"Oh." Brittany muttered curses under her breath, looking here and there, searching for words. I was about to walk past her, of she wouldn't have lit up with a face of excitement.
"Well, you can't deny the fact that you literally made out with so many guys, and chose Austin after that. I mean like bruh."
"No-no I didn't. It was only.... only Austin." I stuttered, yet confused of what I had done. Out of all worst things I had done, I never had any eye on any guy. Not like I had one for Austin. But judging from the fact that I behaved rudely with all the ones I like, it's must've been getting all lovey dovey with my hater.
"Oh really? Are you sure? But then again, you are a slut- or a whore- whatever. I mean not like you two are dating. Just to show off abou-"
"Of course, we are dating. We love each other. We have been. For a long time since middle school, ain't it love?" An arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me towards him, proximate enough I could feel his aura towering me.
"What are you talking about?" I whisper yelled, both confused and furious at whatever nonsense he was blabbering.
He only grinned before planting his lips on top of mine. It took me in surprise, so I was still digesting the fact that Austin Kennedy was kissing me, by will and I, however...wait, what the hell was I doing?
I parted from him, my look demanding a proper explanation.
"Now love, if you are done quarrelling with punks, then can I talk to you for a sec?"
Brittany was probably uttering offensive gobbledegook but all I was focused on was Austin's reasoning.
I gritted my teeth and gradually forced out a smile, "Oh why not?"
-
"What in tarnation did you think you were doing? Why would you kiss me like that? And we are not even dating! Aargh!" I grunted and stomped my foot, walking back and forth on the roof.
"But I just saved you from humiliation, you should thank me!"
"Thank you? Thank you? You, for kissing me and making things more awkward? Well no I won't! Didn't you see how well I was handling things and especially their words sharp as glass?"
"Okay then. Tell me what you would've said if you call yourself such a good bargainer?" He cocked an eyebrow, that showed how much he knew I won't be able to say anything. Huh.
"Well I would've said...said...said that I don't...I..." I lowered my gaze, letting it travel around places anywhere not in Austin's direction.
"Yes?" He crossed his arms and tapped his foot, eager to get no answer, "Exactly darling. You don't have anything to say except for embarrassing yourself for the whole year, especially after you stood up for yourself like a queen, and actually gained some respect."
Blood rushed to my cheeks immediately after his words seemed to make sense.
"I don't know. Maybe you're right. But now we have to fake date each other which is no less any worse! Things keep worsening, ugh!" I grunted again, that time looking up to his eyes. Eyes that wanted anything but love that time. I tilted my head, trying to figure out what I just detected but he turned away and stuffed his hands in the pockets.
"Well, that's no problem. We'll be able to keep it up."
"Why would you do that for me?"
"Do what?"
"Destroy your whole reputation, as well as your freedom to like... canoodle with other girls."
He stood quiet for a while before stuttering, "I...um...it's cause...I guess all of these paranormal events keep me too busy and maybe getting into...pretending to get into a relationship might help me get over these shit. And you know...the kind."
He walked out of the roof, while a peculiar sack of tingling feelings rushed to me. The visualisation of all the times we kissed gave me butterflies in the stomach and my heart just did backflips. And I knew it wasn't a good sign.
But then again, it was my first time kissing- that too with the same guy- so I suppose it was some kind of a hormonal lust.
I shoved away any thoughts that came regarding us, but rather focused on what to do right then.
"Fake date? You sure he's not taking advantage of you?" Casper inquired, appearing right beside me.
"I don't suppose. But he's... unpredictable."
"Well, he does have a knack of knocking people off."
"That was a metaphor." He chuckled lightly and we walked alongside downstairs, laughing over his cracked jokes.
"What the hell, Beca?" I heard Clay, approaching from far-way, his eyebrows closed in a wrinkle in middle.
"One kiss doesn't make a reasonable logic to start dating anyone. Hypothetically speaking, I could also kiss you and we start dating."
I swallowed hard, searching for words to deny the conversation, "Technically, there were three kisses..."
"That doesn't change anything, Beca! Look, I don't wanna make decisions for your life but being your best friend, it is definitely my right to show the actual, not preposterous path!"
"Listen to me, first."
"No you listen to me!" He kept on blabbering words that I only neglected because I wouldn't need them anyway.
I let out a laugh and rolled my eyes, "We are fake dating. Now can I explain?"
-
And for the first time, I knew I wasn't alone. With Casper in my internal wonderland, Clay and Addy laughing along with me, I knew I had enough. Except the part where both my best friends refused to accept each other close to being friends. And now that I thought of it, I internally mocked my previous self who was nothing except an overthinking market full of unwanted thunderstorms.
Thinking of thunderstorms, I heard rain pattering against the huge windows of our cafeteria, lighting flashing across the dark sky.
The ones sitting near those, closed the windows that were half-open.
It seemed pretty normal until an avalanche of hailstorms banged the windows with attempts to break it down.
It alarmed me from munching on the fries, and me eyes switched from the thunderstorms to the TV on the other side.
"Welcome to the weather forecast. Now, let's see what the weather is like today. As witnessed, the wind chill is really driving down the temperature and there are high possibilities for disastrous calamities in educational premises, especially in the north region." She went on explaining and stating the low, high and average temperatures for the past day- which was to say terrifying.
"Hailstones and the unexplainable wind rate can be witnessed demolishing most amount of buildings and might as well taken to take the lives of a few. Or hundreds. And as for your safety, I'm warning you. Evacuate from wherever you are except your home and find shelter in your own abode. Schools, colleges and working sections- I'm afraid to day- but you have to leave the tall buildings and find proper shelter. Thank you." As soon as the last words rang in everyone's ears, the students ended up panicking with a deafening clamour.
And the next moment I knew was a disaster.
Due to the crowded area, I couldn't even stand properly in order to evacuate. I just didn't understand why they had to panic.
I felt a familiar touch, his hands intertwining our fingers and further guided me towards the exit, and since I grabbed Clay's hand in the process, we three hopped into a quieter area. Though I wouldn't deny Casper did a good job at keeping me safe from thrusts and pulls.
Once we came out of the crowd, I found myself panting and gasping. I balanced, rested my hands on my knees and raised up my head to see the two guys towering me.
"Aus-Austin? What are you doing here?"
"Why, welcome." The corner of his eyes wrinkled as he looked at me suspiciously, panting like the rest of us.
"Yeah, well we didn't ask for you to help us, so basically there isn't any Thanksgiving going on."
Both of them were literally having a glared competition but with strips of lightning competing from both sides instead of physical touches.
Still touché.
"Guys, we did get out but we have to help the others."
"Mother Teresa, that would be great if the teachers didn't have it under control."
To understand more of what he meant, I looked over the big glass hole of the cafeteria door and saw the students standing in sequence.
"Well, that was quick. So guess we should head back." I suggested, shrugging my shoulders but Austin only gulped, averting his gaze far away.
"Yeah, you guys go. I'll be back in a few."
"We didn't really ask you to come with us."
"Ouch."
"But wait. Where do you think you are going?" I asked, somewhat concerned about what misdeed he was going to perform.
"To the storeroom. Have some...some important things I don't wanna lose, you know?"
"What kind? And why'd you have to go today, out of any day in this world?"
"Cause if this school gets destroyed today by some natural disaster, then those things would be shattered to ashes as well, you know dumbass?"
"Oh...I... I'll go with you!" I exclaimed, quite an involuntary statement but it would harsh to go back yet. Yeah I know about us being haters, but what could I say? I was feeling generous.
"What...why? You won't."
"Oh I will."
"Lord, don't get me started on you being a real girlfriend to my nemesis, Beca."
"Oh c'mon Clay. It does't hurt to be nice for once."
"Oh shit." Clay muttered, raising his eyelids in a matter of tensity. It frightened me more when he placed his hands on my shoulders, shaking me.
"ARE YOU REBECCA, OR DID WHITE MAGIC TAKE CONTROL OVER YOU?"
A line formed between my brows but the expression soon changed into a fit of laughter.
"What's white magic Clay?"
He backed, cheeks blushed crimson and he rubbed his left arm up and down with his right one, "Oh c'mon, it's the opposite of black magic. Like too much evil to too much of an angel."
I giggled, covering up my mouth, and waved my other hand in disagreement.
"Never mind. It'll just take a few minutes for the two of us to come back. Stay here, okay Clay?"
"I'll tag along." He huffed with a scowl that made him look adorable. I pinched his cheeks and proceeded to where the storeroom was.
-
By the sound of the storm, things actually did seem pretty out of control, and a certain kind of fear took over me, which made me rant about making things quick.
I peeked over the door to see what was so crucial but what I only saw was an indistinct view of several objects- some being stuffed in his chest pocket while the rest went inside his pant's one.
"Clay, I'll be back before you know it." I stated beforehand.
Stepping inside the storeroom, I angrily approached him.
"What the hell is taking you so long? Do you wanna end up dying here?"
He flinged and turned around to face me in a shock.
"Oh I told you I'm comin' Beca. I'm done. Let's go."
I rolled my eyes and both us pivoted in the dark. My hand reached out to the handle to open space, but before I could, it banged close. I jerked back in surprise and tumbled over an artifact, falling on my back I was certain, that would happen- if he did not get a hold on me.
My cheeks reddened instantly but thanks to the dark, he couldn't see that.
"Oh shit." He put me on the ground on my feet, and moved further to twist the doorknob consistently.
"Heck, it's not opening."
"What? What do you mean?"
"It's damn jammed." He complained, violently knocking on the door, "Clay? Clay, open the door! It's locked...somehow."
At first, there wasn't any sound from the outside, but when a continuous thumping occured on the door from the other side, I understood it was Clay.
"I can't open it either!" He yelled and after a few minutes of failure, I called out to Casper.
He laughed for a while, totally unnecessary before coming to rescue.
Cluttering noises of what sounded like wooden chunks made me aware of Casper doing his work.
Within seconds, the door opened, revealing a sweating Clay on his knees.
He carelessly pushed past Austin into a tight hug with me. I patted his back to show things were alright.
"Yeah, now if you could do that earlier- calling Casper- then maybe I wouldn't almost break my arm by hitting the stupid door."
"Whatever."
-
We were heading back to the cafeteria for the other exit door that basically led to the major rooms and corridors.
But unlike before, an eerie silence hung in the air.
My heart skipped a beat, fearing the whole school to be empty, with latched doors and windows, the storm only deteriorating.
And shit just came true.