"Ahh! It hurts!"
The sound of a girl's scream came from behind the closed door of the side by room, and we all froze.
It was a casual weekend gathering in Mili's house. Like every other weekend, her parents were out for a vacation, and we all gathered to have some fun.
We mean - I, Mili, Becci, Remi, Lara, Cassy, Bob, Tim, Juli and Sandy.
The most mischievous group of students of Ravenwood High.
On the carpet floor of the drawing room, we settled ourselves. We were busy chatting and leg pulling each other's, suddenly that sound came.
Tim had just picked up a piece of sandwich, it fell from his hand on the plate. His eyes were stuck on the closed door of the room in front of us.
"Isn't it... Cassy's voice?"
He murmured from shock.
"Seems so." Lara replied, picking up that sandwich.
"What's she doing there?" He again said.
"Who knows!" Remi winked at him.
"Hey hey! Have you noticed that, Bob is also... Not present here!"
Suddenly Becci's voice was heard. She said it in a very low tone — as if she was spilling a secret.
I was just sitting, leaning on the sofa, enjoying the show. Just a few days ago, the youngest member of our group - Remi celebrated her 18th birthday. So, apparently we are all adults now.
Moreover, the high school was gonna be over soon, and we were going to college. It's the perfect time for all of us to have some - uhm!
Thoughts — you know!
Mili widened her eyes with the sudden realisation.
"Oh, wha- hell no! Not in my house!"
Mili suddenly stood up like a spring, and rushed towards the room. All the other people followed her immediately.
I was the last one to stand up; I just stood and headed slowly towards the room. I wish, God had given them some brain cells. Like, who was gonna tell her that, Juli was also not there! And,
Bob and Cassy!
... definitely not a match.
....
Bang!
Mili opened the door, and all of them went inside.
"What are you doing —"
Her voice stopped abruptly, looking at the scene inside.
Cassy was sitting on the couch, her eyes accumulated with drops of tears that slowly rolled down through her cheeks. In front of her, Juli sat on the floor, and the thing that caught their attention was — the wax strips, one on her hand, another placed on Cassy's left hand.
She looked at the group of people and asked in surprise, "What are you guys doing here together!"
"You.. you're giving her a wax treatment!"
Mili mumbled.
"Yap. Remember tomorrow we have an event at school. So, I just tried to groom her a little. But this girl! She can't even bear such a little pain!"
Click!
Another sound, now that's from the bathroom. Opening the door, Bob came out and..
Seven pairs of eyes fell on him instantly.
The guy seemed startled with that sudden gaze.
"What?" He asked standing at the door.
So, our selfcare junkie was giving that nerd a beauty treatment. And she thought —
I couldn't hold myself anymore. Cassy was a kiddo! The most innocent person in our group- a baby barbie doll, an introverted book nerd; and Bob - well, I've never seen someone as straight cut as him. Well, Sun could rise in the west someday, but He and Cassy — I refuse to believe till death. Especially when, he had a lil soft spot for Mili!
Well, it was a secret that only I knew. Because, I am the secret keeper of this group.
And with this thought, I suddenly laughed out loud.
"Mili, like seriously! You thought Cassy and Bob..!"
I couldn't finish my sentence, the loud laughter replaced the last words.
Cassy, who was silent all this time, now spoke up.
"Can any one explain to me... What are you guys up to!"
....
After all the things happened, the group of people sat in the drawing room again. The sandwiches were already cold, Becci went to the kitchen to reheat them. Cassy sat beside me, almost clung to my body.
Girl, can you not always act like a lizard with me! Someday people will think we have something!
On the other side, there was Mili, her cheeks looked like tomatoes — from embarrassment.
"Ta da! Snacks here!", Becci placed the re heated sandwich's plate in the middle. Without any delay, Tim picked up one and had a large bite.
This guy... Someday he'll cause a famine for sure.
"So Mili, you really thought that we"
Bob chuckled, while chewing the sandwich.
"Bob! Easy." , I looked beside.
"And Cassy, next time you feel pain, stop sounding sus. You had almost driven the whole group crazy!"
And this time not only me, but the whole group of ten people had burst into laughter.
"Ivy!" Cassy's cheeks were red, and as always, she clung to me like a lizard.
....
"Okay guys, see you tomorrow. Good night!"
Bob, Tim and Sandy left the house with Lara, Remi and Juli. They'll drop them in their houses on the way.
Cassy, Becci and I stayed at Mili's house. We planned for a sleepover at her place. As all of them left, we tidied up the drawing room a bit, finished washing all the plates, and finally settled in Mili's room, with an extra large cheese burst pepper chicken pizza and chilled bear cans.
Well, the girls party actually started just now!
....
It was almost 2 pm at night. Mili, Becci and Cassy were all asleep. But I could not sleep, so I came out of the room. As soon as I came to the balcony, a blast of cold air hit my face, I closed my eyes in comfort.
In my earbuds, playing —
Lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left-hand man
I love you when you're singing that song
And I got a lump in my throat
'Cause you're gonna sing the words wrong
[Riptide- Vance Joy]
My lips curled in a smile. I was Ivy Walker, and this was my life — eccentric and carefree!