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                                                              CHAPTER 10 -  Lame But Effective

"So, class, Mr. Scott will not be able to attend your class today but I'll another substitution teacher for you. So behave nicely." one of the school's teaching staff informed and took an exit as he finished what he had to say.

An air of relief passed through the class as the teacher walked away. Everyone seemed quite happy with the fact that we were going to get an extra period free to ourselves.

Every single person turned their seats towards their friends, a huge smile over their faces as they began to chat and joke around each other. Suddenly, the volume of everyone's collective voices increased, completely ignoring the words of the teacher who just went out, saying 'behave nicely'.

Leaning back on my chair, I pulled out my mathematics book and took a quick glimpse of the exercise Mr Maguire was going to start that day. A little preparation in advance never hurts anybody.

"Hey, I am Marlie. May I sit here?" An unfamiliar girl stood beside my desk and asked. I diverted my sight from the book and towards her, discovering a pleasant to look at face with thick framed glasses covering majority of her petite face.

"Yeah, sure. I am Jade, by the way." I replied with a smile while pulling the chair for her to sit on.

"Thank you." Sitting right next to me, she raised the bridge of her glasses higher over the nose and spoke,"Of course I know your name. I don't have a blindfold over my eyes that I don't sense what's going around my surrounding. And you're very beloved here, so it's quite hard not to notice." 

Gulping in to her words, I exhaled an awkward chuckle and started,"Well, I can't say much about that as it's not very true. And sorry for my unfamiliarity towards you earlier, I'm still working on my observation skills."

Marlie left out a soft giggle, her eyes shut completely as she enjoyed the humor of my words and commented,"Then you've a lot of work to do."

"Huh?" I made a noise, unaware of the meaning behind her words.

"Almost everyone from the male population here, keeps taking little glimpse towards your direction once in a while and, you don't really seem to notice that."

"Even if was true, then I like things as they are now. It's better not to notice people's eyes on me than get bothered by their creepiness."

Just like again, she began to enjoy herself through my words while I turned my head to take a glance towards the class. Everyone seemed to be making the best of their time by interacting with their circle of friends and laugh the time out.

I continued to scan the whole class with my eyes went to a boy sitting with his back to me. His arms over the back of his head, providing it support as he leaned deeper into his chair. He sat there with his little group of friends, who went by the name Sebastian, Drew and Ashton. And to no one's surprise, that guy was Ryan. 

Though Ryan was a senior, we both shared the same class because of my advanced placement mathematics and English classes.

Ashton head shot in my direction and then said something to Ryan, making him to turn his head to me. An exquisite grin crept over his lips as he same me, resulting me in turning my head back to Marlie.

Caught staring, what an awkward moment I created for myself! 

"Hmm, so how are you?" I asked Marlie, trying my best to place my thoughts far away from a specific person. 

I didn't know what it was about him that was very magnetic that pulled you towards him, even when you were trying to run away as far as you can from him. He didn't require a hunky side kick or a beautiful girlfriend in his arms to stand out of the crowd, he was one his kind. He didn't make me feel afraid or terrified to me around him, but something about his presence was very captivating. I had never felt that away around anyone before.

That was why I thought he would be perfect for Sage, they both were unique in their own ways and that was what made them stand out of the rest.

"Don't you dare turn your head." Marlie shrieked, acting like burning oil to the fire of my anxiety. Tell someone not to do something and you will only lead him or her into doing exactly what you warned them not to.

I titled my head and saw a very happy looking Ryan.

Drew waved at me happily and took the nearest seat. I waved back awkwardly. Ryan pulled out a chair as well and Sebastian did the same, while Ashton said something to Ryan and walked out of the classroom with his phone in his hand.

"Hey, Beans. How are you?" Ryan asked. 

And there comes the nicknames again!

"Whoa, you've a very unique name. Seems like your parents were a big fan of Mr Bean that they named you after him. I am Drew, by the way." Drew interrupted, with a huge smile on his boyish face.

"My name isn't really Beans, Drew, it's Jade." I chuckled to his innocent humor and stated,"Your dear friend here has a bizarre obsession with calling me with these strange nicknames."

Ryan made a 'keep-it-up' face and chuckled.

"What's so funny?" I asked, narrowing my eyes in his direction. Marlie took an exit as she sensed the boys near our desk because she, just like me, felt a strange sensation around Ryan's presence.

"You." Ryan replied.

"Do I look like a joker to you?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest to appear more stronger at my stand.

"Nope. You look beautiful." Was that a compliment I heard from Ryan's mouth? I knew he was just going ahead with the flow of the little game we were playing but his words did took a time to settle back in my head.

"And you look like a jerk, as always."

"I know that, Sushi."

"I just insulted you, if you are that dumb to notice." Just like he took pleasure in interrupting me every time and annoying me on purpose, I started to take interest in turning the conversation around him as well. I knew my words weren't the most decent towards him, but it was all supposed to me taken in a fun away, to be laughed over and then be forgotten. I never meant to hurt his feelings by my words.

"And I still complimented you if you are that rude to notice, you didn't thank me." Ryan replied back to my comment.

Both Drew and Sebastian were watching us with amusement as they sat around us.

Baby I like it,
The way you move on the floor
Baby I like it
Come on and give me some more

My phone rang loudly. I turned to Ryan who had an amused look on his face and enjoying my discomfort. I didn't remember setting up that song as my ringtone!

"Nice ringtone, Sushi. Baby, I like it." Ryan spoke, singing the last part.

I picked up my phone, which I discovered was from Jess. As I heard what she called me for, I got up abruptly and began to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Ryan asked.

"Family problem, bye." I said and ran to where Jess told me to come.

When would Sage grow up? I knew she had a very bad temper but she needed to control it or it would only lead to something tragic. 

I made my way towards the school ground, where as told my Jess, Sage got into a fight with a girl. It wasn't the first time that she was pulled into a fight but from what I heard from Jess, it seemed like it went too far this time. So, there I was, running to the ground area, to stop my elder sister from beating the shit out of someone.

"Fight, fight, fight, fight." was all I could hear when I reached nearer to the destination.

I recognized Jess in the crowd and went to her.

"Are you okay, Jady?" Jess asked, sensing my breathing as it got brisker.

"Yeah, where's Sage?"

She grabbed my arm and pulled me through the crowd of people to where I saw my sister punching a girl on her jaw.

Ouch!

She sat over the girl's stomach and charged strong punches in her direction, giving her opponent no chance to respond to her actions.

I was standing with the crowd, figuring out what to do when I felt someone behind my back. I turned to see who it was and I saw Ryan, who held a mixed expression of concern and amusement.

"Whoa, I didn't expect this to your 'family problem'." He exclaimed.

After a little struggle, I managed to pull away Sage and force her to stop the fight.
_
_

I went upstairs after dad asked Sage about the fight and the reason for it, but she didn't tell him.

I wondered what was the reason.

Then the evening came and seeing that Dad wasn't home, I came up with a plan.

I decided to play the lamest, but effective prank on Ryan and Sage. According to my plan, I was going to take Sage with me to see a movie and then call Ryan there as well. But when they both would come face to face, I would take an exit from the theater and give them some time to spend around each other, so they could get to know each other.

"Here are the tickets." I said as my sister and I reached the theater. She seemed very cool and calm, like nothing happened that day. Though she got suspended for only a day because our principal studied that case and declared it in favor of Sage, she didn't seem to mind it at all.

"Thank you."

I nodded my head but didn't follow her as she started walking towards the entrance. I tapped my feet impatiently as I waited for Ryan to come. 

"What happened, Jade? Let's go in." Sage asked. Wait up, sister, your date is coming!

I already called Ryan and told him to see a movie with me, not Sage. So neither of them knew that they are going to see it with each other. How pissed they would be when they'll find out about it.

I saw Ryan parking his car in the parking lot and walk toward me with an excited grin over his face.

"Hey, Ryan." I exclaimed. Ryan's face fell when he saw Sage and then he turned to me with a face that seemed to be warning me not to do what I was planning to.

"Hey, guys. What a coincidence we all are here at the same time, right?" I exclaimed, probably over doing my acting.

Sage grabbed my arm to pull me towards a corner, probably to ask me about Ryan, but that was when my phone rang.

Perfect timing, Blair.

I picked up the phone and acted like I was having a serious conversation with her, but it was Blair on the other side. Serious and Blair don't go together, at all.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah I know. I'll be there." I acted, moving my arms dramatically as I placed the phone back in my pocket.

"Guys, something important came up. Blair and Derek got into a fight and she's crying her heart out. I have to go." I announced with the most serious face I could pull off,"But you guys don't spoil your fun. Go enjoy the movie and tell me about how it was later on." 

Before they could question me, I ran away as fast as I could, with a giddy expression on my face because of gaining success in pulling them together for a while. I knew Ryan wouldn't just bail on Sage and go away, he was a gentleman and he would probably spend the time with her with no attempt to hurt her feelings by walking away. 

I felt bad that I used Blair as an excuse to run away. Derek and Blair were those love birds who never fought over anything.

But at that time, all I wished for was that Sage and Ryan watched the movie together and get comfortable around one another.

**********

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