Nameless

Chapter 8: Surprise!

Three weeks. Three weeks into the summer and I had already put on 4 kgs. Lovely. But I can't deny that I wasn't enjoying myself. Late nights and lazy mornings; watching movie after movie; no summer work AT ALL; and the mangoes were almost here! This was definitely the pinnacle of my extremely  short life. Then, of course, I contemplated that a spun myself down in a dizzying spiral of self-doubt. Sixteen. Sixteen years I had spent on this planet, and what had I for it? You had fun. said the tiny voice in my head- and for once, I listened to it. Life was great! I was alive, healthy and almost happy. This year, things were going to change. No more self-doubt, because, well, let's face it- I was awesome. Resolution for the new year? Don't let anything bogg me down.

As I lazed around that wednesday mid-morning, my phone went off- it was a message from Sahil. We lived close to eachother, and had met a few times in the past weeks. I thought he was going to ask to meet again soon, but I was wrong. He wanted to meet right then. "Urgent. Need to meet ASAP. Call me!" The message read. Well, hell. I dialed his number while peering into my closet.

"Hello?" his groggy voice sounded on the other end of the line, finally.

"Hey Sahil. What's up? What's the emergency?" I asked, trying very hard to keep my tone neutral- kind of hard while trying to wiggle, sqiggle and jump into a pair of skinny jeans.

"E-emergency? whaaa?" He asked, he had definitely just woken up.

"Did I just wake you?" I asked. stopping mid- zip.

"Yeah. Yah callme righhnaaaw. I wazzaving lovely dream... Scarlette Johansson..." He mumbled, breathing into the phone, the words merging together.

"Gah. Sorry, man. Bye!" I said, pulling up the zipper only a little higher. I took the phone from my ear, ended the call and threw it onto my bed. I huffed and then sucked in my gut with all my strength. I pulled the zipper up and quickly buttoned the damn thing, all the while holding my breath. When I let it go, I could feel the waistband pinching my skin. I growled- how perfectly perfect. I was fatter than ever. I went and stood in front of my mirror- looking at my body form all possible angles. "Hell, I'm ugly." I thought.

No. None of that. You are beautiful, no matter your size. said the sensible me.

"Well, not really. People only say that cause they're too lazy to work out for the body they want." I replied.

So you're too lazy? What about your height? Working out gonna help that?

"I do work out!"

Pffffft. Please. half a crunch and a five minute jog don't count.

"Your face doesn't count."

Real mature.

"Ohhhh, bite me!" I stormed away from the mirror, and plopped onto my bed. I picked up my phone and checked the messages again. Oh wow. It wasn't form Sahil- it was from Anika. Well, this was something. I hadn't spoken to her since Aanchal's party. I debated over it for a while- and I realised it could talk to her. Maybe. So, I texted her back.

"Hey. What's up?" It read. not two minutes later she replied.

"Can we meet? Shouldn't say this over the phone."  she asked.

"Not today, quite busy. Just tell me."

"This week?"

"Nope. Sorry."

"Can I come over? Please, this is important."

"Fine. Today at 2"

"Cool, cya then!"

"Bye." I hit the send key so hard it sent a shock through my hand. "GAH! She's SO frustrating!" I yelled, to no one in particular.

I decided to watch the new episode of The Vampire Diaries, until Anika arrived.

5 minutes to 2 she came, looking fabulous as usual. She chit-chatted with my mum ("We haven't seen you in so long, Anika!" "I know Aunty, it feels like I'm coming home...!" Pfffft.) for ages and then finally came to my room. I know all of this because I was listening at my door, and when I heard her come up, I quickly jumped into bed.

"Hey Ayrah..." She said, timidly poking her head around the door.

"Hey Anika. Come in." I kept my tone flat and my face stony. I closed my laptop and pushed it aside, making room for her on my bed.

"I wanted to ask you something..." She began, getting straight to the point, as usual.

"Ask then." I said, half-shrugging.

"Do you still like Manan?"

My voice caught in my throat. She was not going to- she wouldn't- she wasn't that low. I- No.

"Ayrah? Do you?" she wore a worried face.

YES. Yes I still like him! And even if I didn't by law you cannot go out with him. you cannot. don't ask me this Anika, please. I thought desperately. I cleared my throat and looked to the side, "Uh... Why?"

"Well... He and I have been talking. And... gosh, I wasn't supposed to say anything... but..."

I knew it. I knew what was coming.

"Just spit it out Anika." I nearly growled. I wanted this to get over.

"Okay... He likes you. and he wants to ask you out, but he's scared you'll turn him down. Expecially since you haven't replied to any of his messages since Aaanchal's party." She started. She spoke more fiercely and quicker when she saw me glare. "We both know why; you saw us dancing. LOOK," she said very loudly to interrupting me from interrupting her. "Sorry, okay? There's nothing else to say. I knew you liked him, I shouldn't have done that. And he liked you, and he shouldn't have. But we were both drinking," I wrinkled my nose, and she half-smiled, "and it happened. He thought you didn't like him cause that's what you said."

"Oh. Okay." I replied, my head spinning. 

"Okay what? Okay, you understand? Okay, we're forgiven? Okay, you'll go out with him? Okay, you'll talk to me again?" She questioned, firing them all at once.

"Okay. Just, okay." I replied. I was really confused.

"Ayrah..." She said reaching for my hand. I pulled it back, nearly hissing at her.

"Don't." I warned. We sat in silence. Just when things were going so well. I thought wistfully.

"Okay, well I've stuff to do so... I'll see you later." I said, getting off the bed and heading towards the door. I opened it and stood by it, gesturing for her to leave.

"What do I tell him?" She asked, more stony than she should be.

"Tell him to ask me himself, and then I'll give him an answer." I replied, matching her tone, and glaring slightly.

"He's a good guy, but he wont wait forever." She warned.

"If he really likes me, he wont send others to ask on his behalf. He would grow a pair and do it himself. take that risk." I said, walking down the hall to the main door.

"Bye, Ayrah." She said as she stepped out in the the hall.

"Goodbye, Anika." I said, closing the door behind her.

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A/N: Sorry for waiting sooo long before updating, and sorry this is a relaly short chapter. Hoping to update more regularly now... This chapter goes out to heyitsana cause she motivated me to actually write today, by saying that she missed my updates on this story! thanks! =) I woudn't be writing if it weren't for you! (I might have done well in my tenth boards, but who cares? =P)