Chapter eleven: I don't share swiss chocolates

O L I V I A

It was hard to imagine how I had wanted to dig myself a grave and crawl in it when I'd seen Kaison two days ago. Especially considering the fact that we were sitting together and having a great time talking on the beach chairs while the rest of them played and later had a dip in the ocean. When we weren't talking, we were sitting quietly in peace. My cramps had eased considerably since the ibuprofen had kicked in.

"Are you sure you don't want more tea?" He asked. "I'll make sure it's well iced this time."

Backstory? I had forgotten about my drink and it was ruined. By ruined I meant it tasted horrible since it was now warm.

"Nevermind." I groaned, turning sideways. "I don't think I'll be able to drink it now."

He gave me a disapproving look. "You barely ate at lunch, Livvy."

He noticed.

"I'll survive," I replied with a small smile.

"I'm sure," he said drily. "Are you sure you don't want-"

I cut him off. "You know I'm suffering from severe nausea, right?"

"I know," he sounded frustrated. "You could've avoided it had you ta-"

"-taken the medicine on time? I know." 

"Why didn't you?" He asked.

"I forgot," I lied.

"You don't have to tell me, but lying? Now, that's just cold."

"Kaison." I sighed. I really didn't want to explain. My face must've given it away because he nodded and changed the topic

"What do you plan to do next?" He inquired.

"Next? What next?" I frowned.

"You know, after the reunion."

Oh.

"Back to my job in New York." I shrugged. "I work as a software engineer at Infotech."

"Yeah you told me that." He nodded.

"Oh, don't act like you didn't know it already." I rolled my eyes. The corners of his mouth twitched up.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said innocently.

"You don't?" I scoffed challengingly. "How the fuck did you show up at my apartment multiple times? I shifted twice in one year and you still found me. I find it hard to believe you didn't know where I work."

"Maybe," he hedged with a laugh.

I shook my head with a smile. "I knew it." 

"Why didn't you change your job, then?"

 . . . good question.

" . . . I don't know," I muttered.

"Do you still hate working out?" He tactfully jumped topics again.

"I do." I bleated. "Didn't the way my dress fit last night say anything? I'm out of control."

"I thought it looked hot." He shrugged.

I laughed. "Of course you did." 

"I'm serious!" He chuckled.

"Um-hmm. How's your shoulder doing?" I questioned.

"It aches just a little bit but the medicines help," he admitted.

"Did you overwork yourself again?" I asked knowingly.

"Last week," he said sheepishly.

"And that caused this injury?" I frowned.

"No, Karl slammed into me during practice," he fretted.

"Karl . . . Karl Martinez?" I inquired. "Your substitute?"

He blinked in surprise. "Yeah." 

"I never liked him," I scoffed.

He smiled at me crookedly. "You've never met him, Livvy." 

"I've seen him on TV. That's enough for me to judge," I huffed defensively.

"Um-hmm," he hummed smugly. I turned on my side to face him, tucking my hand under my head.

"Kai," I said seriously, fighting a blush. "Do you really think you'll have to undergo surgery?"

"I don't know," he answered, turning somber. "But I hope not."

I exhaled. "I hope so, too." I paused hesitantly and he nodded encouragingly. I sighed. "How bad do you think it is?"

His face darkened and he looked away.

"You'll either see me playing this season or next year," he said.

"Fuck." I grimaced.

I saw his head bob somberly. "Fuck, indeed." 

* * * * *

"I haven't even unpacked and it's already time to pack again!" 

I groaned, falling onto my bed. We were flying out the following night. The reunion was officially coming to an end. Four days of reliving high school were almost over.

"Tell me about it," Sam agreed, collapsing beside me. We had had smores and we were full.

"You guys are too dramatic," Griffin spoke, opening the doors to the patio. Cool ocean breeze waltzed in. I reached for my comforter and pulled it over myself. It was cold too and I cursed.

"Griffin close them!" Sam grumbled.

"But it's so nice!" He protested. He was wearing a hoodie.

"Just do it," Sam snapped, trying to wrestle me for the comforter. Even though it was cold, it was warming up quickly so I didn't let go.

"Nooo," I whined, holding on. "Let go!"

She kicked my legs off it. "Come on, Liv! Shaaarrrreeee!"

"No!" I rolled away from her reach but she rolled with me, cornering me to the headboard.

"Griffin, shut the doors this instant," I huffed.

"Olive," he tried to resist.

"Griffin!!" I complained when Samantha triumphantly managed to make me let go. "Take off that damned hoodie if you're hot but shut that door. Now."

"Fine, fine, for God's sake!" He muttered, closing them. He took off his hoodie and neatly folded it, placing it on the edge of the bed.

"Sam, release," I said and she did.

"I don't need it anymore anyway," she retorted, putting her face in the bed.

Griffin pulled her up. "You'll suffocate." 

"Let me go!" She thrashed. I sat up and climbed out of the bed to get out of the danger zone.

"I'll tuck her in her bed." Griffin sighed, lifting her up in his arms. She went quietly, possibly registering the words 'her bed'.

I chuckled. "You do that." 

I picked up his hoodie and placed it on Sam's stomach. She hugged it close to herself, her eyes closing.

"Good night," I sang.

"'Night," Sam forced out gruffly.

"G'night, Olive."

I shut the door, feeling tired. My eyes were drooping and my body was aching. I painfully made my way to the washroom and changed into the nightclothes I had laid out for myself earlier. I brushed my teeth and gathered my hair in a bun before washing my face and doing whatever else I needed to do. I was walking to my bed when there was a knock on the door. I contemplated ignoring it.

"Livvy?"

I trashed that thought and opened the door.

"Hey," I said, roaming my eyes around the hallway. It was empty. "What are you doing here?"

"I . . . uh," he paused, looking flustered.

"Hmm?" I prompted, amused. "What is it?"

He handed me a small paper bag. "I brought you these." 

"Thanks." I blinked, not really knowing what the fuss was about.

"Okay, then. Good night, Livvy."

"Good night, Kai." I smiled and he left, scratching the back of his head as he went.

I shook my head, trying to shake off the sudden awareness that had gripped me. I pulled the curtains closed, switched off the main lights of the room, and sat down on the bed. I opened the paper bag and a soft chuckle escaped me.

They were my favorite swiss chocolates.

Actually, more specifically, they were the chocolates he used to get me when we were in high school. He would go and buy me those every month when I would get on my period, and sometimes in between just because I loved them.

He remembers.

My stomach twisted, and this time it wasn't the cramps.

* * * * *

I had hoped to sleep the night but a little before midnight someone was banging at my door, urging me to open up. I startled awake, cursing. Another bang made me groan and sit up. I was tired and slow. After getting my bearings, I walked and opened the door grumpily.

"We're meeting up in the ballroom to have some fun!" Lily announced without preamble. "Come as you are in your PJs," she added, strutting away before I could answer. I sighed, debilitated, watching her trot down to the next door and then the next, repeating the same process. I was surprised nobody dramatically mocked her by throwing her words back at her before slamming the door in her face. 

She paused when the third door opened, her pale cheeks coloring up. Intrigued, I leaned against my doorframe and watched as she stuttered something before nodding and walking ahead, looking over her shoulder with wide eyes. Then she turned back to the front and shook her head. Curious, I stayed there, hoping that the owner of the room would walk out soon. Seconds later, Kaison did.

His eyes fell on me and when they connected with mine, I knew he realized I was watching him. Neither of us reacted as that sunk in. He casually made his way to me, not in any hurry. His brown hair was all messed up from sleeping and looked way too good on him to be believable. His T-shirt on the other hand looked crisp somehow. 

He stopped a foot before me, leaning against the wall. He put his hands in his pocket. "Hey."

"Um-hmm." I nodded in greeting, holding in a yawn. I had to look up to meet his eyes again. "What did you say to her?"

"What?" He yawned. Mine escaped with his. We laughed. "Who?" He asked again.

"Lily," I said curiously. "She looked quite flustered."

"Nothi- oh." He laughed, resting his head on the wall. He looked what one would say sheepish and smug at the same time. His brown eyes twinkled. "I wasn't wearing a shirt."

That explains that.

"Ohhh," I echoed, nodding with a chuckle, folding my hands across my chest. "Some things never change."

He smiled down at me. "What?" I asked.

"You look cute." He grinned.

"Right," I said slowly, blowing away a strand of hair that had fallen in my eyes. "Real cute."

He shook his head as he knew something I didn't. I opened my mouth to ask what but he bet me to it.

"So, you coming?" 

Right, that.

"I mean, yeah. It's our last night," I said tiredly. "Thanks for the chocolates, by the way. You didn't have to."

He shrugged, digging his hands into his basketball shorts. "I wanted to."

"I see," I muttered distractedly. 

The muscles in his arms and legs were bulging out deliciously. And the way his shirt hugged him, oh my god. I could see exactly what made Lily's brain short-circuit. A shirtless Kaison would be the death of me too. My eyes traveled up, watching his adam's apple bob, taking in the amused curve of his lips, his defined nose and . . . I inhaled sharply. 

His eyes. 

Oh sweet Lord, his eyes. Eyes that knocked me breathless every time I looked into them just with their familiarity. The same warm brown I remembered staring into for hours at a length. Brown eyes full of liquid affection. Specs of gold stood out around his dilated pupil. Hi-

"What're you guys waiting for! Let's go!!" 

I snapped out of my trance, coughing violently at the realization that I was openly lusting after Kaison. And he saw it. There is no way he didn't. Georgia, Maya and a few others were passing us and I kept my eyes down, scared I would give away too much if I met theirs. I was mortified. My heart was racing. I cleared my throat.

"I'll join you in a bit," I muttered.

"I'll wait," he replied. His voice was deep, rough. That made me look up, just to see his expression. I would say I didn't regret it, but my knees felt weak at the intensity of his gaze. Before I could begin salivating openly again, I walked my treacherous body inside wordlessly.

I took a minute to recollect myself. Damn, I had Kai fever. I made my way into the washroom and splashed my face with water. The way the water felt stingingly cold confirmed what I already knew. My face was burning.

I tapped it dry with a face towel and then grabbed my comb, brushing my hair back neatly. I weaved it in a braid and secured it with a scrunchie. Satisfied and feeling much calmer after the simple exercise, I returned to my room and pocketed my phone in my PJs. I took the chocolates and the keys too. I glanced around the room to see if I might want something. When nothing in particular stuck out, I strutted out.

He was waiting outside, just like he had said he would. He hadn't moved even an inch, standing there exactly as I had left him. He watched me silently and I avoided my eyes and worked.

 He waved his hand forward with a flourish when I had finished locking the door. "Shall we, madame?"

"We shall," I played along with a smile. I quickly whipped out my phone and texted Griff and Sam that I'd be meeting them there.

"You went through them quite quickly," Kai remarked as I pocketed my phone and my keys, nibbling on some chocolate. We didn't know where the ballroom was so we were just following the crowd in front of us.

"What did I tell you earlier?" I asked rhetorically, swallowing the gooey heaven. "I'm out of control."

"That you're out of control," he said that the same time I did. We laughed at the coincidence. 

"I wonder what's up," I wondered out loud.

"Something silly, most likely."

"Silly?" I repeated. "Why would you think that, Mr. High-&-Mighty?"

"I have a feeling," he smirked, unbothered by the jab.

"Okay." I shrugged, biting a small chunk of the swiss goodness. The rest of the walk was comfortably silent. We listened to the idle chatter of the people around us passively as we went, each engrossed in thoughts of their own.

We walked into the ballroom and it turned out that he was right. It was kinda silly. There were a lot of sleeping bags strewn randomly on the floor. On one wall, there was a huge screen and a few feet from that there was a projector.

"Movie Night," I said. "That's what this is?"

"I think it's more of a sleepover," Kai remarked, his nose scrunching up slightly. "We're in our PJs, after all."

"Damn, it's been a while since I've had a sleepover." I sighed. 

Now I have a roommate and we have to buy our own groceries and pay rent.

"And there are snacks, too," Kai pointed. There was a table there overflowing with all sorts of dry junk food and drinks near where the procession of sleeping bags was ending. Behind it, there was a heap of pillows and blankets.

"I'm suddenly very hungry," I spoke up, eyeing the food.

Kai snorted. "I can imagine."

I grinned up at him. My phone buzzed and I pulled it out of my jammies.

"Where are you?" I heard when I accepted the call.

"I'm in the room full of sleeping bags and free food," I told Sam. Kai chuckled and I grinned back at him. "Where are you guys?" 

I mean, we could've just looked around the room, but being woken up mid-sleep in the middle of the night? That slows down your brains a little. And kills your incentive to do anything.

"We're here too," she replied. "Meet us by the snacks table."

Now she had my full attention.

"Sure thing." I cut the call.

"They're by the snacks table," I told Kaison.

"Lead the way," he said.

"You're coming with me?" I frowned.

"Yeah, why not?" He paused hesitantly. "Do you not want me to?"

"Umm, it's not that," I said quickly. His smirk returned faintly and I continued, averting my gaze, "I just thought -- where's Josh?"

"I honestly can't care less," he responded carelessly. My eyebrows bunched together.

"Are you . . . sure?" I asked uncertainly. "I mean, we can wait if you want to-"

"It's fine, Liv." He chuckled. It was forced.

I swallowed my curiosity for the time being. "Okay."

I spotted Sam and Griffin on the way to the table and we waved as if we were long-lost friends. Kai and I quickly waded through the crowd to meet them in a corner. Carter and Josh were also there.

"Will you look at that," I spoke lowly to Kai, unable to help myself. "Josh is right there."

"Awesome," he mumbled. I was missing something. I wondered what.

"Is that a Lindt bar?" Sam questioned accusingly. I pretended to reflect as I ate.

"Yeah," I said.

"Gimme." She stepped closer. I quickly held it out of her reach.

"Liv!" She whined.

"Get your own chocolate," I said firmly.

"Traitor." She pouted. "Where did you even get those?"

I froze.

"Ummm . . . " I glanced at Kaison. He smirked at me, his eyes crinkling with withheld laughter.

"Nevermind, I see some on the snacks table." Sam waved her hand, saving me from answering. I exhaled in relief as she inspected the articles there. Her face morphed into an expression of disappointment. "Not there," she groused, coming back.

"Others must have gotten to them," I said innocently.

"Fuck them," she cursed.

"There are other chocolates," I suggested unhelpfully.

"I'll go out and get some Lindt if you want," Josh offered to Sam.

It was half past midnight. I quirked an eyebrow at him. Those were the most out-of-character words that had ever escaped his mouth.

"Nah, I think I'll make do with Cadbury." Sam sighed. Then she leaned into me, stealing my attention. "The only reason you're off the hook is that you're on your period. Otherwise, I would fight you for it. Tooth and nail."

"I know that." I laughed while Josh got her what she wanted. Griff was right, they were acting quite chummy.

"Where are we sprawling, bitches?" Sam shook off her moe and put her hand around my torso. She was too short to do it comfortably around my shoulder.

"I don't really care." Josh shrugged. Our eyes met and we smiled awkwardly, nodding at each other. When my gaze clashed with Carter's, we just grinned.

"Let's just find some in the back, no?" I suggested.

"Sure," Griff agreed. "Let's go secure five sleeping bags first."

"And pillows." Sam giggled like an absolute idiot. "Lots of pillows." 

Ten minutes later we were all huddled up towards the back of other arrangements, just a few feet away from heaven- food. I meant food.

"Guys!" Lena called and the chatter quietened almost instantly. One of the perks of hailing from a private school is being forcefully enriched with manners. Well, for the most part anyway. "I hope you all are comfortable."

"Of course!"

"This is great!"

"We were thinking of doing this on the beach but since this a little last minute, we decided to do this here. Hopefully, the snacks make up for the bonfire!"

"More than, in my opinion," I muttered while a few guys whistled.

"We debated for a while to choose a movie but then we settled on a classic: How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days."

I thought I heard a few of the guys groan.

"Oh, suck it up," Lena teased. "You've been out-voted by us girls."

"Yes!" Sam and I high-fived over Kaison.

"I take it that you still like the movie?" Kai asked in amusement.

"Oo, I love it!" I grinned. "Best movie ever."

"What's your favorite part?" He questioned.

"Hmm, that's a tough one." I mused. "Maybe the one when Andie crashes Ben's bro night? That one was hilarious. And the one where she shows up with a puppy at his workplace and he pees all over the pool table. Oh, and the one where she pretends to be a vegetarian when he spends hours cooking for her and of course the one where she leaves a mark all over his house on their first date. I could go on." 

We laughed. "It's a classic," Kai agreed.

"Lights on or lights off?" Caine asked.

"Off!" We all chorused.

"Let's get this party started!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A/N:- 

I'm supposed to be studying rn😬

QOTD: Do you wear glasses?

Take care! I'mma scurry off before someone at home finds out what I'm really doing lol

See ya tomorrow. All my love,
xoxo.