Chapter 21 : Unity

After finishing our meal, Xavier motions for us to leave, I grab his wrist stopping him, as he creases his eyebrow. Concern suddenly etching on his face.

"Hold on," I say letting go and taking a deep steadying breath. "I need to tell you something"

He sits down, an unreadable expression on his face once again.

"Well, Rose, what is it?" He asks anxiously. "Sweetheart are you okay?"

Deep breaths.

"So it's got something to do with the football team," I say and notice is posture relax. "You know Dan Swift obviously and you said there was something odd about him"

"Correct"

"Well Silver, this might be the last time you let me call you that because . . . Dan Swift is a girl, I'm him . . . He's actually me, do you get it? Xavier I'm Dan Swift, Danny, Daniella Swift," I say in one breath the words messed up."I'm so sorry, I know we're friends and I just hope you can forgive me, because being your friend was nice whilst it lasted"

"Okay," he shrugs his shoulders. "Let's go now then"

"What do you mean okay," I reply getting up.

Xavier Ray's biggest enemy is a girl and that's his reaction? Seriously?

"Calm down Rose, I'll explain outside"

I look at him astounded but listen nevertheless. How is he so chilled about this? I'd be furious, maybe he didn't hear me properly, that's got to be it. Silver takes my hand, sending sparks down my arm. Hormones.

"So that it? You're not mad," I say as we walk down the pavement.

"Daniella Swift," he begins, the way he says my name feels so unique. Even though I call him Silver, I still call him by his name. I wonder if it feels different to him.

"Of course I'm mad at you, but did you really think I didn't know? Heck, I'm actually more relieved that finally, Rose you would tell me yourself about your alter ego," Silver says calmly. "I knew you were Dan Swift from the day of our fist fight"

"What? What are you talking about?" I frown, not following where he's going with this.

"After leaving the nurse's office, I saw you go to the girls bathroom, that confused me," Silver explained, "The next day I spoke to Stephanie, that's when she told me about your secret and that she posted those comments about you, I was furious"

"And that's how your'll broke up," I muttered piecing it together, but how did Stephanie know?

"I felt so flippen guilty that's why I tried to make it up to you, how can I flippen fight with a girl? That's a grasshole of a coward act," He says. "I thought you were trying to get my position on the team, but you're just a girl trying to prove you can play football amazingly, I wanted to see how long it took you to tell me"

"So that's why you became my friend, to earn my trust and make it up to me," I answer, my heart dropping. Hearing those words make me feel pathetic. Gross.

I've never thought like this.

And I hate that I do.

Xavier only wanted my trust to get me to forgive him. Nothing more nothing less. I get that now.

He laughs at my response, earning a puzzled look.

"Rose, you're intelligent but way to oblivious," he says lifting my chin with warm fingers, his voice softer that sends tingles down my spine. "I didn't become closer to you for any of that, you don't get it do you? I really like you Rose"

And BOOM! He presses his lips on mine.

I wrap my arms around his neck, my fingers tangling in his hair. His arm snakes around my waist, tugging me closer to him. My skin feels on fire yet I'm shivering at the same time. Chills run down my body as he deepens the kiss, his hair like silk between my fingers.

When we pull apart finally, there's goofy smiles on both our faces.

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So I'm at Becky's. That's nice right.

Not thinking about Xavier and kisses or anything.

Okay I am.

It's shocking alright? It just felt so surreal, like it didn't really happen, but it totally did. Does Xavier actually like me? Or was it like a prank or dare. And where do we stand. I'm not the most flawless girl, why would a boy like Silver ever kiss me. I know he doesn't expect it to me an we're a 'thing' if the kiss even means anything, so what now?

Ugh, I hate romance.

And that I fell for the idiot.

"Hey do you think the blue or the yellow looks better?" Becky snaps me out of my thoughts.

We were sitting in her overly pink frilly bedroom, me lying down on the bed, mindlessly scrolling through my phone as I thought about yesterday's happenings and my best friend trying on multiple dresses for tomorrow.

"You know it's going to be like really cold dude," I reply turning over. "We're basically in winter"

Becky gives me a shrug, before digging in her wardrobe for something else. A few seconds later she emerges with a bundle of colourful, warmer clothes.

"I'll try them on later," she says sitting down next to me with an eager bounce, a frightening grin on her face. "So Danny, let's gossip"

I sense she's missing Jenny to talk to. Groaning, I listen to Becky rather reluctantly, trying to make out what she's saying, who's with who and all that jazz. Honestly, she talks about our high school like some soapie. Or romance drama. Or comedy. You know what? It's all of the above.

"You're daydreaming, lover girl, thinking about Xray huh?" She teases after an hour or maybe more. That woke me up from my semiconscious sleep. I glare at her annoyed.

"What do you know?" I reply darkly. How does everyone figure out everything before I do?

"So it's true you two are dating," She smiles - like joker mind you, not a happy one just creepy.

"We are not. He might of kissed me though," The words are out of my mouth before I xanthine stop it.

Then the fangirling starts and I regret my existence, I cover her mouth with my hand.

"Are you trying to call the whole neighbourhood for us?" I hiss, she shakes her head with wide eyes.

"What about you know, the 'Swift kid'," Becky asks, looking around like some conspiracy is transpiring when I remove my hand.

"He found out"

"Aren't you happy? This is awesome"

So before I could answer Becky begins to make 'ship' names. Like what the heck? As in Dawntreader of Narnia or something. I swear that girl has a few screws loose because right now she's talking in cryptic.

When dad comes to pick me up, I greet the girl who yells that she's telling the twins, I swear her in response hoping her parents aren't at home (which thankfully they weren't) but the other sisters were. They didn't mind.

When I wake up the next day, I realise three somethings.

One, today's school and I'll see Silver.

Two, my alarm clock is smashed.

And three, I'M LATE.

But a bit earlier than last time. Okay?

So running once again, like a looney of course, have a speed record shower and just throw on the first clean clothes I see. My parents left really early for a short trip to visit someone so now I'm stuck having to deal with my miserable life. I get my phone messaging Bec, she takes a second to reply saying she's coming.

I hear a hoot and realise she sent Xavier. This girl is legit the worst.

Trudging out of the house, my bag annoying me, my shoes annoying me, that flippen door and so is that creepy neighbours cat.

"Hey, Rose you needed a lift," Silver flashes his signature smile, I nod a what's up trying to avoid eye contact or any communication and also trying not to let my shoulder hit his arm.

I know I'm going to sound ridiculous and stutter, so I don't speak. This is so confusing. I'm nervous. For what reason I don't know.

Did you know that Thomas Edison invented a light bulb made of carbonic thread that lasted for 13 and a half hours?

"Here," Xavier says opening the door and offering to take my backpack. Why does he have to be so nice? Can't he just be the usual arrogant self that never made me blush.

Silver gets in a starts driving through the neighbourhood, I look out the windows feeling his stare every now and then.

"Rose, princess are you alright?" He asks I glance at him and see his forehead crease.

"Yup, everything's great!" I say sarcastically.

"I don't get it, we had a blast on Saturday, you know you're making this really awkward right? I get if you didn't have a boyfriend before ..." He trails of sighing. "Okay I didn't mean it like that, but you get the point"

"Wait? What about a boyfriend?"

He nods slowly. "You saying you don't ?"

"I know I don't," I reply confused, I don't think we're on the same page.

"Wait . . . You want like an invitation to be asked out?"

"Uh . . . Yeah," I reply unsurely, where is this going?

The next minute Xavier pulls over, he takes my hands in his slightly larger ones, fitting perfectly. "Do you Rose, A.K.A Daniella Swift take me, Xavier Rays-"

"A.K.A Idiotic Silver Rays"

"To be your handsome boyfriend until some other time or that . . . Whatever?" He asks solemnly.

I burst out laughing at the erratic proclamation. "Don't ever be a priest for weddings"

"Noted," he replies with a roguish grin. "So is it a yes?"

"If I agree will you get me to school on time?"

"Sure. So no more awkwardity?"

"That's not a word Silver"

"It is now," he winks speeding off much faster.

I need a car and some new friends.

Silver parks off onto the school property, somehow managing to get us to school in record time. I pick up my bag from the floor and realise my shoe wasn't even tied because of the rush I was in. Going to open the door, Xavier beats me to it, I step out giving him a look.

"I'm guessing having a boyfriend comes with chivalry," I say as he gives a mocking bow.

He intertwines our fingers pecking my lips. "You guessed right"

I roll my eyes, feeling butterflies in stomach. A lot of kids have gathered around the parking lot near Xavier's car, we all now I'm not particularly good with crowds. I think he notices the stares as well because he let's go of my hand and drapes it around my shoulder, pulling me closer. I cover my head with the hood of my jacket trying avoid those stupid looks people are giving me.

"What the fudge? Whose this slug," A screeching voice cries.

Oh joy and shit.

Stephanie West marches over, pushing through the crowd, her heels clicking weirdly on the tar. Wearing her usual, 'I'm too poor to afford proper clothing but rich enough to wear branded clothes'. Xavier and I sigh at the same time knowing neither wants to deal with this so early in the morning. I have a day of school to get through thank you very much.

The blonde girl flips her hair,the regular bimbos by her side, the torture they live through to be popular.

"Why did you date her again?" I whisper to Silver.

"Girl-friend with benefits or some shit," he says wearily.

"You boyfriend stealing whole," she demands. "Take off that hood you flippen shoe"

Oh no she didn't.

"Ignore her and we'll walk away," Xavier whispers.

I shake my head. "She expects that. Nah, I have a better idea"

Taking out my hood, I give my hair a good toss like how they do in those dramatic scenes.

"You! I told you to keep away from X-Ray," she snaps.

It's Xavier dude.

I raise my hands in mock surrender.

"Girl keep your voice under control, it's scarring my ears," I say followed by the snickers of a few kids, Silver included.

"Well yours is squeaky so like whatever," Stephanie says lamely.

Downright it's better than yours.

I'm about to respond but she drawls on. "Hmph, you loose slug I've seen you with only boys, I can't believe you play around with friends"

Woah. What?

That got on my nerves. I've never, ever dated a guy, so suddenly I get my first boyfriend and automatically termed 'loose' in front of everyone. The blonde bimbo of all people shouldn't talk, she only dated Xavier for fame and money and on top of that she cheated on him.

"What did you say," I whisper threateningly. I got into fist fights with guys for crying out loud! I can take her down in seconds.

"Rose, I'll sort this out, calm down," Silver puts a hand on my shoulder asking sincerely. He knows what I'm capable of.

"I'll be fine," I reply turning back to Satan's sister, or is she the devil's daughter? Perhaps Lucifer's lady? They all fit her.

"Scared are we," I retort truly losing it. "Let's settle this properly"

I clench my hands raising them in defence.

I'm not a nice person, honestly.

"What ev's I'm like outta here," Stephanie turns and walk away. The crowd disperses realising they missed class.

"Woah princess you were on fire," Silver claps his hand. "I always knew you were tougher than you look"

"From experience?" I joke. Knowing I'm blushing.

It's even worse when he pulls me into a hug and kisses me. We walk hand in hand to the school building, trying to avoid the stares. Mahn I hate attention. Can't people get a life?

"Don't look it makes things worse," Xavier says in a low voice.

"The perks of being captain-of-the-football-team-and-badboy's-girlfriend," I reply sarcastically.

"Ha ha very funny," he mocks. "This your class?"

"Yes," I reply,"Thank you"

I kiss his cheek and go to class where awaits the dragon Rebecca.

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And I see the awaiting dragon readers.

So hey people !!!

I know this was it right like woah I didn't even know Danny is capable of having emotions.

But yes THEY KISSED yay.🎉 woo hoo !!! I never thought I'd fan like this. It's epic really.

Drama follows soon so stay tuned

Did you like this chapter? That's all for now.