by Leen Elle
"We can talk now if you still want to." I couldn't help but feel that she was lying to me some way or another. Could something have really happened at home, and she was unwilling to let me know? Or perhaps it was just yours truly with an overactive imagination, thinking way too much about something impossible. She kept silent for another ten seconds, leaving me wondering if I had said something wrong. She finally replied, a weary tone creeping into her voice.
"No, Viper. It's alright. I'm fine now. Bye." Without waiting for me to return her goodbye, she ended the call and I was left listening to the annoying beeping sounds. I stared at the phone in my hand and shrugged, entering the bathroom.
Girls.
Chapter 19
So Very Cold Outside
"It's better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not." – Andre Gide
RAYLIN
We had spent the entire morning in the school preparing for the Winter Ball. Madam Pince had kindly declared a school holiday for us just so that we could prepare and enjoy our prom night. That woman is simply wonderful. The student councilors were put under our charge and Teresa was repeatedly showering us with gratitude. The hall was finally transformed into a Winter Wonderland under Belinda and Jacelyn's supervision. Belinda had roped in my step-sister when she recognized a fellow designer in training.
We were finally allowed to return home to primp for prom while the other girls in our level were already fussing over their pretty dresses and show-stopping arrivals. Two hours ago, however, Calista began freaking when she thought the caterers had already delivered the food. Leila and I had to placate her with coffee so that we could drum it into her head that we had another couple of hours before we had to return to school.
"Wow, this one's a keeper. There's no sex in the relationship…" Leila began, tying the ribbon around her waist before Calista cut her off.
"He's not a jock! You've been dating only jocks since God knows when!" She exclaimed, popping her head out of the bathroom while winding a lock of her hair around the hot iron curler.
"The week's coming to an end and you haven't even mentioned a single word about giving him 'The Speech'…" Belinda added, giving me an intense look from the mirror reflection. I raised an eyebrow at the three girls scattered around my room incredulously. Were they actually discussing this before the prom?
"He basically broke all your rules and he's still around!" Leila finished as she got off the stool and twirled around the room, coming to a stop before me. I managed to finish touching up my make-up and styling my hair before the rest, finally settling down on my bed to watch them fuss around. Belinda took a step back from my dressing table and whirled around to face me, pointing at her face.
"Good?" She asked with a wide smile. I stared back at her, scrutinizing the pale make-up on her face before pointing out that she needed another layer of lip-gloss. As she turned back to the mirror, she resumed their discussion about Viper. "So, will you break up with him this time?"
I opened my mouth to reply but Calista bounded out of the bathroom with a worried look on her face, "You understand that we're not trying to get you to break up with him right?"
At that, Belinda faced me again with her mouth in a perfect 'O' of horror when she registered what Calista said. She nodded vigorously in agreement, "We like Viper a lot! You can't break up with him!"
Leila chimed in, sitting down on the edge of my bed, "Yeah, don't let us pressurize you into doing anything okay? I know you always get influenced by our weird ideas and stuff but we do like Viper a lot and he cares for you so much more than those jocks that you've dated before…"
"He's too good for you to give him 'The Speech' just like that!" Calista urged again, her eyes growing wide. I believe the caffeine did her in, but the effects would slowly wear off… In about another half an hour. I heaved a sigh mentally.
"I haven't actually thought about ending the relationship." I confessed, watching with slight relief as they all primped one last time in my full length mirror. It seemed to take decades for them to get ready, or perhaps it was just me moving twice as fast today. They all froze at my words, turning in slow motion to face me, shock written clearly across their faces. I slid off the bed and smoothed down my black dress, breezing past them out the door. "We're not going to be early if we don't leave now."
When we stepped out of the house, there was a sudden gasp from Belinda who threw open my front door and ran all the way back to my room in record time. She emerged again holding a camera case in her hand, waving it at us sheepishly.
"Can't forget the camera. Sierra said she wanted to see our pretty photos," she grinned, following us to my car. There was a flash of light and we whirled around to see Belinda holding up the camera in glee. "Okay, there's the first shot! More photos on the way, baby."
The three of us rolled our eyes in unison and got into the car. Fifteen minutes later, Calista was instructing the caterers to set up the buffet table against one side of the hall with Leila talking to the younger DJ looking up at her besottedly while nodding as though his life depended on it. Belinda and I were sitting on the edge of the stage, looking around us in general satisfaction. The place looked beautiful indeed. Yards of blue and white cloth hung from the edges of the ceiling right to the centre, so that they covered the bright white lights and tinted everything a pale blue. The DJ was testing the speakers by playing soft, ambient music to suit the mood. Round tables draped with white cloth were dotted across the floor for dinner.
"I think it's time to talk to the performers, don't you think?" I turned to Belinda. She nodded and hopped off the stage only to ascend it from the side. We entered the backstage where Teresa was talking to an assorted group of people. I was looking over her shoulder at her list of performers and counted three bands, three dance groups and four solo singers when one of the names caught my eye. Before I could take a closer look she hugged the clipboard to her chest and sent the performers scattering in all directions with a regal wave of her hand. She beamed at us before enveloping us both into a hug, "I really can't thank all four… or five actually, of you enough! You've done such a wonderful, amazing, fabulous job!"
"Teresa, it's 7.30pm already. The students are beginning to stream in." One of the student councilors came up and tapped on Teresa's shoulder. We drew back from the hug and Teresa hurried away to make sure the younger students were ushering their seniors to the right tables.
"Ladies, please enjoy yourselves tonight and thank you for all the help!" Belinda and I turned to see Leslie, the vice-president of the student council smiling at us. "Dinner will be starting soon, so I trust you know where your table is?" I gave him an affirmative response and waved him away to carry on with whatever he was doing. Joining Leila and Calista at the table, we watched the empty tables gradually filling up, with some students milling around to talk to each other, passing comments about the 'fabulous decorations'. Each girl looked gorgeous hanging off the arm of her date that night.
"It's so sad that we can't be picked up by our dates and make a glamorous entrance," Calista pouted while Belinda silently agreed by texting Jake. Leila and I exchanged an amused glance at their forlorn faces. Speak of the devil. Jake and Allen – Calista's 'cute new boyfriend' appeared and joined us at the table. We smiled at them politely before the two couples began whispering sweet nothings to each other. I looked down at my cellphone, wondering if I should give Viper a call. Although we had not spoken much about the prom, Viper had promised to be here. I searched the entrance with my eyes worriedly. The night was about to start and if he did not appear soon, the doors would all be closed.
"Missed me?" Someone sat down in the empty seat next to mine and leaned over to whisper in my ear. "You're looking for me, aren't you?"
"Viper!" I found myself grinning at him. He did come after all. He pulled his lips into a smile at the other occupants before pecking me on the lips. He said nothing as the hall continued filling up rapidly. I watched him out of the corner of my eye as his eyes f
lickered towards the stage continuously, finally asking suspiciously, "Is there something you're not telling me?"
"No," he replied simply, putting an arm around me. "Relax. Look, the twins are here."
Jacelyn and Jerome smiled widely as they sat at the table. Leila grimaced jokingly, "Don't tell me you're each other's date. That's incest, and plain gross."
Jerome smiled cheekily, "I could be your date, pretty lady." The people at the table laughed in amusement at his flirtatious tone and Leila's mock-horrified look. Jake and Allen accept him surprisingly well, unlike some of the jocks who simply steered clear of him. As we made casual chit-chat, Teresa was ascending the stage.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen." All eyes were on her in her filmy silver dress as she spoke into the mike. "Please remember your tables, and you may now proceed to get your food from that long buffet table at the back of the hall. Come back soon, because the performances will be starting shortly! It's going to be a night you will enjoy."
When everyone was back in their seats and happily eating, the performances began, starting off with a bang by a junior band playing Jinglebell Rock. Leila leaned towards me, "Are they all going to be singing and dancing about Christmas already?" I shrugged in response. The next few performances were rather entertaining and kept everyone's attention while we ate.
"Baby, I'm going to the toilet," Viper whispered to me, pushing his chair back. I nodded, still keeping my eyes on the impressive dance performance on stage.
"Well, a round of applause for that amazing performance. I'm sure you are all enjoying everything so far, aren't you?" Teresa was saying chirpily. "One last performance for tonight before dinner ends and the partying begins! And here he comes!" My eyes widened when I saw who stepped out from the wings.
"You guys knew!" I said accusingly when I noticed the knowing looks on my friends' faces. I returned my attention to the stage in a huff when they smirked at me.
"I'm sure most of you remember me embarrassing myself outside school a week ago for a certain girl," he remarked drily into the mike. A ripple of laughter went through the audience. "Well I'm dedicating a song once more, to that very same girl. Without my guitar too, so you can actually tell how nervous I'm feeling right now."
I felt the breath rush out of me as he locked eyes with me. A collective "Awwww!" went through the crowd. Since when did he become the regular Joker?
"And before I start, I want you to know that I'm not leaving you in any way. Because I'll always be there for you, at your beck and call," he added, still gazing at me. I shifted uncomfortably and looked down at my hands. "Don't be too affected by the lyrics, baby."
"So here we stand,
In our secret place,
With a sound of the crowd,
So far away.
And you take my hand,
And it feels like home,
We both understand,
It's where we belong."
The place went dark suddenly, and a beam of light shone straight at him. He looked annoyed for a moment before carrying on as though nothing went wrong.
"Quite the crooner, isn't he?" Leila whispered wickedly next to me. I hit her thigh once then again to further shut her up.
"So how do I say?
Do I say goodbye?
We both have our dreams,
We both wanna fly.
So let's take tonight,
To carry us through,
The lonely times."
He hopped off the stage and began walking towards me. I sat frozen as the spotlight followed him. There was a very soft click and I found myself in another spotlight. Silently cursing him for making me blush before an audience, I bit my lip.
"I'll always look back,
As I walk away,
This memory will last for eternity.
And all of our tears,
Will be lost in the rain,
When I've found my way,
Back to your arms again.
But until that day,
You know you are,
The queen of my heart."
He stopped before me and held out a hand. I took it uncertainly and stood up. He stepped closer and released my hand, choosing instead to hold me around the waist.
"So let's take tonight,
And never let go,
While dancing we'll kiss,
Like there's no tomorrow.
As the stars sparkle down,
Like a diamond ring,
I'll treasure this moment,
Till we meet again."
He began swaying me to the music. I found myself smiling unwittingly. When did you learn how to dance? I wanted to ask. I could feel myself beginning to melt in his arms. He held me tighter and winked at me. I bit back a bubble of laughter and placed my hands on his shoulders.
"But no matter how far,
Or where you may be,
I just close my eyes,
And you're in my dreams.
And there you will be,
Until we meet."
He pulled me closer, leaning down so that our foreheads touched. The hall was achingly silent, with only him singing his heart out. For yours truly.
"I'll always look back,
As I walk away,
This memory will last for eternity.
And all of our tears,
Will be lost in the rain,
When I've found my way,
Back to your arms again.
But until that day,
You know you are,
The queen of my heart."
The music went on playing as he stopped singing. I swallowed nervously as he stared at me intently for a few beats. What? I wanted to ask again. He shifted the hand holding the mike out of the way and captured my lips in a sweet kiss. Oh my god.
"I never thought I'd say this, Miss Lachey," He said into the mike once more. "And you probably never expected it either but… I think I love you."
Just like that, the hall erupted into cheers and applause and I felt my heart thump faster than ever. Someone came over to take the mike from him and left us standing in each other's arms amidst the ongoing cheering. You would think it was their boyfriends serenading them before a crowd by the way the girls were swooning.
"Okay, people! Our dear juniors are helping us move the tables out so we can dance the night away! Please make way for them…" Teresa's voice floated right over our heads.
"Liked my performance?" He smirked again. I tapped his cheek in annoyance and began pulling at it to get rid of the smirk.
"Stop smirking, you cheesy idiot." I grumbled, looking away.
"Cheesy idiot?" He repeated in slight surprise. "Admit it, you enjoyed that. Anyway, babe, I've to find Madam Pince again. There's something I need to settle but I'll be back before you know it. Wait for me, bye!"
He kissed my cheek and released his hold on me, dashing out of the hall. I blinked a few times to clear my mind before allowing a small smile to grace my face.
Silly guy.
VIPER
I have come to a decision.
What?
I'm going to reject the art scholarship… If I even get it, that is.
Why?
There are two major reasons why I am rejecting the once-in-a-lifetime offer. Firstly, and very importantly, for my brother, because leaving him behind with a father who has never been there would be wrong and bringing him with me would be unfair for him. How could I ever bear to leave him?
Secondly, and if I must admit, just as importantly, for Raylin. Having spent an entire day thinking about this problem also made me think of her, and our relationship. Indeed, it was different from all the rest. I had no idea how long exactly it will last, but the fact that it was going to last longer than a week was enough to make me believe that there was some hope in the relationship. College started three months later, and I would be happy enough to spend those three months with her until we parted ways – because there was no way we would end up in the same college.
Shucks, I sound so mushy.
"Hey bro, what time are you leaving?" Melvin came into my room and stopped at the door when he saw what I was wearing. "Are you out of your mind?"
I straightened the black long-sleeved shirt and loosened the red tie around my neck, ignoring his comment - at least I was wearing jeans. Trust me; I would not have bothered with clothes like these if the dress code for prom was not 'FORMAL'. I looked at him and tilted my chin towards the bed, indicating that he should sit.
"I'm not going to England, Mel." He almost fell off the bed.
"What?! But it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance, a scholarship worth tens of thousands of dollars that we're talking about here!"
"But it's also my brother and my girlfriend that I'm talking about here."
He narrowed his eyes at me, folding his arms across his chest, "Are you sure I'm part of the deal or are you just staying for Raylin?"
I ruffled his hair fondly, "Of course, you're right. Of course, I'm staying only for Raylin. Of course, I don't care about you, why would I?"
"You sound like a petty kid, bro," he retorted, ducking away from my hands. "You didn't have to sound so sarcastic. I'm wounded. Right here, deep in my heart. Wounded… By your cutting words. How could you?"
I stared at him unblinkingly. Then he leapt off the bed and barreled towards me to give me a bear hug, "But I'm glad you decided to stay!"
"Not that I would mind if you changed your mind," he added as an afterthought. "But I'm still glad you decided to stay."
"Right," I said awkwardly, pushing him off me and straightening my shirt again. "I'm going to school for prom now. Don't sleep too late."
He decided not to grace me with an answer as he ran out of my room and back into his own. Leaving the house, I made it to school in record time, sliding into the seat beside Raylin's. It did not take long before the performances began and I began to panic in my seat. My palms were sweaty as the second last performance was drawing to an end.
"Baby, I'm going to the toilet," I whispered to Raylin who nodded without even sparing me a glance. Great excuse, genius. At least she didn't suspect anything, dumbo. Hey! That's so insulting! I ran backstage where Teresa gave me a wink and an encouraging thumbs-up before she went on stage. The dancers streamed into the wings and some of them spotted me. Before long, they were all whispering amongst themselves that I would be falling on my knees to wail my heart out for my girlfriend. Say what? Where did that come from?
