C'est la vie!

Chapter 18🥀

"Who were you with?" Max addressed forthwith my arrival at the resort.

I only assumed an expression of confusion, yet wondering if he had caught sight of Aiden when I had gotten off the uber.

"Where were you?"

"School, and you know that."

He motioned to one of the cabana's where, apparently, Petra and Sesinam were seated under. "They too are from 'school'."

Oh Shoot!

"I was hanging out with my friends. I have other people in my life apart from them, you know?"

He outstared at me longer than I could stare back, seeking to draw up guilt. Then walked away back to business. Even though I knew he was still in doubt.

Now to my friends. What were they doing here?

Sesinam waved and I sauntered to them. "Did we put you in some trouble?"

I shrugged.

"Where were you?"

"Somewhere."

"At the beach?" She disclosed and chuckled at my bemused guise. "Lois spotted you and informed us, we were already here by that time."

"Did you tell Max?"

"We made a mistake just once, Raine"

"Oh, so you know?" I planted myself on one of the seats.

"You were at fault too," Petra retaliated and began explaining their side of the story. "We met Derrick's brother at the resort with your scarf in his hands. We asked where you were and he said you made a move on him at the resort, felt embarrassed and left. That was how he ended up with the scarf."

Unbelievable!

"Honestly, the reason we were mad was because we were worried about where you had gone, and not what he told us."

I went off to recount the events that had led Flirt-Guy to having my scarf. He had doubtlessly tried to search for me at the resort after the incident, and that was probably how come he had met the girls.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded. "I'm fine. I'm just upset that no one gave ear to what I had to say and just sided with Derrick."

"We were not siding with anyone. He made us think you were being controversial by refusing to apologise. We kind of felt bad for him because that's what you did to us." Petra paused. "But now, we get it and we're so sorry."

They digressed on to how Max had eventually found out. He had run into them, and there was no way he was going to believe it if they had said I was not with them. Plus, they thought I had somehow gotten missing, and disclosure was going to make it easy for them to 'find' me.

"I'm so sorry guys," I expressed regret for making them seem like bad friends.

"Now, for a more important question," Sesinam side tracked. "Who were you with at the beach?"

I found myself grinning without delay. But before I could utter a word, Max interrupted us, offering to drive us home.

We got into the back seat of the car and Sesinam mouthed voicelessly, "Who?"

Their jitteriness had me stifling a laugh so bad.

"Obviously, Aiden. Right?"

I nodded to Petra's plausible answer and they began to squeal and frolic in excitement. I caught Max peering through the rear-view mirror, so I promised to fill them in on all the details as soon as I got home. And although they couldn't wait, they concurred.