The Wallflower and the Prankster

Chapter Twelve: Nutella Popcorn and Tears

Alazne

I had a fresh start…well I almost did. No one knew who I was at Brickwell Heights, so I could rebuild myself. Of course, the universal fact still stands: old habits die hard. The first day was a standard, get-to-know-everyone-day. Of course, since it was half way through the semester, everyone had their own little groups. Joshua fit right in with gaining a historyish-rumour of skimming through girlfriends like tissue.

          Joshua later explained that it was just a rumour of him hitting on a couple of seniors. He was and will be single for most of the time being Reynard.  He even made me promise to stop his relationships with other girls at the school. Just my luck.

          Joshua or rather….Reynard is arrogant that it makes me want to avoid him as much as possible. Not that it affects the whole cat-and-mouse chase between us. Reynard was like Joshua’s alter ego, but of course by the time we get home. Joshua is back to normal.

          As for my parents, I get to call them every weekend on the phone

          Josh cringed, licking the Nutella off the spoon. “Is it expired?” I asked, sliding onto the couch with a bowl of popcorn. Beatrice was strict but gave nice rewards, which still doesn’t justify her bossiness—claimed Josh.

          “Not even close. It ran out.”

          “Sucks for you,” I sang, going for the remote.

          “It sucks for both of us, actually. Without it we can’t have Nutella popcorn.”

          I coughed at his answer. Nutella popcorn, is he serious? My arm covering my mouth, I tried to dismiss the urge of gagging. The thought of anything other than butter on popcorn did that—it shouldn’t be possible.

          “It’s not bad,” he said. “I’ll prove it.”

          “I doubt it.” I snorted.

          “Alana, pop two popcorn in your mouth.” He moved on the sofa’s armrest. “And close your eyes.” I hesitated before doing as told. What could I lose? Something put pressure on my lips, and my eyes popped open. The taste of Nutella was left as an aftertaste.   “Now lick your lips and devour the popcorn.”

          I accidentally already devoured the popcorn in shock. My eyes wide open, I tried to seem calm. My whole body heated up at the memory of the kiss. “Why’d you do that?”

          “How else did you expect you to taste it, I scraped all the Nutella beforehand. Does it taste good?”

          “Why’d you kiss me?”

          Josh gave a crooked smile, and leant off the armrest and moved beside me. I shifted away from him, trying to keep my poker face on. Josh’s hand moved to my hair and began playing with a strand of my side bangs. “I felt like it, besides you can’t expect Reynard not to snag a kiss already, right?”

          I had an urge to hit Josh or Reynard…whatever he called himself. “Even when you’re acting, your ego grows.”

          “You know what also grows?” He inched closer, his arm on the headrest, just above my shoulder, “our love.” Right after he said that, laughter crossed his lips and he plopped his back on his seat. His arms around his stomach, I grit my teeth.

          “Would you stop acting like Reynard now? You are really getting on my nerves.” I stood up on my feet. The popcorn bowl fell upside down on the carpeted floor.  I held back a curse, and quickly knelt down to pick up the popcorn.