by Rua Hasan
“Would you mind if I stole this?” I asked pointing at his comfortable shirt.
I was running out of Matt’s clothes that I’ve stolen when he took them back. I could use a new one that smelled like Tyler . . . I couldn’t help but inhale his scent.
“Really?” he asked.
“Yea sure.”
Tyler looked like he was trying to act cool but I could sense the joy and delight in his tone. Oh, and let’s not forget about the hint of blush crawling up his neck. Nodding my head, I sat on the stool as Tyler looked around the kitchen as he shuffled through the cupboards looking for the stuff I need to make his stupid pancakes.
He then gave me a nervous sexy smile as he scratched the back of his neck.
Why the hell did he have to be so sexy?
“What’s wrong?” I asked, trying to resist the urge to tackle him to the ground and kiss those pink lips.
God, what was happening to me?
“Um . . . you see . . . ”
“Go on . . . ” I insisted.
“We ran out of butter.”
“Huh?”
“You heard me. I forgot that tomorrow was grocery day.”
I groaned to myself as I ran my hand over my face.
“I guess we’ll just have to eat eggs then,” I said.
I was about to lean over to open the fridge when Tyler pulled me back, turning me around and facing him.
“No!” he said stubbornly, sounding like a child.
“No?”
“No!”
“What do you mean? What else do you want to eat for breakfast? Bacon?”
“No! I want pancakes!” he whined as he pushed me against the counter with his arms resting on both sides, encaging me.
“But we have nothing to make them.” I pointed out.
The look of disappointment washed over his face when he was thinking. His eyes lightened up and looked like a kid who found a pot of cookies. He then grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the kitchen to his front door.
“Here’s the plan,” he said. “I’ll take you home to get dressed and then we’ll head out for breakfast.”
“You’re taking me out?”
“That’s what I said,” he said as he opened his front door and put his keys in his pocket. I was still dumbfounded by the time he dragged me to my place. I didn’t know what this meant. Was this a normal get-together with a friend or was this supposed to be a date? Should I wear something casual or a dress? I didn’t know! The only thing I knew was that I shouldn’t have been too concerned about it but I couldn’t help it! It was the very first time I went out with him without a group of friends.
Tyler then took out my keys from his pocket and opened my front door. Don’t ask why my keys were with him. Okay fine, I gave it to him because I was afraid it would get lost in his baggy clothes.
Tyler wasn’t being himself. He wouldn’t try to do something that would make me get hurt even if he was being such a pain in the ass. It seemed like we have learned to like each other and I became used to seeing him every day. I wouldn’t know what I would be doing without meeting him, other than annoying Matt which eventually became boring.
Tyler walked into my place as if he owned it. He then sat down and looked at me.
“As much as I would like you to stay in my clothes all day, Gem, I’m really hungry and want my pancakes,” he said, pointing at the clock hanging on the wall. I looked down at the clothes I was wearing.
“What’s so appealing about these?” I asked.
“They suit you . . . ” he said, trying to control himself from laughing.
“Really?”
“No, but it shows what’s mine.”
“Yours?”
He got up and walk toward me. He then placed his hand on my shoulder, and patted it gently as if I was a child crying.
“It’s okay, Gem. I know it’s confusing but you’ll find out soon.”
“What do you—”
He flipped me around and pushed me towards the stairs.
“Go, before I die of hunger right on your living room floor!”
“That would be a dream come true,” I whispered to myself.
“I heard that!” he yelled, his voice disappearing as I ran up the stairs.
Geez! What was he a werewolf with special ears? Shaking my head, I couldn’t help but smile. I was heading out to eat breakfast with him and this time I didn’t feel like ripping my own hair out.
Well, that’s new. If I went back into time and told my old self that, I would certainly get smacked in the face by myself.
I dashed into my room, not wanting to keep Tyler waiting or else he would probably barge in here while I’m half naked and drag me out. It just didn’t sound like him. I mean, I wasn’t stupid! I could tell that he had become overprotective but what I couldn’t understand why?
Wait . . . could he? No, of course not! This was Tyler I was talking about!
Shaking the silly thoughts out of my head I walked into my closet and chose to wear something casual. I grabbed a pair of shorts and a crop top. I was just about to change when Matt called on the phone
“Hey,” I answered.
“Sup, shortie!”
“Why does it sound like you’re so far away?”
“I’m helping Troy and Jasmine get ready for their party.”
“Oh, I see―wait what, party?” I asked, walking out of my closet and locking my bedroom door.
“A pool party.”
“Huh? How come no one told me about this?”
“It was unexpected but it’s a perfect time since the weather’s nice today.”
“Okay, who’s invited?”
It’s been a while since I’ve been in the waters, and the thought of doing it with my friends sounded awesome.
“A bunch of friends from school,” he answered and I suddenly felt anxious. It wasn’t that I was worried on what the people from school would think, but I was concerned on how they would treat me now that I no longer had extra fat in my body. These people were the same students who used to humiliate me and I could still recall all those years of torture.
What would have happened if I didn’t lose all those fats? What on earth was going to happen if I didn’t resort to running?
I tried to get myself together and told myself that they don’t deserve my attention. They don’t deserve the tears I’ve shed for pleasing them until I gave up. They weren’t worth it and I was going to show it. I was going to wear whatever pleases me and wouldn’t give a damn.
The bullying and picking stopped. They ignored me as if I wasn’t there, though I was not saying it was a bad thing. I just found it funny when they used to be mean and had suddenly changed.
“Hello? You there?” Thankfully, Matt’s voice broke me away from my thoughts
This wasn’t the time to recollect the past. I promised myself not to run away from any struggles. I told myself not to allow anyone step over me, and I was certain that it wouldn’t be difficult with my friends by my side and Tyler. These genuine friends would never let me down and they have been with me since the beginning and though I hate to admit it, the same goes to Tyler. I became a better person with them.
“Oh yea I hear ya! Listen I have to go. Tyler’s waiting for me downstairs,” I said.
“What? Why is he at your place on a Saturday morning?”
“It’s a long story. Don’t have time for that.”
“Fine but you better bring him with you this afternoon.”
“Okay fine. Where’s the party at?”
“Troy’s place. I’ll send you the address.”
I got dressed quickly and put aside Tyler’s clothes on my bed.
What? He did say I could have them.
“Why did you take so long? I was about to drag your ass downstairs no matter what you were wearing,” Tyler said, standing at the door of my bedroom.
“God be patient for once! I only took five minutes to get ready.”
“Yea five minutes that w
ere damn long! I’m starving woman! Do you really want me to die?”
“All you think about is food! How are you not fat?” I asked as I poked his rib.
Probably was a bad move because I saw him smirking down at me. What did I do?
“Is that you confessing that I’m sexy?”
“I never said that!”
“You didn’t say no!”
I let a huff out as I stepped aside and walked toward the stairs, ignoring him. He grabbed my hand and pushed me against the wall.
How many times had he done that in one day?
“Just admit it! I’m the sexiest person you’ve ever laid eyes on.”
I shook my head.
“Hell no!”
“Oh, come on! Just say it!”
“I’ll do that when pigs start to fly!”
What’s with me and the pigs flying?
“Just once!” he said as he rested his forehead against mine.
“Why are you so persistent?”
“Why are you so stubborn?”
“It’s in my genes,” I replied, then pushed him back and walked towards the stairs.
Tyler followed me down the stairs, cursing. My thoughts went flying out the window when I was turned upside down and over Tyler’s shoulders.
“AH! WHAT THE HELL?” I screamed over Tyler’s laughter.
“PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!” I yelled as I pounded my fists on his back.
“Not until you say the magic word!” he said as he twirled me around making me squeal as I held onto his shirt because of the dizziness.
“Tyler put me down, I’m getting dizzy!”
“Not unless I hear the magic word!” He laughed spinning me on his shoulder even faster.
“TYLER IS THE MOST STUBBORN ASSHOLE IVE EVER MET!”
“Wrong answer,” he said as he flipped me on my living room’s couch and hovered over me. He tickled the life out of me and my laughter echoed through the place.
“Say it!”
“N-n-never!”
“You asked for it!” he said as he tickled me some more, making my stomach hurt.
My vision began to blur because of the tears coming out as I laughed and screamed hysterically. I knew I couldn’t go on any longer so I gave up.
“Okay fine fine! You got me!”
“Tyler is the sexiest person on earth!”
“I can’t hear you!” Tyler laughed out.
“YOU STUBBORN ASSHOLE! YOU’RE DAMN SEXY! YOU HEAR ME NOW YOU BASTARD?!”
I let a breath of relief out as he released his hold from my stomach.
“I hate you,” I whispered as I tried to bury him six feet underground with my eyes.
“Love you too,” he sent me a charming smile then looked at the time in his phone.
“Come on, Gem, I’m hungry. Lets go,” Tyler said.
“I’d rather die!”
Tyler narrowed his eyes.
“Oh really? Would you like me to tickle you again?”
I got up quickly as I dashed to my front door. I then opened it and ran outside while Tyler followed behind me as he chuckled.
“I still hate you,” I said.
“Sure you do. Even after you confessed your undying love for me.”
“I said no such thing.” I hissed.
“You sure? I’m sure the whole neighborhood heard you scream your confession.” He pointed out as he dropped his arm on my shoulder and pulled me closer.
“Someone kill me now!” I whispered to myself.
“Where’s the fun in that?”
“Tell me, why am I having breakfast with you?” I asked as we walked toward my car.
“Because you love me!”
“I don’t see any pigs flying anywhere,” I said, looking up into the sky as if I was searching for something.
“Huh?”
I stopped walking and looked up at him then placed my hand on his shoulder as I patted it gently.
“It’s okay Tyler. I know it’s confusing but you’ll find out soon.” I mimicked what he had said earlier today causing him to roll his eyes. We then hopped into my car and started the engine.
I drove down the road while Tyler was giving me the direction to the place he wanted to eat at. I obeyed silently so I could get rid of him and stop hearing him whine about his stupid pancakes. I then stopped at a traffic light.
“Oh, there’s a pool party this afternoon at Troy’s place and you’re invited,” I said.
“Cool. What’s it for?”
“Nothing really. Just for fun I guess.”
A moment of silence passed and I decided to break it. “Do you remember in the fifth grade when we were at a friend’s birthday party and you pushed me into the icy, cold pool and ruined my new dress?” I asked as the memories came flowing back to my mind.
My mom spent so much money on that dress and I got excited when somebody invited me to a pool party for the first time. I was standing near the pool as I watched the kids played, not knowing how I was going to approach them. Some of Tyler’s friends started to pick on how I looked in my dress. They called me fat, ugly, and disgusting. I was about to walk away from them when Tyler pushed me into the pool. Did I mention that it was winter? I left home early that day with a cold—
“I never pushed you on purpose.”
“What?” I breathed out.
“I said, I never meant to push you in that pool. It was a mistake.”
“What do you mean?” I asked as I flickered my eyes to him then back at the road. I could feel the tension fill the car. It was so thick, I swear I could have cut it with a knife.
“Do you remember the dress you wore?”
“Yea, obviously. It was one of my favorites.”
“It had a zipper on the side which kept it in place because it was strapless right?”
“Well earlier I heard my ‘friends’ saying that they were going to zip it down and pour some ice down your dress and recorded you as you screamed. Then they agreed on pushing you into the pool,” Tyler confessed as I saw his eyes flash in anger.
“I was outraged when I heard it. I only wanted to stop them so I came to you.”
I was flabbergasted as I continued to listen.
“And you did that to prevent most of my humiliation,” I whispered.
“Yea, but before I could turn around to face them, I slipped, pushing you by accident,” Tyler said as he bit his lip.
I stared at him for a moment until I realized that I was still driving. I felt a small smile form on my face when I realized that Tyler didn’t actually mean it. Yes I did go home that day feeling horrible but knowing that he actually prevented everyone humiliating me further made my heart swell.
“So you never meant it?” I asked.
He shook his head.
“Yes I was mean but I wasn’t that cruel! I knew my limits but sadly sometimes I would go overboard,” he said as he looked out the window.
Why did I get the feeling he was talking about the last time I saw him in school before I moved? I couldn’t just let the awkward silence take over as our brains filled with the sad and painful memories of our childhood. My mouth moved on its own free will and said something I’d never thought I’d actually say to his face.
“Tyler?”
“Hm?”
“I don’t hate you.”
He whipped his head to look at me as a happy smile took over his face. His eyes lightened up but were soon replaced by his ordinary look of amusement. He gave me his smirk I couldn’t go one day without seeing.
“I know! As I said before. The whole neighborhood heard.” He winked at me, causing me to glare at him.
There is the never serious Tyler I know and hate! Gosh! For once I wanted him to be serious.
Shaking my head as I ignored the blush creeping up my neck, I looked back at the road while trying to ignore the stare Tyler was burning in the side of my head.
Let’s just get his stupid damn pancakes so that I could get rid of that damn sexy face.
/> Sexy and annoying shouldn’t go good together! But why would it fit his category so well?
Chapter 29
As we stepped out of my car, Tyler walked up right next to me and held my hand. He dragged me into the place as if he was going to die if he didn’t eat any minute now. Rolling my eyes, I let him drag me through the glass doors as if I was a rag doll.
My mouth fell open at the sight of the place. It was full. And when I say full, I mean it looked like all the popular kids from school were here. A bunch of teenagers took up most of the seats as their laughter filled the air. If it wasn’t for Tyler’s strong hold on me, I would have probably backed away slowly and rushed back to my car because one thing was certain.
I didn’t belong here.
Not where there were popular people who hung around the ‘hot girls’ and ‘sexy dudes’ as they gossiped about others. This place wasn’t that bad and if I had my own group, I would also be having fun. But coming here alone made me feel like I was standing out, as if this place didn’t belong to me.
Tyler’s hands were rubbing circles on my back making me realize that I was wrong. I didn’t come here alone. Tyler was with me and his arms were around me without me realizing it. I looked up to see him give me a warm smile which I couldn’t help but stare in confusion. Don’t get me wrong. His smile was beautiful but I was used to seeing his teasing smirk and everyday grin. Seeing this foreign smile kind of took me back a little.
I realized that Tyler was trying to reassure me. I guess he knew that I somehow didn’t like being in a place full of people who put name tags on others. That was one of the reasons why I hang out at the back of the cafeteria with Matt and my friends.
“Are you going to keep staring at me as if you saw Beyoncé in person or do I have to drag you to a table myself so I can get my freakin’ pancakes?” Tyler’s voice brought be back to reality. Rolling my eyes as I shook my head at him, I pushed back the blush when I realized I was staring at Tyler for longer than necessary.
Man, I would have to get rid of this habit of mine.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, buddy,” I said, as we walked to the register to order the damn pancakes we’ve came here for.
“That’s kind of hard when you’re staring at me as if I’m your next meal.”
