Song: Home With You by Madison Beer

Chapter Twenty-seven: I wish I had mountain ash for morons

The next day went pretty smooth. 

Zane carried my bags and books again. It made me feel better seeing him avoiding Skyler even though he was probably just regretting cheating on Serena with her, seeing as he has slept with her and a lot others from people's informative lunchtime gossips. He was right, he was the topic of lunch. And yet, I didn't remember his name. 

Leyla came to school and we were all hanging like we used to. I didn't miss the more than friendly interaction between Kai and Zahra when they thought they were hiding it well. Leyla and Xander seemed oblivious to it though. So I didn't say anything about it. I guessed that Kai hadn't come around to asking her yet so he wasn't ready to bring it up.

Axel came to talk to her during lunch. If I were her, I would have ignored him, but I wasn't her and she wasn't me, so she agreed and followed him out. She didn't return although I still caught glimpses of her around school, so I knew she hadn't left. I wanted to ask her about what Axel had told her, but she didn't seem to be affected, so I was in no rush.

On the other hand, anytime I saw Axel was getting within 5 feet of me, I would go far away. I guess he got the memo, and instead of trying to force me to hear him out, he decided to give me some time. Smart choice for the both of us. I wasn't ready to lash out. And nobody, even Axel, was ready to be lashed out on.

Xander dropped Reveka at the ballet studio, and the both of us ended up spending time at Nik's Nacho World, which was another restaurant we went to aside from Tate's. She was going to spend the rest of her day with her friends, so I spent mine catching up on Netflix original shows on my bed. Even though I missed Zane and wanted to be with him, I was having a great time just watching the charisma of Monica, Chandler and their friends. My favorite would always be Monica, but Xander had his mind set on Joey. I was listening to Phoebe talk stupid when I heard giggling in front of my door.

I paused it, stood up and was about to open it because the sound was annoying, when it was swung open and revealed Skyler and Anastasia.

I groaned. I missed home. I mean, can't a girl get some peace these days? It was only the 3rd day, and I'm already being trampled.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Is it too much to ask to be left alone?"

She didn't seem to hear me because she let herself in. Sometimes I wish I had Mountain Ash for morons.

Thinking about Teen Wolf again?

More like Stiles. But you know me, I can't help it.

She began ranting about how Zane moves on so fast and she could remember the days where he promised to have her name tattooed on his arm.

I knew she was lying. If someone were to cheat, they definitely wouldn't tattoo their bodies with the name of the person they're cheating with. She was saying this either to spite me or make me jealous, but it only got me frustrated.

"So?" I snapped.

"I'm letting you know so you won't be heartbroken when he leaves you for the next girl."

I rolled my eyes. "We're just friends."

Anastasia supported. "That's how it always starts. So don't come crying to us when he does it."

I scrunched my face up with contempt. "I won't come to you for anything, talk less of comfort. Now that you're done with what you came here for, there's the door."

And that was the last I spoke to them before they walked out. Thankfully.

I couldn't help thinking of what Zane was doing. He was probably with Wren. Or maybe Serena. And as I continued the show, my mind was set on just that.

*******

"So Cherry... What are you doing tonight?"

It was already Friday, and Zane was trying to get me to go to a party. He said it wasn't a rager although people will still consume alcohol and it'd be wild. I don't see how that was much persuasion. 

I would love to spend my Friday with him, even though he'd be with his friends, but I wouldn't love to be hungover on Saturday because someone slipped something into my drink. Plus, my mom would just send me away because I was crying of pain in a corner.

I remembered one of those times where Xander persuaded me to go with him. I was drinking coke and sitting with him and a group of jocks. One of them must have put something in it. I couldn't really remember anything, but the next day I had a serious case of 'I feel like I'm dying'.

More like a serious case of 'I feel like I was kicked in the head by a horse'.

"You've said that like 5 times already, and every time you repeat it like you didn't before, I give you a normal answer. Now take me home so you can go meet your girlfriend." I gritted out.

"What?" He stopped in his tracks.

I stopped and turned to look at him. He had confusion written all over his face.

"Remember the first time I told you this at the ball and you feigned confusion, I said don't play games with me." I paused. "Well, don't play games with me."

His eyebrows creased. "So you think Skyler's my girlfriend? Did she tell you that?"

I raised my own eyebrows in return. "You have two girlfriends? You are quite the player Zane." I scoffed before I turned around to walk away.

He grabbed my arm and although the touch wasn't meant to be sweet, it sure felt good, but all I did was glare at it. "What is it with you and grabbing my arm?"

He released it. "What is it with you and walking away from me?"

I scoffed. "I'm sorry I didn't want to listen to how you manage to juggle two girls. Is it one on weekdays and one on weekends?"

That was low.

I know. And I regretted it when I said it. The look on his face was adding to the guilt.

"Well, that was hurtful."

"I know. And I'm sorry." I muttered.

"I do not have one girlfriend, so I definitely don't have two." He informed me.

My eyebrows creased. "You don't? Serena is not your namorada?"

It looked like something clicked in his head. "I should have known you were talking about Serena since you said it in Portuguese. But what gave you that impression?"

I gave him a 'duh' look. "Serena said she was your namorada."

"Are you sure? You probably misinterpreted what she said. Was she speaking in full blown Portuguese? Because she makes that mistake a lot."

I felt offended for some reason. "No. She was speaking in English and she came to me to tell me."

"What? Why would she do that?"

I shrugged. "It's probably one of those 'I'm in love with my best friend and he doesn't feel the same way, so let me throw off all the girls in my way' situations."

He ignored the first part of what I said and arched a brow. "Girls in her way?"

I looked down because I just insinuated that Zane and I had something going on. I hoped I wasn't blushing. "You know what I mean."

"I don't, but seeing how you're uncomfortable, I'll let it slide. Just this one time. And your whole situation is wrong. Serena is not my best friend, she's more like a sister."

That explanation made me feel great. He saw her as a sister, not more. That means he's not a cheater and I finally have a chance, right?

Wrong. Him not being taken doesn't change how he feels about you.

My inner squealing ceased at the truth behind those words. It turned to inner crying. My life sucks.

Stop crying over him, or you'll dry out your lacrimal glands.

I'm not actually crying. I just feel like the glue I used to hold my heart together after the first time I realized I felt this way, is only temporary. Sometimes I wish I was a kid again. Bruised knees are way easier to fix than broken hearts.

"You're still postponing our thought for a thought?"

I turned to where Zane was standing. I had blanked out again. In the middle of the parking lot.

"No." I began walking again. "I'm waiting for you to man up and share first."

"So... We're never going to do this?"

I laughed. "You'll change your mind. You'll see."

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah right." He scoffed.

"Now let's hurry up before Reveka decides to-"

I never got to hear what Reveka would decide to do because just then we heard her shout from the car. "Bruny!!!!!!"

I just laughed as he groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose.

*******

"Just go and talk to her, you dummy."

It was Saturday and after the visit to my mom, Xander came to pick me up saying we had important business to attend to. Anything was better than spending time at the house with just the giggling clones since the parents were at work, even though it was a Saturday, Reveka was out, as usual, and Aaron was spending the weekend with his cool uncle that did magic tricks. At least, that's what he told me. Turns out the important business was to help him get a girl he was smitten with after just meeting her on Thursday.

He turned and glared at me. "It's not that easy."

"Why not? You talk to girls all the time. I mean you're talking to me right now."

"You're a different kind of girl."

My mouth dropped open. "Okay. That's offensive."

He turned back to peek at her behind the potted plant. "I mean to me. You're a different kind of girl to me."

I muttered. "I don't see how that's supposed to make it better."

"I just like her, okay? I don't know why but I do." He fan-boyed. "She even called me pretty."

I snorted. "What?"

"When I walked up to her and wanted to order a cup of fro yo, she said 'Hey pretty boy'."

I rolled my eyes as he sighed. "People compliment you all the time."

"Yeah, but the way she said it was so... So..." He struggled to find the right words.

I chuckled mockingly. "Magical?"

"Yes. That."

I laughed at the fact he agreed. I was honestly surprised he was this love- struck by a girl he met at the mall 2 days ago. It's a love at first sight thing, I guess. Or a crush he's bound to get over.

"Stop laughing. I'm serious." He grumbled.

"Xander. You're the kind to fall in and out of love very fast, so forgive me if I'm not taking you seriously."

"But this is different. It feels different."

I raised my brows. "You say that everytime."

"I'm not going to stand here and listen to you mocking me." He scowled. 

"You knew I would, but you brought me here anyways."

He glared. "To support me."

"Fine. Fine." I raised my hands in mock surrender. "I'll help you. It's just hard to believe you've changed because a girl called you pretty."

"It's not just that. She's beautiful and charming and nice. A lot like you, but the total opposite."

I punched his shoulder the hardest I could.

"I was joking." He laughed as he clutched his shoulder. "You know I love you."

I rolled my eyes. "Well try to show it more."

"You're amazing." He complied.

I smiled cheekily as I patted his back. "I know."

I turned to look at the girl he's been staring at for about 15 minutes. She handed her apron to another girl and was heading out of the frozen yogurt shop in the mall.

I walked up to her just as she was leaving, despite Xander's pleas, and introduced myself.

"Hi. I'm Charvi." I stretched my hand.

She looked confused, but she took my hand anyways.

"I'm Mia. If you're here to complain about me to my boss for being rude to a customer, even though they were being rude first, don't bother because I already quit."

"You quit?"

She shrugged. "It was too much work, some customers are just so rude and disrespectful and I don't need the money anyways. I just thought it'd be fun."

I raised my eyebrows. "Which world are you living in where work is fun?"

She laughed and I soon joined in.

"So if you're not here to complain about me, what brings you here?"

"I actually came with a friend." I turned around and gestured to Xander who was looking at nothing on the wall, pretending not to notice us. I walked up to him and grabbed him by the shirt to come stand beside me, in front of Mia.

"Xander meet Mia. Mia, Xander." I introduced.

She smirked. "If it isn't pretty boy."

His eyes were twinkling as he tried his hardest not to smile at her. "Hi." He scratched the back of his head, "Umm.... Would you-"

She cut him off by completing his sentence. "Like to grab something to eat at the food court? I'd love to."

They were smiling at each other, and I decided to excuse myself. "I'll just be over there. Call me when you're done."

He just nodded not taking his eyes of her. I laughed to myself as I went to look at different stores.

****

"Fofinha, is that you?"

I groaned at the name. It was obviously attached to that voice attached to that person which I rather not see as I was enjoying my chili cheese dogs. Mall food is just the best. Chili cheese dogs are my favorites by a long run.

I looked up and smiled mischievously. "Sorry for the groaning. As Zane's namorada, I need to make a good impression on his sister."

Her fake smile turned into a scowl, which was honestly better for me. I really didn't need fake friends.

She didn't reply my sentence as she stood there and glared at me.

I put a hand on my mouth. "I'm sorry. Did I do something wrong?"

"How dare you?"

I raised my eyebrows. "How dare I? You're the one who lied to me."

"Sorry, I took so long, I ran into Paulo. You remember Paulo, right? The-" Zane's sentence was cut off when he finally looked up from his phone and saw me.

They were here. Together.

Well, they were siblings after all.

"Cherry... Hi. I didn't see you there."

"I noticed." I murmured under my breath as I looked back down at my chili cheese dog.

If you act so upset, he's going to know.

I looked up and smiled at him. "Hi. What brings you two here?"

"Zane was upset we hadn't spent that much time together because of unnecessary things, so he picked me up and decided to take me to my favorite mall."

I know by 'unnecessary things', she had to mean me. Zane has spent a lot of time with me these past few weeks. Maybe it was time for him to go back to his real life.

I kept my eyes on Zane as I said, "Oh, how sweet of him."

"Mmhmm." She nodded energetically. "What about you?"

I was about to reply her, when right on cue, I heard Xander's voice. "Char!" He called out. I turned as he was about 5 ft away from me. He closed the gap and planted a kiss on my forehead then hugged me. "Oh I love you! I love you! Thank you. That went great."

I'm guessing he was talking about his 'date' with Mia.

I stood up and hugged him. "Aww, I'm so happy for you. Who knows? Maybe you're serious about this one."

"I really am. There's going to be another tomorrow. I thought of inviting Kai and Zahra too."

My eyes widened at that. He laughed. "You didn't think I wouldn't notice, did you?"

I smiled. "Please invite them. It's going to be a double date so they can finally come out with it and admit it to us."

Zane cleared his throat. Oh. I had forgotten they were there. We turned to them. Zane seemed to be looking between Xander and I questioningly.

"Zane, ma' dude. I didn't see you there." 

With his eyes on me, he replied. "I noticed."

Oop- he heard us.

"And, who is this?" Xander asked, either not noticing or choosing to ignore Zane's clipped tone.

Zane didn't seem like he was ready to answer as he stared at me, and Serena seemed to be waiting for Zane to introduce her. Since no one talking, Xander was giving us all skeptical looks.

I sighed. "Xander, you already met Serena Davis."

He creased his brows. "I don't remember."

"At the ball. It was probably because she had a mask on."

"Oh." It dawned on him."Nice to actually meet you anyways."

She nodded and smiled back.

"Who is she to you?" Xander asked me in a low tone. He didn't have to be so quiet about it. They'd probably hear either way.

"To me, an acquaintance, but to Zane, his sister."

I smiled inwardly knowing she heard me. Is it bad that I just wanted to spite her?

"I'm not his sister. I'm his-"

"Friend." Zane cut her off still looking at me. "But on second thought, I'm not sure because it seems the new definition of friends has a lot of kissing and hugging and display of affection." He shrugged.

Display of affection? Was he referring to me and Xander? I mean we hugged all the time. And him kissing my forehead was just him showing gratitude. Normal basis, I'd clean it and mock gag to annoy him then tell him to never do that again. But that would obviously be a joke.

I creased my brows at him.

"Am I missing something here?" Xander asked me.

I said "No" at the same time Zane replied "Yes".

"Zane, can I talk to you?"

"Are you sure you have enough time to fit me in your schedule?"

I pretended to think. "Actually I'm not sure. Because right now is favorite food time and I'm eating my chili cheese dog, but I'm willing to bend it a little."

"Chili cheese dogs?" Xander's face perked up.

Zane's face wavered from mine to Xander's. "Let me guess, they're your favorites too."

"Yup." He went to my seat and grabbed my chili dog to bite out of it.

"I didn't give that to you." I grumbled.

"I know." He smiled.

I was going to grab it from his hand.

"Remember what happened last time we fought over one." He smirked. "I don't think your white shirt would ever be the same again." I laughed at the memory then scowled at him. "You owe me one."

"Don't I always?"

I turned back to Zane and grabbed his hand, ready to drag him away.

"You can't." Serena complained.

I turned to her. "Why not?"

"Because..."

Zane reassured her. "Serena. I'll be back soon." 

I rolled my eyes at the way he was speaking to her like a child as I dragged him by his hand to the nearest store.

I dropped his hand and folded my arms. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes."

I didn't expect him to be straight-out honest. "What?"

"You lied to me." He falsely accused.

"I didn't lie to you."

"Yes you did. You told me you didn't like Xander that way."

"Well I don't."

He gave me a 'Do you think I'm stupid?' look. "Do best friends really show that much affection where they look like they're in love and people can easily confuse them for a couple?"

"I love my best friend like a sister loves a brother. What's the problem here?"

"You're going on a double date with him tomorrow."

Oh. That was the problem. He thought I was the one going on a date with Xander.

Well you never actually mentioned Mia.

"I'm not the one going on the date with Xander. We were talking about another girl. The girl he actually likes."

Zane looked like he was finally understanding what I was saying.

"Dunce." I hit him upside the head. "I deserve an apology for being called a liar."

"Sorry." He mumbled as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Tsk, tsk. How embarrassed you must feel now." I shook my head, mockingly.

"Shut up." He chuckled as he punched my shoulder.

Then we lapsed into a few seconds of silence before I spoke up. "Why do you even care?" I felt he'd just say something about friends not lying to each other, but I wanted to hear something else. I wanted him to say he was jealous. Because that would mean he felt the same way.

"How can you even ask that?"

I shrugged. "Curiosity, I guess."

He paused, looking intently at me as if considering what to say next. He surprised me grabbing my hand, and stroking the back of it with his thumb. "Cherry... I think-" He was cut off by Serena's infamous whining. "Querido! I'm tired. I want to go home."

He turned to her. "We'll go home. I'm coming. I want to quickly finish up with Cherry." He turned back to me and was about to finish what he was saying, but Serena continued.

"No. I want to go now. The makeup I just bought is melting. Sephora isn't cheap, you know?" She whined and dragged his hand away from mine, pulling him out the door.

What? Her makeup is melting?

I rolled my eyes at how she was acting like a child. "You know, it's very rude to interrupt conversations."

She feigned pretence. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you two were talking."

I glared at the back of her head as she pulled him out of the store. He shot me an apologetic look and I just nodded.

I sat on the closest chair and put my head in my arms, my elbows resting on my leg. My brain was moving a mile a minute. I really wanted to know what Zane had to say. It sounded a lot like a confession, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. I guess whatever it was would have to wait. A few minutes later, I felt someone settle beside me.

"You've got it bad, don't you?" Xander asked as he nudged my shoulder with his.

I looked up at him and snorted. "You have no idea."

*

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