Monday Morning
At Greenwood academy,
On the fourth floor
In the hallway,
Alan walks down the hallway filled with students of both genders catching up with each other about their weekends. He walks towards a classroom door.
The door had a tag 12-A on top of it. He walks into the classroom.
As he walks into the classroom, all eyes turn towards him. The girls in the class start to whisper among themselves.
"OMG what is he doing in our classroom?"
"Do you think he's dating anyone?"
"I can't believe I get to see him up this close. It's like a dream come through".
"I could die right now and not have any regrets".
He walks pass them and heads for the table beside the window. Two girls are seated at the table facing each other. They seem not to be fazed by his presence. He stops in front of the table.
"Hi", he greeted.
The two girls look up at him. They are Nikki and Amber.
"Alan?" Nikki called out.
"Can we talk outside?" he asked.
All the students stare at them. The girls started to wonder what he was doing with Nikki while the boys were pissed as to why he had to make a move on the girl they all had their eyes on.
"What do you want to talk about?" Amber inquired.
"I just wanted to give my girlfriend her bracelet she left in my car after our date on Saturday. And I also wanted to get a morning kiss. Now that I've explained myself, can I talk to my girlfriend now?" he asked as the students gasp.
"He's dating her?"
"How can that be possible?"
"What's so good about him?"
"I guess what they say is true. Good looking people always date each other".
"Yeah, what were we thinking dreaming about having a chance with him".
"Save that bullshit. I'm way hotter than him".
"in your dreams. You're a troll compared to him".
"Yeah, she's right".
"What do you think you're doing?" Nikki whispered.
"Do you want me to create more drama, or will you come with me?" he asked.
"Fine I'll go with you", she said as she rises from her seat.
"Nikki", Amber called.
"I'll be back Amber. Let's go Alan", Nikki said as she takes his hand and drags him out of the classroom.
In the biology lab,
Nikki walks in with Alan still holding his hand.
"What do you want to talk about?"
"Can you let go of my hand first?" he asked as she releases his hand.
"Talk".
"I wanted to check up on you to see if you got any rest during after what happened on Saturday".
"Since when did you get a conscience?"
"Hey, I'm trying really hard to be nice here".
"I'm fine so there's no need for you to worry about anything".
"I feel like I'm the major reason you got such a terrible treatment on Saturday".
"Well, you're not wrong about that".
"You don't have to be so honest".
"Is that all you have to say?"
"Yes, that's all I wanted to say".
"Thanks for checking up on me and thanks for Saturday. Since you have nothing else to say, I'll take my leave now", she said as she walks towards the door.
"Thanks for accompanying me on Saturday".
"We both did each other a favour so it's okay. I'll see you around", she waved as she walks out the door.
"She's still as ungrateful as she was", he sighed before letting out a chuckle.
Later in the day,
After the closing bell,
In front of the school building,
Amber and Nikki are heading towards the parking lot when someone bumps into Nikki.
"I'm really sorry", the person said before running off.
"What's wrong with him?" Amber asked.
"It was a mistake Amber", Nikki said as she dusts her clothes only to see a pink sticky note on her skirt. She removes the note and looks at it.
'If you could go anywhere right now, where would it be? If you have an answer meet me in my car in the next five minutes'.
"Who could this be from?" she thought as she stares at the note. After meticulously looking at the note, she spots the symbol at the bottom corner of it. The symbol was the exact same symbol she saw on the paintings in the house Alan took her to. Which meant he was the one behind this.
"Nikki are you okay?" Amber asked.
"Amber, I need to do something, so I won't be going home right now. Tell mother that I'll be back soon".
"Where are you going to?"
"I can't say but I promise I'll be back home on time".
"I'm coming with you".
"No, I need to do this alone".
"Nikki".
"I'll be fine Amber. I must leave now, or I'll miss my ride", she said as she runs off.
"I have no idea what's really going on with her nowadays", Amber sighed.
Nikki walks further down the parking lot looking for Alan's car. She searches but to avail.
"Where is his car?" she sighed as a car stop in front of her. It was a black Mercedes.
The window of the backseat door goes down and Alan is seen seated at the back seat. "Were you looking for me?" he asked.
"You could have told me you came with a different car today".
"That would have ruined the fun", he countered.
"Why did you send that note?"
"Hop in", he said as the window goes up.
"He's so unbelievable", she said as she reaches for the door handle, opens the door and enters the car with the door closing behind her. The car zooms off afterwards.
At Val desserts, a shop where sweets, desserts and confectioneries are made and sold.
Alan and Nikki are seated at a table for two beside the window. A chocolate ice cream sundae is placed in front of Alan while strawberry ice cream sundae is in front of Nikki.
"I've got to say I'm surprised by your choice", he remarked.
"What's wrong with this place?" she asked with a mouthful of ice cream.
"How would this be where you want to come to out of all the places you could think of?"
"What's wrong with me wanting to get ice cream?"
"Absolutely nothing", he replied.
"Anyways what was with the invite? Couldn't you have just walked up to me and asked me out?" she asked as she eats a spoonful of ice cream.
"After the stunt I pulled this morning, Amber would have eaten me alive if I tried to come near you", he replied as Nikki chuckles.
"Amber doesn't bite".
"No but she's capable of killing. I don't know if you've noticed but I'd like to live longer a few more years".
"Well then I'll advise you avoid pissing her off", she advised.
"I trust you'll be of help if things get out of hand with her".
"I'm sorry to break your heart but I won't be of any help if that happens".
"That hurts Nikki", he lamented.
"Stop being a baby".
"Anyways how's your engagement going? When are you getting married?"
"I just had a feeling you had an ulterior motive for inviting me over".
"Does that mean you'll answer my question?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"This is why you're my favourite person in the world", he remarked.
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything about you. What kind of responsibilities do you carry that requires you to get married by eighteen?"
"You're so nosy for a guy", she remarked.
"Just answer the question".
"I didn't choose to bear this responsibility but it's my duty as the first child of my family. Sometimes there are just things you can't get out of, and my marriage is something I can't get out of. What I want doesn't matter right now. the only thing that matters is doing the right thing which is…."
"Getting married to Charles Randall", he cut her off.
"Yes", she agreed.
"I'm not being judgemental, but this all sounds stupid to me. I just don't get why you must sacrifice yourself for your family", he confessed.
"I don't mean to be offensive but someone like you doesn't understand responsibilities", she remarked.
"You're right. I just can't seem to understand why a family cares more about their honour than a member's happiness".
"Well, it seems we can't agree on this".
"We agree to disagree", he smiled.
"Enough about me. I'd like to know more about the mysterious Alan Mendes".
"Is that your way of saying you're interested in me?" he asked with the corners of his lips
"Don't flatter yourself. I just want to know how you turned out to be like this", she remarked gesturing all of him.
"My mom is an emotional wreck. She gets too emotional over the slightest things so when my dad disappear it affected her more than me. Instead of me being the one crying and whining, I had to be the parent. At the age of four I became a parent to my mother, and it's been that way ever since. So, I know what it's like to have responsibilities".
"That sounds like it must have been tough".
"Well, she made it easy by being cooperative".
"She's really lucky to have you", she remarked.
"I'm not totally sure about that. Nowadays she's always telling me to bring a girl and get her a grandchild".
"Really?"
"She told me to get her a grandchild and she doesn't care if it even comes from a one-night stand", he responded.
"Sounds like you have it tough", she remarked as she lets out a chuckle.
"Yeah", he sighed.
"You are an interesting person", she smiled.
"I never thought you'll be capable of smiling genuinely. You look way prettier when you smile", he remarked.
"Tell me Alan Mendes, are you starting to fall in love with me?" she teased with a sly smile.
"Don't flatter yourself shortie. I have standards".
"What's that supposed to mean?" she inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"It means I'm too good for you. I wouldn't want you feeling inferior to me all your life", he replied.
"All my life?"
"Well, I plan on getting married after finding the most suitable candidate".
"You're just going to get married when you find someone you love?"
"Yeah, what's wrong with that?" he asked as he takes a spoonful of ice cream.
"You're too young to get married anytime soon. And besides, you can't just find your lifelong partner by just choosing someone you love without even getting to know them".
"What's wrong with that? You're doing the exact same thing".
"Mine is an entirely different situation".
"Well yeah yours is different because I'll probably get a load of suitors while you're stuck to one".
"You make it sound like getting married to you is a big deal".
"I don't mean to brag but if I should make an announcement about me wanting a bride, hundreds of girls will show up trying to become my bride".
"I know you are many things, but I didn't know you were a big-time egoist", she remarked.
"You should know better than anyone Nikki how self-absorbed I am".
"Yeah, I guess. I've experienced it first-hand".
"Anyways I'm glad we're getting along", he smiled.
"The feeling is mutual", she replied with a smile.
After staying for one more hour and a lengthy conversation, the duo part ways as Alan have his driver drop Nikki at home while he goes home himself.