Chapter Sixteen: The Friend

Aesha’s POV

 I stared at the house in front of me. It big and rich, no wonder because he’s the only child and his parents worked hard in the company. Though he’s rich, he never forgot about his friends and always stuck their side, making them laugh. He has a great personality and always optimistic.

But that was all in the past.

He’s already a popular guy all over the school and dating – of course – that famous diva queen of the school. He drives his blue convertible with his new friends and girlfriend instead of catching a ride with his former friends. He’s now a heartless jerk. He showed me how people could change so easily.

“Aesha, are you just going to stand there and look at his house?” I realized Kennedy was already standing on the front doorway, her arms crossed.

I turned and smiled, “Don’t worry, I’m coming.” But her gaze was already focused on the large peach colored house in front of hers.

“Do you miss him?” she asked, her eyes still glued to the house. “Kind of,” I sighed.

She raised an eyebrow, “Kind of?” She was looking at me as if I lost my mind. Did I say something wrong?

She took a deep breath, “Just follow me inside.”

I stepped inside her house and it was just like I remembered. A hall after the front door with green walls. The house had an old fashioned design because it once belonged to Kennedy’s grandmother. Though, they took care of it well.

My best friend was wearing a simple black t-shirt and sweatpants. Her very dark brown curly-ish hair was pulled up into a ponytail and as usual, her glasses rested in front of her eyes.

Her mom was working a few times a week and her dad was working out of the city, so most of the time, she had the place to herself. She led me to her room upstairs.

The first time I looked at Kennedy’s room – which was a lot of years ago – I hated it because it was completely decorated bright purple and pink. She told me that her mom persuaded her to keep it that way because the colors were picked by her great grandmother. It was simply like that up to now. But she did a good job making it look less like a four year old’s room.

I sat cross-legged on her bed and she did the same and sat beside me.

“So, how was your Christmas? In the hotel, I mean.” She said. Every day I see Kennedy like this, with her happy attitude gone, I always wished it would come back.

I shrugged, “Cole was there…”

I just told her as far as Mom dating someone and my family spending our Christmas at the hotel.

I showed her the shiny expensive bracelet wrapped around my wrist, “He gave me this for Christmas,” I said.

Her brows knitted together, “You made up?”

I bit back a smile, remembering the day he gave me this.

He gave me a playful smirk and clearly, he was hiding something behind his back.

“Cole, where’s my gift!?” I demanded. He rolled his eyes and raised the neatly wrapped Christmas gift on top of me.

“I don’t think you deserve this,” he said. I crossed my arms over my chest and pouted, “I gave you a gift! Didn’t you like the jacket I gave you?”

He chuckled, “I’ll give this to you in one condition,”

“And what is that?”

“Give me a kiss.”

Well that stopped my heartbeat. One kiss? Was he freaking serious? It’ll hurt both of us! I blushed deep red as soon as I heard his words.

“W-what?” I asked.

The corner of his lips tugged to form a smile, “You heard me, give me a kiss.”

Okay, Aesha, find a loophole. I stared at the ground, biting my lip as he came closer to me, expecting my lips against his.

Well…I need to get my gift.

I grabbed his shirt and pulled him towards me. I can feel his warm breath fanning my face and his eyes looked like they were pleading for my taste. He licked his lower lip, locking eye contact with me. God, I really wanted to kiss him right now. His lips looked so tempting.

But it hurt. A lot. My lungs felt like burning into ashes and my throat felt like sandpaper. So bittersweet.

But I slowly closed my eyes and kissed his cheek. I quickly grabbed the present from his hand and pulled away.

“Hey!” he exclaimed. A smirk stuck onto my face, “You said one little kiss.”

He shot me a glare, “I was really hoping you’d kiss me…” I could sense a little disappointment in his tone.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and my head collided with his chest. “You’ll get a real kiss,” I looked up at him, “soon.”

Yeah, you will, by the time I won’t be burnt whenever we almost kiss.

He let out a forced laugh and told me to open my gift. When I looked inside, I gasped. There was a precious diamond bracelet that was the color of blue ice. It sparkled and glowed under the light. I quickly put it on, grinning ear to ear.

I stood on tip toe and kissed Cole on the cheek again, “You didn’t have to get me something so expensive,”

“I wanted to,” he said.

I hugged him tightly, “I like it. A lot.”

I like you, a lot.

“Aesha!” Kennedy snapped me from my flashback. I blinked, “What?”

She laughed, “You’ve been spacing out for a while.”

I shook my head, trying to keep away the memory of that. “So are you like, his girlfriend now?”

I almost choked on my own saliva. “Kennedy!”

She laughed again and nudged me, “I’m sure he likes you.”

“He does not!” I blushed.

Kennedy rolled her eyes, “Right. So,” she said, changing the topic, “what do you want to do now?”

I shrugged, “I don’t know.”

“Maybe go over to Cylene’s?”

I gulped inwardly at her suggestion. Sure, I missed Cylene and I haven’t seen her for a while now but I felt guilty that Cole and I were ‘close’ without her knowing. I don’t want her to scream her head off and ignore me again.

“I’ll pass,” I said. Thankfully, Kennedy understood why.

“Head over to Jini? You have some stuff to buy, right?.” She said.

I willingly said yes and nodded my head.

~~~~~~~~

Jini was crowded like the usual. We didn’t come here to hang out, sing or eat, though. The first place Kennedy and I went to was pretty much the department store.

“So what do you need to buy?” she asked me. I remembered the mental note I made. Mom said I should pick up something to wear to a dinner party we’re going to on New Year’s Eve – the day of my birthday. She convinced me to buy a dress so that I’ll look ‘beautiful and dazzling’. Mr. Leigh was paying hosting the whole party. And Kennedy was invited, too.

“A dress, heels, and other stuff that’ll make me look pretty.” I said, least interested. “Aren’t you going to buy a nice outfit, too?” I asked Kennedy but she told me she already had a nice dress in her closet.

I sighed and followed my best friend inside the department store.

There were endless choices of dresses inside there, and either of us looked unexcited to check them all out. So now, I just used my winter powers to pick out the best dress for me. That pretty much meant choosing it at random.

“There,” I pointed to a particular dress.

Kennedy reached for the dress. We went to the fitting area so I could fit myself in it.

When I was done changing, I gazed at myself on the mirror. The dress was strapless and white in color. The fabric was soft and there was a leather peach belt at the waist area. The dress flowed just above my knees and showed off my curves.

“Oh my gosh, Aesha! You look great! That’s the perfect dress for you!” Kennedy complimented. I grinned at her, “Yep, I’ll take this dress.” And it was perfect for winter, too.

It looked like the only thing we needed to get was the shoes. I already have – or Mom has – enough makeup supplies to style me and also a bunch of jewelry. We bought the dress and these white heels that I also picked out randomly.

Maybe shopping isn’t so bad after all…

~~~~~~~~~

Cole’s POV

I looked at her, smiling and chatting with her friend, walking gracefully. She was so beautiful, as always. I wanted to come up to her and pull her close to me, as tightly as I could. I want to run my hands through her hair kiss her soft lips.

That Christmas day, we almost kissed but noooo…Aesha was just desperate to get her gift. I wanted to grab her wrist and kiss her properly right there but I was scared that I might lose her again.

I slowly moved through the crowd, moving towards Aesha. Finally my hand enveloped hers and her head snapped at me, “C-Cole! What are you doing here?”

I intertwined our fingers together and leaned forward to whisper in her ear, “Just hanging out.”

A blush crept up from her neck to her cheeks. I can already hear Kennedy giggling behind us. “O-okay,” Aesha said, “we were just shopping for the party in New Year’s Eve.”

I smiled, “For your birthday, right?”

She titled her head, “How’d you know?” I told her that Cylene told me.

“So,” I said, “maybe I can treat you lunch? What do you say?”

She shifted uncomfortably and stared at her feet,  “Uh, I’m fine with it. Kennedy, are you coming?” she asked her friend.

Kennedy held back a fit of giggles as her eyes darted from me then Aesha, “I think I’ll need to get home,” she took the shopping bags form Aesha, “you two enjoy your date!” then she walked off to the opposite direction.

I caught a glimpse of Aesha staring at our intertwined hands while blushing deep red. I leaned forward again and kissed her cheek, “So where do you want to eat?”

~~~~~~~~~

We ended up deciding to sit at the edge of the large fountain in the mall right after Aesha bought her strawberry milkshake and I bought my usual pepperoni pizza. She sat, turning towards me with her legs crossed.

“I can’t believe you remembered my birthday,” she said nervously.

I flashed her a smile, “Of course I won’t.” And I took a bite of my pizza.

“I never thought you will.”

I laughed and gazed at her warm brown eyes, “I’m going to give you a nice gift.”

“Cole, you don’t have to. You already gave me the best present I ever had.” She showed me the bracelet I gave her. I stared at it in disbelief. She was actually wearing it? And she called it the best present ever? Well, Aesha, it won’t be the best present anymore by the time I give you your birthday gift.

“You don’t have to give me anything for my birthday, really.” She said.

I took her hand in mine, craving to touch her. “I’ve already prepared it. Trust me, you’ll love it.”

She looked up at me, “Okay.”

~~~~~~~~~

Sorry, just a filler chapter to let you know Aesha’s upcoming Birthday. What do you think will Cole give her?

Did I take so long to update? It's my and my brother's recognition, that's why. Hope this isn't too short.

-Vireen