When Trouble Meets Trouble

[ C h a p t e r - E l e v e n ]

I nodded and she vigorously bobbed her head, her eyes widening slightly. Although the girl is nearly 20 years old, she acts like a five year old sometimes. "We're having a Christmas party, so bring a dress."

"I will!" Mere smiled widely as she nodded her head again. Ms. Antoinette exited the backroom with two gift bags in her hands and a motherly smile on her face.

The sight of the gifts made me smile, instantly shooing the thoughts of Jonah and Waverly aside momentarily. She handed the purple bag to me and the pink one to Mere. I slowly opened mine while Mere ripped hers apart.

I was greeted with the sight of two new video games; one that I went and talked to Ms. Antoinette about how it was supposedly great and had perfect graphics. It also had a gift card to a store in the mall that I was going to use soon. I furrowed my eyebrows as I realized that she gave me two of the same games.

She walked over to me and smiled. "That Jonah boy was eyeing it, figured you weren't one to buy gifts. Consider it a push; it's time you get into another relationship."

I smiled at Ms. Antoinette and nodded. "Thank you, Ms. Antoinette, but I'm not going to be in a relationship with that boy anytime soon."

"Liar," Mere pretended to cough and I glared at her before smiling at Ms. Antoinette.

"Anyway, have a good Christmas and New Year's, Ms. A. I'll see you at the party, Mere," I called as I exited the store, my body shivering slightly as the darkness surrounded me.

***

When I got home, it was 8:30 P.M. and the dance would be ending in an hour and a half. I should've gotten up the guts to ask Jonah as a friend. It's better than sitting at home. I'm sure Ms. A would've let me have the day off if I just asked.

I decided to play my new video game with Jer after I showered and changed into my pajamas. I walked over to my brother's room and knocked on the door. He opened it and gave me a questioning look. I simply held up the game and nodded towards the living room. He nodded excitedly, nearly diving down the stairs. I rolled my eyes. He reminds me of Mere in so many ways. When we got downstairs, I placed the game into the disk holder with a small smile on my face.

Jer tossed me a controller while furrowing his eyebrows. "What's wrong with you?"

"It's nothing," I shrugged, waving a hand carelessly.

When the startup screen came up, I went to click 'Begin Game' but Jer had other thoughts in mind and paused it. I glared at him. "Unpause the game," I demanded. 

"No, not until you tell me what's got you so down in the dumps," he crossed his arms tightly over his chest.

I glared at him for a moment before sighing. "You're infuriating."

"Just tell me and we can start the game," he replied, waving his controller around in the air mockingly.

"It's Jonah," I muttered.

"When is it not?" he murmured.

"Shut up and let me speak," I told him. He nodded his head as if encouraging me to talk. I explained the story to my brother who listened intently, nodding along and muttering, 'wow' and 'you're stupid' occasionally.

My brother scratched the back of his neck before squinting his eyes. "You sure you don't like this guy?"

"I don't like him," I barked while I glared at him. "I just don't want him to be manipulated and hurt by Waverly. Believe it or not, he's a pretty good person."

"You could always invite him to the Christmas party." He told me and I looked at him as if he was insane. I was seriously contemplating whether I should chuck my controller at his head or not.