After discovering a deserted room at the bowels of the motel a staff member identified as the basement, we decided that that was going to be our new spot for whatever plans or preparations needed to be made.

   The next few hours, therefore, consisted of everyone pitching to clean, scrub, arrange and do everything else we possibly could to turn the dust-filled, bug infested nightmare of a place into a somewhat respectable hangout.

   As expected, we were all sweaty, heavy-breathing messes by the time we were finished. That, however, didn't stop the broad grins spread across our faces as we surveyed the effects of our toil.

   The square shaped room that was made small due to all the clutter regained its average size by the time we finished clearing the place. Surprisingly, the blue paint on its walls was in a good state, with only a few chippings.

   Out of all the junk, there were some unforeseen items that proved useful, like the large table with only a slight wobble, the two bean bags we placed at the centre of the room, some cushion mats, a punching bag that took a lot of energy to hang, among other things.

   The room also served as storage for the tools Tali brought from my home coupled with what the rest of us discovered at the junkyard.

   It was decided that the making of the leg brace was going to have to wait till tomorrow. The darkening sky outside was the sign we needed to call it a day.

"The basement is starting to get cold," Dorian said. "This place would be freezing in no time. We should leave."

"You know, Rav," Camila narrowed her eyes at him. "That would be an indication for some people to put their shirts back on."

   The stuffiness of the room which we first encountered came with sweat-inducing heat that spared no one. That, plus the tiring work done eventually led to everyone being drenched.

   And of course Rav used it as an opportunity—more like an excuse— to go shirtless.

"Camila, Camila," he shook his head with a smile. "Why are you pretending your eyes weren't all over this glistening hunk of caramel just two minutes ago?"

   He was obviously joking (in a gross way, of course), but Camila was far from amused. A dark shade of pink instantly overtook her wide-eyed features as she choked on air in response. She stared at him afterwards like it was his fault, then muttered a 'goodnight' before storming off from the basement.

   No one held back their laughter the minute we heard the door slamming shut.

"She was totally looking." Rav smirked.

   Based on her reaction to his accusation, I almost believed him.

"Not that it matters anyway," he added. "I was trying to get someone else's attention."

   Now it was my turn to choke on air when his gaze moved to my frame and stayed there.

"What?" I released a shaky laugh.

   This wasn't funny anymore.

   I mean, had I looked at Rav? Yes. But no one who had been in the basement with me all day could say they didn't.

   The school's lunch system (that rendered me 'not fit' and assigned me kale remember?), which had a special meal for each student, did not come solo. On my first day, my lunch had arrived with some brochure-pamphlet-like paper beside it. Written on the paper were multiple meal plans out of which Zavolonians had to choose to follow outside of school.

   Minji had then explained to me weeks later that it was the school's way of ensuring consistency in students' diets.

   Two things that had crossed my mind at that time:

   One, why did I have to pay so much for rich-people groceries I didn't even like or had even heard of?

   And two, healthy stuff is overrated anyway.

   On that note, due to mysterious circumstances that were totally not of my doing, I never saw that paper again.

   I wasn't certain whether everyone else actually went by it, but looking at Rav now, with his taut chest and torso, it was safe to say that some were virtually worshipers.

   Or then again—how could I have forgotten?!—it could also be that weird, AI aerobics dance class he'd bragged about swinging by with Dorian (not as excited to admit it) three times a week when everything was normal.

"Don't worry, Beth," Rav said with a smile. "This is only a preview. I hope you've mentally prepared yourself for the full Rav experience tonight, roomie."

   Heat fuelled by humiliation overpowered my face as he shot a wink my way.

"I'm going to take a shower," Dorian announced, bolting out of the basement.

"And I've got to head home anyway," Talise glanced everywhere but toward us as she stated with a small clap.

   Great, now I had people who were embarrassed for me.

"Tali, wait," I rushed over just in time to catch up with her at the exit. "I'll walk you out. Of the motel, I mean."

   Obnoxious snickers were the last thing I heard until I slammed the door shut behind me. I wondered if Cami would be open to having a roommate two days in a row.

***

   She wasn't.

   All my attempts to drag the happening of this moment had proved futile. First, I'd intended on being with Tali at the bus stop until the Ridgeton bus arrived. That was supposed to be a foolproof plan seeing as for as long as I could remember and even before I was born according to some, no bus that went directly to Ridgeton from another Classic Suburb was ever early. Guess what Tali and I meet when we get to the bus stop though?

   I'll give you a hint: it was early.

   Then I resorted to my much, much weaker, sadder plan B: Stay in the bathroom Camila and I shared for as long as I could. After showering, however, Camila made it clear, by handing me the pajamas I'd laid on the bed earlier, while I was still in the bathroom that she wanted me out.

   Hence the reason I was in front of Aarav Hooda's room, much earlier than I preferred, giving myself time before knocking. Time to mentally prepare.

   If that was possible.

   Oh, who was I kidding? I rapped my knuckles against his door, moving my hand to its knob after hearing a "Come in."

   I frowned at the darkness that hit me as I stepped into the room. Really Rav? Already with the dumb games? I sighed. I should have seen this coming. This was my fault. I shouldn't have let my guard down on the extent of his—

   A yelp escaped my lips from the shock of multi-coloured lights that burst out of nowhere and filled the room out of the blue. The only thing missing now was ear-splitting music and drugs for this previously darkened room to become a lonely, low-budgeted rave party. Where the hell was he?

"Rav?" I called, shielding my eyes from the blinding lights that occasionally pierced me as they moved around the room in a disoriented fashion.

"What's the password?" A faint whisper travelled from one of the corners of the room.

"Turn on the damn lights."

"Try aagai—"

"Rav!"

"Ugh, you're no fun," His grumble was followed by the sound of a flipping switch. Immediately, everywhere was filled with the non-eye damaging brightness of the ceiling lights.

   I found him in a corner, the broad smirk and dramatic bad boy pose he was giving not matching his previous tone in any way.

   And certainly not matching the outfit he had on.

   Both hands flew to mask my snort as my eyes roamed over Rav's body.

"What are you wearing?" I sputtered, eventually breaking down at my own question and dissolving into humour-filled shrieks of hysteria.

   The onesie that hung around his frame loosely had almost all the colours of the rainbow splashed over it in lines. These colours had countless stars scattered across every inch of the material. Covering his head was the hoodie that came with the monstrosity of an outfit. But that wasn't the bad part. This hoodie couldn't just be the one normal thing about this mess. Its top region was made up of the stuffed head of a unicorn.

   And who could miss the signature pink horn that stuck out proudly at the centre?

"It's great, isn't it?" For some reason I was eager to know, there wasn't a hint of sarcasm in the question Rav posed.

   Rather, I could detect nothing but excitement.

   Mind you, this was the same boy who promoted the hell out of his shirtless body just over an hour ago.

"Sure," I replied, without missing a beat. Maybe agreeing with everything he said and did would increase the chances of me going to bed early.

   Or at all.

   The glint in his eye, however, instantly made me aware that I'd just made a horrible mistake.

"So great that you want one as well," Rav clapped his hands, darting toward his closet without waiting for a response.

   Like that horrible light show I walked into earlier, it was clear that he had planned this. It didn't take him that long to unravel my worst nightmare, an exact replica of what he was wearing, a few sizes bigger.

"I got it on sale in one of the stores in your district, Ridgeton," he explained, as he handed it to me.

   I withheld the impulse to throw the outfit/costume into a corner and set it on fire. At least, he hadn't used my money.

   After he directed—okay, shoved— me into the bathroom to try it on, I began to think of a ploy as to how I could stay there for the whole night.

   But then stopped when I remembered the failed plans I'd already come up with.

   As I changed out of my pajamas, it began to cross my mind that maybe I was being kind of uptight. So far, Rav had been the epitome of weirdness I'd expected from him, but it hadn't gotten creepy in an uncomfortable way. He was just trying to make tonight fun. And I had to admit Rav has always been the most entertaining to be around. In light of everything that was currently happening, one night of harmless fun wouldn't kill me.

   Besides, I thought—while staring into the mirror at the new clothing I had dressed in and stroking its material—this onesie was surprisingly soft.

   I managed a smile and a mock bow at the whistles and compliments Rav yelled my way as I walked out of the bathroom.

"So what's the agenda for tonight?" I inquired.

   He looked taken aback by my question, like he didn't expect me to actually be interested. But that only lasted for a second before he settled into a grin of his own. From his seated position on the bed, Rav turned toward one of the bed's sides, yanking the covers draped across it. A sea of packaged chips, candies and a number of mini shot bottles of what I could only assume was not not alcohol spilled out from beneath the bed.

"That depends," he smirked, patting the empty side of the bed beside him and gesturing with his head for me to come over, "on whether you're willing to face the consequences tomorrow."

A/N: These two😂😂 Who secretly wants more Beth/Rav (Bav?!) moments?

Predictions?

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