CHAPTER 07 : The Prank

"Sometimes, when one person is missing, the whole world seems depopulated "..

-Lamartine

"WAKE THE HELL UP LUCY!!!" I heard someone shout with shrill voice, waking me up with a start.

I rubbed my eyes vigorously, trying to process what exactly the situation was. Luke, Tyler and Anna were hovering over me, with their hands folded on their chests and lips pressed together in a straight line.

"Oh look! The sleeping beauty is awake". Luke exclaimed. I realized his face was dripping with anger.

"What happened? What are you doing here? Am I dreaming?" I asked, still confused.

He snorted. "Wow, you're unbelievable. Don't your dreams haunt you even after doing this to us?" He said with a scowling face.

What on earth was happening?

"Wait- What?? What the hell are you talking about?" I asked, running my fingers through my hair.

"Wow! Look at you acting like that." He laughed ruefully. "Do you even realize what you've done? Wasn't you the one who deleted the presentation from the laptop, that we were to show in the class!?"

The statement struck me like a flash of lightening.

I glanced at Tyler who was also staring at me.

"Luke I -" I tried to protest.

"No no no. Don't. You. Dare. Don't you dare lie to me Lucy. I know you did it. You didn't like that picture in the first place. Who knew you could go this far taking revenge on me."  He kept accusing me and I just stood there frozen in my place.

"Lucy you would have told me, I could have helped you out. There was no need to do this." Anna blurted out.

"Stop! Stop it right now!! I didn't do anything wrong. I didn't delete it-" I tried to defend myself, my voice sounded like I was at the verge of a whole ass mental breakdown, but Luke cut me off again.

"Stop lying Lucy! You were the only one who didn't like that picture. Weren't you the one who used the laptop last?" He shouted at the top of his lungs. His voice filled with rage.

"Please! For god sake Luke? Stop it! Yes, I was the one who used that laptop lastly and I know I didn't like that picture but I wasn't the one who did that. I also worked hard on it! I didn't delete it! I swear to god I didn't! Please trust me! Stop blaming me!!" I cried. I felt a tear fall on my left cheek.

I sinked to the floor and wrapped my arms around my head. I buried my face in my arms and started crying.

What did I ever do to deserve this?!

Tyler's POV

Lucy started weeping loudly. I felt my heart sinking.

I cant carry this on. I can't become a reason for someone's tears.

I approached her and kneeled down infront of her. She was still crying. I tried to say something to console her, when she lifted her head and I felt my whole world collapse.

Her eyes were pretty. Okay. Calling them 'pretty' would not only be an understatement but also an insult. They were mesmerizing. I felt myself go speechless infront of her. Never in my life, had I seen a pair of eyes so utterly alluring. She batted her long lashes slowly, which were heavy with tears. I looked away, inhaling a sharp, conscious breathe.

There I go again, acting like an idiot.

I glanced at Luke who was struggling to keep a straight face and Anna who looked worried. I turned back to Lucy who was still on the floor, having a breakdown.

"Hey, look. Please don't cry. It was just a joke. We are sorry." I managed to utter these words.

"C'mon Tyler! Don't ruin it just yet. She looks so cute while crying." Luke said, looking totally amused by the sight of her breaking into tears.

"What's happening?" She asked

Her eyes went twice their size. "Was it a joke?"

"Enough with your water works Lucy. Making you cry is such an easy task. It was just a prank. Just a practical joke."  Anna said, approaching her. She looked as if she was glad it was finally over.

Lucy stood up, wiping the tears off her face.

"You know what? That wasn't a funny joke. Please do me a favor and get out of my life. I'm literally begging y'all to stop doing this to me. Please." She snapped, making me regret the moment I agreed on doing this.

I felt like a little shit for playing a part in this.

She made her way to the door, still sniffing. I heard her slam the door loudly behind her.

I felt my world sinking around me. Everything felt incomplete without her presence.

"That wasn't the right thing to do. I am ashamed to be a part of it." I blurted out and ran towards the door. I heard Luke calling me, but I didn't care about anything at that moment.

I looked around to find where she had went.

I let out a sigh when I saw her in a nearby park, seated on a bench, staring at the sky.

I hurried to the park and went inside.I sat down beside her quietly. I had kept a considerable distance between us, so she didn't notice my presence.

"I am sorry. We were just kidding. That was not meant to hurt you." I said apologetically.

She almost jumped in her place when she found me sitting right next to her.

"Why are you here?" She asked coldly. "What is it that you want from me now?"

"Uhh c'mon Lucy, I know what we did wasn't the right thing to do and we really, really, sincerely feel sorry for that. I swear we hadn't expected you to take it seriously. Lets get back and talk it out. It's too cold out here." I pleaded.

"Wow. After all the shit you put me through, all you've got to say is that it was a joke??! I nearly got a heart attack. I thought you were better than him. Now I understand that I was totally wrong. I'm so disappointed in you."  She stated. I bit my bottom lip hard.

"Please don't say that. I. Am. Really. Sorry. If you want me to hold my ears, stand one leg and shout 'I am sorry Lucy' then be it like that." I said, getting up from the bench.

I stood on one leg, held my ears and shouted:

"I am sorry Lucy! Please forgive me."

I noticed people giving me weird looks, but that was the last thing I cared about at that moment.

I saw her trying to suppress her laughter and I felt a burden lift from my chest.

Tyler Smith has officially gone insane. Who knew someone could make me do such weird shit.

"Can I stop now? My legs hurt." I said, smiling from ear to ear.

"No please don't! You are looking great like that." She said laughing.

I let out a relaxed laugh and left my ears, gaining my balance.

"Can I consider myself forgiven now?" I asked.

"No way. You are still guilty of being a part of that." She said.

"Okay madam. Now lets go, before we catch a cold." I said.

She smiled and nodded in agreement. We marched towards the house together.

When we arrived home, Luke and Anna were already waiting for us anxiously on the doorstep.

"Oh thank goodness you guys came back. I was just about to call the police." Luke said, his voice lacking any sort of remorse or contrition.

"I am really sorry Lucy. It wasn't intended to hurt you. Please don't be mad at me." Anna said pulling Lucy into a bear hug.

"Tsk tsk. You are a piece of work. No matter what justification you give right now, lemme tell you, no dinner tonight." She joked.

"Ouch! That's too harsh." Anna said, pulling away from her.

"Trust me, I'm gonna be harsher on the one who started this." Lucy said, staring daggers at Luke.

"Okay, lets end this here. By the way who else is hungry except me?" I suggested.

"Yeahh!! That's my bro! Im starving dude. Let's go have something to eat. I am sure Lucy would practically throw us out of the house now, if I asked her to cook. Or else, she for sure, would poison me and even if she doesn't, I would surely throw up by its wonderful taste."Luke teased.

"Hey! Don't you dare say a word about my cooking. I cook really well." She said, with a self-satisfied look making me grin like a dumbo.

"Lying is a sin Lucy." Anna added.

"Awe,she exposed you. Well I will ask it from your future unfortunate husband about it." He said.

"Okay enough! Lets go somewhere. I am starving." I said.

"Okay! We will take a minute to get ready. " Anna said and went into the room with Lucy.