Chapter Sixteen Part One

I would have never thought that one of the most cliché scenes where I would be awaken by a phone ringing would actually happen to me.

But it did.

My loud ass annoying ringtone suddenly jolted me awake from the sleep that I was having. Quickly sitting up, I blindly felt around my bed, cringing when I felt a stray piece of chocolate that probably fell out during my night of self-pity.

I'm just banging down all these stereotypes, aren't I?

When I managed to take hold of the cold piece of metal that was my phone, I answered it, not even bothering with checking the name, "Hello?"

"How's my favorite cousin?" I could hear Hallie's chirpy voice greet from the other line.

Groaning, I flopped back down onto my mattress, my head sinking into the pillows, "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"It's noon," she informed.

My eyes bulged out of their sockets as I sat back up, my eyes focusing on the digital clock on my bedside table. When I noticed that she was correct, I scrambled around to get up, causing me to fall onto the floor in the process.

I have never been so happy that I invested on that fluffy pink rug. Softest thing to catch my fall ever.

As my phone was still pressed up against my ear, I ran to my closet to pick out an outfit for the day, "Why did you call anyways?"

"I should be asking why you're in such a frazzled mess when it's a Saturday," she quipped back, "Just making sure you're going to make it to the rehearsal dinner."

I cringed when I remembered that Hallie's wedding was on this coming weekend. Aside from the fact that she's expecting Gray to be with me, I also have to be that bridesmaid who didn't attend any of the rehearsals.

I love her and all, but picking me as bridesmaid was the worst idea she has ever thought of.

"Yeah I'll be there," I answered, hopping around as I tried to put on my pants, "And I'm hurrying because I have cheer practice."

Which I scheduled to be at nine, if I may add.

She said her goodbye and hanged up as I raced to the bathroom. Well, as fast as I can go with this little ankle of mine. It doesn't help that it was less than pleased because I made it go through some work with the cheers last night.

Grabbing a pair of shoes, I snatched my gym bag and headed downstairs. Like expected, both adults has gone to work so the house was already empty aside from this homebody. With my whole set of keys clanging with on my keychain, I shut off all the electricals and lights before I locked the doors.

Heading to my car, I threw my bag on the passenger seat as I dialed Vivian's number, putting on speaker before putting it down as I started the engine.

"The amazing Vivian speaking," she greeted and I rolled my eyes, backing out of my parking, "What's up with the captain?"

"Please tell me that you at least started warming up without me," I said, although I already knew the answer.

Without anyone yapping at them around, they're not going to move an inch.

"About that..." she trailed off and I instantly knew that I wasn't going to like the answer.

"Where are you?" I asked, my grip on the steering wheel getting tighter.

"At the mall," she replied sheepishly.

One, two, three, four, five. Calm, Clara, calm.

"Put me on speaker," I demanded, stopping at the red light as I picked up the phone and removed it from speaker. I heard some fumbling around and when the voices became more prominent, I knew that she did what I told her to do. Without missing a beat, I yelled out at all of their damned souls, "If I don't see all of you at the gym when I get there, be prepared to run fifteen laps around the school field in the blazing heat!"

I'm like a sergeant commanding my cadets. Harsh? Yes, but they need that treatment if they're going to slack off like this.

Did they seriously think that being a cheerleader would be all rainbows and butterflies as you giggle around in the school hallway in your tiny outfits?

Well, kind of is, but that's not all there is to it.

When I heard nothing from the other line, I shouted once again, "Am I clear?!"

"Yes," I heard them answer in chorus.

Hanging up, I resumed to waiting for the stoplight. Leaning against the seat, I squinted my eyes at the phone before releasing a sigh and dropping my head on the edge of the steering wheel.

I'm hungry and when I'm hungry, I'm angry.

So I'm going to do them a favor by delaying myself. If they're still not there, then they better be ready to sweat and get greeted by the sun. Although, it's a little bit cold because we're in the middle of transitioning to autumn.

First of all, I need food in my system.

Stopping right in front of the café that I've come to be familiar with, I stopped the engine, grabbed my phone and wallet before getting out.

One-Eighty Degrees Coffee.

It was a town classic, anybody who lives here has come to this place at least once their life. Sure, it's not really that famous and big as Starbucks, but their coffee really does the talking for them.

I heard the bell when I opened the glass door, letting in some of the cold air enter. I was greeted by an employee and I looked around the place. Taking off my sunglasses, my eyes fell upon the lone figure who sat at one of the tables, a half-eaten pastry and an empty mug laid on the table along with a notebook he was scribbling on.

Walking up to him, I held onto the back of the chair that was opposite to the one he was occupying and spoke, "Hey stranger."

Evan looked up from his notebook and blinked at me, "Hey."

Pointing towards the seat, I silently asked him if it was occupied. When he gestured for me to take it, I placed down my belongings on the table before plopping down on the chair, "I would have never taken you for a guy who goes to a coffee shop all alone," I teased, raising my hand to call a waiter, "Testing if you could have those cliché chance encounters?"

He rolled his eyes before dropping his pen, "Erin and her friends are over and I didn't really feel like listening to god knows what they're yapping about."

Nodding in understanding, I entwined my fingers together on the table as I saw him looking at me with that cautious expression, "Come on, spit it out."

His tone has been cautious, revealing the fact that he definitely wants to ask me something and I have a pretty good idea of what the question in his mind is.

He took a deep breath, "I heard what happened between you and Gray.

I frowned, I knew that this conversation would soon pop up, "Yeah..."

"Forget about him, I'm here," he told me, reaching out to place his hand on top of mine, "Clara, I need to tell you something."

My eyes widened when I realized what he was about to do, "What?"

Suddenly, he jolted up and gave me a serious look, pushing away everything off of the table, creating some loud shattering coming from the fragile cups and plates. I gasped when this happened and he climbed up on the table.

"Everybody listen up!" he yelled, catching the attention of the whole restaurant, "I'm in love with Clara Harper."

What the hell is happening?

First of all, he can't like me! Second, he better get down that damn table before anyone gets hurt.

"Evan, I can't do this!" I tried to reject, "Now come back down."

He held up a hand, telling me to stop talking before his hands went to the hem of his shirt and slowly pulled the garment up, taking it off before swirling it in the air.

My mouth was wide open as he started dancing around, his body rolling as if the calming piano music coming from the speakers were suddenly some loud pop music about sex.

And all the while, I was standing there gaping like a fish out of water.

Then, Erin came bursting in the door, "What are you doing Evan?!"

I thought she was at home with her friends?

"Shut up, sister!" he told her as he threw his shirt away,

Out of nowhere, Gray appeared and wrapped a protective arm around Erin, "Don't talk to her like that!"

Oh my freaking gosh.

Okay, now where did he come from?

Even though I cut things off with Gray, I was still infuriated when I saw them like that. I walked to them and pried their hold of each other away, "Get away from my man."

Now this is not really the thing I should be doing when there's a man dancing on top of the table in the background.

"He's my man," Erin growled, her eyes turning into slits.

So now the lamb has grown a backbone.

"No!" Evan shouted, jumping off of the table as he approached the three of us, "He's mine."

We all gasped and Gray's expression softened, "Did you mean that?"

Wait, what?

Evan lifted a hand and slowly caressed Gray's cheek, "Yes."

Gray held onto his other hand as a bright smile showed onto his face, "I've been waiting for you to say that for a long time now."

Oh come on, you haven't known each other for that long!

Then ever so slowly, their faces moved closer to each other and my eyes widened. Erin fainted beside me, and honestly, I wanted to as well.

When their lips collided I opened my mouth and let out a piercing scream as the world around me turned dark.

-----------------------

Sorry that this was so short, I had a really busy week.

I've been planning this throughout the book. Everyone kept fighting that Clara should end up with Gray or with Evan. Then I saw someone say that she should just be an independent woman who needs no man.

So I went with that route so now, she has no prospects.

Question: What did you feel about this chapter?

Oh by the way, HAPPY APRIL FOOLS!

If anyone was asking, last A/N was a set-up when I said that we would have a double update cause there were two parts to this chapter. Here's part 1! Part 2 will be the actual chapter.

I was laughing the whole time while I was typing this, it was also a nice touch that my update day, Friday, was exactly April 1 so it gave me an excuse. Now let me just be happy on this one, I've had a stressful week.

Don't get a heart attack yet, I'll post the real chapter in about a few hours or tomorrow morning, depends on your reactions (I feel so evil).

Drop that pitchfork and that torch, I'll hose you down if you go after me.

This chapter will be put on private starting on Monday. Those who follow will still see it and will probably relive the panic. Well, see you guys in a few hours or so.

Love you so please don't kill me!