~~~Awkward Partner~~~

Serena's POV

"Calm your panties," Jackson spoke. "I'm just joking around."

"Cleary you, forgot what we've spoken about over the phone," Nathan spoke is tone slightly sharp.

"Ah sorry," He rolled his eyes." I was busy."

"Hey, shitface!" Debora screamed, walking beside him and grabbing his arm.

"Can I have a minute with you, alone." She emphasised the word alone clearly, meaning that whatever she wants to say we can't hear.

"Actually, no." Jackson turned his phone on to look at the time. "I'm done for today and I've to pick up my -"

"Yeah, yeah," She interrupted him, dragging him outside. "this more important than some hook-up."

"Nathalie, he's right." Taylor suddenly comes from his side. "Calm down, remember last year."

"It was his fault." He muttered, before raising his voice louder. "And stop calling me Nathalie!"

"What! You know I rather wanted a sister." She laughed, walking out of the room. "See ya at home! See ya at the party, Serena!"

"Bye," I awkwardly waved her goodbye, still a bit in a daze of what just happened. I turned to Nathan who is hanging his head low. "Are you... okay?"

"Yeah," he muttered a bit sullen, before standing up straight. Rubbing the back of his head with his hand, showing an embarrassed smile. "I know I keep saying it, but sorry again. They need to adjust and so."

"Don't worry," I waved my hands off. "I'm new, so-uh-I need to adjust. So yeah."

Aw~kward~

Trying to as quick as possible to break this aura, perhaps I should start a conversation.

You didn't talk to them, yesterday at the party. They seemed to enjoy not being bothered by you. So be quiet.

"So-"

"So-"

"Oh," I exclaimed, startled." You go first."

"No, don't mind me." He shrugged off. "Ladies first, right?"

"Um," I trailed off, What was I going to say again?! "um."

That's not English.

He sighed and then smiled, "You're blank, aren't you?"

"Um-huh?"

He sat beside me and how was I relieved he kept his space. Leaning his face against his hand on his lap, he smiled while his eyes soften." I'm blank too."

"Sorry, I'm confused." I rubbed my arm in this quite tense feeling I've around me.

"I was trying to come up with something to break, 'this'." He motioned between us. "It was getting really awkward."

"Oh! Yes!" I blurted out, seeming to blow his eardrums out. "I mean, yes I mean I agree, me too-"

I just squeezed my eyes shut and buried my face in my hands.

Wow, applaud you for being the most embarrassing thing in the world.

"Thank God!" He laughed and I just wanted to jump in that little hole in the floor. "You are like me."

"Huh?"

"Oh! Yeah!" He jumped up. "You know social awkward mess."

"Is it that obvious?" I spoke a little hurt.

"Yes." He stated but immediately straightens up. " But it's okay, I'm like that too."

"You don't seem like it."

"No, I'm serious, If you were not so awkward I would be the one with um-uh-what?" He laughed again and let out a deep sigh."What a relief."

"But really, you don't look like it." I pushed further. "You look normal."

He's faking it.

"I'm in a room with people I know almost 4 years and my sister, of course, I act differently around them than outside." He spoke and then looked at me."Don't you?"

"Ah, yeah, it feels-"

"Safer? Comfortable? Easy?" He interrupted, before tensing up. "Right, sorry. Drank a little too much coffee this morning."

"Don't worry, this one might be asleep, but when he's awake he looks like he's on coffee all the time," I spoke pointing, to the still sleeping Ash. "He's kind of a hyper kid, in a good way."

"Really?" He looked at me quite surprised. "I know he's kind of hyper, but not childish. I mean when talking about work or family and stuff, he's quite serious."

"Oh," I replied, a little silent.

You don't know him anymore, remember. Seven years, he changed and so did you.

"I guess I don't know him that well like we were kids." I laughed, although I still felt pain in my heart about the fact that we are practically strangers to this point.

"It's been years, right?" He asked, pondering. "Four? Five?"

"Seven, but who's counting, right?" I laughed again, fake and awkward.

"Woah, and you remember each other?!" He exclaimed surprised, but then softer said. "I would have forgotten that person by then. But, I have the memory of Dory, so yeah."

"Oh," I swallowed a bit." I see."

Being forgotten.

"You know I was actually really surprised to know you and Ash are friends." He furrowed his brow and looked at me. "I don't remember him talking about you."

"May-"

"And you dance since you were little, right?" He asked, I nodded." I wonder why he didn't mention you, while we are dancers too. And we know each other for a year or two or maybe three."

Seemed like you were the only one hanging on the past. What a waste of time.

I didn't know if I should feel angry or sad. I'm rather frustrated by the fact that I told Paul everything about our friendship.

He isn't obligated to tell them about me, what if I were to be the one who's was supposedly dead. Talking about a dead person, would creep people out, right? No friends, no fame anymore.

Isn't that exactly what you did? And what did you end up with? A friend who's only your friend because of guilt against his real sister. And then nobody. Nobody wants a creep.

Only creeps want creeps.

"Right, so don't put the blame on me. You were the one who disappeared to who knows where?!"

I've left you, but you've forgotten me.

You gave him the chance to forget you by leaving, remember?!

"Hmm, weird." He concluded.

"Yeah, I know right." I beamed. "I guess luck was on our s-"

As I was trying to finish my sentence, a loud ring was heard from somewhere. An all too familiar one.

As I was turning towards Ash, I noticed it a light coming from under the bench. It was his phone. I guess I shouldn't have reached out to it while it was still ringing, but that ringtone is so annoying.

The moment I grabbed it, the loud ringing stopped and a heavy voice spoke,

"Ash, how many times do I've-"

I gasped and immediately declined the call.

"I d-don-," I was interrupted again by the ringing phone in my hand, Mr Galloway. "He's going over again!"

"Just let it ring," Nathan said plainly. "It's not as if you need to pick it up."

"Ah, y-yeah right." I shakily placed the phone beside me and then started in front of me.

The phone seemed to keep ringing and ringing, louder and louder, longer and longer. Eager to be picked up as if it screamed for me to release it from its misery and let the person on the other side know that Ash is here, asleep and okay.

"You don't need this anymore," He said before he smashed my ringing phone to the ground. "You don't need 'Paul' anymore, only me."

It stopped, but not for long, because then again it rang.

"And me only." He whispered out, his with dirt-filled nails went over the back of my arm. "You are mine, my princess."

It stopped, I turned to the side to pick up the phone and place it in Ash's hand only to see it not on it is the previous place.

"Hello?"

"Stop calling him."

"Wha-" He stopped and then spoke slightly angered. "Nathaniel"

"How are ya doing, old man?"

-------
I made another book with all random stuff and some drafts of ideas, I was planning to add in this book like the 'song' or some plot twists, I was planning to add but doesn't fit the whole idea of the story and more. It is called:

The Holy book
of
Randomness