A/N: Hey there guys. i hope you still read this fic :). Anyways, here's chapter 5. its kinda long. well, not really long but, its longer than the previous chapters. hehe. so. Pls i hope you enjoy it. And thanks for everyone who reviewed :D
Some days, Dan was actually forgetting his hate for the Kabras. Not actually, but quite. There's no day that he had no fight with Natalie. But unlike before, it's not really serious fights. It usually ends up Dan smiling at Natalie, which she really hated. Some days Ian would talk to Amy, and not to him, or Natalie. Then they laugh, which really annoyed Dan. There's no day that the Kabras would take part in Dan's routine, but there's no day that he's not liking it.
There's no day as weird as today, for Dan. Tonight, his cousins would come over. Not to play, no, but to have some kind of farewell party, and Fiske and Nellie invited them. Tomorrow, the Kabras would be leaving. Dan wasn't quite sure what to feel about it. Be happy? Sad? He was confused. Deep inside, he's not happy about it. Though the Kabras turned his summer a little differently, he'll miss them. Ian, and, surely Natalie. That monster, he'll miss their fights. He'll miss the times he always wins. But mostly, he'll really miss her. But he's not showing it or telling anyone either.
They were setting up decorations. Not much, but still, parties are a lot better if there are decorations. Ian and Amy were out, again. They bought food and stuff for their gathering tonight. Dan was left with Natalie, Fiske, and Nellie. They were cutting up some designs. Fiske, however, is taking pictures. He was enjoying himself.
"Seriously," Dan said. "Why do we have to work all this just for your farewell party, Cobra? You're not the president or something. Besides, it's not like we're not gonna see each other's faces again. That would be a thing I dread to think when there are parties coming, and we're both invited." He was talking to Natalie, of course.
"I don't know." Natalie hastily replied. "It wasn't my idea."
"I'm sure," Dan said. "that you're really happy about it. Oh. And excited for tomorrow, too."
"You know, sometimes, you are right. Keep that up, Daniel."
"What do you mean, sometimes? I'm always right. And hey, I can't wait for tomorrow too."
"Oh great." Natalie said. She looked at Dan. For a moment they looked at each other. Their faces were quite not interested, despite all the things they said. Then Natalie rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Hey, come on, kiddos." It was Nellie. "What's up with you two? Do you really mean what you said? I think not. I know you'll miss each other."
"No, we wont!" They said in unison.
"Owkay, owkay! If you insist." Then Nellie laughed.
"Hey, hey!" Now Fiske was talking. "Smile at the camera. Why do you look so glum?"
"Bored." Dan said.
"Tired." Natalie followed.
"Lies." Nellie said. Natalie and Dan narrowed their eyes at her.
"Hey, look here." Fiske said. "Say cheese." Natalie and Dan looked at each other. Then they looked at the camera. Both smiling. The flash went out. "Good. You know, you two look good together. Smiling too." From behind they heard Nellie laugh. Then the door burst open and Ian and Amy came in. They were holding in their hands bags filled with chips and drinks.
"What did we miss?" Ian said.
"Nothing much." Natalie said.
"Oh! So, how are you guys doing?" Amy asked. "With the designs and all."
"I don't know. Can we have snacks please?" Dan said.
"Sure." Nellie said. She brought out muffins.
The evening came. The Holts, Starlings and Jonah arrived.
"Woah, quite a party you have here, Dan." It was Ham, he fist bumped him.
"Yeah. It was their idea. But, there's food, so I'm cool." Dan replied.
"So, what're we doing for tonight?" Sinead said. "Play games again? I'm in the mood for it."
"Yeah!" It was Jonah. "I brought Twister."
"Really, Jonah?" Ned said. "Twister?"
"Yeah, I think it's cool. It's cool right?"
Nobody answered, but at least there's games.
"We brought movies too," Reagan said. "The Knife King."
"Woah cool!" Dan exclaimed. "We should watch it, like now."
"Really, you guys?" Amy said. "You want to watch a movie about knives, and stabbing, and, blood, and.. stuffs? The title's lame too."
"What, Amy? You scared?" Dan said, making a face at his sister. One she finds really annoying. She was certain she'd slap his face with the DVD.
"Hey guys." It was Sinead again. "I knew this would happen, so I brought a movie too. I made sure it's not scary." Sinead held up the DVD for them to see. Dan could see the title. Pancakes and Kisses. Crap, he thought, a love story.
"So, what are we waiting for? Let's roll." Ian said.
Throughout the night, the Cahills laughed and danced and had a lot of fun. While playing Twister, Dan was enjoying how Jonah and Madison were twisted on the colored mat. He takes their pictures, really weird photos they are. If there is no mat, they would be more perfect for the caption "A contortionist in pain" for Natalie's blog.
"Movie time." Hamilton called.
"Hey, where are the chips?" Dan asked.
"Wait, you dweeb." Amy said. "I'll get them."
Soon the room was filled with chips and drinks and Cahills sitting wherever they feel comfortable. Hamilton, Dan, Ted and Ned preferred to squat on the floor. Ian was sitting beside Amy, who was sitting beside Natalie, who was hugging a pillow. Reagan and Madison and Jonah were sitting in another couch. Sinead was sittin' solo. Nellie was right behind, leaning on the wall. Fiske grabbed a chair from the kitchen and joined the kids.
"Which one should we watch first?" Ned asked.
"Let's vote on it." Sinead said.
"Okay. Who wants to watch When in Rome first?" Amy asked. Few hands raised. It was Amy's, Natalie's, Sinead's, Ian's, Nellie's, and Jonah's.
"Okay, for Sinister?" Dan asked. The rest of the hands raised. It was from Dan's, Hamilton's, Reagan's, Madison's, Ned's, and Ted's.
"Woah-woah-woah!" Dan said. "Really? 6 against 6?"
"Hey, Uncle Fiske didn't vote." Madison said.
"Oh yeah." Amy said. "Which do you prefer, Uncle Fiske?"
"The one with the pancakes." Fiske replied.
Dan wasn't enjoying the movie, rather, he was enjoying his companions' faces. Some are very in to the movies, very focused. Dan finds this really funny, secretly, he took photos of them. Some photos, Amy and Natalie were staring in the screen, mouth slightly open. The Holt's faces too, very tired. They weren't enjoying the scene too. Dan caught Ham while he was yawning. In the photo, he was opening his mouth, eyes closed, as if he was singing in an opera. Other's faces are priceless too. Dan didn't miss one single shot.
Finally, the movie was over. Natalie and Sinead and Amy were talking about how good the movie was. Then Jonah agreed too, but not as good as his upcoming TV show, he said. They put on the horror movie. Creepy, it was, Dan had to admit.
Throughout the movie, everyone was so silent. Even Dan, he occasionally looks at his relatives, then laughs. Some faces never change, he thought. Sometimes, since he was sitting on the floor, he used it as an advantage to scare some people. He silently but quickly grabs on their legs, usually Amy's or Natalie's. When the movie is starting to get really creepy, and the sound effects are quite loud, Dan would scream. Other's, who are really focused on the movie, are startled. That, to Dan, was more than funny. The room is filled with his laughter, despite the horror movie on. Then there's occasional throwing of popcorns at his direction.
Then, it was over too. The bag of chips are empty. Bits and pieces were scattered on the floor. Some Cahills stood up and stretched. Dan was still sitting, he was reviewing his cousin's faces on the camera. Man, he thought, I can't wait to put this online. The show was over, or so they thought.
After Amy removed the DVD from the player, she connected another camera into the TV. Then they watched some slideshows and photos. Then, a video. Dan wasn't sure what it was, but it's very familiar. Very familiar and was far more scarier than any horror movie he'd seen.
Showing on the TV was the time when Dan came into Natalie's room to get Amy's laptop.
"Uhhm," Dan said. "Amy? What is the meaning of this?"
She didn't mind him. She just watched the show, holding back laughter.
Silently, Natalie grabbed Dan's shoulder. Dan looked up to see her behind him. Then she said, "Do you have any idea about this?"
"No. I don't know. But-" Dan stood up and sat next to Natalie. "I think it's Amy's doing. Look at how happy she is."
"Yeah. And look, others are enjoying too."
"Why'd she do this? I never knew Amy can be so evil. More evil than you, actually." Natalie punched his shoulders. The video was still playing, it's on the part when Dan was touching Natalie. Each minute, he felt like dying of embarrassment. Blood was running on his face, making it look red. So did Natalie. She wasn't feeling any good either. The video Natalie screamed and called Ian. Others, who was watching was amused. Some even laughing. No, this isn't funny at all to Dan and Natalie. It was…
The video was finished. Dan was relieved, or so he thought. There were more, to his horror. Clips of him and Natalie arguing. That time when they were fighting in the kitchen, when Dan said Natalie was cute. That time when they thought they were alone, when they were playing Dan's video games. And more times, when he and Natalie were together, fighting, but there's a hint on how close the two are getting. Dan and Natalie was still, and silent while watching. They can't believe it. They can't even look at each other. Finally, it was over.
"Woah-woah-woah!" Hamilton said. "Dan, you never told me you liked Natalie."
Dan didn't answer.
"Yeah." Jonah said. "You two really look cute together."
"Hahahahaha." It was Reagan. "You two? Filmed? And you have no idea about it right? Best prank ever."
"Wow!" Ted said. "That was. Wow."
"Come on you guys," It was Amy. "Don't tease the two. That's the start of their friendship, you know."
"Yeah." Ian continued. "Isn't it right, Dan? Natalie?" He looked at the two. Their faces still wide with shock. Dan couldn't believe it. All those times Amy and Ian would talk about things in hushed voices, that time when Amy asked him to get her laptop in Natalie's room, she planned it. Those times when he was curious as to where Amy and Ian went, those times when he thought they were alone. Those times..
"Told ya, guys." It was Nellie. "See, I told ya."
"Hey there's ice cream on the kitchen." Fiske called
The Cahills went into the kitchen, leaving Dan and Natalie alone, sitting on the couch, side by side, staring at the screen as if it's still on. For the first time, Dan wasn't excited about hearing the word ice cream. For the first time, Dan felt how it was being tricked. Then Natalie spoke.
"Hey, Daniel."
"What?" He quickly replied. Not at all looking at Natalie.
"Uhm." Natalie wasn't quite sure what she wants to say. She could still feel herself blushing, he thought Dan was too. That's why he couldn't even look at her. "Uhm. Do you like me that much?"
This caught Dan's attention. He looked at Natalie. He couldn't believe she said that. He couldn't believe she thought about it. He couldn't believe she was RIGHT. Still, he denied it. "What are you talking about? Me? Like.. you? I mean, yeah sure it was fun being mean to you, and that I am really happy even if you are there contradicting me, really glad that you came over but-"
At this point, Dan stopped talking because Natalie, to Dan's surprise, kissed him on the cheek. "Stop hiding it, the feeling is mutual." Natalie stood up and stuck her tongue out to Dan. "Come on, let's go get some ice cream."
Dan was speechless. Dan was staring into space, and Dan was slowly smiling. And no one, he hoped, saw that.
Soon, the Starlings, Holts, and Jonah said their goodbyes to them. They thanked them for the party. Some were still teasing Dan and Natalie about the video. Dan and Natalie didn't know how to react. They waved goodbye until they were gone. Then they closed the door.
"Wow! After all that. I cant believe I'm so tired." Amy said.
"Yeah! Me too." Ian agreed. "Arent you?" He looked at Dan and Natalie.
"Amy, why'd you do that?" Dan asked.
"And Ian. You too?" Natalie said.
Ian just smiled and headed upstairs.
"Let's just say, Dan." Amy said. "It's kind of a payback, to all the pranks you did to us. And, you have to admit. You liked it. Hahaha. Oh wait." Amy grabbed something from behind her. "Before we sleep." Amy handed it to Dan. What was it? He thought. It was white, and like a cardboard. "Good night Dan, Natalie. Sweet dreams." Then she headed upstairs to her room.
"What is it?" Natalie asked Dan. He didn't answer, instead, he flipped the thing over. Then his eyes went wide, and he looked as if he were about to faint. He hid it in his pocket and ran to follow Amy.
"Gotta go, Natalie." He said. "Good night."
Natalie had no idea what that was about. But she was glad Dan learned to say his name. She had no idea that the thing Dan was hiding in his pocket was a photo.
It was a photo of Natalie kissing Dan on the cheek.
As to how Amy took the picture, Dan had no idea. He made a mental note never to underestimate and mess with his sister next time.
So, how was it? Was it ok? Pls. review :)