5

(((Edited•)))

Raman walks me to school on Monday because his photography classes don't start until 11. Ken is a year older than him but they're both taking gap years, doing the things they love best. I'm really digging the idea. We pass a corner I don't know and emerge 4 blocks from school.

"Huh, how come you suddenly know everywhere here?" I say and he chuckles.

"I spend most of my time outside. Away from...that." he replies but I don't need to look at him to know what he's talking about.

"This must be hard for you and your sister, moving so quickly to a new environment," I say. We've been so focused on ourselves we didn't even remember that these people have lives and feelings too.

"I don't know about Simmi but I'm really loving this place, from the people to the food to everything else,"

"Don't you miss India?"

"I do, it's my home after all. But there are some places you've just gotta get out of," he gazes at the horizon for a bit and I wonder if he's thinking of India right now.

"I know our house isn't exactly stable right now and I also know me and my sisters aren't the best at showing it but I'm glad we could offer our home to you all,"

"I'm glad I've got great people as family," he gives me a half smile and I send him a full one. My head is still wrapping around his last word. Family.

I spend the whole day with Ronnie and Teddy, sometimes bumping into Nelson and Luca, other times Luca then sometimes just Luca. Like now, on the football pitch.

Although he's inside and I'm out and I didn't exactly bump into him.

I signal for him to come out and after threatening to leave he does .

"What is it?" His tone makes me shrink back. What if he's already over it? I did see him with Kim a lot today.

"I thought about it...and I...agree."

He fights a grin that turns to a smirk.

"To what?"

"The deal. Fake relationship stuff."

He looks up and around and I'm thinking of ways to leave with dignity.

"I'll be right back."

"So let me get this straight. No kissing, no touching, no bragging," Luca says with a frown and it only gets deeper when I nod.

"How are people even supposed to believe that I, Luca McQueen, have a girlfriend that I do not kiss."

I shrug. We're on the same bleachers Ronnie and I sat on but not so high on it. For the past 4 minutes I've been giving him rules about this whole fake dating stuff and he seems quite frustrated. He also talks a lot more than he lets on.

"Ok then, you'll walk around with me half the day and sit with me during lunch." He states easily and I stare at him.

"What? No way. How can I sit across Teddy everyday as your girlfriend?"

"What, did he want to ask you out?"

"Hell no. It's just...weird."

"Jot it. There's nothing you can do. A couple should be with each other."

I frown as I write it.

"Ok then, you pick me and my sister up everyday."

"You don't have a car?"

"No."

"Done."

"Oh. You've gotta post about us almost every night."

"I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because, not only is it totally out of my character, I don't think everyone wants to know the updates of my love life. I mean, I'd have to write the same things every damn night. Plus, my parents and my sisters follow me." Even though I'm going through with this just to prove something.

"Alright fine. I'll do the posting."

I jot that down too.

"You'll go art shopping with me," I'm already writing it.

"Why would I do that?"

"Because I say so and also because none of my sisters will."

"Then you'll attend my games."

I freeze.

"No way."

"Why do you always object? I just freaking agreed to do something I have no idea about."

"I'm sorry but soccer–"

"Football, American football," He corrects

"American football is not my thing."

"Art shopping is definitely not my thing."

"Luca stop ok? I'll make it up to you," I say quickly just to avoid the topic. He raises a brow at me.

"Go on."

"What about cupcakes every Friday? Or a portrait of yo- scratch that."

He looks alarmed.

"Why? It won't hurt to paint me."

"Cupcakes."

He sighs and mumbles something about football being a universal sport.

"Fine then. We should get a back story," He says louder and I nod.

"It started online on Tuesday. We started talking a lot and on Friday you kissed me."

He frowns. "Why not you kissed me?'"

"Because Teddy will never believe me."

He groans, "Why does it matter what he believes?"

"You obviously don't understand how close we are. I can lie to him once but not repeatedly."

"Ok fine. I kissed you."

"What will you tell Kim?"

He looks at me and repeats the question.

"Nothing. She broke up with me. I don't need to explain to my ex about my new girlfriend,"

My new girlfriend.

"I'm gonna get a lot of drama now," I mutter to myself as I stand up but he hears me.

"Obviously. Do you know who I am?"

I pack my things and get up.

"You're Luca McQueen. Hot, sexy mad player. Blahblahblah," I turn to face him and he has that annoying smirk on his face again.

"You think I'm hot?"

"Oh get over yourself," I wave him off and head towards the car park.

"When are we starting this?" I ask him once he appears beside me.

"Why not now?" When I turn to look at him, the smirk is on his face, I turn my head forward and see the others in between Teddy and Luca's cars.

I feel Luca's hand slip through mine and it stays there. His grip is soft, we're barely touching and somehow I think that's worse.

"I think we should rethink this," I whisper but he shakes his head and whispers back.

"Too late."

Teddy sights me first, his smiles fades slowly and when we get closer it disappears completely when he sees our hands.

"Yo wassup," Lamar greets Luca and my nose twitch. He was surely the one who made the bet.

"I'm great," Luca says, releasing my hand to shake Nelson. I feel myself go into my shell as I step backwards. What am I doing? Teddy stares at me as he shakes Luca but doesn't say anything.

I smile at him though, and even slip a few words out.

"Where did you go?" Nelson asks Luca, who gives a suggestive glance at me before saying;

"We were in the garden," Lamar and Kendrick make noises that threaten to burst my ear drums but I can't blame them. The garden is were people make out.

I'm about to correct their interpretation when Teddy reaches out to me.

"Come on let's go." He says and I'm eager to follow but Luca speaks before I can.

"Actually Ravi wanted to see this shop behind school. I'm taking her,"

Teddy obviously doesn't give a damn about Luca's excuse because he doesn't take his eyes off me. I hate the way he's acting.

"Yes. I'll see you later?" I say with more conviction than I expected. He nods quietly and I follow Luca to enter his car on the other side.

"Nice job there." He says once we've driven off.

"You aren't ok" Luca says almost immediately, turning to look at me.

I'm about to remind that he has only actually talked to me for a day and a half so he's in no position to tell me how I feel when he speaks again.

"Do you like Teddy?"

"No! Why do you keep asking me that?"

"Why do you keep sulking over him? He's your best friend not your booty call right?"

I make a face.

"That's disgusting Luca."

He gives me a frustrated look.

"It hasn't been a day and you keep reminding yourself that he's there. And you looked like you just buried your brother back there."

My eyes snap up to his. I'm sober now. I'm angry and frustrated and sad. All the feelings I had when he died. And Luca brings it up like it's nothing. Granted, he may not know about it but a person's death isn't something you should make a simile with.

"You shouldn't say things like that," I tell him. Aware that all the spirit has vanished from my voice.

"Sorry but you get my point right?" He asks. I give him an equally dead look and he knows better than to speak again.

Grandma's praying with and Aunt SanJ and Simmi when I storm inside. Grandma turns and smiles at me. She starts to invite me to the prayer when I softly shake my head. I make gestures around my head and frown deeply to add some spice to it before going upstairs.

It's a struggle to remove my clothes because I'm doing it with thick headedness but when I finally manage to do it I lie on my bed, my face on my pillow until I sleep off.

"Ravi?" A soft voice calls out to me, sounding unsure. It repeats itself twice before I make out that it's Mara talking. I sit up.

"Mmm?" I say wiping the mist from my eyes.

"Teddy's in the living room. Grandma said to tell you before allowing him in. I think he's angry because she did."

I take it all in slowly, on a normal day Mara could've been right, Teddy's always had free access to my room since I can remember, so it would've made sense if he was angry but I know better.

"Call him in." I say and she nods before running off.

I get to wash my face and read my messages, I have a lot from Luca but before I can open it Ted comes in.

He has a neutral expression on his face and I make mine as neutral as possible.

"Hi," I say as if I hadn't just ditched him for McQueen.

"What was that this afternoon?" He wastes no time but I continue playing dum.

"What?" He moves away from the door and closes it.

"Why did you go with Luca?"

"Because I wanted to,"

"Why?" He presses.

"Why? What else?"

"What else?" He repeats in a tone that says 'so now you're keeping secrets'.

"You could've taken a ride with me then."

"I didn't want to."

He pauses again.

"Why didn't you want to ride with me Ravi? Me."

"Because I knew you would do this. Bombard me with questions."

"Are you hiding something? Did he do something to you?"

I stand up slowly and almost laugh in pain.

"Teddy I might be living under a rock or in a bubble but I know what I want to do. I can defend myself too. I'm not a child! You do you think you are?! Some angel? Listen-" I pause for breath and he takes over.

"I guess you aren't going to tell me why you guys were holding hands?"

That makes me raise a brow. Even a blind man would take the hint. He just wants me to say it out loud.

"Teddy I need to be alone," I say instead, opening the door.

He stares at me.

"You're kicking me out?"

"No. I just what peace and solitude so can you just...go!"

He waits a couple seconds, maybe hoping I change my mind but I don't so he walks out slowly and closes the door behind him.

I fall on the bed again and mum's voice rings in my head.

This, my dear is just the tip of the iceberg.