Dusting Off A Heart

Chapter 10

“What the hell, Dane?!” Cote said as he uses his hands to bring himself up.

“So you suddenly like her? Just after I told you about her?” He crossed his arms on his chest, showing his tanned well-built arms. “So much for a friend, Cottilard.” He looked right into Cote eyes –soul probably with his accusing golden eyes, and his furrowed eyebrows.

But Cote knows him too well to be scared.

Cote, however, was taken aback by his friend’s statement. Dane is usually cared-free about whatever happens to his so called partners --or anything else for that matter.

The only thing he cared for is just his soccer.

“Wait…” Cote ponders to himself for a moment, squinting his eyes. “Were you jealous?” A smile broke on his face.

Dane shot his eyebrows up and untangled his hands. His mouth is gaped a little, ready to shot some excuses that Cote wouldn’t believe.

“Of course not!” He furrowed his eyebrows again, his eyes avoiding Cote’s gaze. “Why should I?”

“Oh, I don’t know…” Cote steps forward, trying to crumble Dane’s pride. Dane stood his ground and crossed his arms again. “Maybe because you like her…” Cote smirks.

They were toes to toes. If people don’t know any better, they would think that these two boys were about to brawl and open the new season of wrestling.

“What?! No!” His eyes avoiding Cote’s gaze, who’s filled with amusement. “You’re hallucinating, Cote.” He said as he plopped down to the couch and picked up his Xbox controller.

“You’re in denial, brother.” Cote chuckles as he mirrored Dane’s action.

“I-am-not-in-denial.” Dane said emphasizing every word, his eyes glued on the TV screen, continuing their previous game.

“That’s what people in denial said, Dany boy.”

And maybe Cote was right. Maybe he was in denial. But he hasn’t realize it yet. Or won’t.

~'~

It was Tuesday already. Yesterday she was busy practicing for the competition, and now she has to work behind the counter until 9 pm.

So far, nothing interesting happened, except when Aaron visited the store again with his 5 years-old sister, asking where the row of cereal is.

“How come you didn’t know an inhaler?” She opened the conversation when Cote leaves his sister alone to pick her cereal.

“I know! But I panicked, and you know, sometimes when you’re panicked, it shuts downs some part of your brain.”

Lauren shot her eyebrows up. “Oh really? I don’t know there’s such thing.” She thinks it’s just a mere excuse.

“That’s why I told you.” He proudly held his chin up.

Lauren rolled her eyes, “Okay, whatever”, she said with amusement lingered on her tone.

“Hi Luuren, here’s the cereal.”  A squeaked voice said.

“Hi Poppy! How are you?” Lauren said as she scans the cereal.

“I'm fine, thanks." A smile broke on her freckled face.

“Good to hear.” Lauren smile sincerely at the little girl. Her hearts warms at the sight of the much better little darling.

“Oh and Lauren I heard you’re going to have Cote as study partner..?” Aaron asked her with his eyebrows up.

“Well, yeah…Is there something wrong?”

“Welp, no, not really…” Aaron scratch the back of his head. “It’s just Cote is the, as you know, part of the cool kids pack, and every single fan of his will know that you’re his study partner, they get jealous…”

“And?” said Lauren waiting for Aaron continue his chatter.

“And…they’ll hate you, and possibly try to kill you.”

Lauren is taken aback by Aaron’s remark.

“I know how girls could play bad to get what they want…But trying to kill me? Those girls don’t know how to pick up a spatula, much less a knife. Don’t worry Aaron. I got a light saber in my house.” Lauren whispered the last part with amusement lingered on her voice.

Aaron scoffed. “Of course you do.

“They’ll probably try to poisoned you or something though, so watch out for glowing-weird-gooey-stuff, okay?”

Lauren rolled her eyes and smiled. “Okay.”