Chapter 3.

Chapter 3

Rishaw's POV

Monday was the 12th of February so proposals were already in full swing. It was french period which was my class for the day. Some girls had already been proposed to. Surprisingly enough, Stiles had asked Char to be his date. It happened during gym class. To say i was surprised would have been an understatement. And to think i was friends with those two...

Everyone held their breaths as they waited for Char's response. She finally said yes and everyone cheered and hooted. I asked her about her mystery guy but she just waved it off but i had a feeling mystery guy was Stiles.

Mr Perez kept droning on about 'les verbes pronominaux' i mean, i like the subject but his voice just makes it sound so boring. I looked at the clock and felt relieved to see that we only had five minutes more. I was really tired and just wanted to go home and crash on my bed.

Finally, time was up and i couldn't be more grateful. I packed my books and headed straight for my locker.

As i opened my locker, red and white glitters come pouring out and i look into my locker to see a really huge teddy bear sitting there with a card in its hands which read: 'Will you be my val?'

By now, almost everyone had stopped what they were doing and were staring. As i turned to maybe ask someone who the anonymous person might be, i saw Jack on one knee holding a bouquet of red roses. "Rishaw, will you be my valentine?" I was outrightly surprised and raising my left brow, i asked him "how did you know my locker combination?" He just smiled and said "that's not important, just please say yes." My eyes scanned the crowd that had now gathered and fell on Char. She looked as if her eyes would bulge out of their sockets anytime soon. She was giving me the thumbs up and mouthing 'you go girl'. I looked around again and this time my eyes fell on Drake. His expression was as hard as concrete and for that brief moment our eyes met, i don't know why but i felt like i hurt him big time and i contemplated saying no to Jack but i didn't Want to humiliate him in front of the whole school so i just said yes. People started shouting and clapping. Drake just left, looking somewhat pissed off. Jack hugged me, a little too closely and said "i'll be looking forward to the dinner" to which i replied "yeah, me too." Though i didn't really mean it as my mind was elsewhere.

I left and ran out. I ran through the parking lot looking for Drake and finally caught him as he was about leaving the school premises. "Drake, what's the matter?" Slowing down he faced me "Look Rish, i know i might sound jealous or a tad over protective but it's just that i have a bad feeling about this Jack guy, i don't want him around you."

"Drake, i totally understand you, but really, there's nothing to be worried about. I can take of myself. I like that you've always been so protective of me but i'm not a kid anymore." Putting my hand on his shoulder i said "i'm gonna be fine." "You sure about that?" "Yep, very." "Anyway, that doesn't stop me from looking out for you" he says now smiling. "If you say so." "Yeah i say so" he replied.

"Aren't Char and Stiles coming?" I asked him.

"Char said she needs to go to the library and Stiles has basketball practice."

We start walking out of school.

"Did you have any idea that Stiles was going to ask Char?" I asked him.

"I didn't see it coming at all. They took us totally by surprise" he says to me.

"Sometimes i don't understand those two." We laugh and continue our walk home.

***********

The next day, Char dragged me to the mall immediately after school insisting that we must get the best dresses before they're sold out. Shopping has never been one of my hobbies but as for char, there's nothing she loves more. She dragged me from section to section until she finally found a shop she liked. She spent about thirty minutes trying on different gowns and i was getting bored out of my mind. "Is it just me or are you trying to impress Stiles?" I smile at her.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Of course you don't. Anyway, can we this up? I'm getting pretty hungry here."

"You also have to pick a dress you know?"

"Yeah whatever."

After about another hour, she finally came out in a red sequinned floor length gown. "This is the one" she says looking pretty excited.

The dress looked like it was made with her in mind.

"Now your turn."

Shoving about a dozen dresses into my arms she pushes me into the changing room. After trying almost everything on, i finally found one i liked. It was a sleeveless black long shiny gown that had a slit up to my thigh. "This should do" I say as i come out and show her the dress. She clapped and shrieked.

God, this girl will deafen me one day.

"OMG!! You look wonderful."

"Thanks. Do you think Dra.. I mean Jack will like it?"

"He better. In fact he'd be blind not to."

We paid for the dresses and left the mall.

As i got home, i saw a text from Jack

Jack: hey, how're you doing?

Me: I'm good, you?

Jack: can't wait for tomorrow night.

Me: oh, really?

Jack: have you gotten your dress or would you like to go shopping with me?

Me: Nah, Char and i just got back from the mall thanks

Jack: ok cool. See you tomorrow

Me: yeah see you.

Jack: bye

Me: bye.

************

The next day at school, one could easily see that students were not concentrating in class. They could hardly wait for school to be over. Jack kept turning and looking at me during french class. He even winked at me once. He turned so often that even Mr Perez noticed.

"Mr Spencer, would you like to put your neck in a cast for the rest of the class?"

"Nope"

Class went on as usual and then finally, the bell went. Students poured out of their classes, rushing to get to their lockers and go home in time to prepare for the dinner.

I met Drake leaning against my locker. "Hey, how was your day?" I asked him

"Cool" he replied. "Mr Lodge called me to his office" he went on. "The principal?" I all but screamed. Honestly, for me, that man is nothing but trouble. "Yeah, he wanted me to be in charge of the music for the dinner." He explained. "Oh" I said, finally relieved.

"So I'll be seeing you tonight." I said, putting my books into my locker. "Yeah, if you're not too occupied" he said, looking away. "Come on, don't be like that" I said, turning his face to look at me." You know I'll always have time for you." "I know Rush, I just want you to be careful." "I'll be, don't worry." I said as I have him a kiss on the cheek.

Just then, Jack walked up to us and kissed me on my cheek. "All set for tonight?" He asked, not even acknowledging Drake at all. "Yeah, kinda." I said to him. "Ok, I'll pick you up by 8" he said. "No problem" I replied. He winked at me and left. Drake just stood there looking anything but happy.

"Let's get going" he said "I need to be back here early enough to put up all the speakers and stuff." "Well you don't have to be so grumpy about it" I said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood. "Whatever" he said, but at least he was smiling already. "Char and Stiles already left, they said they had some stuff to do" he said to me. "Yeah, they told me too. I said.

When I got home, I saw that my mom was back. I was so excited cos I wasn't expecting her back anytime soon. I ran to hug her. "Mum! I've missed you so much. How was your trip?" "Just great. I've missed you too baby" she said as we hugged again. She had gone on a business trip to Italy and she'd been away for the past three months. My mom had been my everything since my dad died when I was two. His death really shook her but she had to be strong for the both of us. There was literally nothing I didn't tell her. "We have a lot of catching up to do" she said as we sat down. "We sure do" I replied. We talked about many things: her job, the new people she met, how life in Italy was and so on. I also told her about Jack and the dinner. "I can't believe my little girl's all grown up" she said, putting her hand on my cheek. "Come on mum" I laughed, "it's just one dinner" "It doesn't matter, just be careful ok?" "Yes Mom." We continued talking for a long time and by the time I checked my watch, it was already 7:30. "Mom!" I almost screamed. "What's the matter?" "Jack's gonna be here in 30 minutes!" I shouted. "Calm down honey, you'll be ready, don't worry" she said. "I hope so" I replied getting up and running to my room, taking the steps two at a time.

I showered and shaved my legs. Then I straightened my hair and put on my dress. I tried putting on some makeup but I wasn't so good at it so mum came in to help with that.

At exact 8 o'clock, we heard the doorbell. "I'll get that" mum said and left. After checking myself out in the mirror to make sure I was all ready, I grabbed my purse and headed downstairs. Jack's mouth was literally touching the floor when he sighted me. "You look so beautiful" he said. "Thanks, you're not looking so bad yourself" I told him. "Just a few pictures and you can get going" mum said suddenly producing a camera out of nowhere. I swear mums always have cameras on standby just for nights like this. After about 5 dozens of pictures, she finally let us go. I wonder how prom will be. On getting to school, we met a lot of people already waiting outside the school hall then principal Lodge came to cut the ribbon and declare the night open. We all went in and Jack took over to meet some of his friends.

"Hey man, how's it going?" a guy I recognized from my history class greeted Jack and they fist bumped. "This is Rish, the girl I've been telling you about" Jack said to him. Hearing him address me as Rish felt odd cos only Drake ever called me that. I wanted to correct him there and then but I didn't want him to feel embarrassed in front of his friends so I just let it slide. He kept on introducing me to his friends and after the third friend, my mind began to wander. Were we here to have fun or meet his friends? I was no longer listening to what he was saying. My mind was only on one thing and that was finding Drake. I expected to see him at the Dj stand since he was the one in charge of music but when I looked over there, he wasn't there.

"I have to use the bathroom" I said to Jack, excusing myself. "Ok, I'll be waiting, don't be late" he said. ",Yeah, I'll be right back" I told him as I left.

I went to the Dj stand to see if anyone there knew where Drake went.

"He just left like a minute ago" a guy told me.

"Do you mean he left this spot or he left the school?"

"He said he wanted to grab a drink or something."

"Ok, thanks" I said, feeling a bit relieved by that information. At least he was still around.

On my way back from the bathroom, I bumped into someone.

"I'm so sorry about that, I...." Looking up, I saw that it was Drake. "Hey! where've you been? I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Really? Cos you looked kinda occupied when I saw you"

Yeah, so he saw me with Jack and his friends, what's the big deal? This guy could really be a baby sometimes.

"Yeah, I was with Jack earlier but my eyes have been scanning the room for you ever since I got here."

"Ok, I'll believe that if you say so" he said, finally breaking into a smile.

"You're really beautiful Rish" he said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. That was kinda hot, the way he looked at me but hey, Drake's my best friend, I couldn't let my mind wander.

"Thanks, but it's not like you're seeing me for the first time" I said, trying to brush it off.

"Just stating the obvious" he said.

"I was beginning to think you had gotten lost" I turned to see Jack standing there. "Like you care" Drake said but Jack didn't hear that or at least he pretended not to.

"I was just catching up with Drake"

"Of course" he said, looking at Drake distatefully. "Well it's time for us to dance." Coming closer, he took my hand.

"Ok Drake, I'll see you later" I said to him as Jack led me to the dance floor. Drake mumbled something but I didn't quite get that. Jack proved to be a really good dancer but I wasn't exactly in the mood to dance. A very slow song came on and Jack pulled me closer to himself so that our bodies were meshed together.

"Wanna go out with me?" he whispered to me. I was so shocked that I stopped dancing for a moment. "Why do you look so shocked? Come on, dance with me." As we continued dancing, he kept looking at me but I ignored his gaze. "I'm waiting for your reply" he said after some time. "I don't know, give me some time to think about it."

"Alright then."

After a while, the music stopped and Principal Lodge came up to deliver a very boring speech. Soon it was time to go and Jack invited me over to his place. I agreed to go with him cos it wasn't so late yet and I still had a lot of time before mum expected me back home.

I tried looking for Drake but he was nowhere in sight.

Jack led me to his car and he drove off.

Hey guys, new chapter alert!!!

So sorry it took so long, I've been busy with exams and stuff.

Kindly vote and comment.

What happens at Jack's place??

More chapters in a bit.

-Ope.