Chapter Twenty Two: Did I Kiss You?

“Andy, listen! what exactly happened last night at the club? Did I do something stupid?” Mark called frantically after me.

“Just tell us what happened!! And we won’t bother you further.” Drake too called out anxiously.

But I just ignored the fact that they were following me everywhere I went & continued to walk at my pace.

The next day at school, as you see, hadn’t started out on a good note for me. Yes, as expected, Drake & Mark didn’t in the least remember the events of last night & so they were constantly behind my back to tell them everything cause, well, only I had a sane mind last night.

Irritated, I turned around & faced them, “Don’t eat my head. Nothing happened last night.”

“Don’t believe her! She is being sarcastic like always.” Drake told my brother.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

“Why didn’t you stop us from going over-the-top with drinks?” Mark complained.

“Oh really? As if you two would obediently listen to me & shun drinking.” I snapped back.

“Fine! We won’t get into that.” Drake said, “Just tell us whether Mark & I acted foolishly last night at the club cause we’ve got absolutely no clue on that.”

“Nothing happened.” I repeated coldly this time & started to walk away. I don’t know why his words were pricking me.

“Andy listen!” I heard Mark call out.

Man! They were still chasing me.

“Andy lis---”

He wasn’t able to complete cause I had already entered the Girls Washroom & shut the door close. Thankfully, there was no one in the washroom at that time. The thing is, I can’t really blame Mark for being so worried cause whenever he is too much drunk, he is bound to something idiotic. Last time when he got inebriated, he had bumped into a lamppost outside our house & thought he had knocked down a girl! Then he called me up to fetch the first aid box to bandage & give medicines to the lamppost whom he thought was a girl. Sigh!. But this time, thankfully, nothing of that sort happened.

 I looked at myself in the mirror. Damn! I was so right in my prediction last night that I won’t be able to sleep properly.  My mind was constantly revolving around the intimate moments between Drake & me. I don’t understand how I lost myself in him. Instead of pushing him away, I let him come close to me. Why? Drake is the one who had completely ruined my first day at school. He is the one who is only interested in making my life as difficult as possible. I just can’t stand him for more than a split-second, then why did I reciprocate his actions last night?

And now, he doesn’t remember anything that happened between us. And even though I very well knew in advance that this was evident, still it is piercing me ever so hurtfully....

My head feels heavy. I guess I am over thinking this entire matter. I should just forget about this whole damn thing. Yes, That’s right!

I had just walked out of the washroom when I came face to face with Laura.

“Good I found you here.” she said, “My final advertisement is ready! Want to show it to you & Soph.”

She smiled widely.

“Wow! That’s cool. Lets go!” I said.

****

“Whoa! That’s one heck of an awesome job!” Soph exclaimed after we watched the AD in the laptop.

“Yep. You surely do have talent Laura. I say it again.” I said.

The AD looked professional. I’m happy that the outcome is what Laura wanted. She really did work very hard on it. As for the record, I was in it for around 10 seconds. The kids were great too. And I did manage to do a credible job as well. Phew!

“Well, Mark did great editing. So my stuff looks good because of him. He is phenomenal.” Laura admitted modestly.

“Oh! Looks like someone is a huge admirer of Mark.” Soph remarked cheekily.

I giggled at that.

“U-Uh…Nothing like that...” Laura was flustered, “I-I must leave now...Can’t be late for History class.”

Laura got up hurriedly & left. Technically, she ran away.

“Now lets discuss about you Andy.”

I came to know by the tone of Soph’s voice what she wanted to talk about.

“Dude! You were kissing Drake & getting all cozy with him! What’s the matter?” Soph came direct to the point.

“I don’t know alright? It just...It just kind of happened..” I replied.

“He was drunk, I got that. But you weren’t. And I know you’re not a person who just gets easily carried away & that too with a person who you call your enemy.”

“I don’t know. The only thing I know is that I detest him the most. And nothing can change that.”

Soph sighed, “Look, would just tell you one thing. If at all your feelings of hate for Drake has been replaced by some other feeling, then figure it out soon before things complicate.”

“Figure it out & do what?” I blurted out, “Don’t you think it would only hurt me cause Drake is someone who only uses girls for pleasure.”

Soph gave me a surprised look, “You’ve been in this school for a good many months. Don’t you see? He never makes the first move at girls. Its always girls who are all over him. But...I think he made the first move at you.” she winked.

I rolled my eyes, “Soph, there’s nothing like that. He wasn’t in his senses. That’s just it.”

“Drake surely has a thing for you.” she teased me.

“Best cock and bull story I’ve ever heard.” I remarked.

Soph shook her head, sighing.

***

I think I should quicken my pace if I am to reach the Science class on time. I was beginning to run as if I’m running in Olympics when I felt a strong grasp around my wrist & the next spilt-second I was pulled into a classroom.

My shocked eyes met Drake’s as he closed the door of that empty classroom & trapped me between the wall & him. His rugged breaths burned the skin of my face which in turn labored my breaths. The manner in which his blue orbs penetrated my eyes rendered my heart incapable of breathing.....

“You’ve got to tell me what I said or did last night at the club cause I think I did something which I shouldn’t have done.” his voice was dense.

“How does it matter? Would you be able to change what’s already done?” I strained my voice so that I don’t stutter.

“What did I tell you last night, I need to know!!!” he said hoarsely.

“Why is it so important for you to know what you said? Do you fear you might have spoken the very truth you wanted to hide?” I blurted that out abruptly. Now why did I say that for? Crap! What the bloody heck is wrong with me?

A thin line of shock crossed his face which was barely visible but I noticed it. For a moment, he just stared at me blankly as though something hard had hit him that had rendered him to be at a loss of speech.

“I...” he stuttered a bit when he began to speak, “ Cut the crap & Just me what happened!!!”

His stares heated up but he his manner was defensive.

I smiled humorlessly, “If you don’t remember, you don’t need to be remembered. Simple.”

“If your investigations are done, will you excuse me? I have a class to attend.” I said.

Drake didn’t speak a word but stepped aside, releasing me. He looked away, his body language a mix of frustration & confusion.

 ***

“May I come in?” I stood at the door of the classroom.

“You’re late.” Mrs Flores stated.

“Had to deal with some obstacles on my way.” I said,

The teacher raised her eyebrows but at the end of it, I did get to sit in the Journo class.

“Where were you stuck?” Daniel whispered from the bench behind mine.

I had opened my mouth to whisper back but then Mrs Flores shot us a stern look. After she was successful in getting both of us to listen to her, she spoke to the class,

“So we were discussing about your new project. This is an individual one. You have to research on any big event that happened in any part of the world & present or rather broadcast it in your own creative way.”

Sounds great. Any event that was known or lesser known worldwide. Have to start at it as early as possible cause I’m gonna make sure that I do my best at reporting & broadcasting.

***

After the period got over, I headed straight to the library to look up for journals & newsletters in hope to come across something gripping as well as interesting. I managed to lay my hands on some good reference material. After getting them issued, I was walking out of the library when I came across Drake who was entering the library.

We both stopped at our tracks seeing each other. There was something in his somber features that made my veins tingle in unknowingness. I tried to keep my expressions as blank as possible & averted my eyes off him to walk away from there.

“Nosey, wait.”

I heard him from behind. My feet did halt but I didn’t turn back.

“If you’re going to bother me with the same question, let me tell you my answer won’t change unfortunately.” I said nonchalantly.

“I’m not going to ask you anything cause I know or rather I remembered what happened between us.”

My eyes popped wide open hearing that & I felt my heart starting to increase its pace of beating...

He walked upto me at my side but I didn’t look at him though I saw him staring at me from the corner of my eyes.

“I kissed you, didn’t I?” Drake said.

His voice had that depth that I never expected him to have. I abruptly looked at him, feeling my heart unbalancing in my rib cage. We stared at each other. His face was intense, not bearing any decipherable emotion...There was silence & silence altogether. We were still looking into each other’s eyes. All the images of the moments that I had with him last night began to flash with immense clarity in my mind...Does he remember everything as vividly as I remember it? I think not from what I am able to understand from his eyes. He merely recollects the first bits of it.

“Forget whatever happened. I never intended to do whatever I did, trust me.” he said quietly.

His tone sounded a bit of an apology when he looked sideways. I don’t know why these days his words are having a terrible impact on me...

I smiled without any emotion, “I had forgotten about last night anyway. It is you who has reminded me of it now.”

That statement seemed to have shocked him in some way cause he looked back at me.

Again, there was silence & silence altogether...

I don’t know why I was still standing there & staring into his eyes when I am supposed to walk out of there. If I did not do it yet, I’m going to do that now.

I averted my gaze off him & walked past him. He didn’t speak a word. The silence between us was following me with every step I took to get away from him…Something had changed. That change wasn’t extreme but it was significant enough to tell me that the equation between Drake & me is never gonna be like how it was before this whole thing....And he knows that as well....

****

Hello everybody :)

So here is the latest chapter! Thanks to everyone who voted for the previous one. Hope you have enjoed this one too :)

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Also I have posted a new story--Scarlet Frames. The first chapter is up! Do check out that as well :D

Thanks,

enchantedgirlXX