Third times the charm

I vaguely remember having a very nauseating conversation with Zadia last night and at the time, in an attempt to completely forget that conversation I got absolutely hammered.

I had asked Wayne to take Natasha home because of some made up emergency while I ended up in the closest bar I could locate.

It had seemed like a good idea since I was pissed off but after spending the last fifteen minutes on the bathroom floor curled up next to the toilet hurling up all the contents of my stomach, I'm starting to regret that last bottle of tequila from last night.

I hadn't heard the muffled voice coming from somewhere outside, over the unflattering sound of my hurling, "Hey Blake!".

Sitting up straight I crawled towards the sink then grabbed unto the counter and used it as support as I pulled my body up to my feet.

"Dude what the hell, I can hear you in there!", Conner's voice boomed from behind the door "open up I'm moving in today".

I fell to my knees and threw up again, only this time it was at the realization that I now have a new roommate.

********

"Are you alright?", Conner asked looking a little concerned, "you look like you could drop dead any second".

"I'm fine", I snapped, causing Conner to recoil a bit.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I tightened my grip on the coffee cup in front of me on the table.

We were in a small diner off campus not so far from my dorm. Why the university decided to build off campus dorms? I don't know.

I looked up to see an unamused expression on his face, "Look man I'm sorry alright, I'm just not in the best of moods, that's all".

His mouth opened to say something but someone that came through the door killed the words in his mouth.

He gave me a pointed look. Our previous banter long forgotten, "She's here, be on your best behavior".

"Good morning", Siara greeted as soon as she saw us. Conner immediately ushered her into the chair next to his at our table.

I nodded at her in acknowledgement before slumping in my seat and talking a long swig of my coffee.

Only seconds passed before Alana showed up also. Her long black hair was fixed in a messy bun and she wore huge shades probably nursing a hangover like yours truly.

"Hey guys". She muttered taking a seat to my right. The other two wasted their smiles on her but in my opinion seven o' clock was still too early to be smiling.

She bumped her shoulders on mine when she noticed I hadn't acknowledged her, "what's up with you".

Really? First she abandons me on one of the most important night's to me and then thinks I wouldn't be upset?

I still didn't look at her and my voice was terse when I told her to back off, ignoring the questioning stares we were receiving from the people at the other end of the table.

"Is something wrong?", Siara questioned.

I didn't answer though, instead I just muttered, "Let's get this over with".

The air around the table seemed to thicken at the awkwardness now enveloping us.

"Okay", Conner drawled out pulling a folder from his backpack hanging on the back of his chair, let's get down to business. I did some research into our new target and so far I've only found one opening into talking this guy down".

********

I listened as Conner explained our plan in-depth for the past forty minutes apparently listening to boring talk about Calder McKnight and Maldak Tech was sobering enough to rid me of my hangover.

"Blake are you even listening?", Conner reprimanded.

That very moment my head immediately snapped in his direction. I hadn't realized when I had resorted to staring aimlessly out of the window.

Nodding I said almost in a bored tone. "Yeah, yeah I heard. We have to discredit Calder's relationship with Kai if we hope to break them up for good".

I noticed how Siara seemed so much more hopeful now than the day she had first showed up at my dorm room.

"So you were listening", Alana taunted.

All the contentment evaporated from my countenance and I rolled my eyes at her ensuring my expression of disdain directed towards her was truly received.

A low scoff past her lips, or it could've been a sigh. She had obviously had enough of my attitude since I had replied rudely to all her attempts at sparking a civilized interaction between us since she's got here.

"I've gotta use the restroom", she muttered as he left the table.

Two pairs of eyes zoomed in on me and as soon as he was out of earshot Conner resorted to interrogate me and that too in front of Siara. "Okay what the hell is up with you two?".

Shrugging I pretended to be clueless "What are you talking about?".

His teeth gritted a sign that he was getting irritated with me.

"Blake you can be so immature sometimes I swear..."

I tuned out the rest of his words when my eyes narrowed at the red head that had just walked into the diner.

The groan that escaped my lips seemed only fitting for the particular situation. Both of the other occupants at the table turned to find the object of my glare.

Why did I have to be so unlucky. For three consecutive days this woman has just showed up where I so happen to be and that too at the worst possible timing.

As if on cue she turns her head in my direction and our gazes met immediately. What caught me off guard the most though, was the dazzling smile that she practically shot at me as she changed her destination to our table.

Conner was already well aware of my relationship with Zadia or non- relationship rather.

Siara was the only one who was confused and her next question justified that fact, "Who is she?".

Neither of us answered her and in only a few more seconds too soon, Zadia was standing at our table.

She smiled politely at a scowling Conner and a slightly dazed Siara before looking me dead I the eyes.

Unbelievably enough, her smile widened. "Baby I didn't know you were going to be here?".

I had no words. I was in complete shock. What the hell was she playing at. Before I knew what was happening she slid into the empty seat beside me and placed a quick kiss to my cheek.

I cringed.

My mouth fell open both in shock and at her audacity. And so I stood there gaping at her, rendered speechless.

It was the sound of another voice though that brought me back to my senses.

"What the hell is going on here?".