Chapter 19 ~Besties for life~

"Besties are like stars, you don't always see them but you know they're always there."

Iris's POV

We walked to a secluded part of the school, we were all lucky because we didn't have any class at that very moment.

"So where should I start from?" I chuckled nervously as I fiddled with my pendant.

"You know you don't have to." Lizzy smiled sadly.

"Okay, first of all, I want to apologize to you guys for being such a bad friend," I muttered.

"Seriously, Iris you know you are nothing but a good friend." Treasure scoffed.

"I am so sorry I kept this from you guys, I was kind of scared y'all will look at me differently."

"Look, I understand, it's your life, and it's your story to tell. Besides we all have secrets right?" Lizzy asked, we both nodded.

"So, is it true?" Treasure inquired.

"Yeah, it is. My mother left us when I was just seven years of age. Up until this very moment, I don't even know if she's alive or dead, I don't even know if she has another family, I don't even know if she misses us." I said as a traitor tear rolled down my cheek and I wiped it quickly with my sleeve.

"Do you know the worst part?" I paused dramatically.

"I still care about her. She said she was gonna come back, but it's been ten freaking years." I laughed bitterly.

''Sometimes, I would be so frightened to go sleep because of my nightmares. And as for my Dad, he has always been there for both Devon and I. He took both the responsibility of a father and a mother. And just a few weeks ago, I found out my Dad had a brain tumor for a while now and I didn't even know. I don't even know what's happening in my life anymore." I sobbed silently as I removed my glasses from my face.

"I'm so sor-" Lizzy said but I cut her off.

"No, don't say that. This is the reason I didn't want to tell you guys in the first place. I didn't want you guys to look at me with pity or sympathy. I didn't want you guys to treat me like some freaking Chinaware." I deadpanned.

"Look, I don't want to say I understand what you have been through but just remember we will always be here for you, no matter what." Treasure smiled sadly as she wiped my tears.

"Yeah, we should be besties for life," Lizzy exclaimed and I laughed.

"You should laugh more, you have a really cute laugh." Treasure teased and I laughed harder.

Gosh! I haven't laughed this hard in a while.

"Anyways, enough about me. Lizzy what's up with you and my best friend?" I questioned teasingly as Treasure grinned.

"Nothing." She said shyly as she tucked a lock of her strawberry blonde hair behind her ears.

"Come on girl, spill the damn tea. Do you think we don't notice you two giving each other those lovey-dovey eyes like you wanna rip each other's clothes apart?" Treasure wiggled her eyebrows as Lizzy goes crimson and I laughed.

"He hasn't asked me out or anything. What if he doesn't really like me like he said he did." Lizzy stated as she frowned.

"Gosh! you are so stupid and oblivious." Treasure muttered under her breathe as Lizzy glared.

"Honestly, He always looks at you like you are the best thing that has ever happened to him, asides from food. My point is that he really likes you, he probably wants to take things slow." I smiled and pinched her beetroot cheeks.

"Okay." She whispered.

"What about you?" I asked Treasure.

"What about me?" She asked.

"Do you have a special guy who I don't know, has jet black hair with dreamy hazel eyes." Lizzy cooed.

"I don't care about Aspen." Treasure answered as she huffed looking flustered all of a sudden.

I chuckled. "We never mentioned Aspen." I teased and she looked like she would strangle me any minute from now.

"Seriously, what's up with you two, I could feel the sexual tension between you two." Lizzy grinned as she fanned herself.

"He's just an ass hole." She whispered sadly and we both stared at her quizzically.

"Okay, if you say so." Lizzy shrugged.

"How about we spend the weekend together, and maybe go to a party?" Lizzy said wiggling her brows. Treasure smiled when she heard the party and I groaned.

"Seriously, no! Remember, what happened last time." I hissed.

"That's just a one-time thing, and the guys were there." Treasure stated.

"I don't know, I will think about it." Or not

"Liar." Treasure whispered making Lizzy giggle.

We spent the remaining time chatting and making fun of each other.

* * *

"Bye!" Treasure waved as she and Lizzy drove out of the school premises.

I jogged around the school to find the other parking lot which the guys usually use. I sighed in relief when I spotted a familiar jet-black hair.

"Hey, Aspen!" I called out as I ran towards him.

"Oh Iris, good you are here. I thought you must have left." He joked as he flicked my forehead.

"I am here now, are you ready to go?" I asked and he nodded.

"Yo!, Zander, we are ready!" Aspen yelled.

"We? Who the heck is we?" Zander questioned before his blue eyes found me.

"You have got to be kidding me. Why the heck is she going with us?" Zander asked as he pointed his fingers at me.

"Dude, I told you she was gonna go with us. You know I'm not with my car right now, and don't you wanna see Jasmine." Aspen retorted.

"Oh, God!" Zander groaned running his hands through his platinum blonde hair before giving me a once over.

I raised my brows at him. "Guys, you know I am right in front of y'all, so stop talking like I ain't here."

Aspen shook his head and gave a reassuring smile while Zander ignored me as usual.

"Fine!" Zander finally agreed and Aspen jumped excitingly.

He continued. "But I am only doing this because I love Jasmine." He stated and the corner of his lips quirked up a little.

Suddenly, I felt a knot tighten at the pit of my stomach.

Who the heck is Jasmine? And why does he seem excited to see her?

"Okay, let's go. My car is parked over there." Zander stated as he started walking towards his car not even turning back to check if we were following him. I had to run to catch up with them.

Boys and their long legs!

As I stood in front of his car, my eyes widened in shock.

"Omg!!! Isn't this a Mercedes Benz S550?" I exclaimed as I stared at the car in awe, inspecting every inch.

"Yup." Aspen smiled amusingly.

"Wow! this baby has 455 horsepower. I have always wanted to ride in this." I smiled and looked up and saw that Zander smiled slightly.

"How do you know about cars? because I know most girls don't even know what a bonnet is." Zander said with curiosity laced in his tone while Aspen chuckled.

"First of all, Ouch!!!" I exclaimed as I placed my hands on my heart, while the two just snickered.

I glared. "Anyways, my dad owns an automobile shop, and I kind of work there part-time." I smiled as I remember all the times I would assist my dad at his work shop and would always tease me and call me a tomboy.

"Wow! that's cool. Don't worry when I need help with any of my vehicles, I will definitely call you." Aspen said as he ruffled my hair.

"Sure! Don't worry I will give you a very good discount." I beamed.

"You see, this is why we are friends." Aspen joked.

I punched his arm playfully and Zander just rolled his eyes.

"Can we go now?" Zander asked and we both nodded our heads profoundly.

We all entered his car. The boys sat at the front while I sat at the back seat, and I tell you the car smelled just like Zander.

Not that I have been sniffing him or anything.

My point is that the car smelled so good.

I stared in awe as we drove to an unfamiliar neighborhood as I hummed to whatever song was played in the car. We made small talks until we got to Aspen's house or should I say mansion.

As we drove through the huge white gate, the first thing that caught my attention was a fish sculpted water fountain. The compound was quite spacious with flowers of various kinds distributed evenly.

"You can stop staring now." Zander chuckled and stared at me amusingly as we got out of his car.

"I can't help it, it's not every day I see things like this." I gestured to the environment around us and Aspen shook his head.

We walked through a huge white oak door and were welcomed by the aroma of a familiar snack.

"Aspen! Zander!"

***

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