"In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." ~ Gordon B. Hinckley

                             • • •

The bell signalling the end of school at 3:30 rings causing all the students to rush out of class.

I text both Marcel and my mum letting them know I'll be home later on.

As I'm doing this, I walk towards the school car park intending to wait for Roland, Eliza or Rani to take me there since they already have their license.

Eventually, my group of friends along with Abel start walking towards me.

"Hey guys." I say. "Whose car am I coming in today?"

"Wait, you can't drive yet?" Asks Abel.

I shoot him a dry look. "Nope not yet."

"Well you can come in my car then. I'll need someone to guide me to the right place anyway."

"That is true. Alright then." Turning back to the others I say, "I'll see you guys in a bit."

"Have fun alone with pretty boy!" Shouts Rani.

I roll my eyes and scoff to hide my embarrassment before walking away.

Abel jogs towards me and grabs my arm.

"My cars this way Brown Eyes." He says with a smile.

"I knew that."

"Sure you did."

Reaching Abel's car, he opens the passenger door for me. "For you m'lady." He says with a wave of his arm.

"Why thank you kind sir." I respond in a fancy accent.

Abel closes the door with a laugh and jogs round the front of the car to reach the other side.

Watching him run makes me think about how attractive he truly is. I wonder if he knows that. He definitely knows it, there's no way a guy like him couldn't.

Entering the car, Abel speaks up. "So where to Brown Eyes?"

I groan at 'brown eyes' and tell him to stop with the name calling.

"No can do and besides, I thought you'd be used to it by now."

"Well obviously I'm not and obviously I don't really like it."

"Shame you don't really have a choice in the matter. Now which way?" He states with a smirk.

"Ugh you're so annoying. Just turn right at the next exit."

"Yes ma'am."

"So how are you liking our small town of Avebury so far?" I question.

"I haven't really had much time to explore but so far it's pretty good. The views here are beautiful."

"Take the next left by the way. If you haven't had enough time to explore then how can you say the views are beautiful?"

"Because I've been looking at you."

"You obviously can't tell but I'm blushing right now."

"I'm glad I have that effect on you."

Oh you have no idea, I mumble to myself.

We eventually reach Bittersweet where we find everyone else already waiting on us inside.

Being the gentleman that Abel is, he opens the door to the café for me.

Bittersweet is nothing spectacular but it's a place me and my friends have grown to love. It's run by an older couple which is evident from the warm atmosphere around us. The ceilings are lined with several wooden beams making it seem larger than it truly is; each table is a combination of brown and white adding to the cosy ambience. The walls are covered with framed pictures of different people; some of them even being me or my friends.

You see, this place provides the opportunity to participate in a challenge. This involves you attempting to finish their largest dessert of an ice cream sundae, two brownies, a slice of apple pie and a whole cheesecake under 5 minutes. It really is as much as it sounds yet I was able to do it. Along with Roland of course since his stomachs a bottomless pit. I may be small but food is God's greatest creation.

Abel and I head to the booth at the back where our friends are already seated. I slip into the space next to Roland while Rani, Evelyn, Eliza and Anastasia sit opposite us. Going by the smile on Rani's face, she definitely did this on purpose.

Already knowing what we're going to order, we don't pick up a menu. Well everyone except Abel.

"So what's good here?" He asks.

"Pretty much everything if I'm honest."

"Have you really tried everything?"

"It's tradition for all us to gather here after school on the first day of each term so you kind of get to know what's good or not." I state simply.

"What do you usually get then Brown Eyes?"

"The kinder bueno white milkshake is the best thing ever made trust me. You should try it."

"I'll just share yours."

I shoot him a dirty look. "You better not even think of touching my drink or I will punch you."

Evelyn bursts into laughter. "Yeah, there's absolutely no way Kez will share her drink with you."

This time Rani responds. "You have a better chance at convincing my parents to remove my curfew and that says a lot."

"Plus, I already tried that once and she nearly bit my head off." Rolo chips in.

I roll my eyes at them. "You're all exaggerating.

"We're really not Kez." States Eliza.

"Anyway," I say interrupting them. "You are not allowed even a sip of my milkshake so don't even bother trying."

Abel just smirks at me and engages in conversation with Eliza who asks him a question.

I focus my attention on the rest of the gang and find Ana discussing in detail how good Raphael supposedly looked today.

"Honestly guys, he's never looked better. That military green shirt he was wearing today really compliments his skin tone. It was so tight as well I could practically see his muscles exploding. He's definitely bulked up during the summer. Do you think he has a girlfriend yet? I hope not, I'm really gonna try and make a move this year maybe. I feel like it's my chance you know? And did you see the way he-"

"Okay Ana! We get the point. Raphael is so gorgeous and makes you want to attack his face with kisses." Imitates Rolo in a high voice.

"Just woman up and ask the boy out already." Rani says with a roll of her eyes. "You've been doing the same thing for the past 3 years Ana. You see him, you act all shy, you don't say a word then when he leaves you blab about everything related to him. It's really not healthy."

"You don't get it Rani. I don't know if the boy even likes me. You're just used to every guy falling for your model looks and charming behaviour. It's not that easy for me." Ana says with a sad look on her face.

Listening to my friends put themselves down about their appearance is something that upsets me a lot. So this time, I speak up. "Ana you're a beautiful and amazing girl and if Raphael can't see that, then he's not the one for you. But maybe you should at least try talking to him, that would be a good start."

Ana just sighs in response and keeps quiet.

Evelyn and Rani continue talking while Rolo grabs my attention by playing with some of my braids. He pulls me closer to him and whispers in my ear. "I don't really have anything to say to you, I just wanted to see if Abel would get jealous from this."

I give a crazy look. "Why would he be jealous? We're just friends."

"You have to be blind not to see how that boy feels Kez. Take a look."

I turn my head slightly and find Abel staring daggers at Rolos hand on my hair while gripping the table tightly. He looks like he's about to burst with anger.

"That could be from anything Rolo. Stop trying to make it something else."

Rolo lets go of me and Abel finally relaxes.

I tune back into his and Eliza's conversation to find her asking whether or not he's in a relationship.

"No, I'm not at the moment." Abel replies patiently.

"Do you want to be in a relationship?"

"Well I'm not actively searching for one."

"So you do want one?"

"Geez El what's with the 20 questions. Leave the boy alone." Exclaims Evelyn.

"Sorry." Says Eliza while blushing.

Huh. That's interesting since she never blushes. Wonder what that's all about.

Before Abel can respond to that, the waiter arrives with our orders. Rolo got a whole cheesecake for himself. What a pig. Rani and Ana got a brownie while Evelyn and Eliza are sharing a slice of cake. I of course got my usual kinder bueno milkshake. Taking a sip, I moan from the taste.

Abel leans in close to me and whispers in my ear. "Careful there Brown Eyes. It's hard to focus on anything else when you're making sounds like that."

I choke on my drink and end up spitting some out.

Abel starts to rub circles on my back. "Are you alright Keziah?" He asks innocently.

I simply narrow my eyes at him and go back to my drink.

That's when I realise Abel is still rubbing my back and that all my friends are focused on that particular fact.

"What?" I ask with irritation.

"Nothing Kez." Replies Rolo. "Nothing at all."

Looking to the left, Abel finally notices the framed picture of me surrounded by empty plates.

"Hey Keziah, is that you? How come you're up there?" He asks.

"Well-" I'm interrupted before I can finish my sentence.

"That was a really funny day, I'll tell the story." Says Evelyn.

"Gee Evelyn, it's not like I have a mouth of my own." I respond sarcastically.

Evelyn continues as if I hadn't spoken.

"So basically, Bittersweet does a variety of challenges that involve eating a certain amount of food in a specific time. On this day which was last year I think just before Christmas, Kez decided to go for the dessert challenge which involved eating two brownies, a whole cheesecake, a slice of apple pie and a large sundae in under five minutes. The fact that she finished it was impressive but afterwards, her face was smeared with all the food she ate. Which is what you're seeing in that picture right now. It was hilarious!"

"No no wait, your missing out the best part." Says Ana.

"Thanks guys, embarrass me further why don't you." I was ignored. Again.

"After she finished it all, we left and piled into Rolos car. Just as he started driving, Kez threw up all over Rolo! It was the funniest thing I had ever seen! I almost died of laughter."

"Plus, you can't forget the way Roland screamed like a girl from the mess in his car. It still shocks me to this today that he was able to make a sound like that." Wonders Rani.

By the time they've finished the story, everyone's laughing except from me. I cross my arms and huff in exasperation.

The laughter eventually dies down so I reach for my drink only to find Abel already drinking from it.

I freeze in shock.

"Abel." I say slowly. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I was quite thirsty from all that laughing and this was the closest thing to me. By the way, it's just as good as you said." He says with a slurp.

I elbow him as hard as I can causing him to yelp in surprise.

"What was that for!"

"I told you that was mine now give it back!"

I reach across him in an attempt to grab my drink only for him to move it away further. Taunting me.

"Sharing is caring Brown Eyes or did your mother never teach you that?" Abel responds triumphantly.

By this point I'm straddling him unknowingly and finally take my drink back. That's when I realise how close we actually are.

Abel stares into my eyes and whispers, "I'm liking this position Keziah."

My eyes widen in surprise before I scramble off his lap and back into my own seat. Abel chuckles happily.

"You realise that since you've both drank from the same straw you've indirectly kissed." Rolo states stupidly.

"I'll be waiting for the real thing." Says Abel.

"In your dreams." I respond.

"Oh yes you are."

"Dang boy, I don't know how Kez is resisting you right now." States Rani.

"She won't be for long, trust me." Replies Abel.

I scoff loudly and keep drinking my milkshake. Rani is kind of right though, I don't know how I haven't given into him yet.

Abel suddenly speaks up. "Keziah pass me your phone."

I do as he asks before questioning him. "Why do you need my phone?"

"To add my number duh."

He passes it back to me and I find his number saved under 'Sexiest man alive'.

"Really Abel?"

"You know it."

I look away from him to find Eliza frowning at me for a second before forcing on a smile.

That was weird, I think to myself.

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