RAVI (formerly Indie-America)

46

  (((Edited•)))

   Downstairs, Luca is snapping pictures with all my family members, making weird faces, and laughing around. Grandma is shoving some sweets into his mouth when he sees me, and the sweets fall right to the ground.

"Oh, Ravi's here," Dad announces and everyone turns to look at me.

"Hi," I say sheepishly when I'm standing in front of Luca. Tonight he gelled his hair, so it looks like it's wet even though it's not but it's still really curly. He's wearing a black turtle neck top under the black tuxedo, he's wearing a black Nike canvas because he can't stand those pointed shoes.

"Wow, you're wearing a saree," he says and I shrug.

"I know,"

"You look beautiful," he says a moment later and I let my smile blow out.

"You too, handsome I mean. Not beautiful," I try and stumble on my words, making Mara roll her eyes behind Luca.

"Let's take one last picture, everyone in it!" Aunt SanJ orders and Raman puts the camera on the timer as we all arrange ourselves. Luca stands beside me, holding my hand in his because why not? After setting it Raman runs to stand beside his sister, counting down along with the timer.

"Smile!" He screams and everyone stretches their mouths just a little too much. When it's taken we start laughing for no reason, unaware that it was still taking pictures.

"We should go now," Luca says as the assembly scatters away.

"Have a splendid night, her curfew is 12 ok?" Dad tells Luca as he escorts us outside. He doesn't leave until we are safely in the car and have driven off.

"Ravi, have I told you you look beautiful?" Luca asks immediately.

"Yes but you can say it again, is my saree ok?" I ask even though I know it is. I just want to know what he thinks about me dressing up this way.

"You should wear them more often," he looks at me warmly and I smile. I shove my wrists into his eye view and shake them childishly.

"They're so fun! You know they're actually wedding bangles?" I inform him and his eyebrows shoot up.

"Well then let's get married," he offers.

"Idiot,"

He laughs.

"I've got a feeling that this night is gonna be awesome," he says with much satisfaction as he goes even faster, making his way to our school.

*******
  "Here we are, let's go in," Luca starts towards the entrance but I stop him. I haven't told him about Teddy and I don't want him to find out elsewhere.

"Wait a sec, I wanna tell you something," I say. His brows furrow with concern as he comes back to stand in front of me.

"What is it?"

"Um...so I found out who made the bet," his face clears up and he wants to say something but I continue, "Teddy, yeah. He told me himself,"

"When?"

"Tuesday, he texted me to come to meet him here at school. Then he admitted, he also told me he did it because..."

"Because?" He urges.

"Because he likes me, in the other way," I watch Luca's face scrunch up with confusion. He may have known that it was Teddy but he did not know his motives.

"Morgan likes you?"

"Yes, and to prove it or so, he...kissed me."

"Morgan kissed you?" His eyes widen and I can tell he's already vexed. Who wouldn't? I reach out to hold his arms and pacify him.