"We kick people out." Peter is not really looking at David. He's still busy on his laptop screen.
I think Peter is extraordinary to hear everything inside the BC rom. Sometimes I think Peter is the president. And sometimes I think David is not a Beauchamp.
"By the way everyone, starting tomorrow, romance is not allowed inside this room." Peter adds and I know he is referring to Charlie and Irisha. I don't mind glancing over them now, but I won't anyway, because I know it isn't a pleasant sight. They're all lovey-dovey.
"How about romantic books?" David asks.
"You decide for yourself. You're the president." Peter replies.
"But Pete, you just said that—ahh!" David scratches his hair in frustration. "Nevermind." He turns over me and says, "So what are you writing again, Chaise?"
Oh, shoot.
I try to hide the nervousness in me. I close my notebook as I answer, "I'm doodling. It's getting boring here."
"You're bored? Seriously?" David shouts as if in surprise. Does he always process everything you say in his own crazy way? I think he is freaking out now. Because he suddenly runs to Peter. Wow, how fast.
"Peter! Peter! I can't believe this is happening! You couldn't believe this! Believe me, Peter! Chaise is bored!"
"I've heard it, David." Peter replies, annoyed. Then everyone looks at me except for Peter and David. When I meet Charlie's eyes, I turn away.
"But Peter! Chaise is bored in this club. What should I do? Should we host a party now? Hire a band? Shoot a bird?"
Peter stands up, pushing his glasses up on his nose. He looks at me and I am starting to feel even more nervous. Peter is a lot different than David. He is keener. His stares are deep. It makes me think that Peter is actually handsome—all of them are. Well, this is a club full of impossible beauties. I shouldn't be surprised.
"Chaise seems alright." Peter concludes after his long stare at me.
"He's just exaggerating." I tell Peter.
"Why are you like this to me?" David places his two arms above his chest, as if aching there. "Irisha!" He then runs to Irisha this time. "Look at those two! They're conspiring against me."
David is about to embrace Irisha but is stopped by Charlie.
"Don't be clingy to her, David!" Charlie exclaims. "She's mine now." He adds and David looks surprised. And I am feeling the same. Even though I shouldn't be.
"You're so mean Charlie! I'm the President." David quickly recovers.
"It doesn't mean you can harass her."
"I'm not harassing Irisha!"
"You were about to hug her!"
"I just feel like I want to hug someone!"
"Then hug yourself!" Charlie says and David dramatically falls down on his knees.
"Where is the love in this place?" David says as if he's reciting a classical poem. Here we go again. He looks up on the ceiling and adds, "Chaise is bored. Peter doesn't believe me. Charlie is mean. Soleen loves origami. Craven is Craven. And I couldn't hug Irisha. What kind of punishment is this?"
"You forgot about me." Clover raises her hand. Yet, David turns to her in shock.
"Oh! You're here, Clover? Since when?"
"You're mean." She says.
I stand up. I think the BC room is noisy now. I need a quiet place. I want to go home actually. I want to sleep. And I think it would be better if I will never wake up. I feel worthless, anyway.
I exit from the BC room, holding my pen and notebook. No one notices my silent exit. Brilliant. This is an easy exit. Because everyone is bothered by David's dramatic episode. Except me. I am too used to his tantrums.
Going home early is much better. But I end up in the school's infirmary. I am not sick. But I feel like I am. I enter and no one is there. So great. I shove off the curtain and lay on the white bed. With a sad heart, I close my eyes.
I am like that for quite a moment…until…
"Here you are." I suddenly snap my eyes open when I hear Peter's voice. I didn't notice that he opened the bed's curtain, nor did he enter the infirmary room.
I meet Peter's dark eyes behind his shining glasses. He is really cool without effort.
"Why are you here?" I ask as I shifted up.
"To ask you the same question." He answers, pushing up his glasses. Well, that's a mannerism. "Why did you leave? You're not in your usual self, Chaise."
I fall silent because he's right.
"It's about Charlie, right?" He asks. He got me there.
"You should go back and comfort David." I tell him, turning my back from him. I close my eyes again. I'm feeling strange lately. It's something I can't explain myself.
"Let me guess. You feel like Charlie's abandoned you." He says.
I want to cover my ears but I can't, he will think he's right.
"Recently, your hanging out with us is severely affected. You don't even look good in the recent photo shoot. What's wrong, Chaise?"
I'm surprised when Peter said that. It isn't like him. Why is he saying that now?
"Are you mad at their relationship?"
I am taken aback at his question. Am I mad? Am I sad? Is Peter right?
"He deserves it. I am happy for him." I say, clearing my throat. "We can't stay together forever."
Peter gently pulls my arm so I could face him. I see his appalled expression. I never saw that kind of expression before. He seems like a different person now.
"Hey, Chaise…" Peter wipes my cheeks with his fingers. I'm crying? Shoot. Idiot! How could I cry in front of someone—and Peter of all people!
"You're not really alright, are you?" He asks and I push him away.
"This is nothing." I feign a cough. I sound like crazy. But then my laughs turn into cries. I couldn't hold it anymore. Suddenly it became like this.
"You can tell it to me." I hear him say.
But tell what?
He pulls me into his arms and I am confused. Why is Peter acting weird? His voice is gentle now and soft. It isn't his usual voice—he is always cold and stern. I wonder at Peter's sudden concern. But my heart is aching. And I am crying. I don't care about this sudden change.
I feel so alone.
Betrayed.
I cry and it's so loud, so horrible.
"I'm not used to this." I confess to him, sobbing onto his chest. He feels so warm. His smell is soothing to my nose. I really want some comfort, too. And I think Peter has given this to me now.
"I think Charlie would feel the same if you've got a boyfriend." He answers. He combs my curly hair gently. I cry even more when I wish they're Charlie's hands. "I've seen you two for the past two years. You were inseparable."
"It isn't the case now, Peter." I sob, my hands are clutching his chest.
"Well, you have to accept it. You'll end up hurting yourself. Like now."
"I'm not against him dating Irisha. But he's literally ignoring me because of her. He gets mad at me now and I think it isn't fair. He isn't fair!"
"That's not how I see it." He says. "I think you're ignoring each other. Did something happen between you two aside from Irisha?"
I can't answer. I sniff. How would I know? Charlie started it first. I grip on his Armana tshirt tighter, as I think it's Charlie and I just feel like squeezing him at this time.
"He's pretending he needs me even though he doesn't. It hurts me like that."
"My, my. You are a jealous twin sister." He pats me in the head. "Don't be a brat. You're seventeen."
"Thank you. For comforting me. Well, erm, if that's what you're doing right now. At least that's how I see it, because you're not usually like this." I tell him.
"It was David who told me to follow you." He informs which made me look up to him. His face is so close to me. But I don't bother myself with our close proximity. I am more concerned of what he said about David.
"Why would he? And why would you?" I ask.
"Well," he starts but the door opened and both of us stopped.
"Chaise!" Charlie's rough voice sent shiver to my entire body. It is harsh and horrifying. My twin brother stands by the door. And he is furious. I don't know why he would be.
His trimmed brows knit together. His fists are clenched. I know why. I am here on bed with Peter. We look like cuddling each other and our faces are close. He must be thinking we're going to kiss. See? I could read his thoughts. But I wonder if he could still read mine.
"What are you two doing?" He yells.
And the next thing I know, Peter falls down on the hard floor.