Secret alliances

0.4

Wes's Pov:

"Wes?" Who's voice is that? Why are they in my room?

"What the fu-" I say, half-asleep. I yank my covers up. My "Go away." Comes our muffled.

"No." Someone whacked my face through the comforter. "Now get up! It's already late,"

I slowly slid the comforter down and saw Meera looking unamused.

"I suppose you have a good reason to be here?" I drawled.

"Oh believe me, I wish I didn't have to come get you." She sighed. Her face was void of all the usual "Meera-ness". She seemed exhausted.

"What's up with you?" I asked almost immediately. "You look off."

She raised a brow, and plopped on the bed. "You care why?"

"Oh I don't." I chuckled dryly. "It just means I get an easy day."

She whipped her head towards me. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," I brushed off the comforter and got up.

"Oh for god's sake, put a shirt on!" She groaned. "And hurry, the picnic starts in forty-five minutes and your mom said to be down in thirty."

"Are you going to watch me get dressed or.."
I trailed off, seeing a slight tinge of red on her ears.

I assessed her entire outfit, she was in crisp white dress that made her hazel eyes pop. Her hair was in beach waves, parted down the middle and her makeup was minimal. Almost giving off a sun kissed look. Adorned in gold jewelry and pearls she looked straight out of Pinterest.

She mumbles something in Gujarati and starts fixing my bed for me. "Get dressed and don't be late." Her eyes trail all over me, as she says that.

"Oh and Wes?"

"Yes Lyubov?"

"Take a cold shower while you're at it," she bits her lip, refraining from smiling and walks out.

Ah shit.

I look down and sigh. This is going to be one long day.

I walk downstairs just in time and see Meera's eyes narrow at me.

"What now?" I snapped.

"Did you do that on purpose?"

"Do what?"

"Match with me," she points to her dress and my shirt. "They're the exact same color."

They were the exact same color.

"No, this was the only ironed shirt I could find." I said. "Don't flatter yourself,"

She rolled her eyes and went out to the back yard.

"Chto mne delat'" I sighed, turning to my mother who was putting small pastries on a platter. (What can I do?)

"Nichego," she said softly. "Ty khochesh' yest?" (Nothing, do you want to eat?)

"Nyet mama," I grabbed the tray from her and made my way to the door.

"Wes?" She called, stopping me.

"Da?" (Yes)

"Bud' dobr k ney," (be nice to her)

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Meera." Mama tutted. "She's had a rough start to her weekend, don't make it worse."

That's why she was so off when she woke me up. "Is she okay?"

"Yeah. Just don't be mean."

I sighed, hoping she'd tell me what was wrong but she didn't. She just raised her brows. "Ladno, I'll be nice." (Okay)

I go out and hear laughter echoing through the backyard. My grandparents were pulling out gifts from our trip to Russia and while her family was doing the same.

I think about the Faberge eggs I've gotten her every year I've been to Russia since seventh grade. She doesn't need to know I got her gifts.

"Thank you dedushka!" Meera exclaims, opening the cream coat he got her. She hands them a box that looks like she made herself. (Grandpa)

"Wes, come here!" Meera's grandma called, spotting me with the platter. "Put those down."

I did as she said and went over near her. "Here," she handed me an envelope and a a huge bag. The envelope definitely has money.

I try to return the envelope but 'Baa' is adamant. (Grandma)

Then finally her grandpa settles it and forces me to put the envelope in my pocket. I hate to admit it but the one thing I actually like about Meera is how family oriented she is and how much she cares about her family. Not only hers but mine too. She treats my parents and grandparents like they're her own and she looks up to Rowan so much. He's like the older brother she's always wanted.

Speaking of Rowan, he hands her a small box and gives her a hug.

They're talking and her face slowly drops and her shoulders slump a little. What is he telling her?

Meera sets the box down and pulls out two bags and box from a giant tote. She gives Rowan a bag and my mom one. They both seem to love what they got.

She looks down at the box in her hands and then looks in my direction. Oh? So it's for me?

I think about the Faberge eggs again, she always brings me a small gift from India every time she goes. Why haven't I given her the eggs?

The whole reason we even thought about getting each other gifts was because, back in sixth grade she kept saying how she was going to miss me and it was gonna be a long two months without seeing me. So on a whim I told her I'd bring her a pretty Faberge Egg. Meera saw my mother's egg once and her face lit up, so I deemed it a perfect gift. She's been giving me Rajasthani puppets for ages.

She comes up to me, "Here,"

"Did you ever miss me?" I blurted randomly.

"Huh?" A look of confusion swirled on her face.

"Remember when I was first going to Russia over the summer and you were crying like crazy because it would be the first summer we weren't spending together? Did you ever miss me?"

"Ohhh," realization dawns on her. "I missed annoying you." She clarified. "Did you miss me? I never got those Faberge Eggs you promised."

"Miss you? Oh god no." I shook my head. "Why would I miss you? You were just a person I had to tolerate. A waste of my time and energy."

She stared at me, pangs of guilt stabbed me when I saw the hurt flashing in her eyes, before she glanced at her shoes, clearing her throat.

Fuck.

She mumbled, still looking down. "I need uh, water." With that, she went off, and I did nothing to stop her.

"I hope you like your gift," she added, not turning back.