16: TAKE IT BACK

(TAKE BACK YOUR DARE)

"Why do you smoke? Don't you know that I hate guy's who smoke. "She said.

"You hate guy's who smoke?. " he asked and she nod.

"Then, am making a promise to you that I would stop smoking. "Braxton muttered, and she looked at him.

"It gonna be tough for you and beside I thought the cigar was your addiction?. " She asked.

"It was once my addiction but now have got another addiction. "He replied.

"Tell me, who's the person. " She asked and he stare at her.

"Why do you wanna know?. "He questioned,instead of he replying to her question

"Is the girl perhaps prettier than me? Is she beautiful just like me?. " She asked.

"It gonna be my secret, don't worry I'd introduce her to you very soon. "He said.

"Oh.".

"So what are you doing here also?. " He asked.

"I couldn't sleep also, I needed fresh air so I sneak out from the mansion. "She twitched her lips into two.

"And coming here was the right place for you?. " he asked.

"Snapped out from your silly thought. I was just taking a stroll when I saw you seated here,so I came to say hi,I guess I should just leave. "Rihanna said.

"Did I say so, let's go get some ice-cream. " Braxton said and held her hand, she looked at the intertwined hands and smiled.

"My favorite. "Rihanna said and licked her lips.

"Let's go. " He said.

✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

They got to the ice cream shop, their hand were still intertwined.

"Did he just propose to you?. "The ice cream seller asked as soon as they got to his shop,Rihanna eyes widened.

"Propose." She repeated in shocked and look at Braxton.

"No, we're just friends. "Rihanna said faking a smile and she looked at Braxton expecting him to say the same thing, but he kept giving her the look of "Are we even friends"

"Yes we're just friends. " Braxton said after they kept battling each other with their gazes

"Are you trying to deceive a old man like me,friends don't held hand like the way you two are doing. "The ice cream seller muttered.

And they swiftly turn to the intertwined hand

Braxton have completely forgot that he was still holding Rihanna hands like wise Rihanna.

Then they looked back at the ice cream seller.

"It's not what you think. " Rihanna said and broke the once interlocked hands.

"Tell me what I think?. "The Ice cream seller said.

"I once told you that we're friends. " Rihanna said.

"She's lying. we're not friends, she hasn't even asked me out for friendship and she called that friends. "He rolled his eyes.

"What am I to you then, a stranger?. " Rihanna asked him.

"Of course not, we are. "He said and stop.

"We are what?. " She asked impatiently.

"We're just course mate and nothing else. "He said and she blinked her eyeslids twice.

"Just course mate?. " She asked, hoping he would say more than that, but she completely forgot that he told her that he's addicted to someone else.

"Yes, just course mate. "Braxton repeated and she fake a smile.

"You heard him now, we're just course mate, now can I get a strawberry ice cream? . " She asked.

"Yeah, sure. "The ice cream man said.

"But why do you think that he just propose to me?. "She asked.

"The people that comes here the most are newly couple.. And they came here with intertwined hands just like how you two were holding your hand, so that was why I asked you whether he just propose to you, coz I wanna give you two my blessings to always stay happy just like I do give my blessings to those newly couple that came here, but I didn't know that you two don't have something, I'm sorry. "The ice cream seller replied.

"It's okay. " Rihanna said.

"Here is the ice cream. "He handed her the ice cream.

While Braxton made the payment.

"Thanks." Rihanna said.

She and Braxton started walking, back to the spot.

Through the long walk they were total silence between them.

"The ice cream is nice right."Braxton broke the silent.

"I know. "She said.

He kept staring at Rihanna moving lips and his eyes caught a stain of ice cream in her lips, he quickly move closer to her and was about using his thumb to wipe it off.

"We're just course mate right? don't you think we should avoid our distance?. " She asked him,and his hand halted.

"Uhm.. Yeah. "He said and she smiled.

"Will you drop me off or should I drop myself off,it's getting late?" She asked him.

"I'd drop you off. "He said and they got inside his car and drove off.

✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

✢NEXT DAY≈STAR COLLEGE✢

"Hey Presley. " Ryder called but Presley chose to ignored.

"Wait up. "He shouted, but she didn't listen, she twisted the door knob of the restroom and went in.

She walked to the Zinc and turn on the water, before splashing the water on her face.

The door suddenly opened and Ryder came in, before locking the door.

"What are you doing here? Don't you know were you're?. " She asked him.

"I was calling out your name but you didn't answer me, why? . "He asked.

"Coz I didn't hear you call out my name. " She lied.

"I need you to take back your Dare, I'm f**king tired of living like a normal boy, I mean I don't even have the effrontery to f**k p*$$y since you made that dare of yours. "He pleaded.

"I'm not taking back the dare, it's just two weeks, just managed. " She said and made to leave.

"Two weeks you say, I'm dying inside and you asked me to manage?,it's not that easy. "He muttered.

"Why, why do you want me to take it back?. " She asked.

"Why don't you want to take it back?"He questioned.

"What do you mean?. "

"Have you forgotten?. "He asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about. " She said, knowing fully well what he was talking about.

"At the party you told me in your drunk state that I'm beautiful, do you like me? Have you been crushing on me? . "He asked.

"Wake up from that silly dream of yours coz I'm not crushing on you, nor do I find you beautiful,can't you see that I was sputtering rubbish in my drunk state, so all what I said was totally nonsense. " She said and made to leave, but he pulled her back and pinned her to the wall.

"Really, then prove that to me. "Ryder said and with that he slammed his minty tongue on her lips.

✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

Shane was walking alone in the hallway, when is eyes caught the girl who bumped into him.

She's with Rihanna in a class.

He walked to them and grabbed Poppy hands.

"Have been hell searching for you since yesterday, I don't know where you ran off to. " he said.

"Hey, what are you doing let her go. "Rihanna shouted at him.

"Don't you know what she did? Didn't she tell you how she bumped on me and made my phone fell?. " Shane mouthed.

"What are you saying, but I apologize to you yesterday. "Poppy muttered and he scoffed.

"And who tell you that I was satisfied with the the apology, my friends mocked me coz of you. "Shane muttered.

"Do you want another apology, but I'm never going to apologize to you. "Poppy said to him.

"On behalf of her, she's sorry. "Rihanna said.

"Are you the one that bumped into me? No right? I want that coming from her mouth. " Shane whispered and Poppy looked at him.

"But she apologize for me already. "Poppy yelled.

"I don't need her apology but yours coz you were the one who bumped into me. " Shane said and she rolled her eyes.

"Just apologize yunno it won't take a single dime from you. "Rihanna said and Poppy scoffed.

"Ok then I'm.... " she didn't get to complete her words when she bite his hand with her teeth.

"Rihanna I'm sorry but I don't want to apologize to him,I have a self respect to hold."Poppy shouted and stormed out from the class.

"Are you okay?. " Rihanna asked, but he ignored her question and ran after Poppy.

✯AFTER SCHOOL≈ZHANG MANSION✯

Rihanna entered the mansion and she's shocked to see every where dead silent, the living room was dark.

"Mom." She called, but no response.

"But why's everywhere so dark?. "She asked herself.

"Mom, are you in?. " She asked again, and went Upstairs, she check around but no one was there.

She checked the kitchen still no presence of her mom.

"Is this some kind of joke or what?. "She asked.

"Nope it's a surprised. " She heard a familiar voice and she turned back only to see Prof Connor standing in front of her.

"Dad."She called and ran to hug him.