Song: Boyfriend by Ariana Grande and Social House

Chapter Thirty-four: A lot like you, but the total opposite

"Just go and talk to her, you dummy."

It was Saturday and after the visit to my mum, Xander came to pick me up saying we had important business to attend to. Anything was better than spending time at the house with just the giggling clones since the parents were at work, even though it was a Saturday, Reveka was out, as usual, and Aaron was spending the weekend with his cool uncle that did magic tricks. At least, that's what he told me. Turns out the important business was to help him get a girl he was smitten with after just meeting her on Thursday. 

Honestly, you'd think the most popular girls at your school things to do than gossip while looking pretty.

They were probably popular because of how hot they were and the amount of guys they've slept with since I could see no other reason.

If that's the road to popularity, I'm fine being a 'bottom feeder' or 'lesser' or whatever they called people like me. It's not like I was lonely, I had a few friends. It's just that to them, I was antisocial. I knew how to be fun, but mostly with people I was close with. Only they could understand my inner jokes and sarcasm. I wouldn't want to be judged.

He turned and glared at me. "It's not that easy."

"Why not? You talk to girls all the time. I mean you're talking to me right now."

"You're a different kind of girl."

My mouth dropped open. "Okay. That's offensive."

He turned back to peek at her behind the potted plant. "I mean to me. You're a different kind of girl to me."

I muttered. "I don't see how that's supposed to make it better."

"I just like her, okay? I don't know why but I do." He fan-boyed. "She even called me pretty."

"Huh?"

"When I walked up to her and wanted to order a cup of fro yo, she said 'Hey pretty boy'."

I rolled my eyes as he sighed. "People compliment you all the time."

"Yeah, but the way she said it was so... So..." He struggled to find the right words.

I snorted. "Magical."

"Yes. That."

I laughed at the fact he agreed. I was honestly surprised he was this love- struck by a girl he met at the mall 2 days ago. It's a love at first sight thing, I guess. 

"Stop laughing. I'm serious." He grumbled.

"Xander. You're the kind to fall in and out of love very fast, so forgive me if I'm not taking you seriously."

He scowled. "But this is different. It feels different."

I raised my brows. "Don't you say that all the time?"

"I'm not going to stand here and listen to you mocking me."

"You knew I would, but you brought me here anyways."

He glared. "To support me."

"Fine. Fine." I raised my hands in mock surrender. "I'll help you. It's just hard to believe you've changed because a girl called you pretty."

"It's not just that. She's beautiful and charming and nice. A lot like you, but the total opposite."

I punched his shoulder the hardest I could.

"I was joking." He laughed as he clutched his shoulder. "You know I love you."

I rolled my eyes. "Well try to show it more."

"You're amazing." He complied.

I smiled cheekily as I patted his back. "I know."

I turned to look at the girl he's been staring at for about 15 minutes. She handed her apron to another girl and was heading out of the frozen yogurt shop in the mall.

I walked up to her just as she was leaving, despite Xander's pleas, and introduced myself.

"Hi. I'm Charvi." I stretched my hand.

She looked confused, but she took my hand anyways. 

"I'm Mia. If you're here to complain about me to my boss for being rude to a customer, even though they were being rude first, don't bother because I already quit."

"You quit?"

She shrugged. "It was too much work, some customers are just so rude and disrespectful and I don't need the money anyways. I just thought it'd be fun."

I raised my eyebrows. "Which world are you living in where work is fun?"

She laughed and I soon joined in.

"So if you're not here to complain about me, what brings you here?"

"I actually came with a friend." I turned around and gestured to Xander who was looking at nothing on the wall, pretending not to notice us. I walked up to him and grabbed him by the shirt to come stand beside me, in front of Mia.

"Xander meet Mia. Mia, Xander."

She smirked. "If it isn't pretty boy."

His eyes were twinkling as he tried his hardest not to smile at her. "Hi." He scratched the back of his head, "Umm.... Would you-"

She cut him off, by completing his sentence. "Like to grab something to eat at the food court? I'd love to."

They were smiling at each other, and I decided to excuse myself. "I'll just be over there. Call me when you're done."

He just nodded not taking his eyes of her. I laughed to myself as I went to look at different stores.

****

"Fofinha, is that you?"

I groaned at the name. It was obviously attached to that voice attached to that person which I rather not see as I was enjoying my chili cheese dogs. Mall food is just the best. Chili cheese dogs are my favorites by a long run.

I looked up and smiled mischievously. "Sorry for the groaning. As Zane's namorada, I need to make a good impression on his sister."

Her fake smile turned into a scowl, which was honestly better for me. I really didn't need or want fake friends. 

She didn't reply my sentence as she stood there and glared at me. 

I put a hand on my mouth. "I'm sorry. Did I do something wrong?"

"How dare you?"

I raised my eyebrows. "How dare I? You're the one who lied to me."

"Sorry, I took so long, I ran into Paulo. You remember Paulo, right? The-" Zane's sentence was cut off when he finally looked up from his phone and saw me.

They were here. Together.

"Cherry... Hi. I didn't see you there."

"I noticed." I murmured under my breath as I looked back down at my chili cheese dog. 

If you act so upset, he's going to know.

Don't I want him to?

I looked up and smiled at him. "Hi. What brings you two here?"

"Zane was upset we hadn't spent that much time together because of unnecessary things, so he picked me up and decided to take me to my favorite mall."

I kept my eyes on Zane as I said, "He did, did he?"

"Mmmhmm." She nodded energetically. "What about you?"

I was about to reply her, when right on cue, I heard Xander's voice. "Char!" He called out. I turned as he was about 5 ft away from me. He closed the gap and planted a kiss on my forehead then hugged me. "Oh I love you! I love you! Thank you. That went great."

I'm guessing he was talking about his 'date' with Mia.

I stood up and hugged him. "I'm so happy for you. Maybe you're serious about this one."

"I really am. There's going to be another tomorrow. I thought of inviting Kai and Zahra too."

My eyes widened at that.

He laughed. "You didn't think I wouldn't notice, did you?"

I smiled. "Please invite them. It's going to be a double date so they can finally come out with it and admit it to us."

"I know right."

Zane cleared his throat. Oh. I had forgotten they were there. We turned to them. Zane seemed to be looking between Xander and I questioningly.

"Zane, ma' dude. I didn't see you there."

With his eyes on me, he replied. "I noticed."

What's up with him?

"And, who is this?" Xander asked, either not noticing or choosing to ignore Zane's clipped tone.

Zane didn't seem like he was ready to answer as he stared at me, and Serena seemed to be waiting for Zane to introduce her. Since no one talking, Xander was giving us all skeptical looks.

I sighed. "Xander, you already met Serena Davis."

He creased his brows. "I don't remember."

"At the ball. It was probably because she had a mask on."

"Oh." It dawned on him."Nice to actually meet you anyways." 

She nodded and smiled back.

"Who is she to you?" Xander asked me in a low tone. He didn't have to be so quiet about it. They'd probably not hear.

"To me, an acquaintance, but to Zane, his sister."

I smiled inwardly knowing she heard me. Is it bad that I just wanted to spite her?

"I'm not his sister. I'm his-"

"Friend." Zane cut her off still looking at me. "But on second thought, I'm not sure because it seems the new definition of friends has a lot of kissing and hugging and display of affection." He shrugged.

Display of affection? Was he referring to me and Xander? I mean we hugged all the time. And him kissing my forehead was just him showing gratitude. Normal basis, I'd clean it and mock gag to annoy him then tell him to never do that again. But that would obviously be a joke.

I creased my brows at him.

"Am I missing something here?" Xander asked me.

I said "No" at the same time Zane replied "Yes".

"Zane, can I talk to you?"

"Are you sure you have enough time to fit me in your schedule?"

I pretended to think. "Actually I'm not sure. Because right now is favorite food time and I'm eating my chili cheese dog, but I'm willing to bend it a little."

"Chili cheese dogs?" Xander's face perked up.

Zane's face wavered from mine to Xander's. "Let me guess, they're your favorites too."

"Yup." He went to my seat and grabbed my chili dog to bite out of it. 

"I didn't give that to you." I grumbled.

"I know." He smiled.

I was going to grab it from his hand.

"Remember what happened last time we fought over one." He smirked. "I don't think your white shirt would ever be the same again." I laughed at the memory then scowled at him. "You owe me one."

"Don't I always?"

I turned back to Zane and grabbed his hand, ready to drag him away.

"You can't." Serena complained.

I turned to her. "Why not?"

"Because..."

"Serena. I'll be back soon."

I rolled my eyes at the way he was speaking to her like a child.

I dragged him by his hand to the nearest store.

I dropped his hand and folded my arms. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes."

I didn't expect him to be straight-out honest. "What?"

"You lied to me."

"I didn't lie to you."

"Yes you did. You told me you didn't like Xander that way."

"Well I don't."

He gave me a 'Do you think I'm stupid?' look. "Do best friends show that much affection like they're in love?"

"I love my best friend like a sister loves a brother. What's the problem here?"

"You're going on a double date with him tomorrow."

Oh. That was the problem. He thought I was the one going on a date with Xander.

Well you never actually mentioned Mia.

There wasn't a need to.

"I'm not the one going on the date with Xander. We were talking about another girl. The girl he actually likes."

Zane looked like he was finally understanding what I was saying.

"Dunce." I punched his shoulder. "I deserve an apology for being called a liar."

"Sorry." He mumbled.

Then we lapsed into a few seconds of silence before I spoke up. "Why do you even care?" I felt he'd just say something about friends not lying to each other, but I wanted to hear something else. I wanted him to say he was jealous. Because that would mean he felt the same way.

"How can you even ask that?"

I shrugged. "Curiosity, I guess."

He paused, looking intently at me as if considering what to say next. He surprised me grabbing my hand, and stroking the back of it with his thumb. "Cherry... I think-" He was cut off by Serena's infamous whining. "Querido! I'm tired. I want to go home."

He turned to her. "We'll go home. I'm coming. I want to quickly finish up with Cherry." He turned back to me and was about to finish what he was saying, but Serena continued.

"No. I want to go now." She whined and dragged his hand away from mine, pulling him out the door.

I rolled my eyes at how she was acting like a child. "You know, it's very rude to interrupt conversations."

She feigned pretence. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you two were talking."

I glared at the back of her head as she pulled him out of the store. He shot me an apologetic look and I just nodded.

I sat on the closest chair and put my head in my arms, my elbows resting on my leg. My brain was moving a mile a minute. I really wanted to know what Zane had to say. It sounded a lot like a confession, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. I guess whatever it was would have to wait. A few minutes later, I felt someone settle beside me.

"You've got it bad, don't you?" Xander nudged my shoulder with his.

I looked up at him and snorted. "You have no idea."

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

How was that? I didn't intend to make the music I posted on top match the chapter, but it just fell on it. Coincidental, right?

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