Chapter III

Tanis POV

"Of course, they are, you idiot! They could be called Beyoncé and Jay-Z for nothing," my subconscious shouts. Yeah, when thinking of it, this is a dumb question. But to my defense, I really don't know how to carry out a conversation with him. He's different from a guy I use to know. "Yeah, we are still dating," he says while laughing lightly. "It's actually been eleven months," he continues. Okay, that's a milestone. "Eleven months? He really does like her," my subconscious says. "Wow, congratulations," I say. I can't hide my astonished expression. "I knw, it's a miracle. I should be on to the next one by now, but she's different," he says.

My heart starts to ache like crazy. Why? 'well, I'm glad you finally met your match," I joke. Jas is full of shit, but he is an okay guy on a one on one basis. "I'm just curious, how long have you been single before you met her?" I ask. Thing is he never allowed himself some alone time. The idea of maybe he has a fear of being alone has crossed my mind a few times. "Six weeks," he says proudly. "Clearly that's a first for him," my subconscious comments. "That's... wow," I say while laughing.

Silence stat creeping on us. It starts growing uncomfortable and I decide to join in the group conversation happening around us. Joining in terms of listening in and laughing alone. "So..." he breaks the silence. "What's his name?" he asks. His eyes are so cold and lifeless. "Pardon me?" I'm confused by the question. What's whose name? And why is he so cold all of a sudden?

Jason POV

"I'm just curious, ow long have you been single before you met her? she asks. When analyzing my history with the opposite sex, it makes sense why she is asking this. I mean I wouldn't day I am a fuckboy, I just get bored easily. "Six weeks,' I say with so much pride. Okay, for a normal person six weeks is nothing but for someone with my reputation, this is a personal record. "That's... wow," says says with amusement all over her voice. It always touches her eyes, her beautiful brown small Chinese shaped eyes. Silence creeps on. Not that she is starting to bore me, we just ran out of things to talk about. It's just that she got me thinking. Is she with someone? Not that I even care, my curiosity is getting the best of me.

Flashback 10th grade

"Hey you," I greet her. "Hey. You're in a good mood today," she says with a smile. I go in for my routine hug. I don't like hugging girls that are not in my crew but hugging her gets me through the day. "How are you?" she whispers in my ear. "I'm good and you?" she breaks the hug, but my hands don't leave her waist. "I'm okay," she blushes. My hands don't move from their position. Why are they not moving? "So..." she starts to say before Mack interrupts her. "Hey guys. What's up?" he says while looking at where my hands are placed. He grins. "Hey Mack," she smiles at him. I remove one hand and tighten my grip on the other.

"So are you guys a thing because I know a lot of people who would flip at the mere thought?" he asks. Of course not. I don't know about her, but I have Christy. "Who would flip, if I may ask?" I shoot my eyebrow up and feeling this sense of annoyance by his presence. She just stares at the both of us trying to move away from me but I don't want to let go. I like the feeling I get when she's by my side. "Well your girlfriend, Christy or one but you do not seem to care. And... oh, her boyfriend and my friend Paul," he says with an evil smile on his face. What? She has a boyfriend. And he knows about it.

Wait... he is friends with the guy? "Dude calm the fuck down," my subconscious shouts at me, clearly irritated. My hand drops from the waist without my noticing. I'm shocked. Not that a guy was interested in her, but the fact that she actually agreed to be his girlfriend. "Oh..." is the only word that forms out of my mouth. "Yeah I do, and he knows he can trust me. You hugging and holding me doesn't mean anything to me. I bet you do that to every girl you met," she says as she giggles. Ouch. That stings a bit. "yeah, well we should be going to our class," I say looking at Mack. "Okay, I'll see you guys around," she says with a smile that touches her beautiful brown small eyes.

End of Flashback

"So..." I start. "What's his name?" I ask She looks at me with so much confusion. "Pardon me?" What's so confusing? "What's his name?" I repeat the question. "Okay... who are you talking about?" she asks. "Uhm your boyfriend. Who else?" I state, hating that she is playing dumb. "Oh. I don't have one. I quit that job in the 10th grade. This year I'll see where life takes me. Why do you want to know anyway?"

Tanis POV

"Oh. I don't have one. I quit that job in the 10th grade. This year I'll see where life takes me. Why do you want to know anyway?" I ask. His face lights up by the information he just heard. I think for a split second a smile is about to make an appearance but then he goes back to his default emotionless setting. Why did he even ask that question? "No I'm just creating conversation," Okay... like I would believe that. "Announcement before the end of the day; the athletic season is starting and blah, blah, blah..." the speaker goes on. I am really not in the mood to listen to things that do not concern me. I start standing up, "It was great talking to you," he says and gives me a long hug. I love this type of hugs. He smells so good.

"Yeah I enjoyed it too," I say as I pull away from the hug. "Well I'll see you tomorrow," he smiles making way for me to pass and head to the classroom door. "Yeah, okay. Later," I say, ending it with a polite smile. I get to the gate. Today I don't have the patience to wait for everyone. I decide to call my mom. "Mom, could you please come to get me?" I ask, hoping that she would say yes. "Okay, I'll be there in ten minutes," she hangs up the phone. After seven minutes I can see her car from a distance. "Hey, I have to drop you off. I have been called into work," she says after rolling down the window. Okay, mom, it's fine. I have things to keep me busy," I smile in her directed about replying. My mom is the head nurse at Southern Springs Hospital. She loves helping people. Another thing I did not inherit from her. "How was the first day of school?" she asks. "Well mom, the school was just dandy. I mean I got stripped away from all my friends. I'm in a class full of nerds and popular people. And the guy I've been avoiding and crushing on for years is in that exact class," my subconscious says sarcastically.

"School was fine," I say ending it with a fake smile. After twenty minutes, we arrived at home. "Home sweet home" my subconscious says pleasingly. More like a bed, sweet bed. "Okay honey, see you later. Take care of my babies. Feed them please," she says through the car window while driving off. "Hello?" James calls out. "Hey, mom is still at work. It's pizza night. I'm in my room if you want any help," I shout from my room upstairs. Fifteen minutes later James comes walking in my room. "I don't know what to eat and I'm not in the mood to make anything," he says. He looks like his world got destroyed. "Okay, I'll make a sandwich for you in a few," I say. After what feels like forever in my attempt to clean my room, I throw in the towel.

Room: 1 - Me:0. I decide to make dinner, dinner meaning sandwiches. "James, come get your plate!" I shout out with a mouth full of the sweet and salty meaty bite of my sandwich. I drag my butt to the television and decide to watch my favorite show, The Mentalist. An hour later I hear vibration sounds in the kitchen area. "Oh, there you are," I say to no particular person. When it comes to my phone, my brain works on short term memory because I neve seem to remember where I place it. Well I never really care where it is. I jog playfully to the kitchen and I grab my phone. I had received two messages, one from Lexi and the other from Mack. Mack? Why? 

[Hey Tan, how are you? Where did you run off to? I asked even Jason if he saw you and he said you left in a hurry. Call me, okay. XOXO - Lexi]

I decide to ignore Mack's text and call Lexi instead. "Hey," I say through the speaker. "Hey Tan, you good?" I can hear the worry in her voice. "Yah, I am. You worry way too much," I smile while stating. I love the fact that she cares so much. "I have to. I mean we planned to go to the mall and chill, and you just bailed out on me with no explanation whatsoever. I had to go with Cle instead," she winces, trying to sound all depressed. "Ag, stop pretending like his company was so bad. We both know you enjoyed every moment," I laugh. She's such a drama queen. "well I spent my day with Jason Carter. Ugh... so you know how it went. I needed to be-" I visit memory lane while in the middle of a sentence. 

"Tanis, how can you spend $85 on the line just talking? And I bet it wasn't about anything important. Just boys, parties and who has the latest music. If I even sense that you are using the landline, you will be grounded for two months, doubling your chores," mom says.

"Lexi, I'll come over to your place. I just remember that I'm way over my share of the landline bill," I say. Mom was pissed that morning, you could literally see steam coming out of her ears.

"Wow, you guys share everything even the landline bill. Later sweets," she laughs and hangs up. I decide to finish cleaning my room. "James, if you're still hungry, on the kitchen counter there's the number of the pizza place," I shout while heading to my crazy room. "Okay, whatever," he says. I Hate it when he has those PMS days. After an hour of struggling and groaning, I have reached my goal. My room is spotless and smells really good. "Room, you never stood a chance against me," I say while striking the superman pose. I start laughing at myself when I realize that I'm talking to myself.

I look at my phone and notice 9while battling with my now clean room) I didn't hear the phone ring. The missed calls were from mommy dearest. Damn! I hope she's okay. "Hey mom, you okay?" I ask. I'm s worried. I mean it's late already and she hasn't come back yet. "yes, honey. I just wanted to let you guys know that I am working the late shift, so I'll be home in time for breakfast," her voice is filled with stress as always. "Okay, cool. Be safe and I love you," I say to her. "Well, James is in a mood. But I'll tell him. Bye," I hung up. I head downstairs to the kitchen, I notice two pizza boxes on the counter. James just read my mind. I decide to head to his room and ask what's up with him. "Hey James, what's up with you? I mean -" I get interrupted by this beautiful sight in front of me. This innocent, peaceful face in front of me. Whenever I look at him in this state I remember the times we were close. Where age difference wasn't a major obstacle. But now things are different. I decide to leave a note before I head out.

The note

James, I didn't get kidnapped or anything. I went to Lexi's. Mom is at the hospital working late. I won't be long. I hope you'll be back to your jolly self when you wake up. Love you, Loser. - Tan

------------------------Time Laps-------------------------

I hate the feeling of waiting for the door to open. I hate the unexpected human to open the damn door, even though it might be a pleasant surprise. "Okay, I guess you aren't here then," I say to myself with a hint of disappointment visible in my voice. "Hey Tanis," a familiar male voice comes out by the door. Ugh, I guess not all m surprises will be pleasant. They will just be a reminder of how stupid I was. "Lord, why is Paul the ass back in town?" my subconscious winces. "Hey... it's you," I say with some venom on my tongue. he looks good though... better actually. You couldn't help but stare at him. Paul looks like a Greek god to sum it all up. He has storm grey/sky blue eyes, dark brown hair with blond highlights, a jawline of a typical fuckboy. His body... one word, WOW! His body is masculine, but not like those of wrestlers but one of a person who goes to the gym every day.

He has biceps, triceps, an eight pack and a freaken penis pointer. He looks just like a god and as smells good. "How are you beautiful?" he asks with a Colgate smile whilst taking a step forward to hug me. I hate it when he calls me by a pet name. I feel like those should be reserved for one of his friends with benefits.