Alex's eyes darted back and forth between Sarah and Deliah. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. "Hold on a second," he said, taking a step back to process the information. "Are you telling me that Sarah Johnson is your older sister, Deliah?"
Sarah ran down the stairs, sizing up Alex as she approached. "Wait, is this the same Alex you've been talking about?" she asked, incredulous. "Alex James?"
Deliah looked back and forth between the two of them. "You guys know each other?" she asked, surprised.
"We're in the same class!" they both exclaimed, pointing at each other. "And we're both on the Newsletter Committee!"
Deliah's face lit up. "Well, isn't that something!" she said, clapping her hands. "Looks like I don't even have to introduce you guys!"
Sarah glared at Alex and grumbled, "What are you doing in my house, Alex James? The article's finished. You have no business being here."
Alex shot back, "Excuse me, but your sister--" he stumbled over the word "my girlfriend," "--asked me to come over. I didn't know this was your house too."
Both Sarah and Alex spun around to look at each other in shock. "I can't believe she's your sister--he's your boyfriend!" they exclaimed in unison.
Deliah blinked. "Wow, this is the first time I've heard you two raise your voices," she said, amused. "Do you two hate each other or something?"
Sarah muttered under her breath and fiddled with her fingers behind her back. "Not really, just--"
"Almost there," Alex interjected, finishing her sentence. He shot Sarah a look, and she glared back, her glasses sliding down her nose. She pushed them back up and continued to scowl, grinding her teeth.
Sarah grabbed Deliah by the arm and pulled her to the side of the hall. "Liah, I need to talk to you," she hissed.
She dragged Deliah to the side of the hall. "Liah! I can't believe this guy is the boyfriend you're talking about!" she hissed. "Do you know who he is?" Deliah blinked. "He's Alex."
"I know he is Alex," Sarah muttered. "But he's the guy I was talking about yesterday! That guy from the newsletter committee that's supposed to be under my guidance right now. He's just annoying and irritating, judgmental and-"
"Sarah," Deliah cut in. "You're biased against him," she frowned. "Try to give him a chance. I really like him."
"But-" Sarah struggled to keep complaining. She didn't really like someone that easily, it was hard to get into her good books and bootlicking NEVER worked for her.
Then again, it was hard for Sarah to despise someone either.
Sarah was okay with most people, unless it was someone like Matthew McCall that picked on her like he had nothing better to do. You had to be extremely terrible to her for her to dislike you. And Alex had miraculously fallen into that of "Not-doing-much-but-I-hate-you" category. To be completely honest, he hadn't done much to her, nor her to him, but that natural dislike between the two had just germinated itself in their hearts without them knowing.
If you asked Sarah why she just hated Alex so much, she would have listed a whole lot of reasons. But those were superficial ones, not important ones. Why she really, really disliked him, she didn't know. She just did.
"I..." Sarah struggled to speak. She sighed as she looked at her sister. "Fine. Fine, I'll give him another chance, alright? It doesn't change the fact that I don't like him, but he's your boyfriend, so..."
"Great, sissy!" Deliah smiled. "You'll come to love him, don't you worry!" she beamed.
Alex and Sarah's eyes connected as Sarah walked towards the couple with drinks in her hands. Alex and Deliah were sitting on the couch together as Sarah served them drinks. "Hope your highness likes ice lemon tea?" Sarah scoffed. Alex glowered at her and snatched the cup away. "Well then. I like hot chocolate better but thanks then servant." he shot back. Sarah sat on the couch opposite them and drank her tea, muttering under her breath. She blew on her bangs and wrinkled her nose, eying Alex from behind her hair. She furrowed her brows, not knowing exactly why her sister had fallen for this guy. Sure he was good-looking. Even a blind person had to think twice before denying. But she had doubts about this Alex guy.
Love at first sight existed, true. But Sarah didn't really believe in it. Alex on the other hand was eying Sarah with the same intensity. What in the world, I totally had no idea Sarah was Deliah's sister. he thought. Pretty stupid seeing how similar their names are, but they look nothing alike! I can't even...
"So uh....why doesn't anyone know Sarah's your sister?" Alex asked Deliah, frowning. Deliah let out a laugh. "I want to tell everyone, but sis doesn't." she shrugged. "She says she wants to fade away in the background and letting people know I'm her sister will just give her unwanted attentions. She doesn't allow me to tell."
Alex's eyes darted to Sarah, confused. He didn't understand her mindset. "Why?" he asked boldly. Sarah made a face. "None of your business." That again.
"Whatever." Alex muttered. "I don't get you."
"Me neither. Can't say I have the interest to do so." Sarah murmured. "Psh." Alex snorted. "You think I do?"
"STOP!" Deliah sighed. She looked between her boyfriend and her sister.
"Can't you two disregard your differences? For me?" Deliah pleaded. Sarah immediately shut her mouth but Alex wanted to refute. Sarah shot Alex a look and he kept his mouth shut, pouting.
Deliah smiled and she stood up. "I'll be refilling your cups. Talk and know each other a little." she picked up the cups and darted off to the kitchen. Sarah shifted uncomfortably in her seat and Alex studied the patterns on the carpet. Why was it that this girl was able to get under his skin so easily? It was like she had a manual or something that taught her how to piss him off.
"Look, Alex." Alex looked up, frowning. "I know you don't like me." Sarah pointed out. "I don't like you either. But let's call a truce, at least when we're around Deliah. I don't want her to get hurt in anyway because of the differences between us." Alex nodded. "And I'm warning you." Sarah stared at him. "I will NOT tolerate it if you hurt Deliah in any way. And if you break her heart. I will break your neck."
Alex blinked back. And he laughed. Sarah's glare deepened and Alex tried to stifle his laughter. "I'm sorry but it's just...you don't suit being all that fierce and taunting you know?"
Sarah huffed and threw a pillow at his head. Alex grunted and rubbed his head. "Hey!" "I'm serious. I might not break your neck literally, but I will do something of equal pain, I promise you." She hissed. "I'm warning you, Alex. Don't you DARE do anything to hurt Deliah."
"Who do you think I am?" Alex muttered. "I won't okay? As much as you think I'm not a good guy, I'm not a heart breaker either. I won't."
"Good." Sarah settled back in her seat. "You better not."
Deliah burst out of the kitchen. "So what were you guys talking about?" she beamed.
"Nothing." Alex muttered. "Just you know....necks."