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CHAPTER 15 – Something
** COUTNEY’s POV **
“Ok, here we go. There’s no way that I’d back out and chicken out right now. I put too much effort to this. There’s no turning back.” I was talking to myself, again. I’ve been doing a lot of musing audibly lately and there’s no other person to blame for my unusual attitude than Chad Treyson himself.
I take a look at myself at the rear view mirror of my car, probably my twentieth time, to examine myself. I was here in front of the Treyson’s residence not knowing my real purpose for this surprise visit.
Last night, Chad had decided to ignore me, purposely. I guess he was just being true to his words of cutting the connections between the two of us. Yeah, that was probably the consequence of me being a scaredy-cat.
Who would have thought, huh, that the geek had it in him for being the hard-to-get type?
Now, now, Courtney. There’s no need to take it on to the geek. We both know that he wasn’t playing hard-to get. It happens that… he’s just not that into you.
Great. Even the inside-me was opposing its owner. Should I have a mind of my own where in it will agree to my every decision?
No, honey. That’s insanity and I am here for logic.
Big damn to that freakin’ logic!
Okay. There’s no need to stress myself. I have to dig deeper into my thoughts in order to find my real purpose here. Yeah, the real purpose of my visit is to make sure that the deal was still intact. The connection between the two of us was still unbroken.
I have to do this, for the sake of my high school diploma.
Yeah, keep telling yourself that.
And there she goes again, my logical self was mocking me. Great!
I deliberately ignore the voice inside my head that has been constantly taunting me. It will do me no good. It will just continue to heighten the anxiety I was feeling at this very moment.
For distraction, I gave a quick look at myself to examine my outfit, a plain white tank top and red plaid skirt. As much as I hate matching it with black cardigan and red flat ballet shoes, I still will myself to do so. Because the last time I tried to impress Treyson with my own version of desirability he just interprets it as promiscuity.
But now, I really think that this is appropriate for my visit. I kind of covered the right amount of skin so that I will not look like a girl doing a photo-shoot for a pornographic magazine, as what Chad had cited.
Okay, I'm all set. I stepped out of the car and walked-in in front of Treyson's modern house. What a lovely house he got here. I rang the bell and when the front door finally opened, I wear the sweetest smile on my face and greeted the person in front of me.
"Good afternoon. I'm Courtney Collins, Chad's friend. Is he home?"
“Good afternoon, Courtney.” A women on her mid-thirties greeted back. “I’m Chad’s mom, Rebecca, and yes he’s home. Come inside, dear.” She motioned me to come in. I couldn’t help but notice the way she smiled at me, it was sweet and very welcoming, not to mention, very contagious that it made me smile at her direction as well.
“You can sit here. I’ll just call him.” She shot me another warm smile before she left me in their receiving area.
I scanned the place and couldn’t help myself but be impress at the interior of their house. It’s modern and classy. You wouldn’t think that a guy like Chad Treyson, the wonder geek, lives in a place like this.
I was busy taking in the beauty of the house that I didn’t notice a little girl standing in front of me. I literally jolt up in surprise when I saw her looking at me with amusement written all over her face. As what I remembered, she was the girl who’s Chad with at the mall.
“You’re the witch.” She said, trying to suppress her giggle.
Yeah, she’s definitely the girl in the mall, who blatantly accused me of being the witch in Chad’s bedtime stories. I will seriously strangle that guy with my very own hands!
“Hello, little girl.” I greeted her with a smile.
“I’m not little girl. My name is Cindy.” She corrected. I couldn’t help but laugh at her retort. She definitely got that attitude from Treyson.
“Yes, I know. We met at the mall, right? I’m Courtney. You can call me Courtney, not witch.”
“But Chaddy said that you’re the witch.” She insisted. For some unknown reason, instead of being irritated, I just laughed at this one. I couldn’t help it. The little girl is giving me her one-tooth-missing grin, and I really think that she looks adorable.
“And sometimes Chaddy is wrong.”
“Like the time he told me that it will not rain but then it did rain all day?”
“Yes, like that.”
She looked at me for a few more seconds; her nose was scrunched clearly thinking about something. Maybe she was trying to decide if she’ll give in to my request, and then just like that, she finally made up her mind. “Is it okay if I ask Chaddy first?”
“What are you going to ask, Cindy?” A familiar voice came from my behind that made me turned around and immediately look for its owner. And there he was, standing feet away from me, Chad Treyson.
He looked different in this angle. He was wearing a shirt that defined that kind of body, that I don’t know he possessed. His hair was disheveled in a fashionably manner, and there was something else, something that made my heart flutter by just looking at him.
I was standing there, shock filled my every feature, unable to utter a single word. Is it just me or Chad really looked hot today?
“Chaddy! Chaddy!” The voice of Cindy saved me from my gawking. I don’t know how long I was looking at him, but I think it was long enough for him to interpret it that I was checking out on him!
He was looking at me, confusion written all over his face. His attention shifted from me to his sister upon the mentioning of his name. “What is it, Cindy?” He asked the little girl, completely ignoring my presence.
“Chaddy! Can I call her Courtney?” Cindy pleaded. Chad averted his look away from the girl and caught mine.
“You can call her whatever you want, Cindy.” The look on Chad’s face was unexplainable. It was a mixture of confusion and irritation.
What did I do now to deserve that kind of look! I certainly wear the proper clothes this time!
"Chad, honey, you didn't mention that you were having a friend over. I should’ve prepared a special meal today." His Mom came out from his behind.
"What are you doing here, Collins?" He finally spoke and giving me a scrutinizing stare. For a second there, I was speechless, I was caught off guard. My intentions for being at his house suddenly flew out of my head.
I felt everyone’s eyes on me. They’re all waiting for my answer. Why was I here anyway? I asked myself, hoping to get an answer. And then just like that, an idea came into my brilliant mind.
“What? You mean you don’t remember your promise? We’re having a quiz in Algebra on Monday. And you volunteered to tutor me, right?” I tried to enlighten him with something he clearly doesn’t have any idea with. You wouldn’t miss the puzzled look on his face.
"What are you talking about?" He slowly inquired. The creases on his forehead were starting to form visibly.
This is so not good. He was obviously rejecting me. If I don’t think a good come back right now, I might end up standing in front of their front yard, facing my embarrassing defeat.
We wouldn’t want that to happen now, would we?
"Chad. Short term memory, huh?” I tried to clear up the tension. “Yesterday you just told me that if I'm having a hard time with my subjects, I can come to you and you'd be glad to tutor me anytime." I finished my sentence with a grin.
"Honey.” His Mom cooed. “You're so kind to offer tutoring for a friend in need. Sharing your knowledge to others is a good thing you know.” Mrs. Treyson gave Chad a proud look and patted his shoulder before she turned to my direction. “So Courtney dear, I know math is a little bit challenging and it’ll be a long day of studying. So why don't you stay for dinner?"
Aww. Isn't she the sweetest?
I smiled at her, I couldn’t help it! Her smile was very contagious indeed. But on the other side, Chad was giving me the opposite kind of feeling. Just by watching him, it seems like a vein will be popping out of his head anytime!
"Mom. She's not staying. She's leaving. She’s definitely joking about this, right?" By the look on his face, he was asking me to agree with him. But I’m being stubborn at the moment and leaving is definitely not listed in my plan.
"Yes, Mrs. Treyson. I’d love to stay for dinner. Thank you so much for the offer. Math will definitely cost a lot of time." I smiled sweetly at her. I then turned my attention to Chad and gave him my winning grin.
This is definitely a payback for purposely ignoring me last night, hah!
"I'm glad you're staying for dinner." She replied. She shifted her stare to Chad and reprimanded him. "As for you Chad Andrew Treyson, this is not the proper way to talk to a girl. You promised her that you'd tutor her-"
"But ---" Chad interrupted.
"No buts mister! You should go upstairs and tutor her!" Very well said Mrs. T. You definitely deserve a winning clap.
"Fine! Let's go. Follow me." Chad submitted in defeat.
“Mommy! Can I go with Chaddy and his friend?” I heard Cindy ask as I follow Chad walking upstairs.
“I’m sorry Honey but they’ll be studying. But you can help me with dinner if you want?”
“Yes!”
That was the last thing that I heard from them as Chad and I continued to climb up the stairs. The trip to his room was very unsettling. His stance was screaming danger. He was definitely pissed-off and irritated.
Why? Was it because of the surprise visit? Or the fact that he just doesn’t want me here.
I was busy with my train of thoughts that I didn’t realize that we’re already at the front door of his room not until I bumped into his back.
“Ouch!” I complained. He turned around and looked at me.
“Let me guess, you’re here because ---”
I didn’t let him finish his accusation, instead, I answered to his query right away. “Because I’m really terrible at math.”
“You’re terrible at everything.” He simply concluded. For some weird and unfathomable reason, it left a pang in my heart. I looked away feeling a little bit hurt at his words.
What did I do again to deserve this?
You blew your chance of being at his good side for ditching him yesterday.
Yeah, that, how could I forgot, huh?
“Fine. No need to be snarky about this. I’m going.” Not being the drama-queen or whatsoever, but I couldn’t just stand here and hear him cite all the wrong in me. I have my logical side to do that, and the last thing or should I say person that I wanted to emphasize those traits of mine was Chad.
I should have thought that this was an awful idea. The guy was clearly pissed at my behavior these past few days and I shouldn’t expected him to be warm and comforting by just showing up and lying about the tutor thing.
But was it wrong for me to hope that he was different? That somehow, if he heard the desperation in my voice for this tutoring thing, he might forget my stubborn self and just go with the flow.
But I screwed up, and I shouldn’t take advantage of his kindness. He didn’t do anything wrong. It was my entire fault. Me and my stupid in-denial stage of attraction.
I turned my heel and take a good one step away from him before I felt an arm wrapped around my waist, as if reprimanding me not to go.
I felt my back pressed at Chad’s chest. My heart was beating furiously at his bold move! God knows how thankful I was for not facing Chad’s direction. I feared for the moment that if he does, he might see the crimson color painted all over my face.
“If you go, my Mom will ground me for making you leave, mistreating a girl and more importantly, for ruining her dinner.” He said, slowly, and his voice was enough to send those funny shivers down to my spine.
I sincerely hoped that he couldn’t hear the loud thumping of my chest, because if he does, oh I will definitely crawl at the nearest hole and plan to live there for the rest of my embarrassing life!
Before I could say anything, I saw his free hand reached for his doorknob and turned it, making the door open. And there revealed his room. I felt his other hand slowly unwrapped me as he gave me a slight push, making me enter his room in an instance.
I don’t know what to feel as I enter this guy’s room. I had invaded a guy’s room before, Troy’s, and this room was way way different from Troy’s. Chad’s room was very neat and organized. Did I mention neat and organized? I haven't seen a guy's room as tidy and well kept as this!
I looked around taking in the interior of my surrounding; his room was very spacious, big enough for an average kid like him. A modernized furniture painted in mustard and red, grey colored walls, books properly placed in the shelves, tidy study table and creased-free bed. Overall, it looked nice, too nice for a guy.
I was starting to think that this guy’s really gay. Aside from the fact that he claimed that he wasn’t attracted to me, despite my desperate attempts for him to like me, and the fact the he was the president of the Drama Club which I highly considered as very girly, his room was freakin’ neat and organized!
Ok I said neat and organize too much and it’s kinda annoying!
Seriously, was I attracted to…
"So you think my room is queer, do you?" His question wasn’t actually a question after all. It was more of an accusation. How can a guy like him read my thoughts so easily? “I also bet, with all my life, that you think I was gay.”
I turned around, so quickly that I almost lost my balance. “What? What makes you think that I thought of that.” I tried to lied, but my voice was betraying me.
"Well I'm gay."
My eyes widened with shock at his sudden confession! "What? What the hell Chad Treyson!” I shrieked! “I knew it! I knew you were gay and seeing your room confirmed it! So that’s the reason why you don't like me at all despite my vigorous attempt of ---“ I stopped as I heard his hearty laugh.
"And you’re laughing because?" I asked, annoyed, as I draw my folded arms to my chest waiting for him to answer.
I saw him brace his arm to a nearby table as he tried to control his laugh. I like it, that he was laughing at me again, but irritated at the fact that I had no chance with him because he preferred the opposite gender of me!
"Look.” He started. I was still pissed at him, who wouldn’t, right? “First of all, I'm not gay. I was just teasing you. You should have seen your face. Priceless!"
I just gave him a disbelieving look. Although contrary to what I was acting, I really felt relieved the moment he said that he was just teasing me. But I wasn’t gonna let him off the hook for playing with me, he should pay for the game he started. "I don't believe you! I’m certain and positive that you are! Now, how am I supposed to win if you’re---" I stopped mid sentence, unsure of what to do next. He was leaning at me, he was closing the distance between us! I was panicking inside my head!
"Want me to prove to you that I'm not… gay?" His words were challenging and exciting. I gulped hard feeling uncertain for the possibilities that will happen next.
He was just looking at me, and I couldn’t help but lost at his bare eyes, no barrier, no goofy glasses separating it from mine. For a moment there, I forgot what we’re fighting over. Silence filled the air and I wouldn’t be surprise if he somehow heard the loud pounding of my chest.
I stepped back, he continued to step forward, seriousness filled the air. No one dared to say a single word or even make a sound. I stopped as I felt the table at my back, I braced my hands at both edge of the table, readying myself for what will happen next.
I don’t care. I actually don’t mind on how I look right now. All the possibilities were swimming inside my head. Even the logical me was cheering with all her might at the impending actions of Chad.
He was going to prove me something. Something that I will not rebuke myself from knowing. Something that will change the whole situation. Something, that I know of, in favorable of me.
You’re going to fall for me, geek.
"Gotcha!" He said as he touched the tip of nose with his pointing finger. He stepped back and laughed again, making me snapped back to my musing.
"What was that all about, Chad Treyson!" I yelped, somehow feeling disappointed for something that I was secretly expecting.
A kiss from Chad Treyson!
I willed myself to push that voice far behind my sound mind. Who knows what could have happened if I let it continue.
"That’s for coming to my house and lying to my Mom. What are you doing here anyway?" He asked, seriousness carving his voice.
I was still debating with myself if I’m going to lie, again, or just tell him the truth and apologize. But if I tell him the reason as to why I ditched him the other day, it will be game over for me. So I just decided to do both. Apologize and lie.
“I’m sorry for not showing up the other day.” I started. But then before I continued with my speech, Chad just cut me off.
“Courtney Collins is apologizing. Should I be worried that there will be a catch in the end?” He said with full of mockery.
I couldn’t help but smack his arm with all my might that earned a whine from him. I smirked triumphantly at his complain. “I was trying, okay? No need to be overly excited about it. There’s no catch.” I tried to convince him.
“I don’t believe you.” He narrowed his eyes as he continued to examine me. I rolled my eyes at his accusatory response.
“Fine, does asking you to tutor me count as a catch? Because seriously, I really need a tutor right now.” I finally said in defeat. Althought it was part of the truth, the main reason as to why I was here, apologizing to him, was because I don’t like the gap that we’re having. The thought of him not talking to me was simply irritating my well being that has been reflecting to my mood, just like what happened at the party last night.
“Yeah, tutoring. I could see that.” He said, sarcasm evident in his tone. “But come to think of it, I almost couldn’t believe the first time you ask me to tutor you, I know at that very moment that you’re trying something else. The way you dressed before was very different with the way you looked now.”
She was tying to seduce you before but now is no different, although seducing is definitely out of the picture, she was trying something else, she was trying to make you fall for me.
Oh shut up! I.Was.Not!
“I wasn’t trying something else, my intentions back then were pure. I really don’t know that you have issues with girls wearing---“
“Clothes? That is not what clothes looked like. Cloth maybe.” He simply insinuated.
“Fine, that thing. I believe this thing that I was wearing is considered clothes to you, right?” He looked at me from up and down before he gave me an answer.
“Decent enough to categorize as clothes.”
I don’t know what happened but the irritation that I was having was suddenly replaced by glee. Atleast he finds these garment that I was wearing decent because if not, I seriously don’t know what I will wear the next time I face him without worrying about his snide comments.
"So now you're considering it again, huh? Tutoring? You purposely ignore me for the past few days after you propose that plan, and here you go again suggesting to be tutored again by me.”
“I wasn’t ignoring you, I was just…busy.” I tried to argue. Ok here goes the lies. There’s no way that I’m going to admit to him that I was intentionally ignoring him!
“Busy or you just don’t want to be seen near me?” He gave me a pointed look.
“God no! That is so not true, Treyson.” He was trying to corner me, that’s for sure. He was feeding me with these ideas for me to crack and admit him the truth.
Damn he’s so good at interrogating! I better be careful.
He took a stride to the direction of his shelves. He picked up something, his goofy glasses, and wears it. “You now that I know you’re lying, right? Because your voice gave you away.”
I wanted to say something more but I was afraid that it would just worsen the condition I was in right now. I followed him with my eyes as he took a seat, facing me.
“And silence means yes.” He simply concluded. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to grill you with non-sense questions that I surely know the answers.” His every word left me speechless. And that made me somehow annoyed.
I never felt defeated in my life. Let alone be silent in a conversation. I will not let Chad have the upper hand this time. I know I have to step up and do something that I was surely good at.
I pulled out the chair in front of him and sit. Only a table was separating me from him. “Okay, you caught me.” I said. If I tell him the truth and act as if it wasn’t the truth, I bet he will be confuse on what was the real from not. “I’m here because I wanted to spend more time with you.” I told him. All seriousness in my voice.
Truth be told, that was genuine and I perfectly know that that was what he was implying a while ago. By looking at his face, he was clearly taken aback with my words. I knew he wasn’t used to me being blunt and straight to the point when it comes to my feelings. So now, I believe he was definitely caught off guard by my confession.
I was feeling like a winning after I said that. Finally, I left Chad speechless for the very first time! But then again, my triumphant smirk only last for about fifteen seconds. I should have known that I was dealing with someone very cunning and unpredictable.
“Well if that’s the case, let’s get started. I bet we’ll have a long day of studying and…” He trailed off as he learned forward, too close that I almost felt the tip of his nose to mine, before he continued. “…we’ll be spending a lot of time together.”
Chad Treyson never failed to surprise me. He definitely redeemed himself, again.
For making The Courtney Collins speechless, over and over, was beyond my imagination.
You are indeed something else.
With that, something clicked inside my head that made me grin.
Game on, Chad Treyson.
--- END OF CHAPTER 15 ---
Sorry for the long wait. I was busy these past few weeks because of the outings and my sister’s wedding. I hope you’ll not abandon me. Hehe.
Thank you for all your patience. I love you all!
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Thank you very much for reading my works. I love you all.