Chapter Seventeen: The Hell is Wrong with The Boys?

Raiden didn't want to face Jennifer the next morning.

Ugh, why did I have to kiss him like that? She mentally facepalmed. Her feelings about Jayden had always been unclear, but after yesterday's kiss, things seemed even more muddled now. The kiss did seem a spur-of-the-moment thing but the way she felt didn't feel spur of the moment.

Jennifer's smirk in the morning when she entered the kitchen for coffee was clearly the evidence that she hadn't forgotten anything she had seen the previous night.

She'll ask me even more questions if I speak to her first.

Raiden just grabbed her cup of coffee and sat on one of the chairs in front of the fire. Soon Jennifer sat on the chair opposite her, with another cup of coffee in her hand.

'So,' she said at length, in a tone Raiden had known her to use when she wanted to extract some juicy news. She had seen her use that tone on almost everyone.

'So?' Raiden tried to be as casual as possible. If she knows I'm thinking about it, I'm fucked.

Jennifer wiggled her eyebrows. 'I wanted to talk about last night.'

A lump appeared in Raiden's throat. I'm fucked. She told herself.

'What about it?' her voice was high and strange, just like it had been last night.

'I think it was a certain Raiden Storm who had said and I quote," I do not like Jayden" and then ended up kissing him last night. Wait, you two weren't even kissing, you two were completely making out.' she said, her mischievous smile never leaving her face.

'It was in the spur of the moment.' She explained, hoping this lame excuse would.

'Didn't seem to spur of the moment.' Jennifer shrugged, 'but you know, whatever floats your boat. I will ask Jayden instead.'

Raiden almost choked on her coffee. Why him now?

And as if luck seemed to hate her, Jayden was walking down the stairs for his cup of coffee as well. Jennifer glanced at Raiden and mouthed "I'm asking him."

'Morning, Jayden.' Jennifer chirped as she sat at the dining table with a cup of coffee in his hand and a book in another.

'Morning Jennie,' was the reply.

'Uhm Jayden?' Jennifer asked her voice deliberately sweet as she joined him at the table too.

'Yeah?' Jayden responded, not looking up from his book.

'Is there something you two forgot to tell us?' she wiggled her eyebrows in the hopes of getting some response this time.

There was a pause for a long time until he finally responded.

'Nah, nothing that I remember. And if you want to know about the kiss, it was just an impulse. An adrenaline rushes, or spur of the moment, if I must say.'

Both Raiden and Jennifer's faces fell, however for different reasons.

'Hey Raiden, when will you be leaving for New York?' Jayden asked without looking up from his book.

Raiden looked up from the fire, 'I don't know,' she said, 'the police never said anything about a deadline, but since my parents don't have any other relatives I may have to go there as soon as I am able, maybe next week, perhaps.'

Jennifer was completely confused now. The hell are they talking about?

'What is he talking about?' her mischievous tone changed to one of pure confusion and concern, 'What happened to your parents? Why will you be going to New York? Tell me!'

Raiden's eyes stung again as she remembered what she had heard last evening. The main reason Jayden had actually come into her room last night, the restaurant the news. But then she remembered how she had broken down last night. One person had seen her at her most vulnerable, and one person was enough. There was no need for people to see her as weak even when they were her friends.

'LAPD called yesterday.' Her reply was short and curt.

'Why so? Is everything alright?' Jennifer was not acting innocent. Her tone was one of actual concern.

'My parents have been reported missing.' Raiden averted her attention to the fire so that her eyes wouldn't be filled with tears again. Before she knew it, she was engulfed in a bone-crushing hug by Jennifer.

'Oh my, you poor thing,' she said patting Raiden's back, 'Such a horrible thing happened and you didn't even tell me? Jayden, I asked if there was anything you had to tell me and you don't feel like telling me "Raiden's parents went missing"?'

'What?' Jayden gave Jennifer a "what the fuck look".

'Well, we didn't exactly get the time to tell you.' Raiden explained, 'Everyone was having so much fun at the restaurant and then we came back to the dorm so late in the night, that I didn't wanna ruin anyone's mood.'

'Well, you failed Raiden' Jennifer pouted, 'My mood is ruined now because you didn't tell me earlier.'

'Sorry Jennifer,' Raiden apologized, feeling guilty, 'I was not in a state to talk yesterday.'

Jennifer's mood changed again.

'Of course, you weren't you poor thing,' she said, 'your parents went missing after all. I'll fix something up for you and you rest in your room. You aren't going to class today. I'll speak to Ms. Renata and tell her that you're sick though she will have to find out sooner or later. I will ask Zane to come over after school to help with what happened in class today since he's in almost all of your classes. As for the others, I share a class with you and I'll help you out with them later.'

'But Jennifer.'

'No buts, no cuts, no coconuts. You are staying here and rest. Period.'

Raiden chuckled. Jennifer seemed like an angry mama bird who wanted to take care of her sick children.

'Fine.' Raiden sighed, knowing that there was no way one could win against Jennifer, 'I won't go to class today. But what do you expect me to do the whole day? I'll be up here all alone while everyone is attending class. I think even Ms. Renata is leaving for her "work".'

'She's leaving again?' Jayden was highly annoyed on hearing it.

'If you actually paid attention before leaving for bed before everyone else, you would have actually known.' Aaron popped out of nowhere.

'YAAH' Jennifer jumped, almost dropping the coffee in her hand, 'Sheesh how long have you been here listening to us?'

'Long enough to know Jayden and Raiden made out last night.' Aaron shrugged before turning to Raiden, 'and I believe it was a certain Raiden who denied liking him at all two days back. Also, I'm really sorry about what happened. I agree with Jennie, you should stay here today.'

Raiden was confused after what Aaron had said.

'You do know what you said made no sense, right?' Jennifer sighed.

'Indeed I do.' Aaron smiled proudly.

Jennifer rolled her eyes, 'you're never gonna stop being cocky are you?'

'Never, that's what brings the ladies in.'

'All this time I have been here, never did I see you bring a girl in here.' Jayden pointed out.

'That's because I am waiting for the special one.' Aaron winked.

Jayden and Raiden exchanged glances and smirked. Aaron had admitted to liking Jennifer when they had caught him smiling while leaning against Jennifer's door that day.

'And who might I know, that special person is?' Jennifer urged him.

'You know her.' Aaron replied.

'And what is her name?'

'You'll know enough soon.' He smirked.

'But what the hell am I gonna do all day?'

'It's 2019 for Christ's sake; use your phone or something.'

***

'Raiden,' Zane's head peeked in, 'may I come in?'

Raiden sat up on the bed, 'Yeah sure, why not? I'll be happy to get some company anyway. The others are probably busy with their work. Have seat.'

Zane sat at the study table beside her bed, laying his bag on the table.

'Jennifer told me what happened,' Zane cleared his throat, 'Uhm, I don't know what to say, but I am really sorry.'

Raiden chuckled at Zane's cuteness. Even when he had mischief playing in this mind, he did seem cute.

'Why are you sorry, it's not even your fault?'

'I know, but it's what people usually say. At least, that's what my brother says," I'm sorry" for everything. I find it pathetic, to be honest.'

Raiden chuckled again. She didn't like to say sorry all the time either.

'Anyways, I got a photocopy of all these notes that I had taken in class today,' he rummaged his bag.

'Is that the reason you arrived so late?'

Zane smiled, 'Precisely.'

'Thanks then. I really don't know how to repay you,' Raiden said as Zane handed her the notes.

'You don't have to repay me, you're stressed and this is the least I can do.'

'I am always stressed, I may really have to repay you one day.'

Zane sat down opposite Raiden and smiled.

'In that case, you can give me this.'

'What-'

Raiden's sentence left unfinished as she felt Zane's lips upon hers. She froze.

The fuck? He's kissing me too?

The kiss wasn't as long or as hot as Jayden's had been last night. Zane had pulled back before Raiden could react and stood up.

'You've got things on your mind right now. We can discuss this after you come back.'

'Okay.' Raiden's voice was nothing but a weak squeak.

Zane left the room. Raiden touched her lips; she could still feel Zane's lips on hers, a ghost of a kiss.

The hell is wrong with the boys?