Song: Born To Be Brave by High School Musical The Musical The Series Cast

Chapter Five: This isn't a cat fight

Reveka.

"I don't recall having a 15-year old mum."

"Then, why don't you jog your memory up a bit?"

I ignored her snarky comment. "What are you still doing up?"

"What were you still doing out so late?"

"I don't think I have to answer to you." I walked into the kitchen, threw my bag on the counter and opened the fridge. I thought I just wanted to sleep, turns out I'm starving. I guess ice cream wasn't enough to fill me up.

I could hear her footsteps from behind me. I grabbed a bottle of water. For now. I unscrewed the lid and took a large gulp. I closed the fridge, turned and rested on it. Reveka was watching me intensely.

"I was scared shitless."

"Was it because I was out late or because you were scared of staying home all by yourself?" I joked.

"I'm serious Charvi. I was worried sick."

"Why? It's not like I haven't come this late before."

"Yeah but you'd at least call or leave a message. I've already left you a tons of messages and voicemails since you weren't picking up your calls. Plus the way you left today was weird."

"I'm sorry, today was just a really weird day for me and I just haven't been myself."

"It's probably nostalgia from the long years to come."

I was very grateful she didn't ask where I'd been, I'm a very bad liar under pressure.

"Yeah probably."

"Anyways, I'm beat. I'm going to bed. Good night Char." She stifled a yawn.

"Good night Veka."

"You know I'm just too tired to argue."

"Bummer! Then I'd have to try again tomorrow."

"I'd be ready." And with that she climbed up the stairs.

After a few seconds of staring into space, I heated up the leftover pasta to eat. When I was done, I showered, brushed my teeth and went to bed.

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

The next day wasn't looking so bright. Kai still wasn't in school and wasn't picking up any of my calls, or anyone's for that matter. Leyla was giving me the cold shoulder for some reason. When I tried to approach her in the hallway, she turned the other way. Everytime I try to talk to her, she either doesn't reply or just sparks up a conversation with someone else.

Was this about her or me?

I asked Xander and Zahra if she was acting weird today, and they both said no.

I guess it was about me then.

I gotta find out what's going on. So during lunch, I asked. It didn't turn out well.

They were all sitting at the table when I got there.

I sat down at my usual spot. "Leyla, I can tell you're ignoring me. I'd like to know why."

It's either she didn't hear me or she was continuing the practice of silence she started with me today.

"Leyla!" I exclaimed. Not loud enough for other tables in the cafteria to hear though. I didn't want to cause a scene.

She continued eating as if I wasn't practically yelling her name.

"Leyla, come on." Zahra spoke. Leyla looked at her, raised her brows and asked, "Oh, so you're taking her side?"

"I'm not taking anyone's side because I don't even know the problem." She replied.

"Same here." Xander said.

"Neither do I. So, can you ask her to elaborate because she seems pretty bent on ignoring me?"

"Stop feigning innocence." She scoffed. At least she looked at me this time.

"Feigning innocence? I don't even know what I did. The last time I saw you we were fine."

"Were we?"

"Yes, I just said that."

"Can you stop with the snarky comments? I'm not in the mood for them today."

"Snarky? Really? I'd just like to know why you're mad at me."

"As if that'd change a thing."

"Yes. I think it would."

She looked back at her plate, and when she looked up again, the look she gave me was unreal. It was so filled with anger like I'd never seen before from her.

"It's all your fault." She muttered.

"What is?"

"You're the reason Axel doesn't even know my name."

So that's what this is about. You've got to be shitting me.

"What do I have to do with that?"

"He refers to me as Charvi's friend."

I recalled yesterday. "He only knows my name because we were childhood friends and are neighbours."

"Oh stop pretending you don't like him."

"Pretending? I'm pretty sure my dislike towards him was always obvious. I could show it more if you'd like."

"I'm not ready for this." She shook her head in disbelief. "This isn't a cat fight."

"No, it's a chicken fight."

"A chicken fight?"

"Yes. You're acting like a chicken. A coward. Blaming me for your problems when all you need to do is grow a pair talk to him."

That was a low blow.

Was it really?

"I'm not a coward." She scowled.

"Then approach him."

"You think it was that easy? Maybe if you'd stop hogging his attention I'd be able to."

"Hogging his attention? Do you even hear what I say when he talks to me? Look Leyla. I know you're angry and all, I know how it feels, but your anger is misplaced. I didn't do anything wrong."

I really knew how it felt. I crushed on Axel for long and he didn't feel the same. I had to accept that and move on. It was hard, but I got over it. I just didn't have to tell any of them that.

I was literally angry now. Axel was a jerk. The only reason he gives me a time of day is to annoy the hell out of me. We were friends when we were younger, and that's the only reason he'd still be talking to me and Leyla needed to see that.

"Yet you didn't do anything right."

I creased my brows. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"My anger for you isn't misplaced. You know how I feel about him, but you choose to ignore it when all you do is flirt with him."

"Leyla come on. I'd hardly call their conversations flirting." Xander spoke up.

"Of course you're defending her. You two are just following her like lovesick puppies."

Xander was about to defend himself, but I beat him to it. "He's not defending me. He just thought he'd smack some sense into you cos you're clearly delusional if you think I flirt with Axel."

"Delusional, am I?"

"Yes."

"So I'm delusional too when I say he's clearly attracted to you." She turned to Xander and Zahra. "You guys can't tell me you don't see the way he looks at her."

They kept quiet.

"Why are you guys quiet? Please tell her she's speaking nonsense."

"Actually..." Zahra trailed off.

"Bloody hell. You guys aren't actually falling for her delusions, are you?"

They still kept quiet.

She crossed her arms. "You see. I'm right."

"You've never been more wrong."

"Is that so?"

"Yes it is."

"I can't believe this."

"Believe what? That you called me an attention whore, or the realization that you're angry with me for no freaking reason."

"I have reasons."

"Name one."

"You're trying to steal Axel away from me."

I scoffed.

"I thought you were my friend." Leyla said.

"I am, that's why I don't understand how you can accuse me of such. I would never try to steal the guy you liked from you even if I could. I respect you. I thought you respected me, but from the way you're speaking to me, it's like I'm some whore."

"I never called you a whore."

"Well you certainly implied it."

"I didn't mean to."

"But you sure did."

She was quiet. I waited and waited for her apology but it never came.

"If you want Axel to like you, talk to him."

"It's not easy. We run in different circles. He doesn't even know my name. I'm just Charvi's friend to him."

The scene of him calling her that yesterday at the restaurant flashed through my head. All I could say is: "He'd like you if he got to know you."

"Not when he already likes you."

"Stop all this nonsense about me and Axel. It's never going to happen."

She was about to reply when her eyes flashed up. I couldn't place the look on her face in time because she just stood up and walked away.

I was about to turn around to see what made her leave, but the voice that came from behind me stopped me.

"Hello beautiful."

Him.

He was the one breaking my friend's heart and I was going to do something about it.

Shouldn't you be angry with her for all her accusations?

I should, but she didn't mean what she said. So I forgive her.

Even if she didn't apologize.

I didn't know what to say to that.

"What?" I snapped, ignoring my tone.

"Did someone piss in your fruit loops this morning?" He asked as he sat down beside me.

"If that was the case, someone would've pissed in my fruit loops every day because I talk to you like this all the time." I turned to him.

"Yeah but you seem extra angry today."

I faced my food. "You know, you're like an annoying pest that won't go away."

"Ouch!" I heard him slap his chest. "That hurt right here."

"Whatever. I need to talk to you." I turned back to him.

He arched a brow. "You do, do you?"

"Yes, I do."

"I thought I was just an annoying pest that won't go away."

"You are." Before giving him time to reply I said. "Now, come on. In private. Let's go."

"Really?" Zahra questioned. "After all that?"

I looked at her. "Yes."

She raised her brows at me.

"Trust me. I know what I'm doing. I'm going to fix this."

Fix what, exactly? Your friendship with Leyla?

No. Leyla's broken heart.

Well, aren't you cupid?

I stood up and turned to Xander. I pushed him my plate of burger. I wasn't in the mood for eating.

His face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. "You know I love you right?"

"How could you not?" I smiled at him.

"Good to know some things never change." He commented before he took a large bite of my burger. He snatched my can of coke and took a gulp.

"Hey! I didn't give you that."

"You didn't have to." He smiled at me.

I rolled my eyes. "You owe me." I turned to Axel who was staring at Xander. "Let's go."

His eyes flashed to mine. I started walking towards the door, expecting him to follow. And from his steps I could hear from behind me, he was.

When we got out the door, I rested on the closest locker and he stood in front of me.

"What's so important that you would want to talk to me about in private?"

I ignored his harshness. Before I could reply, he questioned me again.

"And what was that you and your friend talking about? All what?"

"If you would just let me talk." I said through my gritted teeth.

"First of all, that my friend's name is Zahra."

"What am I supposed to do with that information?"

"I don't know? Maybe store it in that pea sized brain of yours."

"Why are you always so rude to me?"

"Why do you always annoy me?"

He didn't answer so I just continued. "I want to talk to you about Leyla."

"Is it that your other friend?"

"I know you're not talking about Xander and Kai since you already know them, so yeah."

"So why do you want to talk about this Lila girl?"

"Leyla." I corrected.

"What?"

"Her name's Leyla."

"You mentioned that before."

"But you just..." I trailed off as I dragged my hand over my face. "Oh my God! Never mind. I want to tell you to talk to her."

"Why do you want to tell me that?"

"Cos she really likes you and would appreciate if you at least give her a minute of your day."

"Does she know you're here?"

"No."

"So why are you?"

I gave him a duh look. "Cos she's my friend."

"And?"

"What do you mean 'and'?"

"I mean there's another reason."

"What makes you think that?"

"Cos I can see you're upset. You keep rubbing your palms together and playing at the tips of your hair. You only do that when you're upset."

I was indeed playing with the tips of my hair. I dropped my hands to my side when he said that. I didn't know what to say because I knew he was right.

He broke the silence. "So what's the other reason?"

I hesitated. "She thinks you like me and that I'm trying to steal you away from her."

"Steal me away?" He snorted, "She doesn't even have me."

I looked at the amusement on his face and scowled. "I'm serious."

There was a pause before he said. "I'd do it."

"You will?" I was actually surprised.

"Yes, but..."

I cut him off. "There just had to be but. You couldn't have done it out of the goodness of your heart."

He thought for a while. "Last I checked you told me I had no heart. You said all I had was an extra ego where my heart was supposed to be."

"It's true. So what's the condition?"

"You tutor me."

"What?"

"You will tutor me." He said very slowly.

"I heard you. I just don't get why you can't just ask someone else."

He shrugged. "I have my reasons."

"Care to share?"

"No."

"Then why should I agree?"

"If you really want me to talk to Lila, then you would."

I groaned. "Fine."

Are you forgetting something? You have to work about 2 hours after school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

True.

"Only on Tuesdays and Fridays."

"Why?"

"Because I hate those days and I could put you on the list of the reasons why."

Before he got a chance to reply, I spoke again. "Maximum time is 3 hours. In the library."

"I can't have people seeing me in the library." He gasped in horror.

I rolled my eyes. "Sucks for you then."

"Why can't you just come to my house? It's right next to yours."

"Just because."

"Because what?"

The truth is I didn't have a reason.

"Fine." I grumbled.

"See you after school then." He winked and began walking back into the cafeteria.

After school? Oh shit. It's Tuesday.

I groaned and walked after him.

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

As promised, I met with Axel at his house. I refused his offer to drive me. I went with Xander and after explaining that I was tutoring Axel, he promised to bring Reveka home.

I made a mental note to go to Kai's house. I didn't like this whole MIA situation. I put that on the list before 'Buy a car'. We all knew that would take a while.

I was sitting on the table in his house teaching him Spanish. It's been about 2 hours already and we were slowly progressing. Progress all the same.

"Mierda!"

"Is that the only Spanish word you know?"

"Mierda?"

Ever since I told him to speak only in Spanish about 5 minutes ago, that's the only word he'd been saying. I don't think he got the concept.

I guess I'd have to try a new strategy.

"Say 'Soy tan estupido'."

He glared at me. "I may not know a lot of Spanish words, but I'd be a fool to not be able to tell that estupido means stupid."

I shrugged. "Just checking."

"We've already conjugated verbs. I don't see how it helps but now I want to learn Spanish words."

"They gave us Spanish dictionaries for a reason."

"They didn't help."

"Have you even opened them?"

"Maybe. Maybe not."

"Wow."

"At least I know in Spanish, there are feminine and masculine words."

"Give examples."

"A in Spanish is una when feminine and uno when masculine."

I waited for him to continue, but he just stopped there.

I was about to add, but my alarm rang.

"Time's up."

"Already??" He groaned.

"Shouldn't you be glad?"

"Yeah, but I haven't learned enough."

"That's because when I first came you spent about 30 minutes arguing with me."

"Whatever."

"Before I go, I want you to do one last thing." I took his phone and typed Leyla's number into it.

"Call her."

"Now?"

"Yes." He picked up his phone and called her.

She picked on the first ring. He put it on speaker.

"I told you to stop calling me. I do not want your stinky products that would make me grow an inch each time I drink it!!" She practically yelled.

"I wasn't offering any."

The other end of the line was dead silent for too long.

"Hello?" Axel called out.

"Am I awake?"

"I don't think I'm a part of your dream so yeah."

"Axel Brown?"

"Yup, that's me."

"And you're calling me?"

"I would assume so."

"Where did you get my number?"

"A friend." He looked up at me and I just mouthed "Focus."

"Focus on what? Is this the hunger games?"

"What?" Leyla asked.

"Uh nothing."

"Why are you calling me, Axel Brown?

"I'd like to get to know you more. Be your friend."

This is wrong, Charvi. He doesn't mean what he's saying.

He will once he gets to know her. Trust me.

"Really? Why now?"

"I don't know. Plus, just call me Ax. You don't have to say Axel Brown. It's too formal."

"Ok."

"So, friends?"

There was a pause before she muttered, "Friends."

"See you at school. Bye."

She sounded so happy when she said. "Bye, Ax."

And he cut the call.

"Happy?"

"Ecstatic." And I stood and left.

By the time I got to my house, I felt really good about myself. I did something to help my friend. And now she'd be happy.

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

How was that? It didn't come out as good as it was in my head, but I hope it's still okay.

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