Castle High

30. Euphoria - I

“You’re going to choke me, M.”

Stephen hissed in pain, as his girl-friend tightened her grip around his neck and edged closer into his embrace. It was resumption day in the New Year – 2017 and as usual, hugs and other pleasantries were going about.

“Well, you’ve not had enough. Mister.” Emily bickered, not releasing the hold on him in the next few seconds. The embrace dissolved however with the inevitable arrival of a scathing remark.

“You guys act like you didn’t see each other over the holiday.” Alex snarled, clearly irritated by the public display of affection between the duo. “I mean Gag, get a room.”

Emily swirled around in Alex’s direction with a threatening glare. “You’re the one who needs an empty room, Alex. So when you’re saying your BS, only the furniture and air would be sentenced to listen to you whine.”

Alex’s brows rose incongruously. “Really? It’s kinda difficult to argue with your sort of smarts, heh? In an empty room by Emily standards – there is furniture and air also? That’s fascinating.”

Emily only giggled at Alex’s come-back and Stephen did the same also. “You know I heard all about Christmas Brunch at your place; and how Andrew and the girls were called upon to speak about you. I gotta say I expected some resolutions from you but I’ve realized those resolutions doesn’t involve changing anything about yourself.”

Alex chuckled sarcastically, folding her arms and hopping down from the desk she was perched on. “I’m not one for the hypocritical New Year resolution ruse in which people promise that they are gonna change major bits about themselves, but can’t even keep the act on till the end of New Year’s day. Why bother if you’re not going to change at all, or better still – why bother when everything about you is–”

“Perfect, isn’t it?” Ariel drawled as she joined the group, throwing a mischievous at Alex. “Believe me I’ve been burned many times by this one topic, you guys don’t want to join the cue. If you ask me I think she is pained that a lot of guys ditched brunch at her place for Stephen’s.”

“Oh please so more people could have had things to say about me.” Alex groaned in reminiscence. “Yeah sure that makes sense. Especially Marc, how I would have loved so much if he was around.”

Stephen grinned. “Oops, Ari. Watch out!”

Stephen’s warning came late but her assault didn’t. An iron-firm grip latched unto her waist, raised her into the air and swirled her around vehemently causing her to squeal in derision whilst the rest chuckled in sheer amusement, except Alex who was clearly irritated by her twin brother’s action.

“Joey, I’d have your head by the time I’m down!” Ariel yelped in fright, drawing the attention of the rest in the room. Alice walked up to the pair and rose to her tiptoes so she could tickle her friend.

“Oh, you can have my head, dear.” Joey quipped, locking his gaze with Ariel’s as he continued with his swirling action. “You can have everything about my head. My lips, especially.”

“You’re sick, I warned you.” With the final declaration, she jerked her right leg forward and rammed it backwards into Joey’s groin region. Stunned, Joey cursed under his breath and gently lowered Ariel to the floor instantly.

The rest however, couldn’t stop laughing.

Ariel gazed at Joey’s fazed state with amusement, as she cradled her lips with her palms to prevent herself from doubling over in laughter. “I’m sorry, Joey. How could I have known you had something there? You whine like a girl all the time, don’t blame me.”