2 Chapter 2: It’s Just a Phase

Chapter 2: It’s Just a Phase

Kiara

“So, if this dude went from up here to down here, what will be his position?” Mr. Sulkin, our physics teacher, asked, tapping his black marker on the whiteboard. Several heads went down, the sounds of pencils and pen scribbling on the paper surrounding me with the occasional clicks on calculators.

I noticed Katherine, my good friend, pass the calculator toward me. Her green eyes were glinting with mischief. I took the calculator from her and she wriggled her eyebrows. And at that moment, I knew she was thinking the same thing as I was.

Sixty-nine.

I coughed, ceasing the bubbling laugh, and shook my head at my immature friend.

I met her in kindergarten and knew that the blond girl who was threatening a mean bully would make a great friend. That day, she saved Rio from getting bullied and I gave him his glasses back. Ethan had glared at the bully and his friends from the book he was reading as if daring them to make a move. It’s safe to say that he had always been an intimidating person even though he was the sweetest guy I knew.

“How’s Ethan holding up?” she asked as soon as we stepped out of the classroom.

My steps wavered. “He’s not well. I mean, his first girlfriend cheated on him with his own best friend. He seems he can handle it, but I know he is not okay.” I smiled. “I am planning to cheer him tonight.”

“What do you have in mind? Red lace lingerie? Candles? Foreplay?” she asked.

“Shhh, Katherine. You know I didn’t mean it like that.” I shook my head to clear out the images forming in my head. “I’ll need your help with this because we won’t be home tonight.”

“Dude!” she said. “He broke up, but you don’t have to offer him pity sex. Even though no one will mind. Especially not me.”

Sadly, she knew about my teeny-weeny crush on Ethan. Who wouldn’t? He was like a freaking Greek god. But he was my best friend. One of the main reasons I had kept my feelings to myself for five years and I would take them to grave if I had to. Ethan was my special person, and if we ever started dating and broke up, I’d lose him as my best friend. The thought of ever losing him scared me.

“Katherine, he’s a virgin and not to mention, my best friend,” I said, forcing my brain not to think about any R-rated version.

Oh, who am I kidding? I was already daydreaming about how he would hold me in his arms, his large, muscular body hovering above me, kissing me while I moaned his name when he would thrust his di—

Stop.

Right.

There.

I am just a hormonal teenager going through a phase and nothing else.

“You never once told me he was a virgin, Kia! I mean, he was with that cherry, for God’s sake,” she said, talking about Ariana, the cheerleader.

“He wanted to take things slow. She didn’t. Maybe that’s why she cheated on him?”

She opened her locker and I stared at the picture of her with her boyfriend, Ryan. She was laughing at something he must have said while he was looking at her in awe. It was so adorable that I wondered if I would ever have a chance of being with someone who would look at me like that.

Katherine closed the locker after taking out her notes. “Could be. But that means you stand a chance now. You can dick him, Kiara. Dick him!” she beamed.

Dick him? What even?

Bystanders turned to us and gave me a thumbs-up while I laughed nervously, glaring at my best friend.

“Can you yell any louder?” I said. “If Ethan heard this, I don’t know—”

Katherine nodded at the other side of the hallway. “There’s your dicker boy!”

“Stop saying dick!”

Ethan was walking beside Volt and Rio, who were trying their best to make him happy. He smiled at them for their effort and I saw the freshman girls sigh at the sight. I could see them checking their faces in their phones or locker mirrors and puffing their hair, waiting for either one of them to give them one look, wink, or smile. I shook my head at their efforts, fighting off my smile when a few of them gave flowers to Ethan, who blushed furiously.

Even if he tried, he would never get unnoticed in public. Standing tall at six-foot-two and having the most perfect swimmer body, he had a fan base of his own. Not to mention his unique eyes. His right eye was green and left was blue because of the heterochromia. I had always loved his eyes. Having hooded brows with sharp features and slight stubble, it was hard not to have a small crush on him. Especially when puberty hit him like a truck filled with hotness and converted tall, lanky Ethan to muscular, broad shoulders Ethan.

“Quit eye-pussying him, Kiara.”

“I was not eye-pussying him . . . or whatever. I need you to cover for me tonight.”

“Of course, Kia. But what about his moms?”

I hummed, wondering about Ethan’s moms, Julia and Helen. He has been raised by two beautiful, smart women. That’s why Ethan became too mature at an early age.

I remember when I got my period at the age of thirteen and we were both playing Mario Cart. He didn’t panic when he saw a little blood on the couch and instead went to call his moms because I had got my period. I was so embarrassed after changing in the sweatpants he gave me that I couldn’t even look him in the eye. But he was mindful, making me hot chocolate and watching The Princess Bride with me.

He was too perfect and I was friend-zoned.

“They won’t mind if I took their son out for dinner,” I said. “And if they do ask for the reason, I’ll tell them the truth.”

“Truth? About what?”

My heart froze hearing his deep voice when he stood across me. A small frown etched on his hooded brow, his mismatched eyes fleeting between me and Katherine, who was suddenly interested in the little studs of her watch.

I coughed, looking at her for help.

“Truth about how Kiara is thinking of publishing her manuscript, eh?” She threw me under the bus.

Before I could say anything, Ethan raised his eyebrows. “Really? That’s wonderful. I didn’t know you were planning to—”

I finally found my voice and managed to utter, “I was just thinking about it and told it to her.”

His eyes sparkled and a small smile tugged his full lips. “I want to know more about it later.” Ethan leaned down and I held my breath, my pulse rising when his lips landed on my forehead. “See you at swim practice, Bella. Katherine.”

I sighed dreamily, watching the muscles on his back when he walked away. He had the habit of calling me Bella, which means beautiful in Italian, ever since we were kids. I thought it was cute when we were kids, but now, I think he called me that out of his old habit.

“Jesus, just fuck already!”

“Katherine David Wilson.”

“What? It’s true. You both have those cute fuck-me eyes and even Ryan noticed. Talk about being weird.”

If Ryan noticed it then it was weird because he got brain fog every time he was around Katherine and nothing existed to him except her.

Biting my lip, I wondered if Ethan had the cute fuck-me eyes. “No way, Kat. He’s my best friend. He doesn’t look at me like . . . like that.”

Does he? No, no, of course he didn’t. He was my best friend and we had been that way since we started wearing diapers. My mom considered him her own son even though looking at him as my brother made me want to puke my insides. Maybe Katherine was just saying that to make me feel good about my silly crush on him. Ethan just lost his best friend and first girlfriend. It would be impossible for him to have any romantic feelings for me.

“Yeah, and I don’t have tits,” she said, looking down at her double Ds.

“Why would he even like me other than me being his best friend?”

“Babe, are you kidding me? You’re smart and pretty. You have perky boobs, just the handful, and guys dig that. Especially Ethan.” I looked down at my chest and my cheeks warmed.

“Ethan does not stare at my breasts,” I said, thinking of those diamond-like eyes on my girls. “He would never.”

She shrugged. “How would you know? You’re too busy staring at his eyes, wondering how he would look when he fu—”

“Katherine! Hai Bhagwan, get your mind out of the damn gutter.”

“I’m telling you the truth. Besides, you have dimples and who doesn’t love dimples?”

Shaking my head at her, I checked the time on my watch. “I will be late for my art class. See you at the bleachers?”

“Don’t you have a music class?”

My nose scrunched. “Yes, I do. Wish me luck because Paul is going to be there. See you soon.”

***

“So, are you free this weekend?”

I lifted my fingers from the black and white keys and looked at Paul, who was gazing at me with his forest green eyes. I forced myself to remember the day he made me cry and Ethan punched him, dragging me away from the whole scene.

“No, Paul. I’m busy,” I said. “Can you please stop asking me the same question?”

“I want you to know that my past encounter doesn’t mean I don’t have feelings for you. I really want to hang out with you, maybe take you out on a date.”

I would have blushed and accepted his sweet proposal if he hadn’t strung me along for one entire year. Paul Corey was my crush and now I wondered what I had seen in him. Despite being handsome and in the swim team of Winter High, he was the definition of an asshole. He came to our school for piano sessions for practice and to annoy me.

Taking my sheet notes from the holder, I carefully kept them in my backpack. Writing them was one of the hardest things in the world and I didn’t want any of them to crumple.

“No, Paul. I don’t want to date anyone right now.”

He stood up with me, his tall frame towering over me. “We can be friends with benefits if that’s what you want.”

“Sure, when cows can fly,” I said. “See you on Wednesday.”

I didn’t want to go out with him because as soon as I stepped out of the room, he was flirting with my other classmate. Or it was because he was in the swim team of Winter High and both the teams, Summer High and Winter High, had been enemies ever since I could remember.

Ethan had his swim practice and we would go home together in his car, so I decided to wait for him on the bleachers like always. I was surprised to see Katherine sitting beside my seat, sketching in her diary. Waving at Ms. Bennet, who was scolding Lee Chong for being late, I walked toward the bleachers and plopped beside Katherine.

“So, this is how it’s going to happen,” she started, closing her diary. “I talked with Ryan and he’s nice enough to let you two stay at the farmhouse—”

“Isn’t he on vacation?”

“Well, he and his friends are. Not the point. You and your dicker boy can stay there for the night. Alone,” she emphasized.

A chuckle bubbled out of my throat. “Whatever you’re thinking won’t happen, Kat. We are best friends and he just had his heart broken.”

“Ever heard of rebound sex?”

“Yes, but it won’t happen.”

“While you’re busy talking to me, he is staring at you.” Before I could witness, she hissed at me, “Don’t look!”

I laughed nervously, my cheeks getting warm. “Hahaha, really? Can I check?”

“Yes, really. No, wait, Rio is talking to him and he—oh, shoot, he caught me staring at him.”

I shot my friend a glare. “Way to go, Katherine.”

A smile tugged the corner of my lips when I found Ethan gazing at me, his cheeks turning red when I waved at him. His cap was removed, so when he ran a hand through his damp thick hair, it sleeked back. Except for one strand that stuck to his forehead, and it was so distractingly hot that I wanted to run there, tuck it back, and run back here.

I sighed and shuffled in my seat when he turned to Rio—oh, fuck.

My butt slipped from the seat and a sharp sting of pain shot through my left elbow when I awkwardly saved my ass by supporting my weight on the elbow. Katherine let out a loud chortle while I hid my red face behind my hair, sitting back on the chair.

“Quit it,” I muttered, rubbing my elbow.

“You both are so whipped!” she said, wiping a tear.

I ran a hand over my face and looked back at him, watching in awe as his muscles tensed and relaxed when he rolled his shoulders.

“Not both, Kat.” I sighed. “Just me.”

“Okay, but don’t forget to shave everything. You know what I mean?”

“What?”

“Shave. Everything.”

“Katherine, we are not going to touch each other or do the deed. Get those things out of your dirty mind.”

“Whose dirty mind?” Rio asked, a boyish grin tugging his lips.

His hair was damp after the shower, so I figured Ethan must be in the showers. And now I was having very dirty thoughts about my naked best friend wet with water—

Shut.

Up.

Katherine asked, “Does Ethan have a crush on Kiara?”

Like an involuntary action, Rio nodded. “Of course he does! He even l—YO! You did not just hear that.” His brown eyes widened and looked between the two of us.

Oh, no.

***

“And that’s how I am hoping it would go,” I said, putting down the glass of water Mrs. Helen, one of Ethan’s moms, handed me when I arrived.

Her afro was tied up in a bun and her dark chocolate skin was glowing when she rocked a very sleepy Eveline on her shoulder. A wide grin split her face. “So, you both are going to spend the night together?”

Blood rushed to my neck and cheeks, but I tried to play coy and tucked my hair behind my ear. “I suppose so.”

Eveline mumbled something in her sleep, wanting attention from one of her mothers. Lilly was in the hospital as one of their patients went into labor.

Helen pecked the blond curls of her daughter. “He didn’t speak much when he came back and I knew something was wrong,” she said worriedly, glancing at his room. “I hope you get him to talk about it because I know my son and he likes to bottle it up.”

I nodded, knowing all too well how he would rather hide his feelings and get hurt than express his emotions.

“Wish me luck,” I said and pecked Eveline’s bubbly cheek.

“Of course, sweetheart.” She smiled. “I will take this one to sleep.”

I wasn’t surprised when I found his back to me, his notes spread on the desk. His bed was made and the clothes that were dumped in the corner this morning had disappeared and probably were hanging in his closet. His room was too clean and I knew the reason why.

“Why were you buttering my mom and sister?” he asked, not turning back to look at me as I closed the door and smiled at the polaroids on the wall.

It had our pictures since we were born to the latest one. We were standing together and my mom had given us ghee-shakar for the first day and clicked the picture. I was grinning at the camera and Ethan was smiling.

I walked toward his desk and plopped myself on it. “I don’t need to butter them, Ethan,” I said with a smirk, my eyes flickering from his Chemistry notes to his sharp face. “We’re going out.”

He finally looked up, fixing his glasses, and leaned back in the chair. “Why and where?”

“It’s a surprise, E. Come on, get up and get dressed if you want to, we will be leaving in ten.”

His eyebrows furrowed and before he could protest, which I knew he would, I interrupted. “If you won’t come with me, I’ll burn your algebra notes you handed me this afternoon.”

“You wouldn’t,” he whispered, his eyes widening with disbelief.

“I just might.”

Of course I was lying, but he didn’t need to know that. I could be very persuasive if I wanted to be. Like when I wanted him to sneak out with me to go to a gay club, or the time when we trespassed at someone’s bungalow in Italy to swim in their pool, or the time when we collected money from people and gave it to a homeless woman, or when we tried marijuana for the first time.

He removed his glasses and ran a hand through his dark locks. “Do I really have to? Can’t you take Katherine or Rio or Volt?”

“No, Ethan, I’m doing this for you.” I took his palm and held it in my hands, mustering my best sad eyes. “Please?”

His gaze didn’t waver and his jaw twitched. “Fuck, Kiara. You know I can’t resist that look on your face. Where are we going again?”

He stood up, placing his notebooks in organized order in the corner, and opened his closet, checking different shirts and T-shirts. I smiled at the dark blue waves we had painted on the ceiling and remembered playing with paint when it was done. It took us two whole days to make it, including the details of transparent droplets with white paint.

“It’s a surprise, Ethan, and I’m driving,” I said and closed the window behind me, which was attached to my room’s window through a fire escape. We always kept our windows open so we could sneak into each other’s room to either study, cuddle, or talk.

Ethan removed his T-shirt and even though I had seen him shirtless almost every day because of his swim practice, I couldn’t help but stare at the contour of his abs and how his muscles tensed when he wore a darker color shirt. Damn, it should be illegal to look this good in a simple shirt and pants.

“Are you taking me out on a date?” he asked teasingly.

YES!

“No, Ethan,” I huffed. “Pfft, of course not. You broke up today and I am taking you out to cheer you up.”

“Are you trying to kidnap me, Ms. Sharma?”

Instead of the perfect pronunciation of ‘Sharma,’ Americans or in fact every non-Indian pronounced it like ‘Shawr-mah,’ but I stopped correcting them ages ago.

I winked. “Why, yes, of course, Mr. Kane. I’m going to take you to my warehouse and ravish your chiseled body.”

His eyes darkened with swirls of emotion and I could feel the temperature in the room increase as my heart pounded in my chest.

How to make things awkward by Kiara Sharma Volume III.

“Uh-huh, sure.” He cleared his throat. “But what about dinner?”

I resisted the urge to spread my legs and give him a knowing smirk, saying, ‘Dig in.’

I needed a glass of water. Holy water would do.

My cheeks and neck warmed, his eyes dropping to my neck, probably wondering why I was so flushed. I let out a nervous laugh. “Don’t worry about it, E. Dinner’s on me. I’ll wait outside.”

I slid off the desk and tried not to sniff his musky cologne when I walked by him and closed the door behind me. My legs were shaking and I pressed my hands on my cheeks, forcing them to cool off.

“I’m just a hormonal teenager going through a phase,” I muttered to myself and walked to the kitchen to get a glass of cold water.

If I was this nervous right now, then what would happen when we got there. And spend the night alone? Pressed against each other? I shook my head. I couldn’t let that happen. Ethan was my best friend.