Everyone Aren't like you, Mary!

I halted the car in front of a two story house and dismounted from it. Noah came behind me. I rang the doorbell and waited for the front door to be opened. The door opened up revealing a young beautiful women.

'Stella!? Hi!' I smiled slightly surprised by her presence. 'When did you arrived?' I asked my cousin who lives in the different city because of her husband's job.

'Hi! I arrived three days ago' she said smiling and opened the door wide to let us enter. 'How are you guys?

'I'm good' I said entering the house.

'I'm fine' Noah said coming behind me.

'How have you been?' I asked Stella.

'I've been good' she said.

We enter the living room where children were playing and shouting at each other. I spotted Zayn in them. His cuteness melting me. He is Stella's son who is 5 year old.

'Zayn' I called him while making my way towards him. He was so busy in playing that he didn't heard me at all. Children never answer when they are called once. We have to repeatedly call them. Most of the time.

I called him once more. He didn't even look at me.

'Zayn!' I went near him and pinched both of his cheeks lightly.

'aaahhh' he shouts with his cute little voice. I laughed in response. He glared at me with his large eyes which has thick lashes and pouted his lips.

'You are so cute' I said in a baby voice. 'What are you playing?' I asked him eyeing his hand which he has hidden behind his back.

'I won't say' he said shaking his head furiously.

'Why?' I asked pouting my lips and making teary eyes.

'Because… if you'll know, you won't let me play' he said fiddling with the toy which he has hidden behind his back and keeping his eyes on my hands. I guess he is afraid I will snatched it from him anytime. What toy he might be playing that he is afraid of letting me see it?

'Why will I not let you play? I promise. I won't do anything' I said and smiled at him. I looked at him with hopeful eyes.

After some seconds he reluctantly moved his hand from behind and showed me the toy in his hands. The laughter bubble out from my mouth. He was holding a Barbie doll in his hands who was dressed in pink.

'Zayn! You like to play with Barbie doll?' I asked him while trying my best to stifle my laugh. He cast his eyes downward and nodded shyly. I chuckled at his behavior and pinched his cheek lightly. I gave him a kiss on his cheek and went off to greet everyone.

I went towards the kitchen where I found almost everyone in there. My mom was in there too. Everyone were busy helping my aunt to make food for dinner.

'Aunt Lauren! How are you doing?' I grinned and leaned on the kitchen's door frame. She's my paternal uncle's wife who is Noah's mom.

'I'm doing great Mary! What about you?'

'I'm doing good aunt Lauren. Is Nicole here yet?' Nicole is her elder daughter who is also married and has two kids. 'Yes, she came earlier then me'

'Ok' I nodded.

'Mary you are here!' my mom came towards me after pausing from her work. 'Yeah! What are you doing' I grinned and adjusted my bag's strap. 'I'm making dessert' my mom said wiping her hands on towel.

'Let me help you' I said while trying to get inside the kitchen.

My mom stops me. 'First you remove your bag and keep it in the room'

'Okay' I drawled.

***

The continuous ringing sound started to deafen my ear and the headache to rise. I groaned loudly and opened my eyes, ready to curse whoever who has disturbed my sleep.

I was met with the screen which was blasting with alarm. When my gaze landed on the time 8:15, I blinked. Then when I realized the time is 8:15 all the sleep remaining in my eyes vanished instantly.

I have only 15 minutes to get ready and reach school. I have to go to bathroom, get changed, eat breakfast and drive to school. Shoot! I won't reach the school on time today. Yesterday when we came from aunt's it had already past midnight and till I slept it had already past 1.

I frantically roll out of bed and went to bathroom. As I came from bathroom and got changed 10 minutes had already past. I ran downstairs holding my bag on one shoulder.

'MOM!' I frantically went towards the kitchen calling for mother. 'Mom! Why didn't you wake me up' I whined.

'Didn't wake you up? I have been trying to wake you up since half an hour ago' my mom scolded.

I grumbled in response.

'Go eat your breakfast. Quick!'

I quickly took the plate and stuff the bread in my mouth and walked towards the main door swiftly while holding the remaining bread in hand. While passing from living room my gaze landed on the clock. Which made me pause immediately.

The hour hand has ticked 8 and the minute hand has ticked 10.

Wait–

It's just 8:10?

Oh my god! I'm such a fool.

Suddenly Yesterday's event rushed in my mind.

'Mary! It's my chance to ask you. Truth or dare?' Noah gave a sly grin.

His expression stops me from choosing either. The confidence I had a moment ago vanished. After much thought I chose dare.

'I dare you to change the time in your phone and keep it 20 minutes ahead' Noah said grinning.

I shrugged and changed the time 20 minutes ahead. Thinking that it's a no big deal.

I face-palm and went back inside.

'Mom! Why didn't you said me it's not late yet' I whined.

'I thought you wanted to go early today' my mom came out from kitchen and simply shrugged. 'But why didn't you see the time'

'Yesterday while playing truth or dare Noah dared me to keep the time 20 minutes ahead in my phone. So when I saw the time in my phone I thought I was late' I sighed and sat on the chair of dining table with a thump.

Mom chuckled and went inside the kitchen.

Then my dad and my younger brother came and joined me at the table. Mark, my younger brother was 12 years old. Mom brought them their plates and she took a seat too. Mark was sitting beside me. So I couldn't stop myself from irritating him.

He was eating bread with omelette. I quickly took the fork and pick the small piece of omelette from his plate. He tried to stop me from eating it but I quickly stuff it inside my mouth and chuckled at his face. He glared at me and went back to his eating. To be honest I don't even like eggs that much but I like to irritate him.

I eyed his plate again. He saw me eyeing his plate so he pulled his plate away from my reach. Then he started to eat hastily. I smacked the back of his head.

'What?' he grumbled.

'Don't eat so fast' I snapped.

He scoffed but still he slowed down a bit. I finished my breakfast and got up only after taking one more small piece of his omelette.

'Mom! I'm going! Take care everyone' I said while making my way towards the main door.

I drove my car to the school and it took 10 minutes to reach. I searched for Tracy's and Rose's car in the parking lot. Their cars were parked closed to each other and there was a empty spot beside their car. And they were still there hanging out . So I parked my car beside theirs. I removed the key from ignition and climbed down the car.

'Hey!' I lips automatically turned into grin.

'Hey' they said in unison and grinned back at me.

'What were you talking about' I asked still grinning.

'Ask her' Tracy said wiggling her eyebrows at Rose and gave a smile which says that something interesting has happened.

'What happened?' I asked her impatiently, curiosity rising in me.

'What happened? Nothing! It's just….' She started with her usual response that is to deny or dismiss the matter. I hate it when she always try to dismiss the matter. I glared at her. And she makes a sound of frustration.

'Brian asked me to go on a date' Rose said swallowing most of the syllables. I stared at her with wide eyes.

'Brian?' I asked her still in shock.

'Yes' she said

'You mean the Brian you is Sam's best friend?'

'Yes'

'The arrogant one?' I asked not believing someone like him would take the initiative.

'Yes' Rose said getting slightly annoyed. But I wasn't finished yet.

'The one who always mock at Elias?' I asked still acting clueless.

'Oh my god, YES!' Rose said getting more annoyed.

'Who else with that name do you?' Tracy asked finally giving up to be just an audience and destroying my fun. But I ignored her and went on.

'The bulky one?' I asked making a face.

'He is not bulky' Rose said defensively.

'Yea, He just muscular' Tracy said joining with her.

'What's the difference between that?' I smirked at them.

Tracy rolled her eyes then returned her attention towards the Rose. 'You didn't said us what answer you gave him'

I looked at her curiously waiting for the answer. She hesitated to answer. Then the sound of the first bell resonated around the parking lot.

'Oops the bell rang we should go. I will tell you later' she said in hurry and tried to escape. But we stopped her before she could walk more than one step.

Both of us gave her a stern gaze. She looked at us still trying to find a way to escape. Then she gave a defeated look.

'I said no' she said nonchalantly.

'You simply said NO?' Tracy asked her dumbfounded.

'Mmm' she just hummed not wanting to speak further about this subject.

'Wait–– don't say me you still hadn't moved on from him?' I asked her in slight shock when I suddenly remembered the person who had taken Rose's heart a year ago.

'What are you talking about?' Rose said acting dumb.

'You know very well what I'm talking about, Rose!' I said her sternly.

'Is it true Rose?' Tracy asked her a few seconds later when she didn't said anything.

'No' Rose snapped and stomp off, her brown hair flying in every direction. And she definitely was lying.

I and Tracy looked at each other thinking that she had confirmed our doubt. 'I didn't thought her heart would still be stuck up with him' I said wondering out loud.

'Everyone aren't like you Mary!' she said her words holding more meaning than it should.

'You keep saying it, I keep forgetting it' I gave her a wry smile.

It's just that I'm better at moving on or forgetting people who had forgot me or betrayed me. And when it comes to hiding the emotions I'm little better then them. So Tracy likes to keep reminding me about it.

'Let's go' we Ran and caught up with Rose.

****

We were sitting in the cafeteria and having our lunch. And feeling slightly dejected for not having any class together after lunch. Then suddenly a shadow fell on the left side of me. I turned to look at a person who has taken the seat beside me and then I turned my gaze towards Tracy who was sitting opposite of me.

'Do you know him?' I asked her in a low voice and slightly tilted my face towards him. Which earned me a smack on the back of my head from him.

'You dare to hit your big sister?' I glared at him and smack him too.

'Why are you here Noah? Are your friends absent today?' I raised my eyebrows at him questioningly.

'What?! Am I not allowed here?' he asked giving a mischievous grin.

I rolled my eyes. 'You had never joined us at the table' I said in a matter of fact tone. 'Either your friends had to be absent or… you must have an important work. What is it?' I wiggled my eyebrows at him.

'No! I don't have any work. I just wanted to come here' he shrugged. I stare at him for some time trying to comprehend whether he is saying truth or not.

'What?' he chuckled and brushed his hand through his hair. 'My friends may have gone for soccer practice' he said grinning cheekily. I smiled at him smugly.

'And you don't have a practice?' Rose asked him.

'No not now' Noah said smiling at her.

'Your friends got selected in the soccer team?' I asked in slight wonderment. Because all the players in our soccer team were best and there were no empty spot for anyone else.

'Not officially. But they were given a chance. If they can make a progress in this week then they will be selected' he explained.

'Oh' I nodded.

'None of your friends joined basketball team?' Tracy asked while chewing her food.

'Nah! They are all interested in soccer and I like basketball. What can I do?' he shrugged. 'Well, by the mention of basketball..' he suddenly leaned forward towards Rose and Tracy grinning mischievously and gained their attention. 'Did Mary said anything to you about what happened with her and Elias' Tracy and Rose stopped whatever they were doing and turned their attention fully on me.

'Why are you looking at me like that?' I said and avoided their gaze.

'What is Noah taking about?' Rose asked in accusatory tone. 'Nothing interesting happened' I said reassuringly looking at Tracy and Rose and then turned towards Noah. 'Dumbass' I said with clenched teeth.

'And I was about to tell you everything that has happened yesterday after you guys were gone'

'What happened?' Tracy asked impatiently.

I narrated the whole incident to them. Rose chuckling every now and then and Tracy grinning stupidly.

'I cannot believe that he actually let you nurse him!' Tracy said in disbelief still grinning. 'Yeah' Rose chuckled and agreed with her. And I nodded in daze.