CHAPTER SIX

After the stress and everything that came with Maxwell High, I deserve a break sometimes, you know?

I don't know how to play games {The only game I know I'm good at is Magic Tiles 3... Any piano tile game and they're mobile games}.

I and my friends{The group is always included, of course, then we have a few others join us}.

So, we go to the arcade every Friday night, except for the previous week. Another Friday night presented itself. I was just getting ready. There's nothing so big there anyway, so I just go baggy {I love baggy, so much}. The arcade was just somewhere across the street. I left my house to go get the rest{Maeve and co.}.

I headed to Chris's first.

"Heyy Rayy!", his brother warmly greeted. His younger brother, so relax. He's like, twelve.

"Hey there James! Where's Chris?", I responded, smiling. Chris's younger brother is a total cutie. Good looks run in their family.

"He's upstairs. Although he has been up there since he got back from school".

Huh.

"Uh..okay.. I'll go see him now".

And I went up to him.

"Rayna?"

"Yeah?", I answered James.

"Tell him I'm worried".

Aww.

"I'll do just that."

And I found myself at the front of Chris's room. I knocked on the door.

"Yeah?" went a voice that I recognized very well.

"Chris?", I said.

"Ray?", I heard him ask. And he opened the door. His face was what greeted me first.

He didn't look like he was alright.

His hair was ruffled, his first button was undone, and his eyes looked sunken.

If he wasn't one of my best friends, I'd have said he looked.. hot.

"What's going on with you? James said to tell you he was worried. And you have been up here all day since you returned from school. Anything the matter?", I asked, concerned.

He ruffled his hair once more.

"I wish Rayna. You know how long I've liked Maeve. Before you moved here, I'd liked her. I've been having inner battles on whether or not to tell her. I don't want to ruin anything between us. I think I made the wrong move because I saw Gabriel and Maeve on my way out of school. They were in the halls. He had his hand on her waist and she was against the lockers. They were gazing at each other, and I don't know what he was saying, all I know is that it was enough to make her smile so... He kissed her forehead, and before I'd seen anything else, I turned back. Rayna, it hurt", he narrated, pain all across his face.

I felt really bad. I don't like seeing people I care about in pain. Now another person I care deeply for was the cause of his pain. I hate it when I find myself in such situations.

"So you won't be able to go to the arcade then", I asked Chris.

"No, I won't. If Maeve will be there".

And I knew she would.

I didn't know what to say to Chris then, so I just pulled him in for a hug.

And we remained in that position for some time.

Chris and I have a pretty amazing friendship. Unlike Maeve, I didn't have to force him to tell me anything. He told me about the tiniest bits of his day. I had to practically beg Maeve for a lot of stuff, and I didn't like it, but I was tolerant enough. She was worth it, I always thought when it happened.

Whenever it was obvious that something was up with Maeve and I asked her about it and she denied it, especially in front of our other friends, they usually sent me a look that made me feel awkward. A good number of times, people have questioned our friendship, but I always told them off. People care differently and react differently to stuff. Thankfully, Chris isn't as different as Maeve is.

As we were seated, we heard a noise, coming from his window. We turned towards the direction of the sound and saw the cause.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

Maeve dropped in.

"What's good guys?", went Maeve.

"What's wrong Chris? You look sick"...

"Well, I am sick. Very sick", he replied bitterly. He was finding it hard to hide the reason for his sickness. I hit him a little.

Don't be mean Chris.

If only you knew Maeve.

"Okayy... So you won't make it to the arcade then", she said warily.

Yeah", I answered for him.

"Alright, I'll tell you all about Rayna's defeat when we get back", she said cheerfully.

"You seem so happy Maeve. Care to tell what's got you so piped up?", Chris said accusingly, but Maeve didn't get his accusatory tone. So she willingly replied to him;

"Well... Gee, is it that obvious? There's this guy in my Biology class, Gabriel. Well, he told me today that he likes me, and what can I say apart from better timing? I like him too!", she yapped excitedly.

I cringed.

Then I noticed Chris clench his right fist.

Of course, Maeve noticed none of this, so she went on.

"I even invited him to the arcade today. You'll meet him, Ray! Too bad Chris is sick"

"Yeah. Too bad", he muttered and he stormed off, banging the door behind him.

I not only felt bad, I felt guilty.

Is Maeve that blind?!

"What is up with him? Is his sickness all that bad?", Maeve said with a slight scowl on her face.

"Let's go Maeve".

And we left through Chris's window...

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

We arrived there alright.

We met Isabel, Esther, Ashton, and Larry there already. They spotted us immediately as we graced the entrance.

"Hey, guys! What's good? Chris won't be coming, he isn't feeling so good", I half-yelled.

"Yeah, I got a feel of that one", Maeve commented.

"Chris? Not feeling well? What's wrong with him?", Ashton asked, concerned. He was closer to Chris and Isa than the rest. We were all very tight, but you know what I mean. He was a brother to Chris like he is to me.

"Yeah", I replied to him. I was hoping he had an idea of what was causing his 'illness'.

"So, he's not coming. We can still have fun, and there's no one to drag the title of the winner with".

"Hold on, there's still me, relax", Ashton came up behind me.

"Whatever", Maeve said, rolling her eyes.

"Why do we always come here and play when we know that Ash and Chris always end up winning? What's the point then?", Larry whined.

"Not my fault you're not as good as the both of us Larry", Ashton said mockingly.

Larry's kind of like the set's stand-up guy. He's a real kick at jokes. He's really funny and he's very cheerful. I enjoy his vibes and I love being around him. I have to admit though, he is sort of cute.. no.. he is cute. With sky blue eyes and light brown hair he likes to keep long, he is good-looking.

"Whatever", it was Larry's turn to say.

Isa chuckled.

"Come on, let's go!", I began pushing the rest of them inside the arcade.

"Wait up!", I heard behind me. I smiled.

Sandra was here.

I turned around and, hugged her.

"Finally! You're here!", I beamed.

"Yes, yes I am. Shall we?", she responded with an equally bright smile.

And we went into the arcade...

Two hours of fun later...

"Oh my goodness! I won guys... I won Ashton!", Isa yelled excitedly at the ice cream stand we were at right now.

"Mehh... You're just lucky", Ashton sulked.

He's having a hard time accepting that he was beaten by a girl.

Big whoop.

"Since when are you good at games Isabel?", I was surprised.

"Oh well, I don't know. I've been playing with my brothers recently, I guess I got a few pointers", she replied to me, still grinning like an idiot while she collected her ice cream cone from Larry.

"I'm genuinely happy for you Isa. Finally, someone's dealt with Ashton's big ego. I just wish Chris was here as well", Larry said, like he was the winner.

"Thank heavens, something new to tell Chris about this night's games. And I'll be the one to deliver the news", Maeve gushed, turning her head to look over at me.

Oh no, I can't allow that.

"Let's all drop by Chris's guys. You know, a kind of mini-surprise. Hopefully, it helps him get better. I'll go get some more ice cream for him", Gabriel suggested.

Yes. He came. Maeve invited him.

I've got to admit, he's a cool guy. And of course, he looks amazing [Now, I know Maeve. She's got high standards in guys. She's got a right to anyway, she's really beautiful and she's just fifteen. Sigh..].

He's got striking green eyes, wild blonde hair, an amazing nose, and he's quite tall [Now I'm a tall girl, and he's slightly taller than I am, but Kyle's taller anyway].

He's got amazing vibes and he's witty. I would have loved him and Maeve, but there's Chris.

I can't be rooting for the other party to be with who one of my best friends wants. And he wants the other best friend. And that other best friend wants someone else and she looks very happy and I know I have to be happy for her and all but being happy for her is like going against Chris and his happiness and if I go ahead to not support her and Gabriel then I'm going against her happiness and...

Ugh.

If I had just a best friend, being loyal wouldn't be so difficult now, would it?

And that one Maeve wants wants to go to Chris's house.

With Maeve.

The reasons he couldn't even come in the first place.

The reasons he was 'sick'.

Who did Chris offend?

I have to stop this.

"Uhh Gabriel", I stopped him as he went to get Chris's supposed ice cream, "I don't think that's a good idea. Let's leave him to rest. Maeve, we saw how he was before we got here. Don't you think he needs rest?"

"You're probably right. He was a bit cranky too", Maeve scowled a little at the memory.

Ashton looked all the more bothered. I went over to whisper in his ear, "We will go over to his place when the others disperse buddy", and I squeezed his hand.

He looked a bit relieved.

"Oh all right", began Sandra, "Tell him we said hello and we hope he gets well soon. Okay then, bye y'all! Thanks for the ice cream, Gabriel!"

And like that she was the first to leave, with Esther.

"You're welcome. Shall we Maeve?", Gabriel stretched out a hand.

A gentleman. Ohh...

Maeve smiled big.

"Tell Chris we all care and can't wait for him to recover. I'd have loved to be the one to deliver the news of Ash's defeat, but since that can't work out, narrate it well okay?", she asked of me.

"Yeah sure".

Then they left.

Isa and Larry followed, calling out 'Goodnight' and 'Bye' over their shoulders.

Ash and I were left.

"Let's go", I pulled him along. With that, we headed to Chris's house by ten minutes after eight pm...

....................................................................................................................................................

Ashton pressed the doorbell.

James answered, again.

"Hey! It's you again... and ASH!", he said the last part excitedly.

"Hey buddy", Ashton ruffled his hair, then carried him up. James laughed out loud. Ash set him back down on the floor and raised his hand for a high five. James gave him one.

Ashton was like an additional brother to their family, just like I was a sister.

"Chris still up?", I asked James.

"He just came down now to get something in the kitchen. If you go there, you'll catch him", he responded, looking a bit distant.

Ah, he was still worried.

"He's fine", I reassured James, placing a hand on his shoulder, "It's just... a phase".

"Okay", he smiled half-heartedly.

I and Ashton headed toward the kitchen. As we were entering, he was about to leave.

"Hey Chris", I greeted.

"Are you okay? You don't look it", Ashton asked, concern etched on all his features.

Chris gave him a long look.

"Oh. That's why you didn't come to the arcade. You didn't want to see her", Ashton said, realization suddenly dawning on him.

I knew he'd known about it.

"It's good you didn't come anyway, she brought him", he said nonchalantly.

Chris clenched his right fist at his side.

Chris and clenching his right fist when he's getting angry or frustrated...

I hit Ashton.

"Ow! Whatever for?", He complained, "I'm supposed to tell him".

"Who said so?", I replied, putting my right hand on my forehead.

"It's a bro something, Rayna. Don't get in the way. I'm sure he wants to know", he looked over at Chris.

"Ugh. Feelings suck guys", he groaned.

I and Ashton exchanged looks. I know we were thinking the same thing.

In normal circumstances, we'd have told him things like 'She's not worth it ' 'If she doesn't know your worth she's blind' 'She's the dumbest person alive if she doesn't see how great you are and all that, but we couldn't, because she's someone that means a whole lot to the three of us, and we can't say things about her like that. Another thing is, she's not even aware of what she's doing, and I'm sure she wants us to be happy for her and shit like that, but it's affecting someone else. I can't even bring up my situation right now.

The three of us went to his room together. I shut the door behind me.

Chris threw himself on the bed and sighed heavily.

"And she has no idea", he said longingly.

And that was a simple truth, so we couldn't be angry at her. Or anyone even.

"Well, I've got good news", I started and looked over at Ashton.

"Don't you dare...", I think I heard Ash growl.

Teeheehee.

"What?", Chris seemed a little interested.

"Isa won today!", I nearly shouted, actually feeling what she felt.

"No way!", Chris's eyes widened.

"Yes, way!"

"Oh my..", Chris looked over at Ashton, "You were beaten by a girl. Ha!".

"What the heck is that supposed to mean?", I stared hard at the two of them.

Chris started laughing.

Hey, we made him laugh.

I smiled at the thought. Ashton did as well.

"Hey, Isa is good Chris, it could've been you too", he defended himself.

"Pfft, like that could happen", he said, looking all smug.

Oh, I'm the next to beat you, Chris.

"Ash was beaten by Isa, Ash was beaten by Isa", Chris repeated for the next two minutes.

"Ah jeez. Way to go Rayna", Ash said, rolling his eyes.

I just smiled like a doofus.

After a while of taunting, then talking about random stuff, we kept quiet.

A comfortable silence enveloped the room.

We were all on his bed. Chris had his head on my tummy, he had his legs on Ashton's legs. We were all lying down. Chris cheered up, thanks to us.

I glanced at the clock on Chris's bedside table.

Nine o'clock.

"I should be on my way now. Take care you guys", I came down from the bed and wore my shoes.

"Alright, I'll just call Mom and tell her I'll be staying over with Chris", Ashton replied. If my parents were that free...

"Thank you for tonight Rayna", Chris said, his thanks obvious in his beautiful eyes.

"At your service", I joked.

"Place a call across when you get home alright?", Ashton called out as I made my way downstairs.

"Definitely".

For the third time, James came to get the door.

"Goodnight James", I ruffled his hair.

He smiled.

God, he's adorable.

I made my way home...