Tale Teller (West Hampton U Series #1)

Chapter 8 ● Sleuths

-- Sameer --

"So it's obviously someone who was at that Diwali party. Could be someone desi?" Zain hums, scooping giant bites of cereal into his mouth.

Ruhaan came running out of his room this morning with his laptop and the newest issue of the West Hampton Chronicle opened. We were all hovered over the screen with our bowls of breakfast as we read and re-read what what written.

Just as Muskaan and I predicted, the writer wrote about our supposed relationship. What we didn't expect was the fact that the rumours we'd spread were debunked. Instead, the writer claims we got together at the Diwali party, which is where we planned to do all this so she is technically right. But we didn't mention the Diwali party thing to anyone at the game last week. No one knew except our friends.

I had sent Muskaan a text for us to talk today when we would meet up to work on the End of Year party decorations. She hadn't responded yet but it was still early-ish on a Sunday morning so maybe she was still sleeping. My foot didn't stop tapping impatiently until she walked into the campus event room with a box full of streamers, giggling about something with her Sofia.

I'm about to jump up off the floor but she notices me first and waves, motioning that she's coming over. She sets the box down on the table at the room but then gets caught saying hello to an exec of the club. I watch from my sprawl on the floor as she converses with the other girl, her ponytail swinging as she laughs with her head thrown back.

Even as the exec drones on about something, Muskaan's friendly smile never falters. She nods along earnestly, making the other girl launch into another passionate speech about something. Thankfully someone comes and takes the exec away, leaving Muskaan to continue her path towards me. I sit up, moving the banner I was tasked with painting to the side. She gracefully slips into a criss-cross position in front of me and eyes the banner amusedly. "So you're a painter too?"

"Only when I want to impress the ladies," I grin, handing her a clean paintbrush so that she stays with me to work. "Did you get my text from earlier?"

"No, oh my God, I'm so sorry," she pats around for her phone, finding it in her back pocket. "I had a busy morning, I haven't even glanced at it."

I fill her on the newest article as she listens intently. There's the smallest of frowns between her eyebrows but otherwise she doesn't give away much. After I'm done, there's a silent moment before she let's out a breath. "This is actually good."

"Please explain," I raise an eyebrow.

Her paintbrush moves carefully across the lines on the banner as she speaks. "We now know who it isn't. Who did you tell about the Diwali party?"

"Just my cousin Zain and Ruhaan. Who did you tell?"

"Suhana."

We both look up at our closest friends on opposite sides of room, both separately but simultaneously causing trouble and mischief instead of helping with their assigned tasks. Muskaan looks back at me with a frown.

"I don't think it was Ruhaan or Zain. They wouldn't fuck with me like that."

"Suhana would never either."

Her shoulders slump a little in disappointment, and she goes back to staring at the banner she's painting. "But we know it was someone at the Diwali party right? So there's that?" I bump her shoulder with mine to try to cheer her up.

"There were 200 people at that. I guess that somewhat narrows it down," she chuckles bleakly.

"We'll try something new next time. Hope is not lost," I fling my arm up in the air like a warrior but in the process get a small streak of paint on her hand.