https://www.yahoo.com/politics/donald-trump-calls-for-total-and-complete-214105912.html
Donald Trump calls for ‘total and complete shutdown’ of Muslims entering U.S.
Marriage is looks beautiful and many people want it.
But one common thing in most marriages is the tendency to fall away from romantic ways and treat each other like furniture in the house.
After getting used to each other, couples often don’t see the need to do the little things that used to make them glow – compliments, romantic dates, kissing, cuddling etc.
Sometimes, they even keep a strict time table for sex and are almost robotic in bed.
Men who want to keep their women happy can actually achieve it without having to getting some sex action.
Here you go…
Start every morning with a kiss even when you are quarrelling
Write her a letter/poem with your most romantic thoughts once in a while
Cook for her (even if you’re terrible in the kitchen) and set up an intimate candlelight dinner, with wine and music
Make her favourite song your ringtone
Remember to buy her favourite snack on your way back whenever you go out
Invite her family over to show your wife her people are important to you too
Randomly buy her flowers on ordinary days
Appreciate her hobbies will give her a feeling of pride and gladden her heart.
Drop by her her office at lunchtime and then take her out for a quick meal
If you are wrong, be quick to say sorry and show that you mean it
Take her to see romantic movies as a surprise gift
Hold her close when you are in public to show you are proud of her
Surprise her with something beautiful and expensive without her asking
Go out for informal dates together like a picnic at the park or a swim at the beach
Bring back romance by recreating your first date…go back to the place you first asked her out and do it again
Give her a back or neck massage after work
Look good when you go with her because a well-groomed man always makes women proud.
View old photos together with your wife relive warm memories
Let your wife’s best pals visit once in a while because your attempt to bond with her friends will please her immensely
Always find opportunities to compliment you wife on her beauty points to let her know she is still the most beautiful woman in the world for you
Be suggestive when giving her advice rather than final and forceful
Wake her up with a cup of coffee (tea) once in a while
Cuddle her at every opportunity because women love the feeling of physical intimacy
Cook the meal and do morning chores on Saturday so that she can sleep for longer
Don’t stop treating her like a lady – opening doors, being courteous – a man with perfect manners always scores
Accompany her to family events and look happy
Call her just to say you were missing her and just needed to hear her voice
Write brief love-you notes and hide them in odd places where she will find them
Talk dirty once in a while and create passion
The focus here is to be generally pleasant and keep your romance level on a high even in the absence of sex.
However, where both lovers are in a blissful relationship zone, sex is almost inevitable.
If sex happens, be sure to be a giver as much as a taker….
You have to learn to love yourself first before loving anyone else. The key to having any successful relationship lies with you. So before jumping into that next relationship why don't you date yourself first.
You can be happy without having to rely on anyone, this makes you stronger even in a relationship because you won't always need your partner by your side.
Holly Riordan of All Women Stalk lists a few ways you can date yourself before entering into another relationship:
Go out alone: There are certain places that people consider "date spots," where they wouldn't dare to go alone. However, there's no reason for single people to avoid the places that couples frequent. You're allowed to go to the movie theater alone or to a fancy restaurant alone. Sure, some #people might judge you, but they aren't as secure as you are. You don't need a partner when you could have a grand old #time all by yourself.
Dress up: Most #people dress up to go out on dates. However, you don't have to wait for a #guy to ask you out to wear something nice. You can buy a sexy dress, do your #makeup, and then just lounge around the house. Of course, you should take advantage of the photo opportunities. If you're going to go though all the trouble of making yourself up, you might as well snap a few pictures.
Buy yourself treats: Flowers and chocolates aren't reserved for #women in relationships. You can buy yourself a #beautiful vase of flowers to decorate your house with. You can buy buckets of chocolate to eat when you're bored. Don't be afraid to treat yourself.
Leave yourself notes: It's sweet for a boyfriend to leave his #partner notes around the house, but you can create your very own notes. Write yourself a letter to #read whenever you're upset. Jot down compliments and stick them to your mirror. Put an inspirational background on your phone. Do whatever works.
Make a fancy meal: If you were in a #relationship, you wouldn't go out to eat every single night. Once in a while, you'd make some fancy food. That's why you should create an elaborate meal for yourself, complete with candles and wine. Then you can set a bath and enjoy your quiet night.
Buy a pet: Just because you're single, it doesn't mean that you have to live alone. You can find companionship with your very own puppy or kitty! There's no better way to learn self-love. When your pet scampers up to you after a long day and sleeps with you throughout the night, you'll feel like the most lovable person in the #world. It'll also help you learn responsibility and how to care for another living being, which can help when you eventually enter a romantic #relationship.
Learn what makes you happy: The point of dating yourself is to learn what makes you happy. Watch new genres of movies to see what you like. Visit new places to see what interests you. Try to expand your knowledge of the #world in order to expand your knowledge of yourself.
beatrice.okon@facebook.com A new study claims regular orgasms can reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men by 20%. And those who ejaculate 21 times a month or more cut their risk by 22%. Hmmm. Read the report below..
Men who ejaculate more regularly throughout their lives lower their risk of the disease. The researchers, from Harvard Medical School, did not explain why orgasms could lower prostate cancer risk. However it has previously been theorised that regular orgasms may flush out cancer-causing chemicals in the prostate.
Another theory is that if sperm is regularly cleaned out to allow new cells to develop, it helps stop the build-up of old cells that might be more likely to turn cancerous.
The prostate is a small satsuma-sized gland located between a man's penis and his bladder, whose main function is to produce a thick white fluid that is mixed with the sperm produced by the testicles, to create semen.
The new study is the largest to date on the frequency of ejaculation and and prostate cancer.
The researchers found that men in the 40-49 age bracket who ejaculate 21 or more times a month reduced their risk of prostate cancer by 22 per cent. This was compared to men who ejaculate four to seven times a month.
While the researchers said they were unclear as to why ejaculation lowers the chances of prostate cancer, they called the results ‘particularly encouraging.’
The study followed almost 32,000 healthy men for 18 years, 3,839 of whom later were diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Men were asked about their average monthly frequency of ejaculation between the ages of 20 to 29, 40 to 49, and in 1991, the year prior to the questionnaire.
They found that the more frequently a man ejaculated throughout his life, the lower his risk of prostate cancer at all three of these points in time.
This was the case even when they adjusted their results to take factors such as diet, lifestyle and a history of prostate cancer screening into account.
Dr Jennifer Rider, of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said the results are ‘particularly encouraging’ but should be interpreted with caution.
She said: ‘While these data are the most compelling to date on the potential benefit of ejaculation on prostate cancer development, they are observational data and should be interpreted somewhat cautiously.
‘At the same time, given the lack of modifiable risk factors for prostate cancer, the results of this study are particularly encouraging.’
I do not define myself by how many roadblocks have appeared in my path. I define myself by the courage I’ve found to forge new roads. I do not define myself by how many disappointments I’ve faced. I define myself by the forgiveness and the faith I have found to begin again. I do not define myself by how long a relationship lasted. I define myself by how much I have loved, and been willing to love again. I do not define myself by how many times I have been knocked down. I define myself by how many times I have struggled to my feet. I am not my pain. I am not my past. I am that which has emerged from the fire.
Rihanna Plays Bridesmaid in Hawaii for Her Assistant
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Rihanna, some bridesmaids, and a blunt (Instagram)
It takes a very good friend for Rihanna to sacrifice 4/20, the very highest of holy days for our IDGAF Queen. So it's good for Jennifer Rosales that Rihanna is not just her boss, but her BFF. Rihanna threw on a lilac Badgley Mischka gown and played bridesmaid for her assistant Jennifer Rosales's April 20 wedding in Hawaii.
But don't think for a second that means she wasn't celebrating the holiday as well.
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Married... With Style (Instagram)
Rih posted several snaps from the wedding festivities, including a couple shots of herself and Melissa Forde, who is also on Rihanna's team, in pink bridesmaids' robes with Rosales in her own special white, bridal one. The musician has a blunt clenched between her lips, purple sunglasses, a bucket hat, and the general aura of someone having a damn good time.
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Rihanna (AKM-GSI)
After the ceremony, Rihannashared a photo of the new Mr. and Mrs., calling the event, "Perfection."
Rosales has been working with the singer since Good Girl Gone Bad, which is basically the album that splits B.C. Rihanna from A.D. Rihanna.
Earlier in the day, Rihanna shared a video tribute to Rosales and Davis. "I can't believe this day is finally upon us!!!!!" she wrote in the caption. "I'm so happy and so proud to see my big sis [Rosales] and my big bro [Davis] become one today!!! A wedding is a celebration of a marriage!!! That's what we gon do!!! Celebrate the marriage that we've been lucky enough to witness grow and evolve for all these years!!!! #420 will never be the same again!!! God bless you both!!!"
They aren’t pretty. Fortunately, there’s a way out.(Photo: Getty Images)
Toxic people are like vampires. They drain your energy and joy. When you’re with them, you feel stressed. And when you leave them, you’re exhausted.
Take it from me: Toxic relationships are not worth it, whether they are romantic, professional, or involve family or friends. But it can be really really hard to end them if you don’t know how. After all, we fall into habits in our relationships. People become part of our comfort zone.
But do you want to be more committed to your comfort zone? Or do you want to be more committed to joy, happiness, and freedom?
Transformation coach Chris Lee has a series of steps you can take to cut these toxic relationships out of your life, that will empower you and make you feel free.
The 10 Steps:
Step 1: Identify if you’re in a toxic relationship.
Step 2: Keep a record of the ways the other person has let you down or pulled you away from your vision.
Step 3: Identify the rewards of being in this toxic relationship.
Step 4: Give up the excuses.
Step 5: Get clear on your vision for your relationship. (Fill in the blank: My vision for my relationship with _____________ is…)
Step 6: Have a conversation: Be firm and clear that the relationship is over.
Step 7: Grieve and mourn the loss of the relationship.
Step 8: Fill the emptiness with positive people and activities.
Step 9: Write down the lessons learned.
Step 10: Practice self-love.
We all deserve to have the happiest and fullest life possible. If someone is standing in the way of that, if someone is holding you back, then you have to remove him or her from your life. Replace this person with someone or something that lifts you up and makes you feel great.
Jealous, negative, and stressful relationships beware.
Now’s a good time to spring clean your life. You might be looking forward to re-organizing your closet, opening up your windows to let in some fresh air, and re-committing to those New Year’s resolutions. But have you given any thought to making over your social circle?
While research shows that our friendships are super important for our health and well-being, not all relationships are created equal. “Negative friendships can cause stress, frustration, and even put you in harm’s way if their behavior puts you in situations that could jeopardize you and your loved ones,” says sociologist and friendship coach Jan Yager, PhD, author of When Friendship Hurts
Investing time and energy into people who don’t pay it back—or who only have toxic contributions to offer—can have a negative effect on both your physical and mental health. In fact, a recent University of College London study found that close relationships that cause stress or worrying may even contribute to faster cognitive decline as you age
On that note, here are five types of friends you may want to sweep out of your life.
The negative Nancy Moods—both good and bad ones—are contagious: Research has shown this to be true in both real life and online social networks. And while there’s nothing wrong with venting to coworkers or crying to your BFF when you’re feeling low, it’s still important to balance those lows by sharing happy experiences, too.
“When you talk on the phone with your friend, exchange e-mails or text messages, or get together in person, do you feel positive and optimistic—or does a particular friend make you feel bad about yourself, agitated, or even physically ill?” asks Yager. If that friend is going through an especially trying time, it’s normal to feel pulled into the drama. But ask yourself, she says: “Is this an occasional thing, or a chronic pattern that’s making it too difficult for you to handle your emotions or your own life?”
A large-scale study has shown that over-supplementation could be very bad for our health.
Could it be possible that too many vitamins and minerals can bring about various forms of cancer? Yes,according to a large-scale study delivered during the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2015.
The research presented at this conference dates back 20 years, when scientists discovered that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables was shown to keep cancer at bay. Then study experts shifted their focus to over-the-counter supplements, assuming that consuming extra vitamins and minerals would also produce anti-cancer benefits.
First came the testing on animals and the results were encouraging. Scientists then studied thousands of patients—over 300,000—who were given either dietary supplements or a placebo over a 10-year period.
And their findings were alarming.
“We show that not only is supplementing your diet with vitamins that are found in a healthy diet unlikely to decrease your risk of developing cancer, but in some cases, taking more than the recommended daily allowance of these supplements can increase cancer risk,” lead investigator Tim Byers, MD, MPH from the University of Colorado Cancer Center tells Yahoo Health. “More specifically, taking more than the recommended daily allowance of folic acid, Vitamin E and beta-carotene were all shown to increase cancer risk.”
One trial showed that taking more than the required amounts of beta-carotene— which is known for its ability to improve immunity and enhance vision — in supplement form increased the risk for developing both lung cancer and heart disease by 20 percent. Men who took an excess of vitamin E were at a higher risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer. And while folic acid — a B vitamin— was considered a possible remedy for reducing the number of polyps in the colon, it increased the number in another trial.
After Bobby Brown told concertgoers in Dallas Saturday night that his daughter, Bobbi Kristina, "is awake," Brown's lawyer Christopher Brown is scaling back the singer's exuberant claim that Bobbi "is watching me."
"Bobbi Kristina’s condition has changed since moving from Emory University Hospital and there has been improvement," Brown said in a statement to The Insider With Yahoo. "Doctors have indicated that she will have a long life. However, Bobbi Kristina is presently embarking on a rehabilitation process and the quality of her life will not be known for years to come."
Bobbi Kristina, Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown's only child, has been hospitalized since January, when she was found unresponsive in a bathtub in an incident eerily similar to the one which caused her mother's death. In February, she was placed in a medically induced coma in order to treat brain swelling.
She was initially hospitalized at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, though she was released last month and moved to an undisclosed rehab facility.
Bobby's wife Alicia Etheredge-Brown also issued a statement to clarify her husband's remarks, which many interpreted to mean that Bobbi Kristina had made a full recovery, saying Bobby was in "an emotional state."
"My husband made an attempt to correct the negative comments he must endure on a daily basis from both family and the public regarding his daughter’s medical condition," Etheredge-Brown said. "He is encouraged by the steps that Bobbi Kristina has made since her hospitalization on January 31, 2015. She has made it out of ICU, opened her eyes, and started a rehabilitation that will be long and hard."
If Bobbi Kristina has opened her eyes, it does not mean she's out of the woods. Though she's no longer in a coma, a family source told CNN that she doesn't respond to familiar voices and her eyes do not follow a person around a room. She still relies on a tracheostomy to breathe.
Bobbi Kristina's grandmother, Cissy Houston, corroborated the report while speaking with TMZ. "Meeting with the doctors and understanding that she can live in this condition for a lifetime truly saddens me," she said. "I have just returned from visiting my granddaughter Bobbi Kristina in the hospital and while she is no longer in a medically induced coma she has a tracheotomy and according to the doctors she has global and irreversible brain damage and remains unresponsive. We can only trust in God for a miracle at this time. Keep us in your prayers."
Though the full circumstances surrounding Bobbi Kristina's near death have not been uncovered, police are treating the case as a criminal investigation.
President Goodluck Jonathan has fired Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba.
The sack was announced by the president’s spokesperson, Reuben Abati, in a statement on Tuesday.
No reason was given for the sack.
A Deputy Inspector General of police, Solomon Arase, was appointed to act in his stead.
Mr. Abba’s removal and the assumption of office of his replacement is with immediate effect.
Mr. Abati’s statement read in full, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has relieved the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba of his appointment and duties with immediate effect.
“President Jonathan has also appointed Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase as Acting Inspector-General of Police, also with immediate effect.
“Until his appointment as Mr. Abba’s replacement, Mr. Arase was the Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.
“Mr. Arase holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Law, as well as Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Political Science and Strategic Studies.
“He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence College.”
Mr. Abba, 56, became acting Inspector General on August 1, 2014 following the retirement of his predecessor, Mohammed Abubakar after 35 years of public service.
He was confirmed substantive IGP on November 4, 2014.
Mr. Abba, was until that appointment an Assistant Inspector General, AIG, in charge of Zone 7 command, a position he occupied since May 25, 2012. He was also a former Aide-De-Camp, ADC, to the wife of a former military Head of State, Maryam Abacha.
With his removal, Mr. Abba will proceed of forced retirement four years before he attains retirement age.
He enlisted in the Nigerian police as cadet inspector on December 31, 1984 and is actually due for retirement on March 22, 2019.
+++LOVE & HATE+++https://www.linkedin.com/profile/public-profile-settings?trk=prof-edit-edit-public_profile I don’t want to do it. Parting my lips from his are probably the one of the hardest thing I have come across in a while. But I have to part my lips from his, even if it’s only for a fraction of a second. I need to breathe, don’t I? But his lips are on mine, and we are kissing so furiously, it seems impossible to do it. I’m scared that if I remove my lips from his, the magic that has evolved between us, this weird connection, would break. But alas, I do what I must—I part my lips from his and gasp for air as I stare into his sparkling blue- green eyes. They look better in the morning light, so much better than in the dark. The flavor of his tongue is making me crazy. My head is spinning. All this seems so unreal. But it is true after all. I am kissing Dylan Kennedy, commonly known as Mr. Player. I know I shouldn’t, but I am. And I know I shouldn’t be enjoying it, but I still am. Again, the painful parting comes. I feel his slightly warm breath on my skin. It sends tingles down my spine. Damn, he’s too good at this—this art of kissing. I don’t blame all the girls for kissing him if this is how he makes them feel every time their lips touch his. If kissing was a business, he’d be a billionaire. His hand slowly travels down my back and stops on my hips. He squeezes me closer to him. God, I’ve never been this close to any guy. Till last night, I hadn’t been kissed, and now—now things are so different. I’m openly making out with a guy I barely know up against a tree. Wait a second…What the hell am I doing?! I push Dylan away from me and stare at him with a horrified expression on my face. He just smirks knowingly, like he knows how the kiss we just had affected me. “What the hell?!” I curse angrily and turn away to walk towards my car. I suddenly feel his hands around my arm and a strong pull. Then I crash straight into his rock-hard abs. “What the hell do you think you’re doing!?” I hiss angrily. “Enjoying myself?” He says smirking. He starts leaning towards me again, his eyes never leave mine, and for a second I actually feel hypnotized by them. My body goes rigid and stops functioning and all I can do is helplessly stand there and let him do what I want. But that only lasts for a second or two. Before he can close the gap between us even further, I shrug off his hands. “Let me go you dumb-ass!” I say and push him off again, but in vain, he is just too strong. “That’s hard. I mean I just can’t let you go…” he brushes his lips softly against mine, causing shivers to run down my body, tickling me everywhere. Damn! This is so not good. I don’t mean his lips brushing on mine thing. (That feels beyond awesome) No, the bad thing is, the way I’m feeling when he’s doing this.. Or the way it feels whenever he touches me, whenever we’re close. The way it feels to never want to let go. I turn my face away from him, as one last try for him to stop. His lips are not on mine anymore. Instead, they are just a little above my neckline. He places a soft kiss there too. Oh god, somebody make him stop! “Stop it or I’m going to kick you so hard that you won’t be able to walk for a week” I speak up, finally being able to catch my breath. My voice comes out a little shaky and strained, but I say what I want to clearly. I don’t want him doing this. I’m not like those girls he’s used to, the one who let him do whatever he wants— no, I’m not like that and I’ll never be. “I don’t understand…” he mumbles to himself. I don’t bother asking him what he doesn’t understand. I just want to make the most of this moment by rushing off to my ford fiesta instead of going into his black sports car; too bad though, I don’t succeed. He is blocking my path. “Look, I’m sorry. It’s just that it gets a little hard to control myself when I’m around you. Ever since that kiss you gave me last night, I can’t help but want more.” He says. My mouth drops open in shock. What did he just say?! I take in a huge amount of air and shut my mouth again. I can’t help but stare at him in shock. “Look, I’m serious okay? You’re a really good kisser. I won’t mind kissing you again, you’re too good! Almost as good as me.” he starts smirking again as he says this. Oh how I want to remove that sexy smirk off his gorgeous face! I decide to keep a good (safe) distance from him and head towards his car. I mean what choice do I have. He won’t stop bothering me until I do as he says. I sit on the passenger seat of his car. He starts the engine and we leave for school. We don’t talk much during the journey. He silently drives while I stare out of the window. The trees pass by in a blur, he is driving really fast. “Alex?” he prompts suddenly. It startles me. I hadn’t thought he’d be interested in conversing at all. In fact I’d started thinking that maybe he was regretting his decision of giving me a ride to school. “Yes?” I reply, glancing at him from the corner of me eyes. I don’t know why but I’m getting a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. “How do you do it? I mean how are you able to resist me? How can you be so different from the other girls?” he says. He sounds really exasperated. Like this thing has been bothering him for some time now. “Well, I never said I was like all the girls. I’m unique.” I reply back smartly, hoping he’ll drop the topic now and get back to driving. Alas, he does no such thing. “What I mean is, how do you resist me? All the girls I know are crazy for me, except you. You’re different. You don’t like me at all. Why?” “One, you don’t know me, so you cannot count me as the ‘girls you know’. You don’t know anything about me except my name. Two, maybe me not being all gaga for you has something to do with you messing around with all these girls and then dumping them away, like used- up tissue papers. You seriously disgust me. How can you do this? I mean, don’t you feel bad at all?!” I blurt out angrily before I can stop myself. There, I’ve done it again. I’ve opened my big mouth and said things I shouldn’t have. What he does is none of my business, so then why am I going around, telling him that what he does is wrong? I’m so impulsive, why don’t I think before doing something? “Oh” is all he can muster up to say. His face stares ahead blankly. I’m sure no girl has ever talked to him like this before. I sigh and turn away and continue to stare outside. But soon the silence in the car starts to bother me. It starts bothering em to the point that I cannot take it anymore. “Look, I’m sorry. I know it’s none of my business what you do with all those girls or why you do it. As long as I or someone I know is not in the picture, it’s none of my business. Who am I to stop you? We’re not even friends. So go on. Go and mess around with all the girls. Kiss them, hold their hands, and take them on dates and then break their hearts. Heck! Go and have sex with each one of them and end up with HIV AIDS. It’s none of my business.” I say, still not meeting his gaze. We drop the subject then. “Your mom is nice. I like her. I mean, she’s really sweet. You both look so much alike. I mean you’ve got dark brown locks just like her and your face is so much alike, but your eyes… they’re not hazel. They’re brown…like your dad, I suppose?” I bite my lip and nod. Silently hoping he won’t continue onto this topic and keep talking about my dad. I don’t ever discuss my dad with anyone—not mum, not even Tia. It’s a taboo topic for me, it makes me really uncomfortable. “So, what’s his profession? He left pretty early I mean. If he would have been there, I would have seen him eating breakfast or something. Is he out of town?” Dylan asks casually. I sit there silently for a second or two, silently contemplating how to make him change the subject of our conversation. After a lot of thinking, I decide to tell him the truth. Not the whole truth of course, but tell him that my dad doesn’t live with us. “Oh, uh…umm… dad doesn’t live with us. My mom’s divorced.” I say slowly. I feel my insides twist and my throat starts to clog. “Oh, I’m sorry.” He replies, sounding slightly take-aback. He clearly feels uncomfortable now too, like bringing up the topic was a big mistake. “No, it’s okay.” I mumble. I feel something warm and wet trickle down my cheek. Shit, I’m crying. How long has it been since I’ve cried because of my dad? A while, yes. I silently curse myself for losing it and start crying right here in front of this stranger. Dylan glances at me at the same time and on seeing me crying, he immediately stops the car. “Alex, are you okay? Shit! You’re crying. What happened?” he looks so…concerned. Why is he concerned? Who am I to him but a stranger? And isn’t he supposed to be a jerk? After all he’s an expert in trampling over people’s feelings? So why does he look so concerned? “Alex, talk to me. What is wrong?” He slowly tilts my chin upwards, so that my gaze meets his. I quickly look away and wipe off my tears. Damn! I’m so stupid. I randomly started crying in front of him! Geez, how bad can I get? I feel like vanishing off in thin air right now. This is so embarrassing. This is the second time I’ve started crying in front of him. “Is it because of your… dad? I’m sorry. But I seriously had no clue. I’m—I’m really sorry.” he says, looking really uncomfortable. Clearly, he’s not used to girls crying. He doesn’t know what to say or do, that’s why he’s simply sitting in front of me, looking all awkward. I’m sure he wants to bolt right out of here. “No, it’s not your mistake of course. It’s just…nothing.” My voice comes out as a whisper. Maybe it’s my tone of voice that finally makes him realize that I’m not comfortable talking about it. He finally drops it. “Alright, I believe you. I won’t bug you with questions and all… sorry.” I nod slightly and he starts the car again. After this he keeps glancing at me from time to time, probably to make sure I’m not crying. By the looks of it, I know he’s wondering why I suddenly started crying so much. Not that he’s going to find out any time soon. **** “Stop the car. Stop it! Stop it now!” I suddenly exclaim, taking Dylan by surprise. He looks really startled. “But why? School is like three to four blocks from here.” He says, looking confused. Small worry lines crease his forehead. I try to ignore how adorable he looks while he confused. “I absolutely have no problem with that. I can walk to school from here.” “You don’t need to. I’m dropping you off to school, remember?” “I don’t want you to! Don’t you get that? I already have a car! I don’t even know why I’m here in the first place.” I say as clearly as possible. “But I want to give you a lift to school!” “You don’t have to do anything, alright? I don’t want you to driving me to school and back. I repeat I have a car. Why would I want you to drive me around? Please stop the car.” “No, I won’t” he replies adamantly. “Yes, you will.” “No I will not” “Yes you will or I will jump off the car.” I say; my expression serious and my tone adamant. “You would not!” he exclaims, sounding shocked. “Oh really? Wanna give it a try? Watch me!” I threaten him. Of course I will not jump. I’m not that stupid. But I’m seriously enjoying this, his slightly frightened expression. I open the door of his speeding car to make him think that I’m really about to jump. “Hey, are you crazy?! Shut the door!” he shouts. “Then stop the car.” I reply back coolly. “Fine!” he exclaims. He has given up, I can see it in his expressions, and hear it in his voice. He drives the car aside and parks it under a tree. He immediately turns to look at me, his eyes narrowing down on me. “What the hell is wrong with you?! Are you insane?” he exclaims, sounding pissed. I snort. “No, I’m not insane. It’s just that I have no interest for the whole school to see me with you, Mr. Player.” I reply back honestly. Dylan gives an exasperated sigh. I know I can be a pain in the butt whenever I want to, and I enjoy it too. “Why? What’s wrong with you?! You’re getting to drive with me! Dylan Kennedy! Girls would kill to get a drive in my car with me!” I snort again. “Puh-leez! I’d prefer walking a hundred miles then spending it with you in your car.” “What is your problem?!” He sounds so exasperated, and so irritated. I don’t know why but I’m enjoying this thoroughly. “You! Yes, you are my problem. Ever since yesterday, at the party, you just won’t leave me alone. Why can’t you leave me the hell alone!?” We glare at each other continuously, our eyes narrowed down onto each other, not leaving the others for even a second, not even blinking. Dylan is the first one to give-up. “Fine then, miss stubborn. You are free to go.” I happily get off the car, smiling to myself triumphantly. “But not without me.” He adds, and gets off the car too. I turn around to glare at him, all the happiness leaving my body immediately, making it go cold. “And what about your car?” I say cocking my eyebrows enquiringly. My hands wrap themselves around each other below my chest and I stand there in front of him demandingly. “Who cares if someone steals my baby? I mean it’s a beautiful car. Crooks would love to have it. But I can’t leave such a beautiful girl like you alone on the streets. Cities aren’t safe, especially for a hot chick like you” He says sounding really concerned and worried. I narrow my eyes at him. I know he is just exaggerating about the “cities aren’t safe” part. But his car can get stolen, that is true. Besides, car or no car he is coming, which is definitely not something I want. I make a face at him and then groan. “Why can’t you just leave me alone!?” “Because, I’m interested in you!” He exclaims. My heart skips a beat when he says he’s interested in me. It’s so surprising. No one ever notices me— ever. I’m plain, and ordinary and boring and…Me. No one ever gives me a second look. And now the school’s hottest guy here is standing in front of me and is saying he’s interested in me! This seems so unbelievable. Not that it changes anything. Interested or not, I don’t want to be seen with him. I keep thinking about how to get rid of him and then finally get the perfect idea. “Okay, let’s go by your car. But, I’ll drive!” I chirp. “No way!” he exclaims. I giggle, my plan is working. I know how guys are totally passionate about their cars. They don’t like it when someone else even touches them. Then the idea of him letting me drive it was next to impossible. So this means I’ll finally be getting rid of him. Yay for that! “Yes way, or else…I’ll walk; you bring your car” I say, smirking. Finally things are going my way. Any minute now, he’ll give up and drive away and I can happily walk to school on my own. “Damn!” he mutters. I start crazy dancing right there on the street. He glares at me as I do. I simply laugh in return. I’ve finally emerged victorious. Now he has no choice at all. He has to leave me alone. But alas, my happiness is short-lived. “Okay, you drive” he tosses me the keys. “But with care. I love my baby, don’t let anything happen to her, or I swear I’ll kill you.” My mouth drops open. He’s okay with me driving? Damn! I guess I won’t be getting rid of him anytime soon. “Wow, at least you love a car, if not a girl, Mr. Casanova.” I say snidely. I turn to look at his car. It’s gorgeous, no kidding at all. I guess I’ll make the most of this chance and just drive this amazing car. I get into the driver’s seat as Dylan gets into the passenger’s seat. I start the engine, the car roars to life and we set off. I wait for a second or two for Dylan to fully get out of his car, and then toss him the car keys, and then without a single glance, I hurriedly walk away. I notice people staring curiously at me from afar. It’s not every day that you see a girl arrive in school in Mr. Player’s car. Especially a girl like me—plain, boring looking, not belonging to the popular crowd, an invisible stranger. It’s not that Dylan didn’t bring girls to school, he did. He brought tall, slim girls with model-like figures and long legs. He usually pushed them against his black sports car and made-out with them right there and then in the parking lot, in front of everyone. This was nothing new, a girl arriving with him. What was new was a girl like me being seen with Dylan. I hurriedly walk away, trying to hide somewhere from all the judgmental eyes, analyzing me, judging me, like they know me. They all are probably thinking along the same lines—that I’m an easy ‘catch’, another one of Mr. Player’s plaything, that I probably won’t last more than 2-3 days. They can’t be more wrong. I’m not anyone to Dylan, definitely not one of his girls who fall to his feet the first chance they get. But they all probably consider me a slut anyway, for being seen coming out of Dylan. But what do they know? They don’t know I’d never been kissed until last night. But that’s how people are, judging is human nature. It’s in our genes, our blood. We assume things about people without actually knowing anything about them. We think of nasty things and stereotype people, not considering that these same people might have some goodness in them too. And honestly, I don’t blame them. I myself have judged uncountable number of people—intentionally or unintentionally, but I have. It’ll be hypocritical of me to lash out at these people for doing something I’ve done myself many times. I silently walk, not paying attention to anyone. Suddenly, a hand clasps around mine. My first instinct is to yank off that hand and punch whoever it is doing this. That’s just who I am, I don’t like being touched unnecessarily. But I don’t do it, something prevents me from doing it, and boy am I glad I didn’t do it! It’s Tia who’d grabbed my hand, not some lousy stranger. Thank god I didn’t do what I was about to do. I don’t think my best friend would appreciate me punching her. “Thank god, I thought you would never stop.” she exclaims. “I’ve been calling out your name for the past minute, didn’t you hear me?” “Oh, I’m sorry. My mind was too preoccupied. I just didn’t want everyone to stare at me. You know how much I hate it when people stare at me.” I mumble. “Yeah, I know. So tell me, how did it go? How in the world did you let Dylan give you a lift?” She asks in her let’s- gossip-about-someone voice. She wants all the juicy details, not that there are any. “Oh, it’s a long story. Besides, I’m not talking to you, so I don’t have to tell you anything” I reply back, suddenly remembering I’m supposed to be angry at her for giving Dylan my phone number and address. I mean who does that, giving their best friend’s personal details to a random (hot) stranger? “What? Why? What did I do?” Tia asks, her voice laced with worry. I narrow my eyes at her. “You know very well what you did” “Fine, so I gave him your phone number, and address, big deal!” she exclaims, rolling her eyes, like she can’t believe how childish I’m acting. “Not to mention I have to endure car rides with him every day, because of you, when I don’t even need to. I have my own car thank you very much.” +++TO BE CONTINUED+++
