? You will know."
"Well, good that I am just standing in front of your house," She replies back and I, frantically, open the curtains to see her waving at me from the house porch. "Come on, open the door. I already know Noah's in thereâhis bike can't camouflage."
"You are one excited human," I tell her and she laughs as I cut off the call.
I run downstairs but stop when I hear snippets of conversations from the living room. Mom is talking with Adi and Noah in there.
"âI am homeschooled, actually," Adi replies to Mom, smiling. "But that might change soon,"
Just now, Aly opens the door and groans. "How much time does it take toâ?" She looks at me, standing on the stairs and leaning on the handrail. "What are you doing? Trying to jump from the handrail? I thought we stopped that in sixth grade."
"Really, Aly?" I walk downstairs, rolling my eyes. "Patience is a virtue."
"The one I don't have."
"Is it Aly?" Mom pokes her head in the hallway and Alyssa lights up, seeing her.
"Mama Cooper!" She greets her with a smile. Mom laughs as Alyssa continues, "New cases coming up?"
"Some are exhausting. Some are unique," Mom replies as Adi and Noah enter the hallway. Adi and Alyssa look at each other for three seconds with a 'who the hell is he/she' expression until I interject in.
"Alyssa, meet Aditya." I gesture towards Adi. "Adi, meet Alyssa." I gesture towards Alyssa.
"It is A-lie-sha or Aah-lee-sha?" Adi questions, tilting his head. "Can I call you Ginger?" he questions, again but excited.
"It is A-lie-sha and no, you can't call me Ginger." Alyssa scowls.
"A new friendship!" Adi moves forward and hugs her. She looks so surprised by it that she freezes.
She looks at Adi and then, at Noah, mouthing, 'you sure he your friend?'
Noah scoffs but there is a small hint of a smile on his face.
I say, getting their attention, "Alright, guys. We have some work to doâ"
"You invited me for Manual Labor?" Adi asks me after pulling away from Alyssa while Alyssa lets out a breath.
"Yes," I say, dryly.
"She is a little freak," Alyssa laughs, patting my head.
"Just because I am shorter than you, you have no right to tease me," I say, offended. "Or pat my head."
Alyssa is one of the tall girls in our grade with her height being near six feet. Sometimes, I am jealous of how tall she is but I have done peace with my average height too.
"If it makes you any better, you are not short in Indian terms," Adi states, shrugging.
"Have I ever told you how much I like you?" I say, putting my hand on my heart, and Adi grins.
"Aw," Alyssa mocks. "Okay, enough chit-chat. Let's go, we have work to do,"
"So, Gingerâ" Adi starts, and Alyssa groans as they start moving towards the basement.
I notice Mom and Noah talking to each otherâof course, Mom would have mentioned that she's from Manchester. I can see the way Noah gives a small smile at the mention of Britain; it takes away all of his cockiness. I can hear the conversation a bit as Mom asks him about his birthplace.
"Nottingham..." He says, trailing away in thought but retrieves back in three seconds. Mom notices this too as she looks at him for a second and nods.
"So, Noah, how did you and Iris meet?"
I step in between and say, "Mom, don't you have some work to do? Isn't really, really important?"
Mom smiles, narrowing her eyes at me and Noahâwho is of course smirking.
"Yeah, I do," Mom turns to Noah. "Nice to meet you, Noah."
He nods in return without smilingâgeez, does this guy have Botox or something?
"When Steve is coming?" Alyssa asks as she and Adi reach the basement door.
"He is working late tonight," I reply to him.
"You know, I can sue you guys for underage drinking..." Mom says, crossing her arms.
"We wouldn't drive drunk; I swear on my purple collection of heels," Alyssa replies, giving her puppy eyes.
"You have a purple collectionâshutting up," Adi gestures to zip his lips when Alyssa gives him a look.
Mom laughs, replying, "No worries, I won't. But if I find outâremember that I won't help. Anyway, there's beer in the basement's fridge,"
"No? 'Cuz when I checked this afternoon, there wasn't any..." I look at her, suspiciously.
"That's my cue to leave. Enjoy your movie!" Mom replies, casually, going into the study room.
"We've beer. Isn't this the best night ever?" Adi says, excitedly.
Alyssa grins, looking at him. "Hmm, I like you."
I laugh as Alyssa and Adi go to the basement. Then, I look at Noah who is looking at me with a blank expressionâI am really getting habituated to it.
"You and Adi are really different," I tell him and he nods.
"People usually like him more than me," He shrugs.
"Well, I can see why," I gesture towards him. "You are like the source of intimidating waves,"
"I," he says, considering it. "take that as a compliment."
"It was, actually."
He looks at me and nods. "So, did you send Colt and Victoria to get something from the supermarket?"
"How do you know?" I ask him, shocked.
After I reached my place, I went to Colt's place and dragged him towards his car, telling him that he needs to get some stuff for tonight. He protested but gave in when I told him Victoria would help so he had to pick her up. He was in a hurry to 'get the work done'âhis words.
"I saw them laughing together inâ"
"We got popcorn, Coca-Cola, and chips!" Colt enters, along with a Laughing Victoria.
Sharing a look with Noah, I look at Colt and say, "You did take your sweet time,"
"Rumor has it that Victoria takes her sweet time to get ready," Colt replies as Victoria gives him a look but blushes, anyway.
"And Colt takes his sweet time to try out the free samples of food!" Victoria says as Colt gasps, mockingly, at her.
"You betrayed me," Colt says as Victoria starts to laugh. Colt smiles, looking at her, but when he turns towards me, he notices Noah standing beside me. "Hey, man."
Noah nods. "Hey."
I give Colt a look, and he nods, understanding what I want. I turn to Victoria and Noah. "Why don't you both go to the basement? Colt and I will be on the way?"
"Sure," Noah shrugs and Victoria smiles at me before they go down towards the basement.
"Kitchen, right now," Colt and I say, together.
Upon reaching the kitchen, I get out the bowls to keep the snacks as Colt tear opens the wrapper.
"So, he came," Colt states, looking at me, and I nod.
"I don't understand, you know," I say to him, giving me the bowl and leaning on the kitchen counter. "why Caleb was rude to him."
Colt shakes his head and looks up at me. "He wasn't rude. He was just protective of you."
I look away, frustrated, and say, "I get he is protective of me after... what happened but he just shouldn't have said it, you know."
Colt grimaces. "Iris, Noah came into your life really unexpectedly. I think that's what got Caleb got so rattled about Noah."
Before I can reply to him, the main door opens and we hear Caleb say, "Damn, Iris needs to close the door."
Colt looks at me and says, "Handle itâI don't think I can tolerate an awkward energy,"
I roll my eyes just when Nick, Michael, Tom, and Caleb pass the kitchen but stop, looking at us.
"Food!" Michael and Caleb say, together, but Colt and I take it away from their prying hands.
"Not now," I state. I look at Nick and he smiles.
"I have an amazing movie in my mind," He wiggles his eyebrows which look so non-Nick that I am just taken back. Nick notices this and says, "Tom suggested to do thatâI am not doing this ever again."
Tom pouts. "But it gives those ohhhhh vibesâ"
"Thank god for Alyssa," Nick says, going towards the basement and Tom follows him, arguing about the comment. Michael chuckles and takes a handful of chips from my bowl, going away too.
"Hey!" I can only say since both of my hands are holding bowls for food.
Caleb lingers behind and I narrow my eyes at him. Colt looks between us and says, "Well, are you both going to talk or give each other silent treatment?"
"He has to apologize," I say, stubbornlyâif I didn't have the bowls, I would have crossed my hands to show how stubborn I am.
Caleb starts, "Irisâ"
"No, Cal, it was wrong. Just because he doesn't have a lot of friends like you and me, you didn't have to point it out."
Caleb huffs out. "Fine but don't expect me to talk to him much,"
"I don't," I reply, nonchalant.
"Neither do I," Colt looks at me. "La mona aunque se vista de seda, mona se queda."
"What was that?" Caleb asks as Colt and I laugh.
"Stuff," Colt and I say, together, still laughing. The bowls from my hands almost slip and Caleb quickly takes them from my hands.
"No food goes to waste," He tells me, smiling.
"Yeah, yeah. I missed you too, pendejo," I say and Colt goes into laughing while Caleb still stares at us like two crocodiles dancing.
***
"I can't believe you, Nick. I trusted you for a good movie!" I exclaim as the credits start to roll in.
"American Pie is a good movie," Nick replies, turning off the tv.
"Yeah, for horny people like you," I say, getting up to get another box of pizza.
"Iris, Iris, Iris. You are forgetting that I am not hornyâcan never be," Nick shakes his head, laughing. Nick is actually asexual gay; he came out to his parents and us two years ago.
"Well, horny people, except you," I mumble.
"I can't believe you haven't ever seen this movie, Iris," Victoria tells me, standing beside me.
"My sister has seen the whole series so she told me â like totally shaking me â 'Never see this movie, Iris. Never,'" I tell her, enacting Daisy.
"She never said it!" Caleb and Colt yell, getting up from their place.
"Did you never see this movie because you thought this might make you horny too, Bella?" Noah comes, near me, as I take a bite from the slice, angrily.
Partly, yes. "No," I state, stomping towards the couch as everybody starts to scatter around in the room.
Nick, Michael, Tom, and Caleb are playing air hockey while Alyssa and Victoria talking about shopping and fashion (Why am I not surprised?). On the other side of the room, I see Adi and Colt talking to each other, very seriously in fact.
I am not shocked at how fast Adi started talking to everyone without a hint of hesitation while for Noah, it takes some time but I notice him being comfortable at least.
As soon as Caleb entered the basement, he asked Noah to talk to him outside the room. I don't know what happened but I am quite sure Caleb apologized for it as he gives me a look that he did.
"Why are there so many footballs in that basket?" Noah asks, getting my attention. Then, I look at those soccer balls as all the memories flash in front of my eyes.
"Those soccer balls were my Grandpa's," I reply, taking a deep breath.
I feel Noah freezes for a second but I continue, "Grandpa was the first person to introduce me to soccer. These soccer balls are the balls we three â Colt, Caleb, and I â played with till he passed away..."
Taking another deep breath, I murmur, "The best coach and the best grandpa ever..."
Suddenly, I realize the room is filled with silence for seventy-eight seconds until anyone talks.
"Remember the time when little Caleb slipped while kicking the ball," Colt says, looking at Caleb, as I turn towards them.
"Hey, I think it was you who made me slipped," Caleb says, offended. "Anyway, I am a better player than you."
"Seriously, guys? You both can't even do a rainbow properly," Nick states.
"Neither can you, Goalie!" Caleb says, smacking him on his head. Then, the whole room fills with 'I am the best' and replies like 'You can't even do-' until I burst out laughing.
"Ah, who are you guys kidding?" Alyssa comes to me and says, "The best soccer player is Iris Cooper, duh, though Noah is close enough,"
"I agree," Victoria says. "She is a better jock than you no-goodies."
"You haven't even seen her play," Colt says to Victoria as a matter of fact.
She rolls her eyes. "I have seen her in the Gym, okay?"
"Yeah. Definitely," I say, laughing. "I can kick your asses anytime, anywhere."
"Really?" Noah says, throwing a console towards me. As I look at the console, curiously, he says, "We'll see about footballâ"
"Soccer," Everybody groans, except me.
"âBut let's see if you can beat me in Smash?" Noah completes, ignoring everyone else.
I smirk. "It is on."
After one hour and three minutes and 12 rounds of the game, I groan.
"Ha, winner winner chicken dinner!" Adi yells from behind as Noah wins for the sixth time.
Right now, Colt, Caleb, Adi, and Noah are only here. Everyone else had some or other thing to do so they left forty-three minutes ago. Adi and Caleb are chugging in the beer as they talk with Colt, who today didn't drink.
"Shut up, Adi!" I throw one of the paper cups on him as he starts to laugh.
"I told you, Bella, I will win this time," Noah looks at me, smugly.
"I have won six times too, okay?" I reply to him. Then, we hear snoring. Noah and I turn to see Caleb snoring loudly. Colt groans, looking up from his phone, while Adi laughs.
"Seriously?" I shake my head. "Colt, will you?" I say, looking at Colt.
"Sure," Colt says, snickering. "Snow White has to sleepâdamn, why is he so heavy?" He holds him by his shoulders.
"Not my room!" I say to him as he grunts a 'yes', taking Caleb.
"Let me help you," Adi says, taking another side of Caleb and take him upstairs.
"Bella?" Noah turns to me with his scrutinizing stare. I look at him but he doesn't say anything for forty seconds.
"You knâ" I say before he interrupts.
"How many seconds?" He asks, looking at me.
"Forty-two and counting," I blurt out.
He shakes his head in amusement. "You really can count time, huh?"
"Just a childhood habit," I reply, taking the pizza box beside me and walking towards the refreshment table.
"So, you're from Nottingham?" I ask him, dumping the box in the trashcan and turning to look at him. He smirks as if he knew I was going to ask about it.
"You eavesdropped, Bella?" He asks, getting up from the couch and walking towards me.
"Well, you guys were kinda loud, you know," I say, casually, leaning on the table. He stands beside me, leaning the same as me. I look up at him as he nods.
"Then, answer my question," He says, looking down at me.
Ugh, I so hate the height difference.
"You didn't answer my question, Stupid," I say, narrowing my eyes.
"You already know the answer. I want to know how come you didn't know me,"
I shrug, casually. "I don't know how; I just didn't know you. Sure, you were in the soccer team then but I just knew Nick and Colt from the team."
He considers it and now, asks, smugly, "Since you know I exist, you don't want to know me?"
"I want to know the definition of knowing here," I say back and he runs his hand through his hair but I see itâhe's smiling.
"Oh, my goodness, you do smile," I say, grinning. His smile drops as soon as I say it but his eyes show a sign of amusement.
"Answer my question, Bella."
"It is better if I don't," I reply, gesturing him to go upstairs, now.
"That is a weird answer," he says as we walk on the stairs.
"No, it is not. You seem to come with a package of 'bad-boy' stuff â troubles and all â and then, again, how can I trust you or even believe what you tell me when I know you are a player?" I tell him. "Don't players lie a lot?"
Suddenly, he sideways leans near my ear and says, "I don't lie, Bella," He pauses. "Occasionally."
Then, he murmurs something else that is not in English but I feel whatever he said is important.
"Again, I don't know," I reply, pushing him backâmore like he allows me to push him away. "You are... something I can't actually analyze."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"It is frustrating."
I look at him as he gives me a crooked smile. Then, we hear Adi and Colt coming downstairs, talking to each other.
Then, they both notice us, near the stairs. Adi turns to Noah with an unreadable expression.
"Noah, we have toâ"
"Got that," Noah replies, quickly.
I look at him and notice the hard expression on his face and his clenched fists. Something tells me that whatever Adi wanted to say troubles Noah a lot. Maybe it is just my imagination but his amber eyes got darker before he turns his eyes towards mine. For a brief second, his expression didn't change but, slowly, he let out a breath and smirks â at least, tries to.
"So, well then, goodbye, Bella. Dias," He says, somehow tiredly, and moves out. I look at Adi in confusion but he just shrugs at me.
"Meet you soon, Milady," he says to me.
I just smile at him as he goes out too.
ââââââââââââââââââââââââ
- a u t h o r ' s n o t e -
How do you all find Aditya? He's one of my favorite characters to write!
Yoohoo, vote and share if you like!
until next chapter,
love, Inerys