Development

Jace Dreice Scott's Point of View

"Hi! I'm Francis by the way, it's nice to meet you," one of the guys said and combed his hair with his hand

"I'm Ryan," the other one said and offered his hand, which none of the girls took

"I'm Kashim," the other one said and waved his hand

"I'm Cyrus," the other one said and bit his lip

"You all look beautiful, I'm Damien by the way," the other one said and winked at Chelsea.

"I'm Gregory, it's nice to be acquainted with you," the other one said and leaned on our table

"Excuse me," Jaxith said and pushed the guys aside.

They placed the trays on the table, I took the pineapple juice and spaghetti and placed them in front of Lavalee. I took the steak and coke.

The guys who approached our table stayed and I raised my brow at them.

"You just want to meet, right?" Irene asked and the guys nodded

"Why are you still here? You have introduced yourself." Irene said bluntly and the guys seemed to be embarrassed

"What are your names?" the one named Ryan asked

"Talia Go," Chelsea said with a smile

"Blare Jang," Irene said in a bored manner and leaned on her seat

"Jira Han," Jess said icily, she acts that way to every guy who approaches her

"Valerie," Lavalee said still leaning on me

"O-oh, alright, nice meeting you," they said and rushed to go away

"You guys are really scary," Jaxith said while shaking his head

We began eating and I'm only using my right hand because Lavalee is still leaning on my left shoulder while eating her pasta in a bored manner. She seems distracted though.

"You know, Jace can't eat properly because of you," Hendrix said while eating his steak.

I looked at Lavalee and she looked up at me with wide eyes before sitting up properly, she looked like she had just realized what she did.

"Sorry," she said but I shook my head signaling it was alright.

We continued eating, they were discussing different strategies and possible talent for the Pageant tonight and for the match later.

We still have the final match later after lunch.

"Wait, why is my drink pineapple juice while you guys are drinking carbonated drinks?" Lavalee asked while holding the cup I placed in front of her.

"You've been drinking carbonated drinks lately," I answered and sipped on my Sprite

"Jace did it for you, Lav. You might get a UTI after drinking too much carbonated drinks." Chelsea said calmly

"But all of you are drinking coke!" she complained

"I'm not," I said and showed her my cup

She rolled her eyes and drank the pineapple juice.

"Healthy living, Lav?" Jaxith teased and Lavalee glared at her

Suddenly, my phone rang so I had to answer it.

[Jace!] my forehead knotted when I heard the irritating voice of Jean

"What?" I asked coldly

[I heard you're in Tagreesha! Aunt Reese told me earlier,] she said

"So?" I asked and I heard her whining things to Aunt Jenny

This brat.

[Buy me a dress from the mall.] she ordered

"Do it yourself," I said coldly

[But Jace! Come on! It's dangerous what if I get kidnapped? How will my Mommy be when that happened, you know? Come on, Jace.] she continued to whine

"Stop it, ask someone else," I said and hung up

I saw them looking amused so I looked beside and there I saw Lavalee's glaring eyes and frowning face.

"What?" I asked her and she rolled her eyes at me

"We might have forgotten to tell you," Irene said with a mischievous smile

"Lavalee doesn't want us to use the phone when there is food in front of us," Icarus said and we stood up to leave the fast food

Lavalee's still ignoring me and unlike earlier she's sticking up with the girls and acting as if I don't exist.

"Sorry, bro," Jaxith said and placed his arms over my shoulder

"Don't worry, Lav will just ignore you for three days," Icarus said and placed his arm over my shoulder

"I didn't know," I said and they shook their head

"We know but because you know Lav, she doesn't want anyone breaking her rules even if you are clueless," Jaxith said

"Ignorance of the law doesn't excuse someone from being punished for breaking it?"

We went back to the field for the final game and of course, we won.

"Nice game, bros," Jaxith said and offered his hand to our opponent but they just glared at him so Jaxith took his hand back.

"Until the next time," Elijah said and smiled but they chose to scoff at him and walked past them.

The players from the other teams bumped Jaxith and Elijah's shoulders as they passed by.

"What is your problem?" Irene asked and pulled the shoulder of the last player to face her

"We're talking to you properly, then you're going to turn your back and bump your shoulder at us?" Irene asked

"Ire, let it go," Chelsea said and held Irene's shoulder

"No, you should let her, Talia. Blare's just curious why these assholes don't know the word sportsmanship." Jess said in a bored manner obviously mocking the players from the other teams

"You are a woman so we will let you off," the team captain said

"Or are your damn egos getting ahead of you for being beaten by a group with four girls when in fact there are eleven of you?" Jess said continuously mocking the other team

"Jira, enough," Chelsea chastised

"Let's not take it far," Caspian said and tapped Jess and Irene's shoulders

"Cowards," With that word, the players from the other team went to surround Jess and Irene

"Bro, they're girls," Ethan warned the players

"Jira, Blare, enough,"

When Lavalee warned them, Jess and Irene stopped and looked at her for a moment before crossing their arms.

"Seems like you're just slaves," One of the members said

"They're not. They only know that engaging in a fight with people who can't accept defeat is useless. Ego gets the best of you, huh?" Lavalee said while walking toward them

"Let's go," Icarus said and turned his back one of the members is supposed to throw a punch at Elijah since he's the last but Irene held his hand

"Blare," Lavalee warned and I saw how Irene twisted the guy's arm at the back and made him kneel

"Don't test her patience," Jess said and pointed at Lavalee who's walking away

"Let's go," Icarus repeated and we left the field

"Congrats!" Mrs. Conchia greeted us when we arrived at the villa.

"You should get ready, Valerie, I heard that the other contestants have been preparing since this afternoon." Mrs. Conchia said

"Mrs. Conchia, can I go to the mall first?" this is the first time I heard Lavalee ask permission

"Are you going to prepare there?" Mrs. Conchi asked and Lavalee nodded

"Alright then, I'll have to go ahead to the venue. Don't be late okay?" Mrs. Conchia said before walking out of the door

"What will you do in the mall?" Chelsea asked Lavalee

"I just need to relax," Lavalee said

"Just bring Jace with you," Icarus said

"What?" Lavalee asked like she can't believe it

"He is the only one with a car. Mrs. Conchia brought the van." Hendrix said

"Okay," Lavalee said and pulled me to the garage

"Here," she said and placed her phone on the stand

I drove her to the place and it's a public mall, not their mall to be precise.

"Let's go," She said and opened the door

I followed her inside the mall and she held my hand when we were inside.

She went to a bookstore and bought a book, I held the paper bag when she ran to the arcade.

If Mrs. Conchia found out what she's currently doing, Mrs. Conchia would scold her but knowing Lavalee, this is her kind of relaxation.

She went to the game where she would shoot people. I held her hand from behind and I can feel that she was stoned to the spot.

"Sorry," I apologized

"I didn't know," I added