CHAPTER 15

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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~FRIENDS(2)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

ARIANA'S POV

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"You two?" He seemed startled to see us at his place. I prayed within me that he wouldn't ask how we got his address. I didn't want to look desperate to him.

"Yeah." I whispered.

"You weren't in school. We were so worried about you." Melanie butted.

"Oh." He mouthed.

"I got a few things to attend to, so I'll be going in. Let me know if you need anything." His older brother said before stepping in.

Carver stayed put, and there was this awkward silence in the atmosphere, and my words broke it.

"You shouldn't be standing, sit down. How's your leg though?" I was offering him a seat in his own apartment, how ironical.

"Healing."

"That's good." I replied.

He sat down on the sofa next to us. He was still limping. I had no idea that it was so bad. I didn't know where to begin. I wanted to apologize for everything he had to go through because of me. Suddenly, Melanie stood up and sat next to him, she draped her arm round his shoulder. Carver was even more flustered than I was.

"You look as pale as a ghost. I don't like it." She blinked her full long lashes at him.

"I look that pale?" He asked.

"Very pale." She replied and he didn't say a word. I was wasting too much time. I had to speak up.

"Carver?"

"Yeah?" His eyes darted towards mine.

"I just wanted to say...." I heaved a sigh. "I'm sorry. It's my fault that you're bruised, and I haven't been good towards you either. I've always acted weird unnecessarily..." At this point I felt a lump in my throat and couldn't proceed, I hated having to apologize to anyone outside my family, not that I wouldn't if it's my fault or not but constructing sentences in those situations was a whole lot. I constantly rolled the hem of my shirt with my fingers.

"It's okay. I understand how you feel." He smiled at me. He actually smiled at me. I didn't know why but I felt content, subconsciously smiling back at him.

"Heyyyyy! I feel left out here." Melanie folded her arms, looking away. Drama queen. Carver patted her head.

"I forgive you too."

"Huh?" Melanie looked confused and we laughed.

"So does this mean we're friends?" I asked, timidly.

"Yes. We were always friends."

"This is such a touchy moment." Melanie said in her usual high pitched tone again.

"You made friends?" We all turned to look at carver's brother. "That's good. So who's in for ice cream and gummy bears?"

"We are." We chorused.

"I thought you were going in." Carver narrowed his eyes at Tony.

"You know I'd never actually go in." He chuckled and went into the kitchen.

We all talked over ice cream. Turns out Carver's brother, Tony was a soccer player. That explained his well built body that Melanie couldn't take her eyes off. He told us about the challenges he encountered especially having to joggle it with college life, and the funny moments he had on the field.

I noticed Carver barely spoke much. His brother was quite the talker, while he only butted in once in a while saying just a word or two. It was almost five, my sisters would be done with practice or whatever they were doing by five.

"It's almost five. We really have to go." I told Tony.

"Aww. I was really having such a good time with you two. You should come by often." He responded, standing from the sofa right after Melanie and I did.

"Oh. We definitely will." Melanie said eagerly.

Carver and Tony escorted us to the door. The door opened and a tall body stood in front of us. He was plugged and when he raised his head to look at us I could tell he was surprised even though he tried to look unfazed. He had dark eyes and copper brown hair, and with that blank expression one could tell he and Carver were related.

"Lucas."

"Tony." He said stepping in.

"Melanie, Ariana. I'd like you to meet Lucas, our cousin."

"Lucas, Melanie and Ariana. They're my friends." Carver said pointing to us as he said our names.

"Nice to meet you Lucas." I smiled, and he nodded slowly.

"Hey. I know you. You're in my class, you're always sitting at the back. You barely talk to anyone." Melanie blurted. Although the science and arts had classes together, I had never noticed Lucas in school. My bestie always talked about some good looking kid who liked to sit at the back and barely interacts, but I didn't expect her to blurt it out like that.

Lucas was still plugged. It was hard to tell if he could hear us well and it was hard to tell what he was thinking as well, but I saw the little frown that appeared on his face when Melanie said those words. It made me wonder if she had something to drink before coming here.

"Hi." He said and immediately left us.

"Get back here Lucas." Tony yelled at him.

"No." He yelled back. He acted like some deeper version of Carver. Though they looked nothing alike physically like Carver and Tony did. They had a few similarities in their demeanor towards others. He gave off this weird strong aura that was like 'don't come near me.'

"Sorry. He's usually not that way, he's cooler than I am." Tony smiled.

"Ya think?" Melanie asked.

"Totally." Carver said.

"Well we really have to go now." I said, and Melanie hugged Tony.

"I'll see you some other time, Tony." She chirped. I really wanted to slap some sense into her. She just met him. Well she had her own charm though. I'd say it time and time again that Melanie is really pretty.

"Sure." Tony patted her head. I guessed it was something they liked doing, patting people's head. We said our goodbyes and left. Melanie left with her chauffeur whom we kept waiting for hours.

I walked home, and got there just in time. Heather just pulled over at the garage.

"Hey! I'd thought you'd be home by now." Esme said walking up to me.

"Me too."

"So where'd you go?"

"To see a friend."

"Hmm hmmm" Esme laughed.

"Oh no no it's not what you're thinking." I said almost immediately after her hmm hmms because I knew what she was thinking.

"Who's he?"

"Like you don't know that Cole's the only one I like." I nudged her slightly.

"You two gonna stand in the sun or come in?" Heather already rang the doorbell. We ran to the door.

"I'm still gonna come to your room later for dets (details) cause I know it's a boy." she winked at me and I chuckled. When did Esme become a mind reader? I thought.

Mom opened the door. She was happy to see the three of us home at the same time, and together. If only she knew where I actually was.

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A/N

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I really don't know but I'm not really satisfied with this chapter. I think it could have gotten better, but still I think Tony's a cool dude. He's barely gonna turn up in the story, but I just felt he'd make this chapter better. How's Lucas?

Most importantly our babies have finalized their friendship. Yayyyy!! I'm gonna be adding one very important character to chapter 16. His name has been mentioned from time to time. I know you must be thinking, who is he? When's he gonna turn up? Well it's time to meet my baby, Cole.

I hope you love the story. Share this story with your friends. Don't be stingy. Encourage me by telling your friends to read it too. If you find any errors let me know. Merci( ◜‿◝ )♡