Find me

Chapter 17

Weekends were over now. We had to spend the rest of the weekend at the beach. None of them talked about Luke or Dorian or anyone else. After Saturday night there was no more party, no hangouts, nothing, there were just two of us - me and Laura.
I went to the canteen where Laura was already waiting for me at her usual table. Aria and Eliza were across her. "Good morning sunshine" Laura, Aria and Eliza said at the same time. I saw Dorian's friends at another table next to Aria. But he wasn't there with them. I looked away.
"Morning guys" I replied and smiled and then head to the counter.
A woman with bob-cut hair takes the order. I order a veg sandwich and chocolate milkshake. The women pout when I order a chocolate milkshake "Sorry miss this is the last one" the woman said and handed a glass of chocolate milkshake to someone else who was standing beside her. I didn't notice that there was someone next to me. I turned, it was Dorian in his blue denim jacket underneath there is a black T-shirt paired with black jeans but he didn't glance towards me. His gaze was on another side. So, he is just ignoring me. I looked away, a little annoyed. He behave like he didn't know me like he never talked to me at the beach on Saturday night like he didn't know who am I. It's like I never exist for him. Why does he act like this?
"But I want it, can you please make another one for me, please" I pleaded. But the woman shrugged, "Sorry miss, you can order something else".

I frowned. I was about to leave when Dorian slides his glass of milkshake toward me on the counter. Before I realise anything, he turned on his heel and went back to his friends. I turned to stop him but he already sat down next to Gloria. She smiled at him and he smiled back.
Jealousy tears through me - my punishment for looking at him.
I looked away, grabbed my sandwich and milkshake and went back to my seat next to Laura.
Dorian and Gloria were sitting right in my line of sight. I can see Dorian's face through the space between Aria and Eliza's shoulders. His hair was perfectly messed up, but I don't care. I don't care how both of them sit together, almost touching each other.
I gulp my drink, trying hard not to be annoyed by them. I was surprised by my thoughts and my anger toward Gloria, but it's true. And I don't like her at all. She is bitch.
Laura cleared her throat, staring at me, of course, she knew what was I thinking, thanks to her superpower. So, I dropped my gaze from them and take another sip of my milkshake.
"Have you seen Eric?" Laura asked Aria and Eliza, trying to distract me.
"Nope" Aria replied
"Me neither" Eliza replied.
Laura sighed.
"Hey Alice, did you enjoy your weekend," Eliza asked
"Yeah... yeah, that was fun, thanks to Laura" I replied. I didn't glance in his way, but I imagine Gloria's closeness towards him. Maybe he liked her too. My emotions are running high and loud from being around him and the way he's with Gloria. Why am I thinking so much? I don't care what they are doing. I don't give a shit with whom he's been hanging around, after all, they all are his friends. He always be with them, so what's the big deal.
Laura cleared her throat once again, this time she looked a little annoyed too.
'God! Stop reading my mind I thought, And Laura looked away.
His skinny friend, he must be Leo, whisper something in his ear which make him smile. I rarely see him smiling. How beautifully he smiles.
Aria's eyes widen as she saw something weird. I followed her gaze, Luke was coming towards us. Anger start bubbling inside me, but I tried not to let it show.
Laura took my hand and squeeze them "Calm down, Alice" she whispered.
"Hey everyone" he greeted and stood next to us. But I couldn't lift my gaze at him.
"Alice, Can I talk to you for a second?" he asked, his voice feeling a little uncomfortable. "Please" he added when I didn't reply to him. He says again "Please, Alice".
"Ok! Speak up" I replied with a sneer.
He swallowed "There is some misunderstanding between us which I want to clear out".
I lifted my head "Really? And what was that?".
His hair was messy and flopping across his forehead. "I know I shouldn't have to ask you for a kiss" he trailed off, then raked his hand through his messy hair "But trust me, I won't let you kiss me if you had come closer to me, then I wouldn't let you trust me".
I didn't reply. Laura is looking at me, waiting for me to speak something, but I don't know what to say.
"But before I had stopped you, you just .... You know?" he said, a little embarrassed.
For the first time, I caught Dorian's gaze on me, my heart start pounding harder, feeling a familiar jolt in my stomach. Leo had said something and everyone bursts into laughter except him. His gaze was still on us, lips disappeared into a thin line as he tried to find out what was going on here.
"Alice?" Laura called.
I dropped my gaze and looked back at Luke. His expression was remorseful "Sorry for hurting you. But I want to ask you something" he said
"What?"
"Who are you ?" he asked, his expression had turned serious, and his eyes had lost their warmth.
"What do you mean?" I quickly asked.
"You're the first one who hasn't been affected by my compulsion".
I sharply turned toward him and decided what to ask next. I opened her mouth but then close it.
"What do you mean?" Laura asked instead of me.
"I don't know. I had done it possibly on every person but none of them has been able to break it. But Alice, you're the first one, God, I still don't believe it" he shrugged.
I caught Dorian's eyes on me once again, as he listened to everything. His expression changed, and I didn't understand the way he was looking at me. He narrowed his eyebrows when Luke sit next to me. I wanted to push him away but I wait instead. I wanted to see more about how Dorian would react. I knew, how immature and silly this thing is, but this was the first time when Dorian look at me. And I wanted to see more, that does it make any effect on him when I sit next to any other boy.
I blew a stray strand of hair from my eyes and glowered at Luke "Maybe you hadn't used that well".
"Of course not" he winced "You're more than you think of yourself".
"Now you misunderstood me, I'm nothing. I must say there was some problem when you tried your trick on me" I said, half chuckled.
He shakes his head "Come on, don't hide".
"Whoa Alice.. you have your little secret thing, but you didn't tell us, that's bad," Eliza said, smirking.
"Shut up, Eliza" Laura snapped. And Eliza rolled his eyes.
I didn't reply.
"So?" Luke asked
"What?"
"Do you forgive me"
I wait for a moment and then smile "But if you ever try this again on me, I swear I'll break your face".
He laughed "Ok, I'll always keep this in my mind, don't worry", a tinge of relief creeping into his voice.
My eyes dart to Dorian. He clenched his jaw, staring at me or maybe at Luke with blazing eyes. I want to look away but I can't. I caught in his gaze as Luke lifts his arm and rest it on the back of my chair, directly behind me.
Dorian's eyes go wide but he quickly recovers. His palm turned into a fist.
Gloria whispered something in his ear and he dropped his gaze. She brushes Dorian's hair back off his forehead and holds his hand. I blinked and look away. If I have a choice to get rid of someone at once. I would like to kill her.
"Mind if I have a sip?" Luke asked, but grabs my glass before I answer. I let him drink out of my glass, which I was usually against. Everything is so confusing right now that I can't think straight. He gulps down half of my drink and I nudge him.
"Sorry, love. I'll bring another one for you" he said smoothly.
"No, it's fine, I don't want another one" I replied.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded "Yeah"
I could see everyone's smirk, even Laura too but I didn't react.
I gape again at Dorian but his seat is vacant now, he was gone. But his friends were still there, even Gloria too, talking and laughing. 'Where the hell he goes?'

Laura cleared her throat once again, of course, she knew now what was I thinking "Let's go to the class now" Laura announced.
Everyone stood up and headed to the classroom. But I was still looking at him here and there like he was hiding somewhere. But he was nowhere.