Being The Player's Neighbour

Chapter 2 - I'm Not Really A Coldhearted Jerk

"So how did your music lesson go today?"

I was lying down and reading a book while Shanaya painted her nails, sitting on her bed in the opposite corner of the room. We never minded sharing a room because both of our stuff is always organised. We even share most of our clothes. We're almost like best friends.

"It was amazing as always, though the ride back wasn't so great."

Shanaya looked up from the toenail she was currently painting. "Why not? Most girls fall in love with Aaron at first sight. I thought you would like him."

"Oh my God! Did you set this up?" I shrieked as I considered the possibility of my sister making a fake excuse and sending Aaron to pick me up.

"I'm not gonna say a word!" The smug smile she gave me pretty much answered my question. She had planned everything, like the schemer that she is.

Since this subject had already been brought up, I decided to use this conversation to my advantage. "How do you know him anyway?"

"I covered for him one time when he messed up, so he owed me."

"Oh. I thought he was another one of your boy-toys." I said, sticking my tongue out. I had lost track of the number of guys Shanaya had dated so far.

"Ugh! No way. He's a senior. You know that I consider dating younger guys a sign of severe desperation."

"Really? He doesn't look like a senior. What school does he go to?"

Shanaya's eyes widened like a Gucci bag had suddenly dropped from the heavens above. "Whoa! You're totally into him, aren't you?"

Her 'I-know-things' look totally made me squirm and so I ended up stammering, even though I didn't think I had any reason to. "N-Noo..."

"Then what's with all the rapid fire questions and why are you hiding your face behind that book?"

"It's an activity that some people do instead of whiling away their spare time; it's called reading. And is it so wrong to try and know more about a guy who's been our neighbour for four years?"

Defensiveness worked exactly the way I wanted it to. Shanaya gave up on teasing me and went back to fussing over her nails.

"Whatever. He goes to your school."

~*~

"Wake up! Aren't you going to get dressed?"

I could hear my mom's voice coming faintly from somewhere. Suddenly, I felt something extremely cold and wet slide down my face and I woke with a start, my hands and legs flailing like a headless chicken.

"Did a snake just slither across my face?"

My mom was laughing so hard at my reaction that all she was able to do was hold up an ice cube as explanation. My mom could be so childish sometimes.
I realised that I had dozed off half way through reading the book.
I just pretended that the incident never happened and instead asked her, "Get dressed for what?"

Finally when she got her laughter under control she replied, "The dinner with your father's new clients. You, as expected, seem to have forgotten. It's tonight at eight."

I looked over at the clock on my bedside table; it was seven p.m. I had just about enough time.

"I'm sorry, it totally slipped my mind but I'll be ready in time."

"It's okay. Wear something fancy, it's a formal occasion."

I nodded and got to work, rifling through all the clothes in my closet. Soon enough I found exactly what I was looking for. I lay out the red halter dress on my bed and went for a shower.