Chapter 7

If you obey all the rules, you miss the fun!!!!

"My heart leapt to my boots as I realized it was not Mincy but her cousin Shea lying all over me stripping herself. I gave a loud shout and she hushed me with a deepened kiss.' Joshan explained with a feel of disgust.  

"Aaauuuuggggh!!! that was aweful." I commented 

“I freed myself from her shouting Minty's name for help", Joshan narrated while I bursted into fits of laughter. 

"Oh my gosh Joshan. You were about to be raped!!!!." I couldn't control my laughter.  

"It can be headlines tomorrow Boys no longer safe. For emergency contact ........."  kept on laughing sarcastically. 

"Are you done pulling my leg or shall I skip rest of the part" Joshan was now getting restless. 

"Okay I am sorry. Continue friendie", I said putting my finger on my lips asking him to continue. 

"That's a new name for me. You can write a book on pet names." He mocked. 

"Whatever", I said signaling him to continue "Joshan I am dying of suspense. Were you raped or you narrowedly escaped?" 

"Mincy heard my yelling and came to my room but she was least bothered about Shea being in my room. She thought I was being a little ass. Probably she was also making out with some one else I guess." he completed. 

"You are crazy" I snapped back at him. 

"I did not know what to do. So I called you but in vain. However I was so sluggish that the next morning I hired a cab back home. I was also missing you guys so much so Deren planned this one out. Now I feel HOME with you guys ".He took a steep right as he parked his car to get at a takeaway of burgers and strawberry and chocolate smoothies for everybody. 

He was continuously talking and sharing his trip and how he broke off with Mincy. 

"Help me look for a new one now please", he asked me to search for his Gf.

How alas!!!!. 

"Sorry Joshan . I am not in for that.” I averted back. 

"I thought friends were for help" Joshan gave a hurted look 

"Anything for you friendie. But this is not my cup of coffee" I mean I do support my friends in whatever you do. I do not dislike you for that. But I can't help you for something that you use for fun. I just feel it wrong. I simply can't". I shrugged. 

"oh....kkkk.. my saint. Don't help me but I am not in for your big lecture you see. I believe in living the life fully and also advice to do the same." he said bowing and extending his outstretched arms towards me in mock respect. 

"I am already living my life and am happy with it." I said as I managed to keep all the smoothies still and balanced so that they do not spill while Joshan was showing off his speed driving skills. 

"No Pearly what I mean to say is why are you afraid for a relationship?" 

"I think you already know the answer Joshan. Don't you remember I told you the other day?" I said not interested in the same old discussion.

Why I do not understand. If I do not ask him to stop his flirty play boy attitude and be a decent guy then why is it that he wants me go ahead into a relationship?

Bossy...urhgggggh.... 

But again he is my friend so I have to tolerate his insane behaviour. 

"That was years back Pearly. I think you should come over it. Not everyone's the same. You should give a try". He parked the car and squeezed my palm softly to comfort me and make me believe in his words. 

I giggled to his words quite sarcastically. "Look who's speaking those big words?' 

"What", he horrified, "I am serious". 

"How can you ask me to trust a guy when you break a relation almost every week. Girls are a mere toy to you. Aren't they?" Not able to control my inner frustration and he taking liberty, my voice turned a little loud. 

"The things are a little different than what you assume. I do not break their hearts. In fact the girls who come to me are only desirous of short term relationships with benefits and I give them that." he kept his calm trying to explain. 

"And how do I convince a boy that I am not there for some benefits?" I argued.

 Does he think true love is waiting for me and any damn guy that I knock with 'aahhhmmm....will you be my boyfriend?'  and he’d answer yes and will shower me with his love true. No... Especially with what ...... Did.

He trusted his friend over me. More than that he was ashamed of having me as his girlfriend. My decent dressing sense was making him uncomfortable. I was a complete denim freak, not very keen in showing my legs in those short and skimpy looking skirts. But is that enough a reason to end up a relationship and break someone's heart. 

'Love- I doubt if it ever exists'. I took a deep breath. I might have thought it aloud 

"You don't have to. You are so nice that any guy who has you would treasure you all his life. Love - well again is a confused feeling. I too am not very clear about the technicalities of it." Joshan said as he started driving. 

I stared at him for a long time, a small smile slowly invading my face. 

"Enough of flattering my friend. Thanks anyway I take it as compliment. Now would you focus on driving? I am hungry." I felt good with whatever cliche' he said. 

It's nice to have a friend who can irritate you one moment and next moment it is like this is the best thing that has ever happened to you. 

"Yes boss" he said as he pressed the gas pedal with full force only to reach and halt with sudden screechy break. 

We all had burgers and beacons. We were eating like we were starving since ages. 

So when Joshan did not get enough to fill his appetite, he cried like a two year old when he got only a small piece of roll which he said he loved. 

"Joshan you roll on the ground. We have a beehive here. We can release them on you and as you roll on the ground we can see a bee con rool." Deren smirked. 

"That was shitless funny". Joshan said. 

"Hi Mincy" Deren waved at the entrance of the farmhouse. 

"Oh shit!" Joshan murmured looking frantically at the entrance rather worried about her presence. 

"Look at your face" Deren laughed making us all laugh "It was you had seen a ghost" Deren continued laughing and mocking "Run Josh run ...run for your sanity" 

Joshan actually ran but after Deren attacking Deren playfully and throwing him on the ground punching him harmlessly. 

We were giggling at the pep fights. 

We spent the whole afternoon there only to return home tired and exhausted. It was so much fun that we decided to visit the place atleast once in a month. 

The rest of the day was spent lazing at home finishing some household cleaning chores commanded by my mother. 

----- 

Next day we... I mean our whole group and not the trio went for swimming. It was actually a pool party organised by Mike. It was in his house which was a two storey huge apartment with an inhouse pool. The pool was big enough. We wore our normal sundresses with bikinis inside to make our changeover easy. We played pool soccer as it had two goalposts on either sides. We divided into two teams with me, Joshan ,Cairo and Deren on one side and Mike, Stacie, John and Nick, Mike's cousins from Santiago on other side of team. We won. 

Mike's cousin hugged me in the pool to congratulate and the weird part was they congratulated only me. 

This gesture did trouble me but I ignored it not wanting to spoil the mood for others 

After some time when Mike was busy organizing food all the boys waited at the lounges and started chatting with each other.  

We girls continued having fun in the pool till Stacie and Cairo got tired and left to change. 

I took a little extra time in the pool and as I was about to move out I saw stare from Mike's cousins. Their stare was different. I wouldn't have been that conscious if Deren, Mike or Joshan looked at me like this. 

Mike's cousin's were creepy and if I am not mistaken they were a bit drunk too. I got extremely conscious fiddling with water trying to look for Stacie or Cairo for help. But they were no where to be seen. I pouted internally knowing that I had committed a mistake.  

In a attempt to burn some extra calories to take full lengths of the pool, since I was missing my gym workout very often lately due to these frequent handouts with friends, I stayed back to make out for the missed fitness schedule and now I will have to make a show of myself amongst those creepy eyed mongers. 

Joshan noticed it and immediately scanned my bag getting a sarong for me to wrap around and pulled me to one of the lounges. I was so glad of the thoughtfulness displayed by him. All I could do was side hug him with a soft mumbling of 'Thanks'. He squeezed my hands with 'I understand' looks. 

Our relationship was peaking heights. It was getting stronger. 

I did not say, but you heard 

You did not explain, but I understood 

I did not show, but you noticed 

You did not express, but I felt 

The bond is so natural 

And appears so normal 

We are two together 

How we are meant to be 

''''''''''''''''' 

"Hey friendie" Joshan called me to sit at the lounge once I was dressed up not wanting me to sit with Mike's cousins. Stacie and Ciaro were busy giving their specifications about their preferred mock tails to Mike, cocktails won't be possible because of those cousins. 

"This was my name. You stole it" I snapped at him. 

"But you gave it to me so now its mine" he smirked. 

"You can have it but remember Paybacks" I mused 

"Ok this is your payback", and he handed me a small basket covered with blue net and a silver bow strung to it. It was so sweet. It fit into my palms. He asked me to open it. 

I opened it to see a silver string gleaming with its shine with a ball hanging in the centre. There was bestfriend written with blue diamonds on the sphere. It was gorgeous. Joshan could no longer keep patience as he snatched it from my hands and tied in on my wrists. 

"It is beautiful. Where did you get it from?" I was mesmerized by the beauty and feelings attached to it. 

"On my way back from farmhouse, we were filling gas when I discovered it from a nearby shop. It reminded me of you. So I got it." He said as he lifted my arm admiring the little pretty gift he brought for me. 

It was so nice that I could really feel it. 

"Such paybacks are good huh!" I said and he simply smiled. 

"So how many more nick names do you want?" I asked. 

"Numbers do not matter till they come from your heart." He gave a soft punch on my heart and walked away moving his head violently and dripping droplets of water on me. Do I need to admit, I enjoyed it!!! And was blushing tremendously feeling glad that there was no one around or I would have been caught red and would have embarrassed myself.  

The rest of the holidays were spent finishing our school projects, meeting each other in the evenings at coffee shops, texting and not to forget we are having girls night at my place before the school begins day after tomorrow on Monday. 

The trio wildcats were staying at my place only to scrap out the sleep of the neighbourhood. Even Joshan and his friends were used to our nick names. 

Whenever we were late they would often comment "the musical purr is missing as the wildcats are not there" 

We were kind of addicted to each others company. 

All the guys decided to have a guys night out with loads of drinks while we girls were happy with girls stuff at my place. Though Stacie and Cairo found the drinking part quite musing but Joshan completely denied enacting as an overprotective friend saying that there were guys other than from our groups and so it was a strict No!! No!!! for us. So we carried on with our plans for a girls night at my place. 

We started with a full blast music followed by playing darkroom and sharing girlie secrets. 

::: 

"Mike looks so awesome after his makeover hairstyle". Cairo said. 

"Seems like someone's got crush on him, Stacie remarked. 

"No no not like that I mean.....",as Cairo said both me and Stacie bumped on her on my bed, pinning her under us. 

"Ok alright. I do like him but this is just too cheesy. I prefer to be his friends first". Cairo admitted. 

"You tell Pearly. You had hots for Joshan earlier. How does it feel now?" Cairo asked. 

I blushed at it and answered, "Its strange actually. I think it should be past now. We are good friends. Best friends as termed and acknowledged by both of us, so isn't it unfair to think such about him? Isn't there any 'no flirting with your best friend rule!!!" I pouted in the end and laughed mockingly to avoid any misunderstanding.  

"But love is blind and haven't you ever read those lovey dovey novels where bestfriends end up loving eachother?" Stacie commented. 

"Love and Joshan -a dream come true." I said as I heard a knock on my room's balcony. 

We opened the door to see Joshan and Deren climbed to my room. 

Did they listen to our conversation?...........