C h a p t e r 2 3

"Admit it. You're jealous."

"You're a fish and he's the hook, simple."

"Well, duh. You weren't even on same page with him."

"Likes you? Oh please Rapunzel, that's completely demented."

The tv spoke while I switched on every other channels and hungrily thrusted a spoonful of ice cream in my mouth.

I normally just watched any movies and tv shows without skipping a scene, or in my case, switching on a new channel. But why did it feel like I had been collided by a meteorite while I stand emotionless on a ground like a scarecrow?

A ping from my phone zoomed me out of my thoughts and I catched a glance at the sports channel I chose as tiny specs on the screen ran on a green expanse of field. I grabbed my phone on the coffee table and put down the bowl before gradually reading the message from Hailey.

Mrs. Andrews: Hey Nikki! You got the invitation?

What invitation?<

I replied back, puzzled. Wedding invitation from her dad's?

Mrs. Andrews: Haven't you opened your Facebook account yet? Nathan posted an invitation and tagged us! He's throwing another party on Saturday! And guess what...

Wait Saturday? Hailey hadn't replied yet, so I called her instead. This was much more convenient than typing and waiting. I wonder why she didn't think of that?

"What?" I blurted out, reaching for the bowl to take another spoonful of ice cream.

"Wow. Why haven't I thought of that... Anyways, Nathan talked to me, for an hour, on a video chat!" She shrilled excitedly on the other line.

"Really? Aww, what have you guys talked about then?" I asked with a grin, but Hailey stayed silent for a millisecond which turned out strange for her to be doing, considering she was inside her bubble with her stimulus running wildly.

"About the theme... and other stuffs." Hailey nervously titters.

"Well? Can you be more specific, I'm missing a lot in here." I probed, while lifting my feet on the couch.

"Uhm..." She paused, but never in a minute continued.

Hailey's actions drove me crazy. I couldn't fathom why she acted far-out behind her excitement after I asked her about what they talked about.

"Hey, Hailey? Are you still there?"

I grumbled, after she answered me with a faint yes in question. "You know what? Whatever. Keep it to yourselves, if you think it's too confidential to even share it to your best friend. I mean, I'm not even overly excited to hear you say what you guys talked about."

Rolling my eyes, I grabbed the remote control from the coffee table and tapping the red button turning the tv off.

"I'll tell you some other time, just not now, okay? Right now can we just focus on the main topic?" She answered, while I crimped my eyebrows in confusion.

"Kay."

"Okay so, about the theme..." She started, while I took another spoon of ice cream.

"Nathan named it, Party in white."

I choked, "Party in white?"

"What are we, like corpses from our own coffins?" I deadpanned, standing up with my empty bowl as I sauntered towards the kitchen sink.

"I... don't really know." Hailey bluntly spoke.

What have they talked about in an hour? Jeez.

"One hour. You talked to him that long, but you haven't even asked him why? You could have just spontaneously spit a question by just hearing the theme." I asked, emphasizing the time.

"I'm sorry, no. I mean, yeah I talked to him but, I never thought of asking him that." She repeated my word, with a sly exchange.

"Turns out the first hour chat you had with him wasn't really that mouthful, was it?" I non chalantly spoke, submerging the bowl in the sink.

"No, not really. It's like I forgot half of my vocabulary and could only speak of the words, yes and okay."

"As if. I know how weird and gabby you get when it comes to Nathan."

I drank a glass of water and ferreted any fruit in the fridge that I could munch on my way upstairs.

"Hey, I'm not like that all the time. That video chat even froze me on one spot. Like, Ooo this angle is good. I better stay this way. Are you getting me?" She protested in a humorous way.

I laughed at her while I headed to my room, "Yeah?"

"Ugh! Do you really want to talk about this?"

After taking a bite on the green apple on my left hand I responded, "Just hit it. I'm listening."

"Okay, so Nathan said, I'd look good in white. I mean, isn't he the sweetest?"

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Hold on amiga, since when did Nathan became our main topic?"

"Just now?"

I sighed heavily, "The theme, Hailey. We're talking about the theme. Put Nathan aside, awhile."

"Fine, but have you noticed the improvement of his built? He looks as if he has been working a lot on the gym... Wait, do you think it's time we workout on a gym too?"

I shook my head while I opened the door to my room, "Nu-uh, bad idea."

"Why? The last time we worked out was..."

I cut her off, "A disaster. We almost lost our limbs, and broke our spine from those menacing gym equipments."

"Look, it's our fault. We didn't let the gym instructor guide us from working out, as we thought we were clever enough to do it on ourselves."

"And still are we." I uttered a sigh, putting the fruit on top of my nightstand before flopping down onto the bed.

"Well, going back... We are going to wear white." I clearly repeated.

"Casually." Hailey added in response.

"What are you going to wear?" She added, making me glance on my closet.

"I don't know." I muttered silently.

Party. Chase. Chase will be there.

"I don't think I would come yet." I solemnly spoke.

"What?!" Hailey exclaimed in frustration.

"I don't know if I'm gonna make it to the party."

"You've got other plans?" She responded in a sternly manner.

"What? No!" I quickly said. How am I gonna tell her?

Chase will be there.

"So?" My sub conscience spoke.

'No! How am I gonna tell her!'

Wait, I can just not tell her.

"My grandp---" I stopped. What was I thinking?

"I mean, I still need to ask for a permission to my aunt if I can go." I phrased out, staring outside the window.

"That's not a problem! Well, I'll see you tomorrow, okay? Goodnight!" She smooched which made me giggle.

"Goodnight!" I smiled.

Twenty six minutes call duration.

I shrugged and stood up on my feet. I strode across the room reaching through the window, gazing upon the night sky that was mostly covered with blinging stars and one enormous spiral moon.

"I bet mom is happy now that she's not alone anymore." I murmured beneath my breaths before I latched the window and let the curtains fall on their own.

I turned off the lights and climbed on my bed giving my nerdy pillow a bear hug before I pulled my cozy blanket mid high, and let the darkness come up on me.

"I heard Nathan is throwing another party."

"I'm marking that up on my calendar."

"What's the theme of the party, again?"

"I can't wait till Saturday comes!"

"Hey, are you up for some shopping afterwards?"

"I'm so excited!"

"Dude, I just got new pair of shoes for the upcoming party. They're crazy!"

The students clamoured, and chattered about Nathan's party but never heard them talk about the upcoming exam in a month or two.

Wow. I thought, walking through the crowds along the hallway.

"Good morning, Nikki!" Linda greeted with a smile as she popped behind my back.

"Hey! Good morning Linda." I greeted back.

"Are you coming to the party?" She asked, as I stopped, reaching my locker and unlocking the padlock.

Linda? Is that you, asking me about the party?

I let out a hum, grabbing my math textbook, "Not sure. How about you?"

"Surprisingly, yes! Actually, they said there's a surprise!" She plastered a wide grin.

My brows contracted on their own after hearing Linda mention a surprise coming out.

"Oh! I'll see you later, bye!" Linda exclaimed with such excitement as she quickly fleed away.

"Oh, okay... I'll see you later in class!"

Surprise? I wonder if Nathan mentioned that to Hailey.

I strolled through the hallway passing students as they moved in riot. Principal Brown suddenly walked by causing the whirlpool of students to subside in a smooth wave. With the clanging sound of her three-inch heel, she past by two busy lovebirds making out on the locker like they reserved a classical hotel, and Principal Brown quickly pulled the guy's ear in hopes of stopping them, but once she entered her office, the two went back on their business.

"Nikki!" A familiar voice bounced through each corners of the hallway which made me quicken my pace.

If you're not asking, I was one hundred and one percent sure it was Chase.

Why was he calling me? We don't talk in school!

"Hey, wait up!" Chase screamed.

Students began looking at me like I was the evil one, when they only wanted their name to be called by Chase. If only they knew how adversed I stood on this case.

Come on! Ring the bell! I hopefully thought biting my lip.

"Hey!" Chase suddenly hooked my wrist up, and vehemently pulled me to facing him.

The hallway emptied. I turned my head to see everyone entering their perspective rooms. I didn't even realize the bell rang, but I have to go now.

"Chase, let go of me! I have to get to class!" I demanded, glancing over to Mr. Stone who just got out of his office.

"Chase!" I gritted my teeth as I tried to get put of his grip.

Chase uttered a profanity under his breath before he released me. "F*ck."

"Meet me at the field this lunch time." He ordered, gazing me with high demands.

I looked at him with a blank expression sketched on my face and turned around, quickly striding towards my classroom before Mr. Stone gets there first. Leaving Chase without an answer.

"Ms. White, glad you made it first before me." Mr. Stone smiled.

"Good morning, Mr. Stone." I greeted.

I walked inside the room, after catching a glance at Chase who went in his class.

What is it that he wants now?

"So what time are you guys coming over to the party?" Sandra asked, taking a bite on her sandwich.

"Nikki and I talked about going there around eight." Hailey responded, sipping her favourite strawberry flavoured juice in a bottle.

I snapped my head to look at her and furrowed my eyebrows, "No, we didn't."

"We didn't?" She repeated, looking at me with the bendable pink straw attached on her lips.

"We didn't."

"Well, now you know." She said, taking a large sip on her juice box.

"I still have to make it up to my aunt, remember?" I reminded before retrieving the nasty ginger on my food, and quickly gulping down a gallon of water.

"But Nikki you have to come!" Hailey whined.

I rolled my eyes and avoided her remark.

"We are all coming, you can't pass." Torry spoke, finally, after taking her last bite. She remains mute when she eats.

"I'll ask your aunt so she'd let you go with us." Hailey advised.

I faked a smile, "Wow. Thanks, Hailey."

I wasn't going to ask permission to my aunt. After all, I'm a free bird to her. Now, there's no way on making me spend my Saturday night in my room.

A/N: Pssssssssssst! Hey, did you know? We are all invited to the party!!! So what are you wearing? X) Don't forget to wear white!!! :)

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