Call It Whatever

Chapter 13

The day of Zac's party, it's pouring rain.

I wake up to the sound of it on the roof. It's raining so hard, it's like the aftermath of a hurricane. Thankfully, it's not. It's just a storm. Just rain, pouring down so hard that it makes me feel lucky that I'm on a mountain. Rain that sounds like a million feet, running back and forth across the roof. Every now and again, thunder rumbles. The soundwaves rattle the entire house, and everytime it does, I sit up instinctively in case it's not thunder. Just in case it's something more dangerous. For example, the dormant volcano that we're on suddenly decides to erupt spontaneously, or we're being bombed.

My phones goes off. I check it. Zac had sent a message to everyone he invited to the party: Curse this rain! It's supposed to stop this afternoon, so we might still go to the beach for the party. If it doesn't, the WBBA gave me permission to have it there. Either way, it'll be fun! I hope to see you all there, wherever we're meeting!

I check the weather forecast. The rain is supposed to let up around two this afternoon. Zac still has hope for his beach party. I really wish he didn't, though. The last thing I want is to go to the beach. But I promised Zac I'd be there, so I don't have a choice.

Curse my commitment! I wish I would've just said I couldn't go.

At least I have the morning to myself.

Suddenly, I get a text from an unfamiliar number. I check it, wondering if it's a spam or scam text. The only thing it says is, hey.

Hey. Who's this? I send back.

Sorry. It's Shinki. I got your number from when we called your phone. I know it's kinda creepy, but I wanted to text you.

That isn't that creepy. The fact he texted me is pretty weird, but the way he got my number is something I suppose I can understand.

Oh. What's up? What else can I send? I don't want to ignore him. He is kind of my friend at this point.

Not much. Rideout is kinda debating on going to Zac's party.

Why?

Gabe says we need to train. Lui wants to go for some reason. Katana wants to go cuz Mick's gonna be there. Kyo says no to going. I'm the deciding vote, I guess.

I know exactly why Lui wants to go. He wants to go because I'm going to be there. I'm not going to tell Shinki that, though. Lui's motives don't need to come into question.

What's your vote? I ask.

Go, obviously. It's a party. I don't wanna train while there's a party going on.

Of course. Why would you wanna train?

I wouldn't.

I crack a smile. So Rideout is going to the party. I should text Quon and ask if he's going to the party. He is my boyfriend, after all. I switch conversations and go to text Quon, but then I hear the door open downstairs.

"Hey! Quon!" I hear Xander yell.

Quon?

Quon!?

I jump out of bed. I'm still in my pajamas, and my hair is still a mess. I don't care. All of the Sword Flames have seen me like this. And Quon is my boyfriend, so he shouldn't mind. The only person who hasn't seen me with messy hair and pajamas is Ren Wu, and I don't care what he thinks of me.

I run downstairs. I nearly trip and fall. Boy would that have been embarrassing. I'm supposed to be the graceful one here.

I make it down the stairs in one piece. Quon turns and looks at me. He's soaking wet, and he shakes out his hair to get some of the water off him. I see him crack a smile when he meets my eyes. He turns away. I can see him blushing.