Chapter 4

Sonia: [Glaring at Chris who was pacing up and down the living room anxiously with his school uniform in his hands ] Do you need anything?

Chris: [Frightened as he didn't see anybody there] Oh, Uhm, yeah. An iron. I'd like to unwrinkle my shirt.

Sonia: [Pointing as she moved her gaze to the ironing board that stood in the dark corner just inches from away the glassdoor] To your left.

Chris walked over to what he thought seemed like a table.

Chris: I could have sworn I saw a table. [He said to himself]

He picked up the iron and stared at it for a while before looking up at Sonia.

Sonia: You can't operate it, can you?

Chris: I- Well, my mom did most of the work for me.

Sonia: [Mumbling something about boys] Give it to me. I'll do it for you.[Walking towards the ironing board]

Chris: Thank you.

Sonia: Don't mention it.

***

Chris: Do you go by cab to school?

Sonia: No, by foot. It's a 15-minute walk.

Chris: Would you mind if I join You?

Sonia: Only if you pinky-swear [Bashfully holding out her pinky finger which Chris unhesitatingly hooked his into] that you won't talk to me as soon as I have my headphones on. [Pulling her hand away, attaining a frown from Chris and quickly turned into a small smirk]

Chris: [Grabbing an Apple before pulling his backpack up] Deal.

Chris waited for their departure before he could bombard her with questions.

Chris: [Gently tapping her shoulder to gain her attention] So, miss sexy physique.

Sonia: [Irritated] You swore you wouldn't talk to me.

Chris: I didn't promise [Wiggling his eyebrows] I swore.

Sonia: [Stuffing her headphones in her bag as she snaps at him] Stop behaving like a child.

Chris: [Snapping back at her] No, you are the one behaving like a child. I just wanna talk. And you can't even do me justice just to listen to what I have to say.

Sonia: [Stopped in her tracks by Chris' choice of words] Right. What do you want from me, Chris Tarantino?

Chris: [Smirking as he looked her in the eyes]. I want us to be friends.

Sonia: Just friends?

Chris: [Flirtatiously smiling at her] You want more? There can always be more.

Sonia: [Turning away as she continued walking] Stop flirting with me. It's a turn-off.

Chris: And it's funny how your attitude turns me on. I could do stuff to you right now but that would be wrong 'cause we are in the open.

Sonia: [Walking away in the direction of the gateway to hide her blush as she felt the effect Chris had on her] See you, Chris. And yes we can be friends.

Chris: This is just the beginning Son.

Sonia emotionlessly looked at him one more time without uttering a word before she headed for her first class, Which they attended separately.

After 6 hours or so, Sonia walked out of class with Surina brutally tugging her arm, beside her.

Surina: At what time are you going to fill me in. Curiosity is after me. I might just have a heart attack. 'Cause It's making me very anxious, it's driving me crazy.

Sonia: Shut up, will you? If you continue whining I might just keep it to myself. By the way, how did you know I have some juicy details especially for You? You nosy parker.

Surina: [Giggling and nudging her] I just know. [Walking towards the Cafeteria] I'm gonna get us something to drink.

Sonia: Make that three. [She said rolling her eyes]

Sonia strolled in the direction of Matty, her ex-boyfriend, who was step walking back and forth under a tree opposite the Cafeteria.

Matty: [Studying her as she approached] Sonia, why do you have a phone if you can't ring me back after I texted you a hundredth times?

She huffs as she had her right hand shoved in one of the side pockets on her backpack and pulled out her phone before shuffling through her text messages

She grinned, exposing her sharp dimples as she felt a familiar voice. The voice that was deep and gravelly, you could listen to it and it's like music to your ears. The kind that would send shivers to the most sensitive parts of your body. Weakness.

Sonia: Chris?! [Motioning her hand towards Chris than to Matty as she introduced them] Oh, Matty, Chris. Chris, Matty.

Chris: Hey yo! Sonia, can I talk to you? [Turning to matty] Please excuse us.

Sonia: Give me a minute Matty [Following Chris].

***

Sonia: Yes? Tell me. [Taking in the view of the empty hallway]

Chris: Can I have your History notes?

Sonia: Did we have to come in an empty and quiet hallway for you to ask for my notes? You could have asked for them in Matty's presence.

Chris: I don't like that dude over there.

Sonia: What is wrong with you? You've only met him and you're already not fond of him.

Chris: [Throwing his hands in the air] Judging from the way you were grinning from ear to ear proves his toxicity.

Sonia: What you are saying makes no sense at all. OMG! Are you jealous?

Chris: Of course not. I don't get jealous. I just don't like the way he looks at you.

Sonia: You sound jealous for real. Only a jealous person speaks in that manner.

Chris stepped forward and towers over her as he leaned in, their faces just an inch apart.

Chris: What if I say I am jealous? [Pulling her in a lingering hug, before moving to her left ear and nibbles it ].

Sonia: [Burying her face in her hands ] You- Uhm-Chris, what are you doing? You are distracting me.

Chris: [Pulling away] I hate seeing you around any guy that isn't me. That distracts me more.

Sonia: [Locking eyes with him] I'm not your girlfriend, I'm afraid you have to endure more of it.

Chris: You have gorgeous eyes. We should head back before "Mary" comes looking for you.

Sonia: It's Matty.

Chris: I know.

Sonia led the way, with Chris behind her. She spotted Matty who was now busy talking to Surina.

Sonia: Matty, I'm sorry I had something important I needed to sort out.

Matty: Alone with him? Is he the reason you've been acting up? He's the biggest playboy in school.

Chris: [Stepping in front of Matty, exceeding him in height] If I were you... I'd filter what comes out of that mouth. [Infuriated by Matty's inappropriate assumptions] Watch what you say about me!

Matty: Sonia, I'll call you later. [stumbled and spilt his drink as he walked off].

Sonia: I'm sorry about that Chris. [Grasped the bottle of soda, that she got from Surina] Matty is very immature sometimes.

Chris: [Ignoring what Sonia gave voice to] We should get going. It seems like we are the only ones here. It's quarter to 4. [Walking in the direction of the huge gate as the girls followed closely behind him].

Before they could step off the pavement which intersected with the road, the image of Brain froze Sonia, half-unbalanced, neither able to stand straight, nor to continue forward.

She unknowingly nudged Chris in fear of achieving a confused frown from him. He studied her expression and pulled her closer, her body tensed as her face set in anxiety. Reminiscing about her conversation with Malisa. The fear of the 'girl' sets in.

Surina followed Sonia's gaze and it landed on the man from the other day. His long untidy dreadlocks covered half of his face. The untidy man was now ambling towards them. There were no cabs around and no way of getting one. They couldn't run because it was a dead end. Surina paced back and forth when a black pick-up truck, drove past Brain and stopped right before them.

Brain was now a few feet away, if he ran, he could grab one of them in time. Before he could do that. They all climbed into the car, slamming the doors in time, just as the car sped off.