Oddey and Gage were stunned that they met each other. Again. "You two know each other?" Felix broke the silence.

The two flinched. "Yeah... sort of," Gage stuttered.

"Oh my Gosh, that means..." Rita gasped, then leaned her head to Oddey to whisper to her. "Is that... him? The guy... who saved you?"

"That's him," Oddey confirmed as she still could not believe that her mysterious hero was standing right in front of her.

"Wow..." Gage stammered since he was also in disbelief. "We... meet again."

"Okay. So... I guess I don't need to introduce you two, then?" Felix asked.

"Well, actually..." Gage remembered that he did not know the name of the girl he saved, so he turned to her. "So you're... Oddey."

"That's me," Oddey answered. "And you are? sorry, I wasn't paying attention... what's your name?"

"Gage," he replied and put his hand out for a shake.

Oddey tried to contain her excitement when she held his hand, and it was a pleasant feeling for her to feel his warm hands. As for Gage, he did feel something but couldn't understand it. However, something about it was making him unconsciously not letting go of her hand.

Rita and Felix already noticed that there was something between the two they had this smug in their faces just watching, and Oddey saw that, so she let go of his hand, "Nice to meet you... again," she stuttered.

"You too," Gage said with a gentle smile. "Wow... talk about a small world."

"Yeah."

"Guys, we need to go. Our Liftcar is waiting for us outside by the gates," Felix told them.

"Oh, okay, let's go," Rita said.

"Wait," Gage stopped them as they were about to head to their ride.

"What's up?" Felix quipped.

"I hope it's okay, but is there room for one more?"

Oddey and Rita were taken aback and confused since they thought that it was just the four of them. "One... more?" Felix lifted his brow.

All of a sudden, Courtney came it was not a good surprise to the two girls and Felix, "Hey!" she exclaimed.

"Courtney! Heeyy!" Felix put up a fake grin. "Oh! this is our friend... Courtney. Courtney, this is Rita and Oddey."

"Hi," Courtney said to them. She looked at them and immediately did not like what she was seeing.

"Hi," the two girls politely greeted back her since they didn't want to look disappointed.

"I hope you guys don't mind that she comes along with us to the movies," Gage said.

"I thought you said that it's a double date?" Rita questioned Felix, who was also not thrilled about this.

"Uhm..." Felix uttered. He wanted to say yes, but he didn't have the heart to do it.

"No, it's fine," Oddey blurted which baffled Rita and Felix although she was lying she didn't want to look bad in front of Gage, Courtney could see that and instantly did not like her. "The more, the merrier, right?"

"Great! thanks," Gage was glad to hear that, Oddey just plastered a smile in response.

"Now that's settled, unexpectedly," Felix muttered at that last part. "Let's go, the driver is waiting for us."

They got to the mall and sat together at the table by the food court to eat first before going to the cinema. It was a bit awkward since there was a fifth wheel, Oddey felt that it was her because Gage and Courtney had been talking since the car ride and they had to sit next together while Oddey just sat with Rita and Felix across them.

Felix was annoyed that things weren't going his way, so he stood up from his seat, "I'll uhm... get us some food... it's on me," he said to Rita. "Do you want anything in particular?"

"Yeah, a cheeseburger and fries," Rita answered

"Okay, what about you, Oddey?" Felix had to ask her too since he felt bad for her. Gage didn't say anything but was puzzled by his actions.

"Uhm... same, I'll have that too, thanks," Oddey replied.

"No problem," Felix's voice got high.

"Ahem! What about us?" Courtney scoffed.

"You have money," he quickly walked away.

"I'll go help him," Gage got up from his seat and went after Felix.

"And I guess I get my own food then," Courtney sighed

So, the two gals were left by the table to wait, and now that those three were preoccupied, they decided to talk about it. "Well, this sucks," Rita expressed. "Some double date."

"Tell me about it," Oddey moaned.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Plus, he said that they're just friends anyway and not... together or anything."

"Right," Rita nodded.

"And she seems... nice."

"Yeah... sure, but at least you still have a chance."

"Hopefully, an opportunity presents itself if it gives me five seconds to talk to him and not 'the friend'."

"True."

Felix was waiting for his turn to order by the McDonald's stall. "Hey," Gage stood behind him. "Need a hand?"

"I'm good," Felix responded, trying not to sound pissed.

"She... ordered a cheeseburger and fries, right? how much is it?"

"Don't worry, I got it."

"Yeah... but she's my date."

"Oh! you know that, I thought... you must've forgotten that after inviting Courtney and disregarding Oddey back in the car," Felix snapped.

"Okay, I'm sorry," Gage apologized, but Felix was having none of it. "We talked it out in the theatre club, and I feel bad for what I did to her that I wanted to make it up to her."

"Dude, I'm happy you two are friends again, really, but couldn't you make it up to her another time or give me a heads up that she's gonna come with us?"

"I know, I know, I'm sorry, look, just let me be the one buying what she's ordering."

"It's alright, I kinda call it dibs already anyway."

"Fine," Gage exasperated.

Later, they were eating, and it got awkwardly quiet for all of them. "Ahem... so Oddey, Gage, how'd you two meet again?" Felix quipped.

Oddey and Gage exchanged glances for a second, then turned to Felix. "He didn't tell you?" Rita snorted when she was still chewing her food.

"What? What is it?"

"You two met before?" Courtney did not like what she was hearing.

"Yeah, we did," Gage admitted.

"How?"

"Uhm... do you wanna say?" he asked Oddey.

"It's kind of a silly story, actually," Oddey said as she put out a nervous grin on her face. "I'm not sure how to explain it actually because..."

"It's not silly. You were just trying to get this... letter that got stuck in a tree that was next to the bridge near Patty Cafe," Gage added.

"Right."

"A letter? What letter?" Rita turned her head to Oddey.

"I forgot to tell you, you know the book I'm reading, the one that I had to write a report on? A letter slipped out," Oddey whispered.

"Oh."

"Okay, and then what happened? This is interesting," Felix said, Courtney quietly disagreed and just looked down on her lasagna.

"I got up the platform to get the letter, but I slipped because he startled me," Oddey continued.

"Well, I panicked, and I thought you were gonna fall," Gage disclosed. "And you did, but I saved you, didn't I?"

"Yes, yes you did," she simpered. "Thanks for that. Again."

"Of course, like I'm gonna let anyone fall," he jestered.

"That's true," Oddey giggled, Courtney turned her head away because she did not like how Gage looked at this girl that he had to hang out with for the double date.

"Wow, who knew we go to the same university."

"Yeah, I'm just as surprised."

"What are you majoring in?"

"Fine arts, you?

"Architecture."

"Nice, creativity with brainpower."

"Oh! you have no idea," Gage chuckled.

"I'm a Theatre major," Courtney interrupted. All eyes were on her, and Felix was annoyed that she had to come with them even if Rita was feeling the same way.

"Cool," Oddey commented. She was starting to feel uncomfortable towards Gage's female best friend already. "You wanted to be an actress?"

"Yeah but more on theatre and speaking of which, he and I are in the Theatre club together," she added but Gage wished that Courtney did not say that part at least not in the first meeting.

"So you're into acting too?" Oddey asked Gage.

"Sort of, I only get in because Courtney wanted me to," Gage clarified, Rita snickered at the side, almost spitting the water she was drinking.

"That's just how we are best friends," Courtney added.

"That's true, even if they don't want to," Rita remarked to her, and she pretended to be friendly. Then Courtney's smug vanished.

"Ahem... so are you two gonna be in the play?" Oddey quipped. She could already feel the heaviness in the atmosphere.

Gage was about to answer, but Courtney beat him to it. "Yes, we're gonna play the lead," she told her, Oddey just plastered a smile on her face while Felix was thinking of killing his buddy for inviting Courtney.

"What she meant is that we're auditioning for the lead," Gage explained.

"I hope you both get the part," Oddey then just looked down.

"Thanks," Courtney replied.

Gage realized that he messed up when he saw Oddey's disappointed face while Rita and Felix subtly shook their heads as they continued eating.

The kids were done with their meals. The only thing left to do was to take their food trays to place them in the cleaning station. "I'll take it out of your hands there, guys," Oddey volunteered as she started picking wrapping papers and plastic cups, a few of them were unfinished, on the table and put them on one tray.

"I'll help you," Felix said and began assisting her.

"No, I'll do it," Gage volunteered and grabbed a tray, Courtney rolled her eyes at his chivalry act.

"I think you've done enough," Felix grumbled discreetly and glared at his best friend.

"Guys. It's okay, I got this," Oddey assured them since she and the other two could sense the tension.

"Don't worry about it, Oddey, I'll do it," Felix carried the tray with papers and cups in it. "You sit down now."

Oddey sat back down but was feeling uneasy as to what was going to happen. "You already bought the food, at least let me take this to the cleaning station," Gage pulled the tray to him. The girls were getting worried.

Felix pulled it back towards him, "Yeah, I bought it. Therefore, I should be the one who needs to take this to the cleaning station."

"In that case, let me do my part."

"No need."

The boys were doing a tug-of-war with the trays while the girls were in their seats watching the boys with their heads turned to Gage, then to Felix, then back to Gage, and so on. "You two stop it. You both are acting like idiots," Courtney scolded them.

Their hands slipped that tray and its trash was thrown to Oddey, and she let out a shriek. The liquids in the cups even splashed unto her that it was all over her face and her clothes.

Everyone cringed at it, but Courtney covered her mouth to hide that she was laughing. The other people in the food court started to stare at them.

"Oh my God!" Gage aghasted. "I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry, it was an accident," Felix followed in a panicked tone.

"I know, it's fine," Oddey scoffed and took a napkin, then wiped herself, and Rita helped her. She had enough, so she stood up. "You know what, I'm sorry, Felix, but... I better go back to my dorm."

"Why?!" Felix and Gage exclaimed at the same time.

"Because..." Oddey tried to hold back her tears. "I don't want to get sick, so I need to get out of these wet clothes and... please don't help. I'll see you later, Rita. " She took her bag and walked off.

"Oddey, wait," Rita stopped her. "I'll go with you. Felix, let's just do this another time, I need to help Oddey."

"Okay, I understand," Felix nodded reluctantly. "I'm sorry about everything."

Rita gave Felix a quick kiss on the cheek and then went to her best friend. "Bestie, it's fine if you want to be with them," Oddey said to her. She did not want Rita to give up her date for her.

"No, it's not worth it," Rita replied. "Come on."

Once the girls left, Felix dropped to his seat with a heavy sigh. "Dude, I am so sorry," Gage apologized for ruining what was supposed to be a double date, not a double date, and Courtney.

"It's cool," Felix assured him. "But... I don't feel like watching a movie anymore."

"Okay, let's just go back to the dorms then."

"Yeah."