EPISODE 3

+++LOVE & HATE+++
I take rapid yoga fire
breaths to calm myself
down, but they have
no
soothing effect on me.
I’m not even sure
what
has got me so worked
up. I’m sitting in my car
right now. My head
slightly hurts. I haven’t
drunk a lot tonight, but
the little bit that I
have,
has proven enough to
make me
uncomfortable. My
hands are shaking a bit,
and hot tears are
welling in my eyes,
about to run down my
face.
Seriously, why am I on
the verge of crying?
What is wrong with
me?!
I twist the car keys,
and the engine comes
to life. I immediately
start driving. By the
time I’m half-way
home, my car’s speed
is
double the speed limit.
Plus I’m not even
driving properly, my
senses are not
working.
I’m half-drunk, and
driving a car in this
state is not an easy
job.
Luckily though, the
roads are void of any
vehicles, except the
occasional car or two.
And there are also no
cops in sight. So the
chance of me landing
up
with a speeding ticket
is next to zero.
It takes me another
tend minutes before I
reach my house. I park
my car in the garage
and get out of the car.
I
notice the house is
dark
and silent. I’m sure
mom isn’t back yet.
That is a relief because
I look like a wreck at
the moment. Plus my
mom, always being the
enthusiastic person
that she is, would
probably bombard me
with questions about
the party, not realizing
I
am in no mood to talk. I
unlock the door from
my spare key and
make
way to my room and
immediately enter the
bathroom. I stare at
myself in the wall-
sized
mirror and gasp. I look
like a wreck!
No wonder Dylan
ditched me.
I quickly strip out of
my
clothes and take a long,
warm shower. The hot
water and the steam
soothe my senses and
I
stop thinking. I feel my
tensions and worries
drain away like the hot
water, leaving me
fresh
and renewed. When I
come out twenty
minutes later, I look
and
feel better. I start
drying my hair, I’d just
shampooed it. I am
feeling better but kind
of dizzy. I just barely
make it to my bed and
slump down on it,
before sleep consumes
me.
****
The morning light is
coming in through the
open window straight
onto my eyes, but that
isn’t the thing that
wakes me up, my
phone does. It’s
vibrating like crazy. I
quickly check the caller
id and frown when I
see its Tia. Why is she
calling me so damn
early
in the morning?
Suddenly it hits me like
a lightning bolt striking
the ground.
Oh damn! I totally
forgot about her! How
did she return back
home last night, seeing
that she had come to
the party in my car?
“Hey Tia, I’m so sorry!
I
completely forgot
about
you last night. I totally
left you at the party
without a ride back
home. Are you okay?”
” I am kind of pissed
that you left without
informing or anything
but Alex! I was so
worried for you! I mean
where the hell were
you
last night? I and Dylan
were searching the
whole damn place for
you!” she says,
sounding slightly
frustrated.
“You were? Wait, you
and Dylan?” I can’t
believe my ears.
“Uh…yeah. We at last
went to the parking lot
and saw your car
wasn’t there so we
assumed you left.
Dylan
seemed really worried.
Besides, you weren’t
even picking your
phone!”
“Oh, I was just really
tired, I went straight
to
bed. How did you reach
back home? And what
do you mean by Dylan
being worried?”
Seriously why would
Dylan be worried about
my whereabouts?
“Well, Dylan’s really
cute
friend Matt gave me a
ride back home. He’s
really sweet and guess
what? We made out in
his car’s backseat!” she
says hysterically,
before squealing. I take
the phone away from
my ears so that I
cannot hear her shrill
squeals. Sometimes
my
friend can be really
melodramatic.
You made-out in some
random stranger’s
back-seat?! And not
just a stranger, but
Matthew Davidson!? Do
you have any idea how
many girls have done
the same thing with
him on that very
seat?”
“God, I don’t care,
okay?
All that matters is that
it was fun, really fun. I
enjoyed myself so
much. All I can think
about are his kisses.”
“Isn’t it a bit too fast
though? You don’t even
know him. Plus he’s got
this reputation, he’s
exactly like Dylan—a
player.” I reply.
“Yeah, but I don’t care.
Besides it was hot.” So
that’s your typical boy-
crazy Tia. All she can
think about is the kiss
being hot. Seriously,
sometimes she can be
so silly, and so naïve!
“Anyways why did you
leave?” she asks
suddenly.
“Uh…It’s a long story” I
reply uncomfortably.
Seems I can’t really
avoid telling her about
what happened after
all. I mean, she’s my
best friend. Plus she
possesses this
uncanny
ability of detecting my
not telling her things..
The next few minutes
are spent in giving her
each and every detail
of
what happened, how I
saw Dylan kiss that
girl,
and how I almost cried.
I felt kind of
embarrassed while
telling her how I had
reacted to it.
She didn’t seem
surprised at all. “Hey, is
it alright for me to
cry?”
I ask, hesitant. “I mean
I feel so silly for
crying like that”
“Um…he didn’t cheat on
you Alex. You guys
aren’t even together.
Heck, you don’t even
know him. But I guess
that kiss had meant
something to you, even
if the person giving it
to
you doesn’t. It was
important for you. And
then seeing him kiss
this other girl obviously
annoyed you and made
you feel unimportant.
Besides, ditching you
for
that girl was definitely
not a nice thing to do.
Crying is a bit too
much,
but then you’ve always
been very emotional”
she says thoughtfully.
Did I mention Tia is
really expert in giving all
kinds of advices?
I am really surprised
when she gives me the
analysis of this
situation. She is so
right! “Yeah. Whatever,
he’s a jerk.” I reply
back, trying to sound
calm and casual.
“Uh-oh!” She exclaims
all
of a sudden.
“What now?” I ask,
worried. Somehow I’m
getting a bad feeling
about this. Like she’s
going to tell me
something really bad.
“Uh…I accidently gave
your phone no. and
address to Dylan and
he
generously accepted to
give you a ride to
school
every day.” Tia says in
a
rush.
“WHAT!?” I start
shouting. “HOW COULD
YOU?!”
“Uh…I’m sorry…you
know I am…” she
mumbles sheepishly.
“Why the hell would I
need a ride? You know I
have a car!”
“Oh c’mon, the school’s
hottest guy asked for
your number and
address and wanted to
drop you home. I didn’t
think twice and did
what I had to!”
I sigh. This isn’t going
to
turn out good. Not one
bit. “Okay, I’ll deal with
this later.” I say. “Bye!”
I hang up. I am furious.
How could she do this
to me? Tia is crazy.
She’s always been
obsessed with boys,
but that does not
mean
I’m like that too. She
knows how it is, how I
feel about boys, how I
avoid anything
romantic
with them. And what
does she do even after
knowing all this? She
goes ahead and gives
my number to that
jerk!
I suddenly hear a chime
and notice I have got a
new message. I quickly
tap the envelope
shaped icon on my
phone’s screen and
read
the message I have
received.
Hey alex, comin 2
pick u in half an hr-
dylan Bleep
My eyes widen. My
breath stops for a
fraction of a second,
and the phone slips
right out of my hands. I
can hear my heart
beating erratically.
This can’t get any
worse, can it?
I glance at my reflection
in the mirror one last
time, just to be safe. I
just have to know if I
look okay. In fact, not
just okay, but good. I’m
not sure though why
I’m trying so hard. I’ve
been in front of the
mirror for the past hour.
Now don’t get me
wrong. I’m not one of
those girls who don’t
care about her
appearance. I’m sorry,
but I’m not. But that
doesn’t mean I’m one
of those girls who
obsesses about it
either. Appearance is
important to me, but
it’s not the most
important thing.
I analyze my choice of
outfit—black skin-fit
jeans, a cute white
tank-top and a black
leather jacket topped
with some black boots.
My hair is hanging down
my shoulders today and
I’ve just applied a bit of
kohl and lip-gloss. But do
I look good? Will this do?
Oh god, it won’t do!
Whatever, who cares?
It’s not as if anyone
would notice me
anyway. Sometimes I
feel invisible, like no one
sees me, like no one
knows I even exist.
Even the nerds get
noticed. They are
teased, and envied for
their intelligence. The
popular kids are
obviously the center of
attention. I’m the
average kid; the one
lying smack dab in the
middle of these two.
I’m not utterly boring,
but then there’s
nothing special about
me either. I’m just
average.
But it’s not that I
couldn’t have made it to
the top. I’d had many
chances to get noticed.
But I didn’t grab them.
All I saw were girls
around me grabbing
these chances as
quickly as they came,
doing things they were
sure to regret at some
point in their lives. They
all gave in to the thirst
to be noticed, to be
popular, to be admired,
forgetting their dignity
in the process. At least
I can proudly say that I
never did something
that would make me
lose my dignity.
You’re wrong!
Remember what
happened last night?
The scenes from the
party last night flash
through my mind. The
party, the truth and
dare game, the kiss
and…Dylan.
Oh man, what the hell
was I thinking last
night? I shouldn’t have
given in so easily, I
shouldn’t have let his
harsh, mocking words
get to me. I shouldn’t
have let them effect to
me to the point that I
gave up my very first
kiss to him. And what’s
more? I don’t even
know him. He was just
this random guy who
goes to my school and I
let him kiss me. Wait,
cut that, I didn’t let him
kiss me—I kissed him.
And with that kiss has
gone all the self-respect
and dignity I’d
preserved throughout
my stay in High school. I
used to be proud that I
was one of the few
girls in this school who
hadn’t been involved in
any kind of drama or
with the wrong people.
You might be thinking
that I’ve over reacting
here a bit. It’s just a
kiss, right? Why am I
worried?
Wrong. It’s not just a
kiss. I bet by the end of
today, every single
person in the school
would be talking about
it. It shouldn’t be a big
deal; players kiss all the
time right? But our high
school, like many
others, loves to gossip.
They just love to
discuss other people’s
lives. But don’t we all,
at some point of time?
Discussing about other
people’s dramas and
problems help us forget
our own, even for a
little while.
I grab my school bag,
stuff my cell phone
inside it and head
downstairs. Mr. Player
will be arriving soon, to
give me a ride to school.
Hell, I don’t need a ride
to school. I have my
own car! But try telling
that to my best friend
Tia who considers
refusing school rides
from hot guys stupid,
even though the person
already has a car.
“Morning mum!” I greet
my mother as soon as I
arrive in the kitchen.
“Morning dear! All ready
to school?” She says,
smiling. I look at her and
wonder where did all
her beauty genes go?
Because I don’t think I
got any of it. My mom’s
really pretty. She has
beautiful mid-length
dark brown hair and big
hazel eyes. She’s on the
short side and has a
lean figure. I guess
people can say we look
alike, but I don’t think
we do. While she’s really
pretty, I’m really plain
and ordinary looking in
comparison.
“Yeah, all ready for
school! What’s for
breakfast?” I ask,
sitting down on the
stool propped near the
kitchen island.
“Cutlet and toast” she
replies.
“Okay!” I smile and go
over to give her a peck
on her cheek. I take my
place on the stool and
eat my breakfast in
silence. Soon enough I’m
done, and so I walk into
the hall to peek through
the window to see if
Dylan has arrived or not.
I slightly remove the
lace curtains to get a
peek outside. And
guess what I see?
Dylan is getting out of
his black sports car,
with a bunch of
flowers. They are roses
—white, yellow, pink,
orange—no red; some
lilies and daffodils and
orchids are in there too.
Speak of the devil…and
what the hell is he doing
with a bunch of
flowers?!
I inwardly pray that he
forgets the address or
messes up and goes to
the wrong house. I just
pray and pray that he
does not come here. But
no such luck, because
he starts walking
straight towards here. I
push back the curtains
to obscure the view and
angrily punch the wall.
Ow—that hurt!
I angrily mutter a string
of profanities under my
breath as I rub my
palm. I seriously need to
do something right
now! I just can’t agree
to go to school with him
—Mr. Player. What
would that inflict upon
my character? I don’t
want people to
categorize me as one of
those girls who are or
were ever involved with
him. In fact, if
something like that
happens, it’ll be a
nightmare.
People always think
lowly of those girls who
are involved with guys
like him—those man
whores who cannot
keep it in their pants.
Sure, after some time,
when the girl has got
her heart broken the
people forget about it,
but that doesn’t make
it any better. And right
now, if I’m seen around
him, people will sure as
hell not think nicely of
me.
I rush back upstairs and
hide behind the
staircase railings just
enough so that nobody
can see me. I hear a
soft knock on the door.
“Hello Mrs. Rojers! I’m
Dylan. Uh…You’re Alex’s
mother, right?” he says
doubtfully. He looks so
cute when he looks all
hesitant and doubtful.
Small creases appear on
his forehead.
I can’t help but ogle him
from afar. He makes
those simple pair of
jeans and shirt look like
those expensive clothes
which come straight off
the ramp. Maybe they
are straight from the
ramp. I’d hear he was
rich…
Wait, what the hell am I
doing?! Focus Alex!
FOCUS!
“Yes dear, Alexandra is
my daughter. I suppose
she’s your friend?” I
hear my mom’s voice in
the hall.
“Uh…yeah, she’s my
friend. Well, I assume
she hasn’t told you
about me dropping her
off to high school from
now on?”
“No. She didn’t mention
you at all.” my mom
says, sounding a little
skeptical.
“Like I thought.” he
says, more to himself.
What the hell is mom
doing? She shouldn’t go
on blabbering with
Dylan. Why doesn’t she
just kick him out of
here? Oh, of course she
won’t. Know why?
“Okay…so you’re just
friends? I mean…”
Oh damn! She said
exactly what I had been
dreading. Oh Earth
please open up and
swallow me.
“Oh! No…No…No…We’re
just friends. We’re not
dating or anything.” he
replies instantly,
shocked. He looks really
embarrassed which kind
of makes me cringe too.
I silently pray to god for
my mother to stop
asking any further
questions.
“Oh alright, I’ll call her.”
my mom finally drops
the subject, and I
inwardly cheer. Then I
hear mum calling me
from the hall. “Alex!
Aaaa-lex!”
Crap.
“Coming!” I shout back.
I’m surprised to hear
my voice coming out
loud and clear because
at the moment my
heart is practically in my
mouth. I run
downstairs, all the time
thinking what it would
be like to come face to
face with the person I
kissed just last night,
and not just any
person, but Mr. Player
himself.
“Yes mum? Why did you
call me?” I say. I don’t
even glance at Dylan,
completely ignoring his
presence, like I cannot
even see him.
“Look, here is a fine boy
come here to meet you.
How come you never
told me about him?” she
gushes. She cocks her
eyebrows at me as she
says this and pretends
to be offended.
Hearing mum gushing
about Dylan like he was
some celebrity made
cringe inwardly. Of
course my mother was
excited to see a boy.
Unlike other girls my
age, I never showed
any interest in boys. My
mother sometimes
thought I didn’t play for
this team, if you know
what I mean. But I’d
assured her from time
to time that such was
not the case. And
finally, after ages and
ages, mom finally sees
a boy on my doorstep,
and not just any boy,
but a rather good-
looking one too. Of
course, she’s ecstatic.
She obviously thinks
something is going on
between us because
he’s giving me a ride to
school. Ha! As if.
“Mom, I don’t know
him.” I simply say.
Mom looks at me,
passing me her I-don’t-
believe-you-for-one-
second look. She puts
her hands firmly on her
hips and cocks her
eyebrows at me. Nope,
she’s not falling for it.
“Oh god, we met last
night at Stacey’s party,
okay?” I say, folding my
hands around my chest,
annoyed. No one can
fool my mom! It’s like
she has this lie-
detecting radar installed
inside her or something.
I and my mom stare at
each other continuously,
for what seems like
hours. I wonder what
she’s thinking. She’s
probably analyzing
everything, my
expressions, me and
trying to figure out
what I’m thinking.
“Uh…I almost forgot!”
Dylan says, interrupting
our silence awkwardly.
From the corner of my
eyes I see him picking
up the flowers he had
left on the window sill.
“Cut the gentleman act.
You’re flowers aren’t
going to do you any
good” I snap at him. My
words come out harsh
and cold. But I can’t help
it, I’m just so angry
right now.
“These flowers aren’t
for you. They’re for
your mom” he says
pointedly to me and
then turns towards my
mum. “A bunch of
random flowers for the
beautiful lady standing
in front of me” he says
flashing his gorgeous
smile, handing her the
flowers. And at that
very instant, I know he
has won her heart.
“Oh, I feel so flattered!”
mom gushes. “This boy
here is so sweet. I think
Alex you should hang
around him more often”
Of course she wants
me to hang around him
more often.
“Whatever!” I mutter
and walk off.
“Oh dear, you’re really
sweet. I’m so glad Alex
has finally made some
nice ‘friends’. I’d love to
see you more often!” I
hear my mom’s voice,
and I can’t help rolling
my eyes. “Do keep
coming now and then.”
“Yes I will Mrs. Rojers,
and it was a pleasure
meeting you.”
“The pleasure was
mine, and oh, don’t call
me Mrs. Rogers, it
makes me feel old. You
can call me Nina.” she
says smiling.”C’mon
now Alex! Better leave
now or you’ll be late.”
I grab my bag, kiss
mum good-bye, and
then head outside with
Dylan right behind me. I
hurriedly walk away,
trying to keep as much
distance as I can
between me and Dylan.
I don’t even want to
talk to him, or see his
face. As soon as we’re
at some distance from
the house, Dylan give
“Damn, someone’s
looking really sexy
today, and I’m not just
talking about myself”
he says flashing his
pearly whites. I glare at
him. Why do I dislike him
so much? Why does his
smirk makes me burn
with anger as hot as
the deepest depths of
hell?
“Geez, don’t be mad at
me because I didn’t
bring you flowers. I
promise I’ll bring them
the next time we
meet.” I glare at him
again. “Okay look, I’m
sorry for what
happened last night. But
I swear I didn’t start it.
That girl decided to kiss
me. She started it!”
“Well, it doesn’t matter
who started it. All I
know is that you were
kissing her! And you
were supposed to be
helping her out!” I say
accusingly.
“I’m sorry! I really am. I
shouldn’t have kissed
her when she was
drunk….” I look at him;
suddenly I can see a
small ray of hope. “…I
should’ve kissed her
later!” he exclaims.
And that hope shatters
as soon as it comes. I
start walking away
really fast; he has to do
a small jog to catch up
with me. “I said I’m
sorry…” he mumbles.
“No, don’t be. You don’t
need to be sorry for
something you think
you shouldn’t be sorry
for at all. I mean both
of us know that you’ll
be kissing a random girl
soon enough in about
let me guess….thirty
minutes?” I say,
exasperated.
He smirks.”You’re
wrong. I’ll be kissing a
really hot chick—now.”
With that, he
effortlessly pushes me
up against the old oak
tree next to us and
traps me in between
his arms. His face leans
closer towards mine;
his hot breath falls on
my face. He starts
leaning even closer, until
only an inch remains. His
irresistible blue-green
eyes are the last thing I
see before I lean
towards him and
smash my lips on his.
And then everything
and nothing makes
sense. And time stops
and goes too fast at
the same time too. And
his lips take my breath
away.
+++TO BE CONTINUED+++