Chapter Sixteen- You are the most interesting girl I’ve ever seen in my life

Shock. That was all I could feel. My body turned into a statue as I stared at the scene playing in front of me. I rubbed my eyes with heels of my hands making sure they were playing no trick on me. Once I opened them again, the scene was still playing in front of my eyes. My jaw dropped open.

“It’s not a dream.” A voice said from my side. I knew it was Blaise and he sounded suspiciously amused.

“No, it’s a nightmare.” I gasped. I was not scared of what was happening in front of me. I was scared of what was going to happen soon.

My-oh-my, how did this happen? Where was I when all this was happening?

“Are you not happy for your best friend?” He asked with a hint of envy in his own voice.

That drew my attention. I still refrained from turning to look at him. But my eyes couldn’t help gauging his reaction from corner of my eye. He had a frown on his face. That was all I could decipher.

“Are you happy for your friend?” I asked irritated. Why did he sound so jealous? Don’t tell me he has same obsession for her as she has for him.

“I am,” he admitted almost distracted but there was a tone of sincerity in his voice. I released a small breath I didn’t realize I was even holding. Why was that?

Come on. This can be happening. This is Blaise Anderson. Nick Conman’s best friend. Of course there is some impact of poor company on your personality. He is no better.

“Let’s say hi to our friends,” Blaise started walking towards the direction of my locker. I grimaced at the image of my best friend and her crush making out against my locker. I started following him closely behind. He came to a halt leaning against the locker behind Josh.

“Mr. Roberts and Ms. Watson,” Blaise boomed in a thundering voice that even I flinched. The couple detangled themselves and jumped away. Both had wide eyes. Both looked like a mess, the I-just-made-out mess.

Josh turned around immediately and when he saw that it was only his best friend and no teacher, his scared face turned into relief and then disbelief and anger.

“What the heck man?” He glared at the green eyed boy. Jessica on the other hand was too embarrassed to speak a word. I met her eyes over Blaise’s shoulder. I threw her you-better-explain-why-you-were-making-out-with-your-crush-againt-my-locker look. In return she gave me a pleading look and I nodded postponing the much needed conversation.

“I was just trying to help Beryl. She needs to take her books for her first class.” He shrugged innocently and I rolled my eyes.

“You didn’t need to shout like that,” Josh scowled, his cheeks turning red.

“What did you expect me to say? Can you please stop shoving your tongue down her throat so that my friend can get her books? That would have sounded so rude.”

“You are talking about being rude?” Josh gave a look of disbelief to his friend.

“That aside, why were you making out with Jessica?” Blaise slung an arm over Jessica’s shoulder who was avoiding eye contact with any of us.

Why was he acting so defensive?

“We are together.” Josh caught Jessica’s hand and pulled her to his side and out of his friend’s hold. My eyes widened. Jessica Watson, my best friend, as Josh Roberts’ girlfriend.

I knew this was going to happen but it happened really very soon. Sooner than I could ever have expected. Boy, this girl worked really fast. After all she was crushing on him for a long time. And I had a feeling that Josh also had feelings for her.

“Since when?” The question flew out of my mouth.

“Since weekend,” Josh replied. “And I asked her out. Before any other boy tries, I grabbed her, completely. She is mine now.” He sounded smug.

“That’s great,” I nodded opening my locker.

“Wow, a new couple,” a cheerful voice came from behind me. I knew without turning around that it was Nick. “Welcome to the group Josh.” He walked to the new couple and slung his arms on both of their shoulders. Then I noticed the girl who came with him. She was one of Kim’s toys. She stood beside Blaise, so close that her side was brushing against his arm.

I bit my lower lip frowning at the twinge of something in my chest. I groaned mentally. This is not happening. Not again. I shook my head forcing myself to forget it. God I can’t be pathetic again. I have not yet forgotten how it ended before. And I am not going to admit it again.

When I opened my eyes, everyone was looking at me with curiosity. I refrained from looking at Blaise knowing his eyes were burning hole in my face. My eyes locked with Nick’s who had confused look on his handsome face. Yeah, he was handsome.

“Are you having a fit or are you possessed by an evil spirit?” He asked me. I gave him a flat look. Seriously, he couldn’t think of anything else like ‘were you thinking about my very hot friend you have started to develop a crush on?’

I groaned loudly closing my eyes. There, I admitted it. Stupid me.

What have you done Beryl? Have you forgotten how much it had hurt the last time?

“Definitely an evil spirit,” he whispered it slowly watching me with those huge eyes as if he couldn’t believe it was true. And it was not.

He turned his attention to the green eyed boy. “There’s a party tonight at mine. Don’t forget to come my lovely boy.” He patted his best friend’s face. Blaise made a face at Nick swatting his hand away.

It made me think of them being together. The possibility of them being gay and moving in hallways holding each other’s hand. I can see Nick doing that but Blaise… he... it made me giggle.

That earned me yet another bemused look from Nick and I groaned mentally for once.

“Most definitely an evil spirit.” He whispered. “Buttercup, let’s go.” He extended his left arm still staring at me with wary eyes. The girl launched herself in his arms and he scurried away from us.

“And don’t forget the party.” He reminded his friends and threw me one last look before leaving with his girl. Party at Wednesday night. This boy is totally strange.

“How could God forget to place a brain inside his skull?” I wondered to myself.

“I ask myself the same question.” Josh said.

“I thank God for that,” Blaise added. Shocked, I looked at him to find his eyes trained on me as if he had never removed them. It sounded so creepy that I shivered. I was looking way too much into it. I am going to lose my brain soon.

I think you can say I wanted to disappear into thin air for rest of the day. Every eye was watching me and Blaise with suspicion. After Josh and Jessica’s come together, everyone expects me and Blaise to become a new couple.

And let’s not forget, I’m trapping the ‘innocent’ bad boy in my claws. Poor Blaise Anderson, I’ve used black magic on him. I’ve put a spell on him. Sprayed love potion on him. Hypnotized him to start a relationship with me. Yeah, that’s what I’ve been hearing since morning.

I want to break their mouths. How can they even say those things? Seriously, are these girls so desperate that they would rather classify me as a witch and believe on black magic? My blood boiled but I preferred to keep my hands and my violent thoughts to myself. And incessant making out of new couple bugged me to no limit.

When there are only four people on your table and two of them are acting like a newlywed couple while other two try to tune out the make out session of the couple on same table, it is really awkward for the remaining two people. That’s what happened in cafeteria. And I was angry again. Instead of eating, I excused myself to go to library. The new couple was so lovesick that they didn’t care if anyone was uncomfortable with their PDA. My hands clenched at my sides as I waited for next period with grumbling stomach.

In Physics class, the moment I entered I was welcomed by one of Nick’s play toys.

“You think you can get Blaise sleep with you. Well girl listen to me carefully, that is never going to happen. So give up trying. It’s best for you.” Saying that, she walked away with her red hairs bouncing with every step. I glared at her back before going to my usual seat. Soon after Blaise entered and took seat at my side. I didn’t say anything.

“Your best friend’s romance bugging you?” He asked drumming his pencil against the table. I eyed it with corner of my eye.

“No, it’s not.” I muttered.

“Why in grumpy mood then?” He seemed exceptionally happy. And on the other hand I was being harassed by every other girl.

“Your ex girlfriends are taking me as a threat.” My voice was slightly above whisper. It was not weak-and-vulnerable kind but more of I’m-so-angry-but-I’m-refraining-from-shouting-at-the-top-of-my-lungs kind.

“My what?” He sounded shocked as he stopped the drumming sound. I was beyond angry to care how shocked he was.

“Your ex-girlfriends or your play toys. I can say many other words but they will come out rude.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment and I wondered if he had passed out. When I looked up at him, he was staring back into my eyes with that intense look.

“I don’t have any ex-girlfriend.” He said flatly. “And I don’t go for play toys. I’m not like Nick.”

“You’re gay?” I frowned up at him.

His eyes widened. “No! I’m not gay. What I’m saying is that I don’t work as a player.” He explained himself.

“You’re saying that if Megan Fox stands in front of you begging you to kiss her, you won’t kiss her?” I raised an eyebrow.

His eyes seemed determined as he answered. “No.”

“Or Mila Kunis?”

He again answered in negative. I pondered his answer for a couple of minutes.

I nodded my head and returned sarcastically. “You sure don’t sound like a gay.”

He groaned closing his frustrated green eyes. It made me smile. The look on his face looked so innocent. I wanted to run my finger along those frown lines.

I blinked.

What am I thinking? What’s going on here?

“What I’m trying to say is I’m not going for a girl I feel nothing for. I will not kiss her if I don’t love her or like her. So I’m not kissing any random girl here. And I don’t see my ex-girlfriend anywhere here.” He sounded exasperated.

My heart thudded at his words and I groaned internally. You were not supposed to say that. Seriously?

I tried to change the topic but I couldn’t. One thing still bugged me.

“So your ex-girlfriend is not here. Who is she anyway? Is she Avril?” I asked keeping my eyes on the paper and doodling on it.

He chuckled at my side. “No, Avril is not my ex-girlfriend. She’d make fun of me for rest of my life if she ever heard you said that. She is a family friend. She is like a sister to me. Or was.” He muttered the last part under his breath.

A family friend. Friend. Yeah, I believe that. I thought rolling my eyes. And he added ‘was’ here. That means even if they were friends in past they are something more in present and will be much more in coming future. What can be worse? Their wedding? Kids?

“So, I remind you of her?” I waded.

“No, you are different. Not like Avril. Not at all.” He shook his head. “She is a psycho girl and you are completely normal.”

My face hardened. “Are you trying to say that I am boring?”

His eyes widened. He shook his head looking horrified at my words. “You…” he drawled, “boring? No. Never. I can’t even imagine these two words in same sentence. You are the most interesting girl I’ve ever seen in my life. I spend most part of my time thinking how different you are from everyone.”

My narrowed eyes grew to the size of saucers. Did he just call me an interesting girl? And he thinks I’m different?

I think I should stop this. Tate had also said that I was different and that he liked me. Why am I being over dramatic when these words are spoken by Blaise Anderson? I think I’m losing my senses.

As if realizing what he had just said his eyes grew wider than they were. I wondered if they would pop out of their sockets.

“No, I-I-,” he shook his head and closed those green eyes while groaning softly. When he opened them, they were hard and soft at the same time. His jaw was clenched in determination. “When I say you are interesting, I mean it.” He said with certainty.

“I bet you say that to half of female population.” I muttered looking away from him. From corner of my eye I noticed him facing me.

“What gives you that idea?” He asked with a hint of anger I knew was lingering beneath the surface of calmness. I was testing waters here. How long the surface tension will hold his anger was a question.

“Well they don’t seem to stop worshipping you. What type of spell you has casted on them?” I couldn’t stop the words from escaping my lips. When I heard them in my head again, I realized how much I sounded like those girls. But why was I even saying something like that to him. I should have asked him to stop talking to me and end of conversation. Why do I sound so-?

“Are you jealous?” He stole words from my mouth.

“No,” I answered quickly. My intention was to stop the awkward conversation then and there. That’s why I spoke the words quicker than necessary. But Blaise didn’t seem to think same. He was staring forward but there was a smirk on his face that made him look more handsome.

What am I ever thinking? What has happened to my brain?

The teacher entered the classes and started saying something about acceleration due to gravity. I was too busy in my own thoughts to concentrate in the class.

I was in turmoil. I was acting like a jealous girl. I was acting like them. No way. It was as horrifying as Dan in his sleep. Why would I even act so jealous? It’s not like he was my boyfriend or anything. It’s not like I have crush on him or anything. And it’s definitely not like I’m jealous or anything. I’m not acting jealous because I’m jealous. The thing is I am not jealous at first place.

Oh God! This is getting so confusing.

“I am not jealous.” I said with finality. It was only when the words were out of my mouth did I realize I spoke them loudly. Luckily students were busy with their own work to notice someone has disrupted the silence.

When I looked around, my eyes fell on Drew Miller who was walking out of the class with a girl following him. I recognized her as one of Kim’s troops. Sometimes, I’m thankful to these students for dragging all attention to them. Saves us lots of trouble.

Cautiously I stole a glance at Blaise and groaned mentally to find his eyes trained on me with an amused look on his face.

“Don’t say a word. Just don’t.” I instructed returning my attention to the teacher who had started teaching again. I have the worst luck possible.

When the class finished, it seemed that Blaise was going to stick with me. He didn’t go to his locker to fetch books. Instead he walked me to my locker in silence I seemed to enjoy.

“Why is he even following her? She is not even hot.” I heard someone say and my pace slowed.

There were two girls standing with extremely tight dresses glancing at us and giggled as they made fun of my clothes. They were baggy and cozy. At least I don’t compromise with my health just to look hot. I should be the one making fun of them. They were wearing those tight revealing dresses in cold weather.

Blaise tensed at my side. He must have heard them too. I took a deep breath preparing myself. To stop being target of these bullies, I have to break things off with Blaise.

“Listen what they are saying. They are thinking something is going on here.” I started whispering as we walked closely. My left arm brushed with his right arm. I tried to ignore the tingling sensation ignited by the touch. “Save your bad boy image and leave me alone.”

I didn’t even know what exactly happened. My back was against the locker and Blaise’s face was in front of me. His right arm was resting on locker at side of my head. My books were still clutched in my hands. They helped me maintain reasonable distance between our bodies but I still considered it intrusion of my personal space.

“You are too interesting to be left alone,” he said in a deep voice. My eyes widened as he leaned in slightly. “Too precious to be left without care,” he whispered in my ear. “Too delicate to be handled without care,” his hand brushed against back of my hands. I gasped at the touch.

And again before I could make out anything, he was already walking in the direction of Mr. Valentino’s class. The girls who were giggling at me before were watching me with wide eyes. Their mouths were opened. I guess they had seen everything.

“Come on Beryl, Mr. Valentino is waiting for us.” Blaise shouted.

I released my books from my tight clutch and took a deep breath. I rushed to his side keeping enough distance between us. I didn’t dare to look at his face. Even though I wanted to, I just couldn’t. My face was already burning bright red. When we entered the class, I hid my face behind the shield of my books and flopped on chair quickly and buried my head inside books again.

As Blaise took seat at my side, he chuckled. The voice sent shivers down my spine. And I knew for sure at that moment that I was in danger.

*

It was end of the day when I finally managed to snag Jessica and threw her in my car before speeding away. If she had any plans with Josh, they were put off then.

“Beryl,” she screamed from backseat. “Are you crazy? I thought I was being kidnapped.”

“You thought right. I’m kidnapping you.” I agreed driving home.

“What? Why did you do that?” She asked.

“I want to know what’s going on between you and Josh. When it happened and how? I don’t have any idea.”

“Couldn’t you ask me decently? There was no need of ‘kidnapping’ me.” She air quoted ‘kidnapping’.

“You were glued with superglue to him, more like his lips. I was not going to talk to you while you two were playing tonsil tennis. It was so disgusting.” I made a face. She rolled her eyes at me.

“Don’t be so dramatic. You’re not a fan of PDA doesn’t mean no one else is.” She said relaxing back on seat.

“So care to tell me what happened over weekend?” I looked at her through rearview mirror.

“Fine, I needed clothes to wear and he lent me his.” She shrugged. I pulled at the side of the road. Luckily, there were not many cars around. I gave her a horrified look.

Her own eyes widened at my expressions and she shook her head vigorously. “No. No. No. Not like that. Let me explain.”

“Spare me the details.” I said giving her a dirty look.

“Let me tell you what happened.” She tried to persuade me.

“I’m not hearing it. Oh God! No!”

“Shut up,” she shouted. “Will you let me explain? It’s not what it sounds like. Get your mind out of the gutter.”

I went silent at her outburst. Well you are the one making it sound so dirty.

“Now drive to my home. I have to prepare for party tonight. Are you coming?”

“No, I’m not.” I mumbled and started driving.

She sighed from backseat. “On Friday evening I was doing my job at Emily’s when he accidently spilled his coffee on my uniform. My clothes were drenched and my bra was almost showing. So he lent me his jacket. That’s all that happened that day.”

“Are you sure?” I gave her an incredulous look.

“Yes Beryl, I’m sure. I