Song: Speechless by Naomi Scott from the movie; Aladdin

Chapter Twenty-one: I rather be the TNT to your ego

I didn't think I could move so quickly.

Immediately he scrambled off me, I was out of the water without slipping or sliding. Even though we weren't doing anything, I know how this must seem to his girlfriend and I didn't want any problems.

I began squeezing as much water as I could out of my dress. It felt so uncomfortable all of a sudden.

Maybe it has to do with the fact you got it all wet.

"Serena." He called out. "You were looking for me? Why?"

She glanced at me. "I'm your date, remember? You're meant to be with me."

I snatched my diadem that was still floating, and gathered all my accessories in my hand. I must have looked like a lunatic.

"I think I should just get going." I mumbled, hoping they would catch it because I really didn't want to repeat myself. I wasn't in the mood for talking.

"No." Zane said.

Serena turned to him, a puzzled look on her face. "No? Why no?"

He looked like he was thinking of what to say. I don't have time for this. I'm going home.

"I'm leaving." I remarked as I walked past him. I hesitated at the door. I couldn't go out like this.

You have no choice.

"Should I go with you?" He asked, his voice sounding a little closer. He probably moved. I didn't get to answer because Serena did it for me.

"She doesn't need a chaperone querido." I could sense her rolling her eyes, though I couldn't see her.

I pushed the slightly ajar door open and walked out.

Only a few curious eyes turned to me and I tried my hardest to focus on the table I was heading to. From where I was, I could see Axel, Leyla and Xander sitting at the table. Kai and Zahra were nowhere to be seen. Xander was texting on his phone and Leyla and Axel were engaged in a conversation. More like Leyla was talking and Axel was eating. Light music was playing in the background since it was time to eat.

We would have done a slideshow filled with pictures for entertainment, but Leyla said it wasn't sophisticated enough for a ball so the idea got shut down fast.

Once I got to the table, the first thing I did was grab my purse so I could stuff my wet accessories in it. I looked less of an idiot without them. I think.

"Do I want to know?" Xander, who was closest to my seat, asked.

I shook my head. "I don't think so."

"Well, I want to know." Axel's voice made me raise my head. He was staring at me wide-eyed. Then his eyes flashed to something behind me and stayed there. I turned to see what was more interesting than a soaking wet person in a ball gown.

Zane.

A soaking wet person in a tuxedo.

He was walking towards our table, being trailed behind by Angel.

She's not an angel.

I didn't say she was, I just called her Angel.

"Am I missing something here?" He gestured between me and Zane with his index finger.

"No, you're not." I turned to Leyla. "I think I better get home. I'm so sorry I couldn't stay till the end."

Her eyes widened. "What? I was going to ask my friends to say a little about me. You can't go."

I closed my eyes briefly. "I'm really sorry. I just can't say here. I'm soaking wet, dripping all over the floor. I'm not comfortable either. I promise I'll make it up to you."

She looked at the table. "Fine. Go."

"Are you mad?"

"Yes, but I'll get over it." She muttered.

I sent her a half smile. "Thanks."

"Do you need a ride?" I turned back to see Zane.

I was about to decline, but then I remembered that my ride already took off and my friends are still here.

"No need." Axel replied for me. "I'll drive her."

"What?" Leyla exclaimed.

Zane debated. "I'm already driving her."

"I didn't hear her agree." Axel said as he stood up.

Leyla refused. "You can't go. Axel you're about to go on stage."

"Charvi needs a ride home." He said, not turning to her.

"And you're just going to go? It's my birthday." He didn't reply. "I can't believe this." She scoffed.

"You have to stay with your girlfriend, Ax." Zane pointed out.

Angel pointed out as well. "You have to stay with your date, querido."

Why are you quiet?

Because I have nothing to say.

Then just leave them be. Get another person to drive you.

Like who? All my friends have to speak.

All Leyla's friends have to speak, not all yours.

Wren.

What about the house address problem?

Let's just hope the driver didn't tell him, or if he did, he forgot.

Without looking at any of them, I tapped Xander's shoulder, waved at him and walked off in search of Wren for the second time this evening.

I saw him sitting at a table a little far from where I stood. I began towards him.

"I know she's poor and all, but I expected a lot more." I heard an annoying voice snicker.

"I know right. Did it rain or something?" Another annoying one voiced.

"If she can't afford a ride, how could she afford that dress?"

I turned towards the table I heard the voices and spotted four girls. I don't have to guess to be sure of who they are.

Just walk away.

No.

"Don't you have anything better to do? Or could you at least reduce your voices?" I said through gritted teeth.

"Don't feel so important. We're not talking about you." Hannah voiced.

I'm surprised you can tell the difference. They all sound alike.

Anastasia and Skyler sound alike, but Anastasia says dumber things, so that should be easy. Plus, she has black hair and Skyler is blonde. I can tell Hannah's voice anywhere. She won't stop talking and coming to my table to flirt with Xander so that was quite easy. And Amelia is the one that isn't the remaining three. Simple.

I looked around. "I don't see any other person in a wet dress." She didn't reply. "It's better to think before you talk."

"We already do." Skyler replied.

"I don't think so. In fact don't talk at all." I paused and since none replied, I continued. "I know you're not really a fan of lessons, but let me tell you something you'll find very beneficial in all your lives." I pointed at each of them. "It's better to be silent and thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt."

]"Meaning?" Anastasia asked.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and huffed a breath. "Be silent. It means you should just be silent."

"I'm not taking orders from a street rat." She scoffed.

"I have a house."

"Then please go to it. I can't be seen associating with you." Amelia bit out.

Calm down, Char. Calm.

"I'll be going now, but for your sake, keep what I said in mind. It'll do you good."

"Nothing you say makes sense." Skyler snorted.

"Abraham Lincoln said it." And that was all I said before I turned and headed for Wren.

On getting to him, I touched his shoulder. "Wren. I'm so sorry to disturb you, but I wanted to ask if you could take me home. My friends aren't ready and I...." I gestured to my outfit.

"Oh. Well, that's fine. You brightened my mood this night. Anything for a friend." He sent me a smile.

I gave him a light hug. "Thanks."

We walked outside and before I could enter Wren's limo his chauffeur had brought around, Zane called my name.

"Cherry! Wait up!"

He was jogging down the steps and towards me when I turned to him.

"Yes?"

He waited till he got to me to speak. "You won't let me take you home, but you'd let Wren."

I shrugged my shoulders. "I couldn't pull you away from your namorada."

Why not just say girlfriend?

Saying the word annoys me for some reason.

Yeah. For some reason.

"You used that wrongly again."

Huh. I thought my pronunciation was pretty impressive.

"You don't know much of Portuguese, do you? I could teach you if you want."

I would like to know what Angel usually says.

"No thanks."

"Maybe you could change your mind later on."

"Maybe."

"So tomorrow?"

"Ye- Wait, what? Tomorrow is Sunday. Don't you mean Monday?" I crinkled my brows.

"I mean exactly what I said."

Before I could ask further, he interrupted.

"Good night, Cherry." He greeted with a small smile.

"Night Zane."

I wasn't sure whether to hug him or not. He seemed to feel the same way because he just stood there rocking back and forth on his feet.

You hug your friends goodbye, don't you?

Yeah, but-

But what?

I waved at him and got into the limo.

That works too.

Whatever.

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

"Thanks so much for the ride." I said as I got down from the car.

He grinned at me. "Stop saying thanks. It was no problem at all. Bye."

"Bye Wren." I waved before shutting the door.

I walked into an empty living room. Reveka was probably in her room.

I stopped in the kitchen and munched on some leftovers from the fridge after I microwaved it. I began on my way to Reveka's room, but stopped when I saw the door to Dad's office was slightly open with the lights on.

None of us had really gone there since he left. No one bothered to tidy up the things he left behind. I wouldn't volunteer. I don't plan on digging up old memories.

I pushed it open slightly and stepped in. Mum was sitting at the table, head rested on it. She looked like she was sleeping. I stepped closer until I heard light sobs.

"Mum?"

Her head snapped up and she tugged on her sleeve to wipe the tears off.

"Charvi!" She exclaimed. "You're home early. Weren't you at Leyla's birthday ball?"

I gestured to my outfit. "Well, things didn't go quite as planned."

She chuckled. "You had fun."

I laughed a little, recalling the night's event, then stopped when I realized Mum was sniffing to hold tears in.

"Mum. What's wrong? You're crying."

"I'm not."

What does she think you are? A child?

I know right. I can literally see the tears falling.

I walked up to her, wiped a tear from her face, and showed her my wet finger.

"Ok. Maybe I am crying."

"Why?"

"I came here to get some things out now that he's back to give him, but the feeling of just being here was way more than I could handle and I didn't realize it until I was in tears." She sniffed.

"It's okay. I get it." I said as I patted her hair.

I didn't bother to tell her to stop crying. Sometimes it was good to cry, to let it all out. So that's why I stayed there comforting her as she shed all the tears she wanted to until she was ready to go to bed.

When I was with her, I forgot the uncomfortable outfit which was only damp now, no longer dripping water.

I headed to Reveka's room, but she was sleeping so I just headed to mine to call it a night. She had dropped my wig at the bottom of my closet and the dress and accessories.

I went to bed that night, with so many thoughts clouding my head.

What are you going to do about Wren?

I'll just tell him I don't feel the same way.

It'll break his heart.

Everyone needs a broken heart once in a while. I learnt that from the poem at the end of the movie 'Someone great'.

Thanks a lot for mentioning it. Now I want to watch it.

So do I, Ivy. So do I.

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

"I thought you worked behind the cash register." An unmistakable voice called out as I wiped the tables of the customers that just left. The voice was unnerving enough, so even after not having heard it for a while, I still recognized it.

If I only worked behind the register, I wouldn't make enough money.

It was a little after 4pm on Sunday. I had one more hour till my shift was over and I couldn't wait. My legs hurt from standing. Sunday shifts were the hardest because I served food, I worked behind the register and I helped with the cleaning too. And I had to balance all this because I asked for it. So no complaining.

"You've been here a lot. Shouldn't you know?" I snapped without looking up.

"You should be a lot nicer to me, you know." He replied as he sat down at the table where I was cleaning.

I turned to him with a sickly smile. I made it very clear it was forced. "You've been here a lot. Shouldn't you know?" I repeated in a softer tone.

He smiled. "Better."

I went back to cleaning the table, ignoring his eyes on me. Isn't he going to order something?

Creep.

"Won't you ask where I've been these past few weeks?"

I just assumed he decided to stop coming here.

Assumed? I wished.

I gave him an incredulous look. "You're a customer. It's none of my business."

"I'm way more than a customer and you know it."

I didn't see it fit to reply him, so I just groaned.

"I missed you Avery."

I raised my brows. "Why? I'm not very nice to you."

It's true, I wasn't.

Why should you be when he's always trying to get with you?

"Your smile is enough."

I dropped the napkin and put my hands on my hips. "Aren't you tired?"

"Tired of what?"

"All your silly antiques Jaxon."

"Silly? I'd say they're very impressive."

I rolled my eyes. "Well try them on someone else because they aren't working on me."

"I'm never going to stop until I have you."

I scoffed. "What am I? An object?"

"Yes. You're the feeding bottle to my heart."

What the hell! What has he been smoking?

He's clearly sick.

"I rather be the TNT to your ego. You clearly need it." I said before I moved to the next table.

He followed me and sat at the table I was about to clean.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes."

"Can I help you with it?"

"Yes, actually."

He didn't continue. I gestured for him to talk, but he doesn't seem to understand hand signals.

"What is it?"

He ignored my question and asked me another one. "Do you want to go somewhere?"

"No." I can't listen to his nonsense. I guess I'll clean this table later.

I turned to go to another table, but he grabbed my hand.

"What is this?" I exclaimed as I struggled to release my hand. "Are you obsessed?"

"Yes."

What?

"What the- why?"

He didn't answer on time. "Jaxon. Please leave me alone. You've been at this for more than six months. Go find someone else to bother. I'm tired."

"If you just came with me, we wouldn't be having this problems." He raised his other hand to touch my cheek. I turned my face.

Will you scream already?

I don't want to cause a scene.

Why not?

I can handle this.

I yanked my hand away forcefully and stepped back. "Jaxon. Leave. You don't want to have to deal with me."

"You're so tiny, what could you possibly do?"

"I am not tiny and I can do plenty." I said through gritted teeth.

He rubbed his hands together and smirked. "Let's find out in the bedroom."

Gross.

I pulled a face of disgust and walked away. At least, this time he didn't follow me. He must have left sometime later without ordering anything because I didn't see or hear from him again.

Good.

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