MARSHMALLOWING OUR WAYS

CHAPTER 4: WESLEY

"Wes? Is that you?"

Elena. She is home. I reply,"No. It's my twin brother who was killed by you at the age of one,"

Elena glares at me. Then laughs hysterically, answering to my sarcasm, "What makes you think I won't kill you too?"

I freeze in my spot. My sister is savage. Totally opposite to her personality known to her fans. They should know the treatment she gives me. This is so unfair.

"Why are you home?", I ask, sitting beside her on the couch.

She side-eyes me. "Well, for starters, this is my home too. Also, I, um, need your help..."
Oh. I know that phrase too well. "Let me guess. You need fashion advice for your blog?"

She nods innocently.

My sister is famous. Quite famous. She had started a blog in her freshman year, Elly Likes to Bake!, which had grown rapidly since she revealed herself on camera. Since I have met or to be precise dated enough cheerleaders, I give a good advice on what to wear, how to wear, when to wear. Whereas, Elena is not good on the fashion part. She has perfect features, like Mom and I, but she doesn't know how to make the good of them.

Enter me. When she came to know that I am a fashion expert, she came to me, and has been contacting me ever since.

Focusing on the topic in hand, I ask her what she needs advice on.

"Okay... So I want a sporty look that makes me look good not sweaty. You get me?"

Perfectly well. Having the perfect look in my head I ask her, " What do you have?"

Looking at her reflection, Elena smiles beautifully. She meets my eyes through the mirror, and compliments me shamelessly.

"Thank you, little baby brother."

"Anytime," I mutter, though my brain is not in the conversation.

The whole time I was helping Elena, my thoughts were focused elsewhere, on Cassie. My hands are itching to give her a makeover. She has features, really pretty features, that are hidden. But it feels like she wants to be hidden. Why?

She had been snarky and sarcastic with me the whole time. But it was something, I believe, she didn't do often. As if it was her first time talking to someone that way in a long time.

Why?

She feels complicated. Like a mixture of emotions. Like an equation.

Why?

What made her that equation?

It gives me a headache. I was able to solve anything that exists but I can't solve her. 

Why can't I solve her?

I need to solve her. Or I won't be able to sleep. Yes, I'm a jock. A quarterback. A guy girls go mad after. But there's a hidden side.

A side I can't let anyone see. The side that makes me a geek. A nerd.

That side loves to learn, to study. It loves to design, to draw, to enhance something's beauty. The side that is not goofy or popular, but shy and friendless and hidden. That side cannot be revealed. That side, the side that makes me me, can ruin me.

***
"Earth to Wesley!"

I snap back into reality. Cassie is staring at me as if expecting an answer.

"Yeah?"

"Pass me the straws,"

"Oh?Huh?Oh. Yeah."

I pass her the straws. Then, at that moment, I realise that she is not wearing her normal style. She has a bit of color, a brightness in her comparer to  the last time I saw her.

"Hey. What happened to-"

"Wesley! Help me!" Elena comes rushing, red from running hard and fast, her hair all over her face. "Baby bro!" gasp. "I need a party look." gasp. "Tell me what to do!" gasp. "FAST!"

I glance around, my face burning. No one heard Elena except for Cassie, who is giving me confused and smug looks. OH GOD.
Knowing my sister, if I don't help her, she'll probably shout at me, loud enough a volcano may erupt.

"Details. Big sister, details."

She shows me all the details on her phone. I consider it for a moment and give her all the help I can.

An hour later, she leaves, grinning ear to ear.

Seeing her leave, I shake my head with a smile on my face. My sister. She's twenty three, but she acts as if she's younger than me.

As soon as Elena is out, Cassie bursts into laughter. I look at her and see that she's shaking from laughter.

Angrily, I ask, "What's so funny?"

She laughs harder. That makes me blush harder.

"You give your sister fashion advices "

"So?"

Seeing the offense obvious on my flustered face, she explains, "Nothing. Just that... Well you just don't look like the guy to give your sister fashion advices. You look like you don't even know what a tank-top is. "

I duck my head and mutter shamelessly,"I know what a tank top is. "

Finally noticing how embarrassed I am, she stops laughing. Thank God." Of course you do!"

I grunt. Hard.

"Why are you  so obsessed with making fun of me? Is that a new way of flirting?"

She snorts."Yeah, right!" Sarcasm level? Infinity.

I duck my head and move away from her, obviously humiliated.

After the work was done, I sighed.

"Hey, Wesley?"

I turn around to see Cassie, red in her face, her head ducked.

"Yeah?" I ask full of curiosity.

"Um, Wes? I was wondering, uh, if I could, um, you know, get your number or something, 'cause, like, we are, like, coworkers now and , um, we are going to be together for like a month or two and, uh, we need to, like , bond?", She stammered with an uncertainity as if she's not sure if that is what she wants.

I blink up at her, obviously surprised as hell.
I consider for a moment and then I give her my number, as knowing her will make her easy to be solved.

On my way to home, I decide that Cassie is a mystery, but she will not remain that way for long.

I'll solve her.