QUOTE OF THE CHAPTER:

"You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving."

― Robert Louis Stevenson

Dedication: @ec-ri-vain (for her amazing comment and encouragement)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

While I dive my spoon into ice cream and bring it to my mouth, I realise what an amazing decision I've made by accepting Ric's offer. It's been ages (last summer) since I ate ice cream and I missed it so much. My favourite flavor is chocolate originally, but right now in my hands, I have every single flavor that exists.

The place is cute, decorated by pink and blue tones, with fancy furniture and it seems an appropriate place for princess themed birthday party. To be frank, I'm not very fond of such places because I'm not in the princess category - more like, in bitch one - however, since their ice cream is quite delicious, who cares about the decoration of the places?

I glance at Ric, who is eating his icecream without looking away, I smile at the thought crossing my mind. The bastard and bitch of the school are eating ice-cream in a cute princess themed shop. How ironic, isn't it?

Then, I let myself devour the ice-cream and I sometimes even close my eyes uncontrollably. Well, I realise this, actually, after Ric cuts off my devouring session very rudely.

"Stop moaning," he groans, as he takes the last spoon of his bowl. I look up and notice he seems pretty annoyed but it is just fake. He's actually amused - I can understand it from the way he looks.

"I don't moan."

"Seriously? You're the only person that moans while eating ice cream."

"It's not true," I deny, "I'm sure there are lots of them."

He shakes his head no, with an amused smile playing around his lips. "Just you." Frowning, I kick his leg under the table. "Ouch, what was that for?"

"I don't know," I say, amused as I take another spoon of my ice cream.

Then, when I look up again, I encounter with Ric taking a photo of me. I frown in turn. "Why do you take a photo of me?" I deadpan.

He chuckles. "You look so cute."

"Cute? Ha. Do you take a photo of everyone that looks cute?"

He shrugs, looking down at the screen and smiling. "Not necessarily," he replies.

"Delete it, dumbass."

"No."

I roll my eyes. "Ric, please, don't make me kick your balls and be a good boy. Delete it."

"Okay okay," he says, clicking something on his phone and I gather that he deleted. Why did he even take it in the first place? He's so fucking annoying.

After a few minutes of conversation, we are done with ice cream and ready to head home.

I stand up, stuffing my hand into my pocket to get out money, but he hands out the money to the cashier, his eyes casted on me. "It's my treat."

"It's non-sense, I can pay for myself, thank you very much," I reply, annoyed by him trying to be dominant.

"I know you can," he murmurs. "You know what? Next time, you pay." Now, there is a suggestive smile tugging on his lips.

I arch an eyebrow. "How do you know that there is a next time?"

"I just do," he says with a cocky grin.

Rolling my eyes, I reach my phone inside my pocket and shove it out. Calvin is calling. I immediately answer. "What?"

"Hello to you, too," he says, chuckling over phone. When I don't say anything, he continues. "Where are you?"

"At home," I quickly lie and gain a curious glance from Ric for that. "Uh, I ditched school today."

"Good," Cal says. "Well, I was wondering," I imagine him rubbing the back of his neck, "if you could come over this evening."

Even though I like the offer, I don't give in immediately. I spare a glance at Ric who is listening with huge amusement. "Why?" I ask wary.

"Sue was saying that she missed you."

It was a soft point of mine and he probably knew it. "Sue. Okay then, uh when exactly?"

"How does six sound?"

I mouth to Ric, asking what time it is. He quickly grabs his phone and shows me the screen. 4:23. "Oh, yeah, fine. I'll be there."

"Are you okay?" He asks after a pause.

"Yeah, why?" I ask a bit uncomfortably.

"I don't know...I just - never mind," he says quickly, "See you." Then, he ends the call. He can't sense that I was lying, can he? No fucking way. Calvin isn't that smart - not in lying department.

Ric doesn't hesitate to make a comment about it, of course. "You lied to your boyfriend," he quips, an entertained grin playing on his lips.

"He's not my boyfriend," I deadpan as we walk to his car. I pause for a second, registering what he might've thought. "It's not because of what you think," I scoff finally.

"What's it then? It doesn't change the fact that you lied."

"I don't want to explain him why I'm hanging out with you while I don't even know myself." He laughs. "No seriously, I think you were the best opportunity I had to ditch school at that moment."

"Keep telling that yourself, maybe in the end, you'll end up believing."

"Haha." Then, I add. "Can you drop me at Cal's?"

He looks at me and winks - with an annoying smirk that makes it sound dirty - and nods. "Yeah, sure."

"You're disgusting," I hiss, sitting onto passenger seat.

"Don't tell me you didn't do it."

"Of course, we didn't, idiot. We are not a thing, I tell you," I yell angrily. "Shut it."

He chuckles. "Okay."

During the ride, we remain silent - sometimes glancing at each other. Actually he smirks and I glare furiously. Finally, we are in front of Cal's house. He stops and looks at me once again. Muttering him goodbye, I swing the door open but he grabs my arm before I can get out. "No thank you or today has been perfect?"

I stare up at him, totally with a straight face. "Today hasn't been perfect." Before he can mutter another smug word, I continue. "Thanks, anyway. But seriously, save your flirty comments for your slut." Then, I shove my arm from him and get out of the car.

I watch him as he leaves, the sound of the car filling the air. Then, I take a relieved breath, making my way through Cal's porch. I check the time and I'm like fifteen minutes early but I can't see a reason why I should be there just on time. So I knock the door.

Minutes later, it opens and I encounter with the familiar face of Sue. Her face brightens as she sees me with a wide smile. "Oh, Jackie," she breathes, looking back at somewhere and then, turns at me. "Come in."

I nod, getting inside and examining around. "Where is Cal?"

"He was taking a shower - probably getting ready."

I chuckle. "Okay. He said that you missed me."

She goes and sits on one of the couches, arching her eyebrows and looking at me. "Oh," she says after a while, "Yeah yeah, I did."

"I'm wounded that it took you time to remember it though," I quickly add as I sit beside her.

"No, it's just," - she gazes around - "Don't tell him, okay?" She looks at me intently. I shake my head no. "Good - he actually wanted to introduce you with mummy so he had to make an excuse."

"He - what?" I yell and she closes my mouth with her tiny hands.

"You promised," she reminds helplessly. "Jackie, please, he will kill me if he learns." Looking at her desperate yet cute face, I try to bite my laughter away because it's actually not a funny situation whatsoever. There, I notice, she actually looks like her brother, especially her eyes are like a copy of his - and it's cute. As though I am actually talking to a little version of Calvin.

I put my arms up like a surrender, "Okay, my lips are sealed."

She smiles with satisfaction, "Okay."

I am still mad at Calvin for not informing me though so I head to his room, leaving Sue at living room. His door is closed but of course, I don't mind and enter in without knocking. The next is just a mess -

"What the hell!"

I immediately turn my back to him, after getting a glimpse of his bare chest and a towel-wrapped body. I start to snicker, "Sorry."

"You could have at least knocked, you know," he yells again, I guess, totally flushed.

"I said sorry, Calvin, it's not that you are naked or anything."

"I am naked," he spits. "Almost."

"Whatever, I didn't see anything."

"Uh," he lets a breath out and I hear him wearing something on in a rushed manner which makes me snicker even more. He is just so embarrassed which makes the whole situation funnier when it is actually supposed to be awkward. "What is so funny?" He inquires, a hint of annoyance he doesn't bother to hide in his voice.

"You."

"Glad I can make you laugh, anyway," he huffs. "You can turn back now."

I slowly turn back, gazing the room and finally, casting my gaze on him. He looks at me nervously, as if he expects me to say something. I don't know what someone can say at that moment. We stare at each other for a while, not uttering a word or making an attempt to until I remember why I was here at the first place.

"Uh," I break the silence with the most awkward word, "I am mad at you by the way." It actually sounds like I am informing him about something that's actually not true or that I heard from someone else. "I mean," I clean my throat. "I am mad at you." I try a bit harsher this time even though it doesn't work out.

"Why?" Now, he is sitting on his bed. I walk and sit beside him, trying to make a serious and convincing eye contact.

"You should have told me that you are planning to introduce me to your mother."

"Did Sue tell you that?"

I roll my eyes. "If you tell her something, I'll crash your bones."

"I just wanted you two to meet," he answers silently, his eyes fixed on the ground. "If you are going to be uncomfortable, it is okay."

"Uncomfortable?" I retort. "Oh, no. It's not like I am meeting my mother-in-law." After registering the words in my head again, I realise how awkward they sound. "I mean, uh, we are just friends so of course, it is fine. Just wished you let me know before," I mumble to explain it but from his expression, I know it fails.

"Yeah." He rubs the back of his neck. "Shall we?"

As he walks over to the door and gestures me out, I look at him - and think how different it has gotten in a very short time. The relationship between us - but in general, my life. It is like Calvin was the activation energy of my reaction. (Well, today I had chemistry and this was what I've learnt in entire class.)

Long story short, I wasn't ready to meet his mother. Never. Why would I meet his mother at all? But I couldn't say no -

Because you can never resist Calvin Gilmore.

***