08|Meet some other time?Figures.

'This is going to be a great week'

Rhea thought as she closed her car door gently before heading for her class.

Her past few weeks had been drama filled. It was the longest she had a dramatic period since her years in college. Perhaps fun for her lies in her last year in college.

She smiled as she walked unhurriedly to her class that was only feet away from where she was.

Unfortunately, her smiled faltered when someone bumped into her. 'Not again' She groaned inwardly.

Expecting it to be another sassy girl, it ended up being a muscular guy. Albeit cool and cute, he could still pass off as a criminal on a wanted list. His expression bore much of hidden content.

"I am sorry" He said bending down to pick the books that dropped from Rhea.

"I am really sorry" He repeated as he dropped the books in Rhea's opened hands. He looked sincere and apologetic.

"Oh, this is nothing" She said with a smile and turned to walk away.

"Hey, sorry... please wait..., Sorry but are you— I mean you are... no, you and Amelia.... did—" He stopped blabbering.

He looked at Rhea who was also looking at him with a raised brow. He then scratched the back of his neck and chuckled.

"Sorry" He said again. Seeing her lack of negative reaction, he continued.

"I just thought it was you, I mean... that day, I saw someone who looked really like you... well nevermind, I think I saw wrong—"

"No you did not" Rhea spoke finally, she looked amused. She never expected this guy to be a shy one.

"It ... it was really you?" He asked again.

"Yeah" Rhea answered hiding her amusement behind a neutral smile. "Do you have a problem with that?" She raised a questioning brow.

"No no no... it's just that, you were really cool that day. I mean not every body can talk back at high horses just like that" He said.

"Not everybody can stand her act either. I just can't stand being insulted that's all, it's really nothing" Rhea said sincerely.

"It's a good thing you did what you did, every where had been happier without her presence"

"I will take it that you don't like her" Rhea noted.

"Nobody does... anyways, I am Carter Munroe" He said.

"I'm Rhea" She said and he nodded in acknowledgement.

"Nice name, we could meet some other time else we will be late"

"Fuck!" Rhea checked the time on her watch and it was only two minutes left to class start.

"Bye, talk to you later!" She waved as she walked hurriedly to her class. She would not want another talk from Mr Price.

Fortunately, she entered the class almost the same time Mr Price did. He gave her a long look as if saying to her that 'you are still late though but I pardon you'

Rhea rolled her eyes as she took her seat. As the class went on and on, she yawned over and over again.

She was not exactly a fan of Price's boring lectures. Not only being a strict lecturer, Mr Price's class would make you just want to go to bed. He was that uninteresting.

Soon, the class came to an end after what seemed like eternity. Rhea grab her bag and headed out of the door.

"Hey best friend" Claire said catching up with Rhea. Her face was plastered with a big smile.

"Woah .... look at you, you look so good today" Claire awed giving Rhea a look over with widened eyes but Rhea knew better than to take that as a compliment.

Rhea who was already used to Claire's intensional insults over her lack of fashion sense could only roll her eyes at her friend.

"Just insult me already please" Rhea retorted.

"What do you mean by that!" Claire said and she smacked her friend.

"Ouch.. I know better than take your ridiculous insult dearest" Rhea scoffed.

"You ungrateful thing, is that what you say to the only person helping to improve your horrible fashion sense. Just look at you, who in this generation go about in baggy and boots—"

"That's enough. I know I have zero fashion sense but I make more vocabulary than you can ever" Rhea retorted.

"Oh please.." Claire smirked.

"Just know that everyone is looking at you and dressed in this kind of way..." she paused and gave her a look over.

"sucks" she added.

Rhea could only roll her eyes and started walking away since the discussion was over.

"Hey Rhea!"

A familiar voice called causing Rhea and Claire to stop walking and turn around.

Carter jogged over to where they stood. Claire looked at him with furrowed brows. She was curious.

"Hi Carter"Rhea greeted him.

"Actually, the other time I forgot to ask for your number.." Carter said rubbing the back of his neck.

'Oh, he came for that' Rhea thought.

"The thing is, I thought if we were ever going to meet again, I should be able to contact you ... so I just– what I mean is..." He blabbered.

"555–261–4871" Rhea cut him off in an amused voice.

"Sorry, what... could you repeat that, let me find my phone please" Carter said trying to find his phone in his pocket.

"Be quick will you else I change my mind. I do not have all day" Rhea joked with a fake frown.

"Ah... I'm so sorry" Carter apologized sincerely he took what Rhea had said seriously.

"Really dude, that was a joke" Rhea laughed.

"Oh. .." Seeing he was being played, he chuckled.

The two exchanged contacts. Then Rhea remembering her friend who had been standing sideline all along quickly introduced her.

"Meet my best friend. Claire" Rhea said turning to Claire.

"Nice meeting you Claire, I am Carter" He said broadening his smile.

Claire who had been mesmerized by Carter's facial look could only give a small nod. She stared at Carter in awe albeit unknown to the latter.

"I should get going. See you ladies later" Carter said as he turned around while Rhea waved him off.

"Are you going to date him?" Claire asked as soon as Carter was out of view.

"What are you spouting?" Rhea asked her friend.

"He's so edible" she fawned.

"..."

'Seriouly Claire that is a human not food. Carter what have you done to my friend' Rhea thought.

She really wanted to slap away that loving gaze that was on Claire's face.

"Don't tell me you like him already" Rhea asked and Immediately, Claire snapped out of her day dream and looked at Rhea like she had grown two big horns.

"What do you mean like? My heart is not meant for any guy" she said.

"The guy is only cute after all, he might be good for you" Claire continued.

'When did this discussion shift to being about me without my knowledge' Rhea wondered.

"If you are going to date him, you won't forget your first love after all—" Claire started but Rhea cut her.

"No one is dating nobody—" Rhea said and Claire cut her also.

"Because if you do, I wouldn't hesitate to slit your throat and feed your body to crocodiles" Claire threatened without battling an eye.

"..."

"Claire!" Rhea yelled.

*

Wednesday came by and Rhea had a lecture free day. She was home alone as Her mother had a night out with Doctor Brooke. Daniel is also on a school trip out of the city. Madeline travelled to visit some relatives.

As she sat on the couch thinking her day would be spent watching Netflix, her phone vibrated.

She dropped the half eaten pizza in her hand and picked her phone. She just received a text message from Carter.

'Hey Rhea, free today?' it read.

'If being home alone watching random movies counts then I guess I am' Rhea typed and sent it. The reply came after few seconds.

'Great! let's meet up for lunch' it read.

'No probs' Rhea replied.

'I will pick you up at 2pm' He texted.

Rhea thought for a while and decided to give Claire a call. it would be nice if the three of them went out for lunch together.

She dialed Claire's number and it call was picked at the second ring.

"Hey babe what's up!" Claire squealed as soon as she picked.

"Hey... I hope I won't turn deaf one of these days" Rhea groaned.

"Sorry sorry dearest, I just go excited that you called" Claire said.

"Whatever" Rhea rolled her eyes.

"So what's up, what did you call?" Claire asked.

"Actually, I'm going out with Carter—" Rhea was cut off by Claire sudden yell.

"A date!"

"Claire.." Rhea warned as she removed her phone from her ear. She hope Claire won't make her deaf from her yelling.

"Sorry sorry sorry, I just thought I heard you were going out with Carter just now—"

"Yeah, going out, for LUNCH" Rhea explained to her dumb friend.

"Oh... so it's just lunch or...?" Claire pestered.

"Just lunch and I was only calling so you could join us dumbass" Rhea said.

"How nice of you. Anyways I'm up for free food so count me in"

"Good choice, we will pick you up later"

"Whatever" Claire snorted.

Rhea ended the call and texted her address and that of Claire to Carter. 'The more the merrier' she thought.

Later in the day, Carter drove to her place and picked her up. They also drove to Claire's apartment and picked her.

Carter stopped in front of a big restaurant. They all got out of the car. Rhea and Claire looked from the restaurant to Carter eyes widened in awe.

"This is going to be a good meal. Rhea, thanks for inviting me, you will surely live a good life" Claire said patting Rhea's back. Rhea was too surprised to speak.

"Let's go in already" Carter said while rubbing the back of his neck. He hope that that loved where he brought them.

They went in and had a very good and satisfying lunch.

"The food here is really good here" Claire said patting her extra large stomach.

"Is it?" Carter asked.

"Obviously, isn't that right Rhea?" Claire asked looking at her friend for support.

"Well.... I do not have any comment on that because anywhere you get free food serves the best food. But the food here is good anyways" Rhea said.

"What!" Claire glared.

"I mean well dearest" Rhea said. "You are not going to think bad about my friend right Carter?" Rhea asked looking at confused Carter while Claire really looked like she wanted to beat her up.

"Well.... Ah" Carter was speechless. He looked from Rhea who raised a questioning brow to Claire who was in fury and then scratched his hair.

"Just look at the poor guy" Rhea laughed so hard that even the fuming Claire joined her.

"It was a joke okay, but ain't you a shy one... or you are afraid of us?" Rhea questioned while Claire nodded in agreement.

Carter's mood shift from being confused to really confused. He narrowed his gaze and gave Rhea and Claire a surprised look.

"What are you saying, me shy? Hell no!" Carter said but Rhea gave him a 'I'm not convinced kind of look' while Claire hummed.

"You two, stop giving me that detective look!" He said.

"It's official, he is really scared of us" Claire said and Rhea nodded 'You are right'.

"You... you little—" Carter tried to get hold of the two of them but as if they knew what he would do, the two of them dashed out of the restaurant.

Carter followed after them. He wondered if he would keep on being friends with the two irritable girls but they are really fun to be with he thought.

His lips tilted up in a cute smile. They made him smile, true and real smile. In his almost crumbling world, he would need the two, he realized.