It Started With a Dare

Chapter 9

Chapter 9 (Re-Written)

~~~

I didn't remember sleeping. I didn't remember my alarm beeping. I didn't remember getting out of bed. I didn't remember prepping myself for school. I didn't remember anything.

Once I regained my consciousness, I was seated with a forkful of slightly-sweetened scrambled eggs halfway to my mouth. Then reality hydro-pumped me in the face. No wonder I couldn't focus.

Alex. He's here. He stole my steamed bun.

I cringed and quickly finished my breakfast. I just needed to calm down. This town may be small, but not that small for everyone to know each other, so it's still large enough for people to not bump into each other.

Yeah, happy thoughts. That's just what I need.

And a latte.

~~~

There was a nearby diner near the flat complex. It was a block further away from school, but I usually buy a muffin and coffee whenever I had time to spare, which I did right now. Besides, I really do need something to keep me happy.

Caffeine jitters might not help, but who cares? Coffee is coffee.

Who says all British just drink tea?

I braced myself for the heavenly scent of fresh coffee beans once I opened the diner doors. Just like every time I've been there, I felt energized just by smelling the coffee brewing. The diner owner was a genius for adding a "cafe corner" in his diner along with pastry and other treats.

"A latte and a chocolate muffin please," I said to the lady who was behind the cafe counter. Then she went off and began preparing my order. I, on the other hand, was just staring mindlessly over the people who were in the diner.

Since it was still around 7:30, not that many people were around yet. Well, except for people in office uniforms and the elderly. Then there were three tables merged together and seated in them were a group of people about a year older than me laughing while having their breakfast. They seemed harmless, until I spotted that mischievous grin topped with that boyish hairstyle that suited his brown locks.

I quickly turned around and faced the counter again, hoping he didn't see me. He did seem busy, so he won't notice me. My escape route will be quite difficult though since his group was settled in the center of the diner, which was right in front of the doors.

"Miss? Your latte and muffin," the cafe lady said, handing me a paper bag and a coffee cup.

"Thanks," I mumbled. Then I inconspicuously made my way out of the diner, but luck wasn't on my side as always. I was almost out of the doors when someone called out, clearly for me.

"Hey, you in the uniform!" a familiar voice rang out.

I sighed and looked up at the heavens, asking why. Take my muffin, but not my sanity. Please, Lord. I stopped but didn't dare to look at Alex.

"I used to go to your school," Alex said, approaching me. From the sound of his voice, he was getting nearer and nearer to me. "You don't happen to know a girl named — oh, it's you, Annie-chan!"

I sighed, "I hoped you wouldn't see me."

"I didn't think it would be actually you," Alex laughed, slinging his arm over my shoulder. "We're staying at a hostel nearby. Funny seeing you here. This is out of your way to school."

"I don't care," I said, shrugging his arm away. "I just wanted a muffin and not run into you. You can't have both apparently."

"You didn't get a muffin?" Alex grinned. "I'll walk you to school then."

"No," I snapped, flailing my arms at him. I took a couple of steps away and pointed my finger at him. "YOU. Stay away from me. Leave me in peace."

"Now, now, where's the fun in that?"

"Exactly, there's no fun with you ruining my day. Now get!" I pointed back at the cafe where his friends were watching us amusingly. I turned red at the unwanted attention and made my way, starting a brisk walk going back to school.

~~~

"Valerie," I called out as I spotted her approaching the school gates, "you'd never guess who I'd—" I paused. "How on earth did you get here before me?"

"Morning, ladies," Alex smirked, leaning against the side of the gate. "What a lovely start to a lovely morning, isn't it?"

"Hey," Valerie greeted and just left me alone to talk to Katia, who just arrived. Katia even tried to talk but was pulled away by Valerie.

I felt my eyebrow twitch. "Did you run all the way here?" I asked.

"Pretty much," Alex answered, shrugging nonchalantly as if he was the fastest runner on Earth. "You'd better lose some weight there, Annie-chan. It took you so long to take the shortest route to school from the cafe."

"Fu—," I caught myself mid-curse and calmed myself down. "Don't you have some stupid school activity? Why are you here trying to make my life miserable?"

"Woah, woah, hold on there, Annie," Alex raised his hands. "You think I'm here for you? I got called here by my old friends, and since our 'stupid school activity' starts at ten, I thought, 'Why not?'"

I eyed him suspiciously, but then again, it quite made sense. I wouldn't want to seem desperate, so I just walked away. Suddenly, I was pulled back from the back of my collar. I choked, then stiffened at the fact that Alex was back-hugging me right now.

"Don't worry," Alex whispered in my ear and squeezed me tighter, making the cringe intensify. "I'd still make sure most of my time here will be spent with you."

I couldn't. I just couldn't. There was nothing more I hated in this world than back-hugs. Next to live chickens... and lizards.

"So, it's like that, huh?" Both Katia and Valerie chorused.

"No, it is not," I argued, emphasizing the last word to prove my point.

"We're cute, aren't we?" Alex smiled. "Well, I have to go to some catching up, so see you later." Then he placed a soft kiss on my temple. I shrieked in disgust and swung my arms at him, blushing profusely, then I wiped furiously at my temple where his lips had been.

Valerie and Katia looked bewildered at what had just occurred, while Belle, who was the next one to arrive, just walked past us, but not before she said, "You guys are disgusting," making me laugh.

Trust Belle to be against the romance. Thank you, Belle.