Chapter 18
The Overpowering Scent Will Be The Death Of Me
Sometimes, when you're just mad at people, you try to find different ways to forgive them even when you know they did make you suffer. That really doesn't lessen your love for them.
After one week of that 'preposterous event', as I like to call it, I was still waiting for their attempts to correct their wrong. Like every other person, I wanted to forgive the people I loved. Never did I think it would be so hard but here I was, watching them in the same lunchroom in our table. Except that it wasn't 'ours' anymore. And in the same seat where I used to sit and eat all the food items that the canteen offered, was sat the beautiful and gorgeous sweetheart, Katheryn. Yes, my sarcasm doesn't go away even when I'm miserable.
Right now, sitting at a faraway table with Sophie (bless that girl), I was glaring daggers at my so-called 'best friends' and the oh-so-wonderful Katheryn. Sophie was looking at me with a worried expression, which I chose to ignore.
"Woah! If someone glared at me that way, I would be six feet under."
I could recognize that voice anywhere. Even if I was deep asleep, I would wake up due to a nightmare which consisted of his voice. I clenched my jaw and looked at the person standing in front of me with a crooked grin on his face. Without any warning he almost jumped on me giving me the tightest hug one could ever receive. Other people would just think of it as a way of expressing affection but I knew what exactly he was planning. He was obviously trying his best to suffocate me so that I die and he would gladly attend my funeral, singing with happiness. "I'm so glad to see you, Em," he mumbled and I could almost hear the evil grin. I pushed him away from me, glaring at him. It was hard, I admit. He really was a sight for sore eyes with his disheveled dark brown hair and strikingly gorgeous sea-green eyes. His lips formed a cheeky grin as he looked at me, probably proud of himself.
"I wish I could say the same for you," I spit back, making him flinch. Chad Montgomery threw his hands up, still smiling. "I'm serious, Em. I am glad to see you. And you too Sophie."
The smile that he gave her probably made her heart do a backflip (was it heart or stomach? I've read romance novels but I just seem to forget) as she returned his with a dazzling smile of her own. Despite my enmity (kind-of) with Chad, both of them shared a nice friendship and even though Sophie tried to stay away from him, I told her not to. She shouldn't sacrifice so much for me. Chad had gone to his rich Dad's home (or Mansion. Whatever you want to call it) during the summers and hadn't returned... until now, that is. To say that I was happy would be a terrible lie. Chad was born to annoy the living shit out of me and he was kind of like my frenemy. Sometimes, we acted like we were friends but most of the time we just liked to be enemies. Only me. He was more adamant on being my friend.
It wasn't a mystery to me that Chad was infatuated with Soph. I also highly suspected that she shared the same feelings. Well, I wouldn't care but she really was my best friend. I had to do something right?
"It's good to see you back, Chad," Sophie replied. They were looking at each other in a way that made me want to roll my eyes. And they were really oblivious to their feelings for each other.
"No, it's not," I snorted and was responded with a mock glare by Chad who instantly burst out laughing afterwards. What was so funny?
He sobered up upon seeing my expression and glanced at the table which now seated Katheryn and the other guys. To think that even Virat Vadhera was sitting there infuriated me to no end. I stabbed my fork which made Sophie cringe while Chad gave me worried look.
"Now I am concerned. Whatever happened to you guys?" He asked. His concern for me was real, that much I could gather. Why, though, was a mystery.
"Katheryn happened," I snapped. He looked surprised as he looked at the table again. "I didn't notice her. Did she under go another plastic surgery?" He looked so serious about it that I burst out laughing which probably amused Sophie because I hadn't laughed so much the past week.
"And that, Chad, is why I even consider you my friend," I said in between laughs which seemed to have made him grin. He sat down on a chair, resting his chin on his hands.
"But seriously.. would you elaborate, best-friend?"
I rolled my eyes at his term. Best-friends? Right.
Nevertheless, I told him everything that had happened in his absence and he listened without any snide remarks that I expected him to make. It was strange. Our relationship was strange. While we were so intent on shouting insults at each other we never came to know when we would tell each other our deepest darkest secrets. He knew everything that there was to know about me and whenever I asked him why, he would just reply that we should know our enemies better. Even though I thought we never were enemies. We were just two people looking forward to fight with each other and amidst all those shouts, teasing and banter we let out whatever was happening with us. We were strange, weird, lunatics... whatever you want to call us. But we took pride in calling each other frenemies. How 'frenemy' changed into 'best-friend' only he knows.
"I'll refrain myself from giving you a hug right now because you obviously hate it," he said and was about to continue when I interrupted. "I wouldn't mind one, I guess?" It sounded more of a question but his absence really did make my life a lot more gloomy. All these weeks, I had forgotten about him and at that time I probably would have asked who the hell was Chad Montgomery (now that's called exaggerating because everyone knows I can never forget him). The best thing about him was he never treated me like a fragile girl.. he kind of treated me like I was an equal (I am an equal). The other guys always treated me like I was a porcelain doll ready to break on a mere push. I had learnt to accept that, thinking they were possessive of their little sister (that's what they used to call me) but it annoyed me.
"And here I thought I was unwanted," he said, the beginning of a smirk visible on his lips. I rolled my eyes as he pulled me into another one of his bone-crushing hugs. My eyes drifted off to the other table where I could they the guys were trying to look at me discreetly. Now that's called sarcasm because they were doing nothing to be discreet about it. Shameless asses! I broke apart just as I met Virat's eyes who turned away instantly. Like I care.
"You can go sit with the guys," I told Chad who was following my gaze. "You don't need to be here just for the sake of comforting me." I could see Sophie nodding with agreement. Chad just shook his head. "Nah! I would rather be here. I already met them before lunch anyways. And I can't be sitting where Katheryn's sitting."
I could see the pained look on his face. A few years back, Katheryn broke Chad's heart by cheating on him. She was Jake's sister after all. I know that Chad was in love with her at that time but Katheryn... well she never cared. That's one of the reasons why Chad and I could understand each other so well. We were cheated by the twins.
"Thanks," I mumbled softly. He nodded pursing his lips, his eyes on Sophie who was blushing furiously. I smirked at them. They still don't realize? How stupid can they be?
I guess they just need someone to make them realize. Who's it gonna be, you ask? Say hello to the new matchmaker in town - Maanvi Chaudhry.
* * * *
"Hey Peaches!" I internally groaned at his greeting and turned away so I wouldn't have to face him. It's like he doesn't get it that I don't want to talk. But out of all the people, I think I was the least mad at him. He sighed and caught hold of my arm. "Look, I'm sorry. I know I had no right to call dibs on you and I was just messing up. I wasn't even serious. Jake infuriates me so.. anyway I really am sorry."
What could I do when he made such a cute puppy dog face with his eyes wide and a smoulder? And by smoulder, I mean even better than the 'Flynn Rider Smoulder'. So I nodded and motioned him to walk beside me. "I forgive you but that doesn't mean you'll go off doing it again. Oh and refrain from fighting with Jake in front of me at least."
"Okay, got it," he replied and I could see the beginnings of a smirk on his lips. "So tell me how much you missed me." And there you go. Virat Vadhera, the jerk, is back. I rolled my eyes but could stop the laugh the escaped me. "A month ago, had I said the same thing, you would have smacked my head. I can see the change, Peaches." He looked amused as I gave him a smile. "People change and I think you're kinda growing on me, Jock," I replied.
"I knew you love me," he said with his cocky smile which made me hit him.
"In your dreams, Jock. In your dreams."
"I have so many scenarios going in my head right now. Want to hear one?" He replied, his husky voice almost making me shiver. Okay, what the hell was happening? Why was it that I felt like this whenever Virat was near me? Why was his scent so addictive to me? Surely, I'm getting mad. There's no other reason. I'm just a hormonal teenager. Nothing else. I refuse to think of anything else. So after giving myself an internal pep talk, I made up a face at him, scrunching my nose. "Ew. No way. I don't want to know what happens in your dreams. Never. Ever."
He laughed throwing his arms around my shoulders. If our closeness was freaking me out before, I was definitely dying now. The overpowering scent will be the death of me, I tell you. "Um.. you alright, Peaches?" I snapped back into reality and gave him a smile. "O-of course. What could be wrong?" I replied but he narrowed his eyes, looking at me suspiciously. I mean come on, what was I supposed to say? That - Oh Em Gee! Virat, I may be one of those girls who swoon over you and our closeness does things to me which are yet to be proved by scientists?
No, thank you very much. I would rather die than admit he had that effect on me. I freaking loved his scent for god's sake! How creepy is that? "Riiight! You tell yourself that," he said, making me sigh.
"Didn't I just say that I am alright?" I said but froze when I saw the people standing in front of me. Virat followed my gaze and took his hands off my shoulder after getting a death glare from Neil. So wondering what made me stop dead in my tracks? Well, nothing really. Just half of the football team players who also happened to be my ex-best friends.
I could feel my eyes twitching at the anger I felt towards them. I was miserable, yes. But there was more anger than misery. You would say I was overreacting. So what if they didn't stand up to me? Oh but I'm not the good ole girl anymore. No thanks to Virat.
"Want to run away?" I whispered to Virat who looked at me with a hint of amusement. "That would be completely hilarious and I don't know why I'm saying this but it's time you talk this out with them. It was bound to happen anyway. Just get this over with," he murmured back. I nodded slightly. "I believe I'm getting late for class. Anything you buffoons want to say to me before that?" I could hear Virat snickering beside me.
"We're sorry, Em," they murmured in unison.
I snorted loudly. They sounded like kindergarten kids, apologizing for some mistake they did. "I didn't quite catch what you said. Can you repeat?" My lips twitched into a smirk as I looked at their faces. It was clear that they were trying to hide their irritation. Being the jocks of the school, it wasn't often that they had to apologize to someone. It was quite difficult for them.
"Sorry." The irritation was quite clear and I wanted to laugh right then but stopped myself. "What was that again?" I asked, cupping my ear with my hands.
"Drama queen." I heard Neil mutter to himself.
"We said WE'RE SORRY!" Travis shouted so loudly that everyone in the corridor stopped to look at him.
"Fine." I said and walked away, Virat following me.
"Just fine?" Josh asked. I stopped and turned to look at them again, this time with a bright smile on my face. "What did you expect? That I would hug you and cry and tell you how much I missed you guys? Yeah thanks, not happening."
Maanvi - 1; Jocks - 0
Ha. Ha. Ha. That's what you get for making Maanvi Chaudhry mad.
* * * *
Author's Note
Thanks a lot for the comments :D Haha, did anyone get the 'Tangled' reference? I just love that movie so much. Yes, even more than Frozen. And yes, I love disney movies :)
So, I had written this chapter a long time back and right now I completely hate it because I don't really like adding excessive characters. I don't know what came over me at that that but whatever it is, I love Chad :D He's funny.
Thanks for reading!
Love,
Stella
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