DATE ME IF YOU WANT

Chapter 2

Alarm clock rang loud in my ears. I was wide awake but I didn't move. It kept ringing. 'I don't want to go to school!' Last night was a heavy toll on my health. I couldn't sleep a bit. I got up as lazily as I could and stopped the unnecessary noise. I brushed my teeth and tried to adjust to the bright daylight. I looked worse than shit. 'Oh damn! I have to apologize to her!', I realized. I lacked a proper explanation for what I did, for what I pictured! I entered the dining room, occupied my chair and greeted everyone 'good morning'.
"What happened?", my mother looked like she had seen a ghost, but she was facing me!
I looked back and sideways to assure that she was talking to me, and said, "ya! Stop worrying. I was just up late preparing something for the freshers!"
"I believe you!", Kate mockingly raised her hand while stuffing her face with a sandwich.
I gave her a no-one-asked-for-your-opinion look. I faced towards father and said, "dad, I will be late for some days today onwards. Have to arrange for the first years' party."
"Oh my! How late? Should I pack you lunch boxes?", my mother overheard us from the kitchen.
'Damn!' "No way! We have a canteen, I will MANAGE!" I finished my food without further delay and dashed off to school.

Everyday picture was the same. I was the centre of attention (attraction). My path was obliterated by random girls crashing against me. Ah! So awkward! Samantha approached me from a bunch of girls. I thought I should say her whatever I should, for my peace of mind! I wasn't the one to speak.
"I am sorry for last night. Forgive me if I was being pushy."
I was ashamed of myself. I couldn't say a word. "I..I..", I stuttered.
She bowed her head once and left. She looked over her shoulder and said, "hope you find someone you will cherish too!" She walked away.
I was pissed off (at myself). 'How could I hurt a sweet girl like her?!'
I went to my classroom and sat on my seat like a grumpy old man. I looked out of the window and let my mind wander. It was obsessed with the hazy face of a certain someone. I didn't even know who she was, what she was! Yes, it was that girl from the group who was uninterested in my charm. A mystery popped up in my life.
"Harry! Harry!!"
"Huh!"
"Isn't it unusual for you to be spacing off?"
'Too close!', I pushed the intruder away (intruder of my personal space!). It was Gerard, one of my buddies, a clingy one!
I answered, "I was thinking!"
"Thinking?"
'Does he have to know everything?' "Ya, thinking!" I stood up and left. I could not handle anymore question-answer sessions.

I went to the vending machine near the school entrance (please see the previous chapter for its exact location). I clicked on 'iced coffee' and waited. Some girls who were arriving then, one by one, stopped and talked with me. In a blink, it turned into a crowd. I was back to my usual self. I said some cheesy lines (all girls like it!), pecked on one's cheek, held other's hand. Everything else didn't matter anymore. Realization dawned on me, 'that's who I'm!'
My eyes looked into the distance for once. There she was passing by, looking disgusted and cursing me under her breath. I felt the chills! 'What's her problem?', I wanted to go and ask her. But the flock of girls formed a barrier around me. Our fateful meeting had to wait longer, but not much longer!

I returned to the classroom without further incidents. I saw Jimmy occupying his seat next to me. I wondered if I should tell him about the girl I just encountered. "Mornin'!", I wished him and offered him a can of iced coffee.
He reciprocated my offer with a bubble gum. Fantastic! "Morning!", he wished back, "uhh when is the freshers?", he inquired.
"Five more days to go!", I gave a self-satisfactory pause and continued, "so my bro is into chicks this year!"
He gave a crooked laughter, "as if!" Seeing my confused look, he added, "you will soon know."
'He is definitely keeping something from me!', this secret was disclosed soon enough as Jimmy mentioned! Class started shortly after the morning prayers. I got no time to talk with Jimmy. He was late. I was thinking about a lot many things to pay attention to what was being taught. It was lunch break by the time my chain of thoughts subsided. I was eager to meet up with my best friend. I never thought I would miss him that much. I had a lot to share and a lot to hear from him! In the canteen, I maneuvered my way through the maze of tables. I sat on a decent window side table and waited! No one disturbed me for sometime.
Someone came around and sat in the opposite chair. I thought it was Jimmy (I was looking out of the window and didn't waste time confirming his identity, maybe I should have!). So, I said, "what took you so long?", without seeing his face.
"Yo Harry!", Jimmy called from behind. I turned to see him carrying two sandwiches.
'Jimmy is there!?' I looked at the other Jimmy (or whom I imagined to be Jimmy). It was her! I was shocked. That girl--who shows extreme aversion to my charms! I pushed back my chair and stood up, my mouth half open.
Jimmy sat down on my right side, kept the food stuff on the table and said, "do you guys know each other?"
Before I could verbalize, she let out a sharp "no!"
Jimmy was convinced. "So, Rach, this is my best buddy, Harold Becket! And Harry, she is my younger sister, Rachel Moore. She's a first year!"
'Rachel!', the name lingered in my mind. "Nice to meet you!" 'Wait! If she is Jimmy's younger sister, how the hell am I supposed to talk to him about her!?', I wasn't stupid not to realize. I need to have a word with her personally. We had our lunch in (awkward) silence. I literally glared at her the whole time. Good thing that they didn't notice my murderous aura! I left early. I went to see the president.

I went to the committee room to find it empty. I wore my cap (as a disguise) and roamed around the hallway as I had nothing else to do. I dare not meet up with Jimmy! I went out in the courtyard. It was buzzing with lovebirds (not surprising!). Under a tree, the president was sitting. 'Ah! Found her!', that's what I thought. I proceeded towards her. 'Wait! There's a guy with her!' I stopped. Our president was being lovey-dovey with a popular handsome second year, Sebastian Turner. 'Not the right time!', I walked away. I spent the rest of the lunch break in the library, reading '101 facts about women psychology' (the book doesn't make sense, trust me!).

"Where have you been?", asked my best friend.
I entered the classroom only after the first warning bell rang. I made my way to my seat, sat down and replied, "I was reading in the library. Haha...obviously I couldn't tell him that I was pissed off and his sister was the culprit!
"Derek was searching for you. Here!", he handed me a piece of paper, "oh and, my sister wanted to join the volleyball club. Can you bring her a registration form?"
'Why my club?', I was shocked. And there I was avoiding that dangerous girl! "Okay!", I said. I opened the chit of paper which read...
Meeting from 4:30 P.M in the committee room.
'Knew it! Damn that president!' "Don't wait up today either.", I showed him the notice.
He glanced at it and said, "work hard, class secretary!" That idiot mocked me (that's Jimmy for you).
I fell back on my seat, crossed my legs and opened the book for the next class. I was bored.

After a (very long) while, school was over. Mine wasn't! I had to attend the committee meeting. Poor me! I entered the room, found some people lazing around. The president arrived shortly after. The meeting was commenced, "sorry for calling an urgent meeting today but we have a problem. Freshmen party is preponed to day after tomorrow. We don't have enough time!"
Confusion was expressed in the noise. Everyone became anxious. Thank God! I had done the job I was asked to! Before any of us could complain, the president continued, "the teachers were persistent about it. Second year's exams coming up next week, so.."
"The fund is ready!", the accountant assured us, "I sorted it out last night."
"That's good, Miss. Amy. Where is the plan, Mr.Becket?, all eyes turned towards me.
I picked out my hardwork, revised it and handed it over. "I think it is the best we can get from our budget!", I was proud of myself.
The president was impressed, "well then, we order the stuff today. And preparations starts tomorrow itself. On to other pressing matters..." And there starts the usual committee meeting. I switched on my phone and started solving puzzles. That was the best utilization of my time. I didn't want to invite anyone out that night, not until I had solved the problem of my hesitant behaviour.

I went to our club office after the meeting was over. The clerk was still working. He was a gentle (young) man in his late 20's. He was our team's indispensable manager. I grabbed a form from the desk and asked him, "working late again?"
He stopped whatever he was typing to look at me, "Harold, this is the year ending account balance. Takes time!"
I asked him about our next practice match and tournaments, wished him 'good day' and left.

I left the school premises. As I had no intention of returning home, I went to my favourite restaurant to grab something to eat. I wandered around the whole town on my motorcycle; wished there was someone hugging me from behind! Soon, that thought left my mind. I pulled over and parked. I didn't get off. I was in the shopping district then. It was 7 in the evening. My eyes followed a figure in one of the shopping malls; none other than Miss. Rachel Moore. 'Oh fate! That's the best you got!', I kept thinking. I kept watching (spying on) her. But why was I? She left the mall with bags in her hands.
She was all alone. 'Where is Jimmy?', I wondered, 'well, independent girl!'
Suddenly, she turned down the alley. Me too! We reached narrow lane in the housing area, away from both our homes. 'Where is she going?'
She turned around so fast that my eyes couldn't follow. She was in front of my bike. So, I stopped my vehicle and took off my helmet. She caught me! She shouted at the top of her lungs, "stalker! Stalker!!"
'Stop! Don't you recognize me?', I panicked.
I got off my motorcycle. I wanted to know what the hell she was thinking! I started speaking, "you..."
People who heard her fake cry started surrounding me. "Hey you! Back off!", one stout guy pushed me by my shoulders. I was in serious danger! They looked like they were not ready to negotiate. I looked here and there for that girl who put me in this mess. She was gone! After that what would have happened, all can imagine! But my ray of hope, my buddy, Jimmy came out of nowhere. "Calm down. You have got the wrong guy!", he tried talking with the angry mass, "I know him well."
'How (un)lucky I'm!', I was exhausted from all the accusations I gathered in half a minute. After the crowd dispersed with much cussing and dissatisfaction, I thanked Jimmy for saving me. I saw her standing in front of Jimmy's motorcycle, not looking at me. I bid him goodbye and goodnight and rode away. It was an awful experience. I will have my revenge! I never gave it a thought, 'why I was unconsciously following her in the first place?!'