Chapter Thirty-Nine: Childish
"Uhm, Avery?"
I paused, hearing an unknown voice called me. I turned around and my eyes scanned her from head to toe. As far as I remember, she's the class representative in this class. Funny how I don't know her.
Well, would someone like me even bother? Then again, it wouldn't have hurt to at least remember their names.
It's really random of me to say, but she has alluring ocean blue eyes, and if you could look a little closer, it'd remind you of the waves crashing. Not to mention her highlights on her wavy hair that made her eyes pop.
"Yeah?"
She flashed me a smile, and I was quite surprised it wasn't hostile or forced. It seemed...genuine. And it's terrifying.
"Can I get your measurements? For your costume," she clarified, and I finally noticed and understood why she had a measurement dangling at her fingertips.
"Sure," I replied, quite uncertain but nevertheless agreed and she nods, acknowledging my response while she heads close and stretches her measuring tape.
"Can you lift your arms up?"
I followed and she wraps the tape around my chest. "I'm really thankful you agreed, Avery."
"Huh, I mean do I really have any choice?" I calmly answered, then she removed the measuring tape from me and bent forward, scribbling on the pad of paper.
"Well, I'm sorry about that too," she says apologetically, flashing me a small smile.
"You don't need to be sorry. It's Emily's fault after all, making that suggestion."
"I see," then she proceeds to repeat the same process, measuring my arms, waist, and hips.
I stood there feeling a bit uneasy. Maybe I was tensed. Who was I kidding? I wasn't comfortable talking to some stranger, especially someone I'm in the same class with and yet I've never bothered to care.
"You know Avery, I'm surprised about you."
I breathed. "About what?"
She stopped, then stood up from her crouched state and faced me eye to eye. I didn't know what to say. It seems like she's going to say something important and I'm anxious on what it is she's going to say.
Was she going to threaten me? Another one of Tom's fans? Oh please, give me a break. I never asked for any of this.
"That you're actually a chill person," she smiled curtly.
I blinked, finally sinking in the words she just said to me. For a second, I thought she was going to tell me that she wants me to stay away or something that you usually read on the novels.
Trust me, I don't read those sappy books, but Emily occasionally talks to me about some fictional characters.
It's kind of annoying, but maybe I'll understand if I was somehow like her. Feminine.
"Me? Chill? You've got the wrong person," I smiled in disbelief, still maintaining my politeness all the while trying to restrain my sarcastic tongue from getting the best of me.
Trust me. I'm far from being chill right now.
"Well, I'm pretty sure Tom influenced you somehow," she tucked a hair behind her ear, her smile still lingered.
Is that smile of hers genuine or is she that amazing at acting that she can keep herself from being a b#tch?
I could just imagine meeting her by the cubicle all alone and she'd threaten me, making her fake, sweet persona slip away. Then again, that makes me judgmental.
It's ironic that I'm being judged by others and now I'm doing the exact same thing.
"So, it's nice that I can finally talk to you like this."
Was I really that contagious that you couldn't speak to me? That you could've at least been the sensible one and told those idiots about how stupid the rumors were?
I heaved a deep sigh, wanting to get out of this conversation.
Somehow it pisses me off. It really does. And yet, I know that I can't just expect that from people. Everyone has a reputation to maintain and she has hers too.
Defending me would be saying that you'd willingly throw yourself into the batch of flames.
I know that better.
"You seemed stoic and cold," she added, playing around with the tape dangling at her fingers. "---so I thought that approaching you would make you somehow hate me."
Well, she does make a good point. Before I met Tom, I've made my intentions clear that I never wanted to be acquainted with someone. Just the thought of having someone gave me chills.
But now, it's different.
And it's annoyingly because of that idiot. That.....stupid, charming guy. I shake my head, a small smile slipping my lips.
"Avery?"
"Sorry," I mumbled, snapping out of my reverie. She shakes her head, suddenly reaching her hand to mine.
What am I supposed to do with it? Do I kiss it? She chuckles, as if thinking I was a stupid person who didn't know the social norms. Jokes on you, I actually don't. "Nice meeting you, Avery."
I stared at her outstretched hand. F it. I reluctantly reached for her hand and took it, grasping her soft, warm hands with mine. Just like I thought. Her hands look so well pampered unlike mine.
"I'm Rhea Lynn," she flashed me a smile. And there's that again, that suspicious smile that seemed too good to be true.
She squeezed my hand and I forced a smile. For the millionth time, I'm not good at this type of things. If there was an award for the most awkward and stiff person, then that'd be me.
"Avery. Avery Summers."
"Rhea! We need your help!" another female hollered not far away from us.
Rhea beamed at me, retracting back her hand, then grabbed the pad of paper, pencil and the tape while she waved a hand with her free one. "Well, see you later, Avery."
I could only stare at her retreating back as she goes back to where she belongs. Where she's needed and surrounded by everyone.
Maybe it's really true. Maybe she's just being polite. After all, her role in this class is to maintain peace and lead the class. It's only reasonable to think about it that way.
But somehow, it feels nice.
"Guess who is it."
I sighed, my surroundings became nothing by darkness as someone wrapped its hand around my eyes. I didn't even need to guess to know who it was. All I needed to do was outstretched my hand and pinched its sides.
Exactly what I had planned for, it yelped and removed its hand from my face. "Avery! That hurt."
I huffed, crossing my arm in sadistic tendencies. "That's what you get for being stupid."
"Can I at least get a hello?" Oskar smiled lazily, still holding the side I pinched him. "---you're stuck up as ever."
"And you're annoying as ever," I snorted. "---and really, your voice was a dead giveaway, do something better next time."
"Why are you here anyway?" I asked, watching his keyboard case slung around chest. In case you didn't know, it was a mini version of the real deal. It's portable, that's what I can say.
"Practicing for the band," he pointed at the keyboard case, like I didn't see it.
"Okay...and what's that got to do with you being here?"
"I'm waiting for a fellow band member, then I thought I could at least come by to say hello."
"Then you've done it, didn't you? Now go away," a voice pops up from behind me and I grunt in frustration. What now? How great. These two idiots met each other, and now they're going to cause ruckus again.
How great. All I wanted was to finish my task and now I'd have more workload—like taking care of these babies.
"How cold, Tom," Oskar smiled teasingly at Tom and I could just feel that fiery aura emitting from beside me.
I flinched when he placed his hands on my shoulder, squeezing it. It's as if he's trying to tell something but I can't tell what. Oskar let out a breath, the smile still lingering on his lips but it looks different from just a second ago.
"I see lover boy getting pissed, so I'll be on my leave then," his eyes trailed from Tom and then to me. "---see you at the library, Avery."
"Sure," I replied, watching him waved his hand up and turned his back against us, moving away until I couldn't see him anymore.
"Avery."
I looked up from beside me and Tom removed his hand from my shoulder. If I didn't know before, I'd thought he just didn't like Oskar. But now, I know fully well. The way his shoulders become tensed, or that creases on his face.
I sighed, removing my crossed arms. "Yeah?"
"Nothing," then he suddenly left without saying another word. Rude. I rolled my eyes, ignoring his exit and headed back to the corner where I had to finish dry the paint.
You're really childish, Tom. Being jealous by just a greeting? I don't get you sometimes.