Chapter-12

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Amara Knight

"Ugh, this stubborn stain is gonna ruin my favorite one-shoulder white top. It's the only white top I loved the most in my collection. Why did I have to wear this today of all days!"

I groaned whilst rubbing a wet washcloth, run under the sink faucet, on my top. The stain was taking too much water to vanish that I could feel my stomach getting wet, but the stain only faded a little.

Once I was convinced I had cleaned the stain to the best of my ability, I washed my hands, wiped them with tissues, brushed my hair with my fingers, and exited the bathroom in a still soaking wet top.

I came out of the bathroom, only to find Ryan sitting on Doris's neatly made bed. He stood up as soon as he saw and opened his mouth to say something but closed it shut when his gaze traveled down to my wet top.

"Did you dip your top in water? It's soaking wet!"

I rolled my eyes. "Well, thanks to your four eyes for seeing it. Neither I could see nor feel it."

"And you were going out without drying it." He commented, crossing his arms across his muscular chest. Workout freak!

A sigh left my throat. "Well, what could have I done to dry it?" I asked, tilting my head a little.

His shoulders went up and down. "For starters,  you could have used your brain...and..."

He then slowly, like a predator—lion to be precise, moved closer to me, making my heart go crazy for no defined reason.

His predatory gaze was set on my face as he neared me. I slightly stumbled on my block heels when he unexpectedly grabbed my wrist and dragged me to the dresser vanity. He left my wrist, picked up the hairdryer, and waved it in my face.

"And use a hairdryer." He plugged it into the switch and soon I felt hot air over my tummy.

I chuckled nervously. "Well," Chuckle. "I thought of it. I did. I just thought Doris wouldn't have a hairdryer; maybe Aunt Eloise hadn't allowed Doris to have one yet. She's still too young, you know?"

I blabbered in one breath. He smirked amusingly, making fun of me in my face. "Sure you did."

Damn my unlucky stars! I had to give him another reason to school me for.

Not wanting to take his help anymore, I snatched the hairdryer from his hand, "Give it to me, I can do it myself—" My words caught in my throat when I saw a band-aid on his hand. Why hadn't I seen it before?

Turning off the hairdryer, I placed it on the dresser vanity back, grabbed his hand in mine, and lightly brushed my thumb over the band-aid. "What happened?"

He gently yanked his hand from my hold. "Nothing a band-aid can't heal."

My jaw ticked. "FYI, I did not ask you what could heal it. I asked what happened. There's a difference, you know?"

He must know I wouldn't leave him unless I had heard from him that's why, I presume, he let out a sharp breath.

"Fine." He stared into my eyes before looking away. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, it happened when I was parking my motorbike in the garage. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."

"And he says Tory doesn't drive safe." I rolled my eyes. "At least, he keeps his eyes open when parking, unlike you."

"Hey, don't compare me with him." He protested, maddeningly. 

I shook my head in disbelief. What's his problem with him? Will these two ever get along?

Picking up the hairdryer again, I began drying my top. "Why did you follow me in here?" I questioned him.

"I had something to talk to you about."

His response had me raise eyebrows at him. "What is it?"

He pinned his heated gaze with mine. Even hot air blowing out of the hairdryer wasn't as hot as the intensity of his stare.

"Earlier today...you had said I've hurt you. I want to know what is it I did that hurt you?" The tone of his voice had softened, as though consisting of distress.

I sighed loudly. "It's nothing, Ryan. Leave it."

To heck with drying my clothes. I did not want to answer his question because now I felt the issue had stretched too far. It didn't matter anymore.

I pushed past him, however, couldn't take any step further because he had grabbed my wrist and almost immediately I was pinned against the wall, trapped between Ryan and the wall. My wrist was still in his hand.

Our faces were too close, close enough that I could feel his breath on my nose. My eyes had turned wide and my heart had started to pump blood at a faster pace.

There are few things we experience for the first time in life. Ryan being way too close to me was something happening for the first. It was as if one of my wild, bizarre, imaginations came to life. I accept I would be lying if I said I never visualized being this close to Ryan. I had mentioned this in my journal about him, too. 

"There is something you are not telling me, Amara. I know it. Tell me or I'll go crazy thinking about it." He stated, lowly yet firmly. He made sure he left no room for me to avoid his question.

His statement had me lick my lips in reluctance. My move urged him to slowly switch his gaze on my lips. We could have conversed civilly but none of us paid heed to our unusual position. Not that I wanted him to create distance.

He released my wrist from his hold and before I could experience relief, he raised his right hand, cupped my chin between his thumb and index finger, and placed his left hand on the wall adjacent to my face. He still hadn't made a move to distance himself from me.

He tilted his head. "Is it about the flower you had offered me as a thank you?"

How could have I told him it was not just about that. His appreciation for Zoe, his bond with her made me think...that...that I would never be good enough like her for him? I had never felt that before but I felt it now.

"It doesn't matter now, Ryan. Move." I grumbled, wiggling, to push him away.

But instead of creating distance, he held me tightly in place. "It matters to me. And I am not moving an inch unless you give me answers." He snapped, making me mentally wince at his tone. "Tell me, is it because of that?"

That's it. I had had enough of his tantrums. I glared at him. "Yes. That... and that you are never nice to me. You behave rudely and school me like I am a five-year-old kid! I am not a child!" I snapped in one breath.

Upon hearing my answer, which he demanded, bewilderment surfaced on his face. Narrowing his eyes, he continued,

"I school you to bring out a better person in you. I don't do it for fun, Amara."

See? I could never be good enough for him, he proved it. I gaped at him. "You mean to say I am not good enough that you have to bring out better in me?"

Silently raising my right foot, I stomped on his left. "Leave me!" I snapped, making him back away with a groan.

"You always purposely make up things to quarrel about with me. If this isn't being childish then I don't know what is." He growled.

"I'm done talking with you!" I walked past him, only to be stopped by him again, however, this time I wiggled angrily, not wanting to be held back by him.

"Amara, listen, listen, listen." He released me and held his hands in the air in surrender.

"What?" I crossed my arms, glaring at him.

He ran his fingers through his hair, then huffed. He stepped closer and spoke softly. "Even though you haven't told me the exact reason why you felt hurt and even if what you told me is the reason, I apologize. I'm sorry that you got hurt because of me."

That got me stunned. How can he smoothly, effortlessly make me feel guilty? I argued with him to dismiss the topic but he apologized even without knowing the exact reason and left me in a bad light.

"Also..." He added, looking at me. "Can we be back at what we were? I mean...this..." He hesitated.

I remained quiet, allowing him to continue.

"It feels odd...your avoidance. It bothers me. Don't...do it. I can withstand your annoyance, I always have...but I can't accept...your ignorance."

Oh goodness, I felt like turning into jelly. Butterflies in my stomach fluttered their wings with all their power, making me a giddy mess. He did not just say that.

I felt like a villain in his life story. Just a few seconds ago, I had accused him of not being nice to me and now he was being one. One question still bugged me though: If he did not want me to ignore him, why not accept to be friends with me?

Brushing that thought away, for now, I gulped the guilt clogging my throat. I looked sideways since I couldn't look in his eyes, and tried to speak, "I...I..." I couldn't form words.

I lowered my eyes. Not just him, I had been rude to him as well. I sighed. "I am sorry, too for being rude to you... sometimes?"

He let out a laugh. "Sometimes?"

A smile formed on my lips as I saw him laugh. "Now, don't tell me I am rude to you all time!" I chuckled.

I saw him shrug. "Maybe?"

"Hey!" I pouted. It felt so calming to see him going all smiles with me. I knew we would be going back to our usual selves the next day, but we could live the moment.

Just then, multiple knocks sounded on the door. "Amara, what's taking so long for you to come out? And why is the door locked?"

Tiana shouted, making me gape at Ryan. "You locked the door? Why?!" I screeched.

"I did not want to be disturbed while talking with you." He casually replied.

Groaning, I went to the door and opened it. Tiana entered. "Hey, what—" She stopped midway when her eyes caught sight of her brother.

"What are you doing here?" Then she looked between us. "What were you two doing in here with room locked?"

I was thinking of something to reply but Ryan had already come up with something. "I came to help her. The door must have gotten locked accidentally."

Ryan's nonsense, completely unacceptable excuse was something not even a toddler would believe, let alone our clever Tiana. Nonetheless, I hoped for her to believe it since we couldn't take back his words anymore.

She eyed both of us with suspicion, then she looked at me. "Amara, not that you needed any help, but you could have called me instead of him because Travis has lost his cool because my dear brother left the stove on, and the sauce he was preparing got burnt."

"Damn!" Ryan groaned and I stifled my laugh.

"No worries, Travis quickly prepared a new one. Not to forget the torture he inflicted on me because of you." Tiana added. "Now, come out both of you. And for god's sake turn off the hairdryer. Why is it on if not in use?"

Uh oh, we had forgotten about that. Ryan quickly rushed to the dresser vanity and unplugged the hairdryer.

"You guys go, I'll join you in a minute," Ryan muttered.

After listening to him, Tiana dragged me out with her.

___________________________________________

Ryan Peterson

I let out a sharp breath.

Talking with Amara is one hell of a task. I wanted to make sure I did nothing unusual that hurt her, but she wouldn't clarify it. She would charge at me to strangle me but wouldn't tell things directly. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't apologize to her. If I had done something wrong, even if unintentionally, I had to apologize.

My gaze switched to the hairdryer in my hand. Sighing, I placed it back in its place and then stared at the wall where I had pinned Amara.

It happened all of a sudden, I just wanted answers. And I swear, having her closer to me increased my heartbeat. I was as surprised as she was by my move, but seeing her wide eyes, her beautiful face from this close felt different. It did not feel wrong. Why? I couldn't tell.

Then, while making my way out, I thought about what I had told her to do and that made me halt my steps. It was true that her ignorance bothered me, it felt odd and wrong in many ways. However, the other things I had said to her quite worried me now.

I had given her permission to annoy me...only to have her keep talking with me. She had left no stone unturned in past to agitate me. But now I wondered what height would she go to annoy me more?

Scolding myself for going overboard by offering my brain to her served on a platter, I made my way to the kitchen. There, I earned an earful from Travis, still, I helped with what was left to be done, then we called our parents for the dinner.

At dinner, we all shared a good laugh as our parents shared each other's embarrassing stories. We spent a good time together. When it was time to leave, Mom and Aunt Ariana stopped me, and Amara behind.

Aunt Ariana came to me. "Ryan, sweetheart, could you please spare some time from your schedule and tutor chemistry to Amara?"

Amara and I, both were stunned at Aunt's request. Amara rushed to us. "Mamma, I don't —"

She was silenced by her mother. "Amara, I know you face a problem with understanding the subject. I'm not saying you can't do it, but a little help wouldn't hurt, would it? I have even discussed it with your father and he agreed...for your good." She patted her shoulder.

"But Aunt I can't do it." I insisted politely. Tutoring Amara will be giving an open invitation to trouble and headache.

"Please sweetie?" She formed an irresistible cute pout; an adorable trait of her that Amara had acquired proudly. "I know you have to study yourself, but I would appreciate it if you could spare an hour or two on weekends."

"Please Aunt, don't say please, but I'm sorry I can't tutor her. I—" This time I was cut off by mom.

"Buddy, don't be like that. Can't you help a friend in need?" Mom asked, making me groan mentally. Neither I could say no to mom nor Aunt Ariana, not when they both were requesting so nicely. Also, Amara wasn't my....friend?

I was sure, Amara did not need help, and my concern for my mental and physical health rose when I saw two red horns appearing on Amara's head and an evil smile on her lips. She was definitely up to something... which was not good for me.

With her gaze locked with mine, she shifted closer to her mother. "Mamma, you're right. I do need help with chemistry, I wouldn't fail but I want to score well." She then gave an innocent look to my mom. "And Lauren, it'd be so helpful if you could convince Ryan to tutor me."

What are you playing at, Amara!

"Aww, my sweetie pie." Mom patted her cheek before giving me a look of disbelief. "See, all of us are requesting you now, what else would it take for you to accept our request? I do not approve of this behavior, Ryan."

My mouth fell open and I gaped at Amara. How easily she could have my mother on her side?

Aunt Ariana looked at mom. "Lauren, don't say that to Ryan. He's a good boy." She then smiled and came near me. "No pressure, Ryan. I understand if you don't have time. I'll find someone else to tutor her."

I sighed in relief when Aunt Ariana relieved me of the pressure, however, when I saw my mom's sad face, the pressure rose again.
Ugh, why do I care so much?!

"Uh, no, umm, you don't have to find anyone else, Aunt Ariana...I'll tutor her on the weekends," I exclaimed, making mom squeal.

"You're such a sweet boy. Thank you." Aunt Ariana ruffled my hair with a smile. I smiled back at her.

"Oh, I knew you wouldn't deny our request, Buddy." Mom hugged me out of excitement...of what? I had no clue, neither I would have any because she would get thrilled for even small things.

Aunt and mom left Amara and me alone and went to where others were. Amara, still smiling, more like, grinning, came and stood near me.

"All set to tutor me?" She asked wickedly.

I narrowed my eyes. "What are you up to? I know there's some wicked going on in that head of yours."

Her wicked smile turned into a sweet one. "Aww, you don't know? You are losing your memory, Ryan. It's not good. Don't you remember you asked for it? You did not want me to stop annoying you."

"Wha—" Before I could say anything she waved at me.

"See ya tomorrow at school." With that, she ran away, leaving me standing there, dumbfounded.

"Damn! Just what have I signed for?"

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