Chapter 7

It was finally Friday. I walked though the halls, not looking at any direction but straight ahead. My cheeks were flaming as I felt the stares increase. Bending my head low as I walked didn't really help much. Everyone was noticing me, some were even giggling ever so slightly among their groups of friends as I walked by. I remembered when I was invisible to everyone, only some knew me as Peter Pevensie's little sister while the others just keep their noses in their own business. And now, I was quietly drifting through the halls like some clown in a baggy Santa Claus costume.

I silently went to my locker, put in the combination and clicked it open. When I was about to take my books out for the day, someone called my name from behind. "Lucy!"

I turned around, already nervous of who might that be but I let out a sigh of relief when it was only Jack, "Hey Jack."

"How have you been? Still sick?"

"How do you know that I was sick?"

"You didn't show up yesterday. You should know I'm a big fan of you." He winked at me and I found myself rolling my eyes. "Then Peter told me you were sick." Jack paused for a second, "I see you've chosen jeans over skirts."

I flushed at his statement as memories of two days ago flashed inside my head. God, why did he have to bring it up? Has everyone been talking about it in my absence? "Yes, and now I have a phobia of wearing skirts, thanks to being a girl."

"Especially white ones." He chuckled and I shot him a glare to shut him up. "Anyways, do you have a plan or something after school?"

"You're not taking me out for a date, are you? Cause if you are, you better be warned that you'll be found dead in the morning."

"Your brother is the most over protective brother I've ever met!" He pointed out and made me laugh. He actually got the joke. "Come on, it's worth your time. Promise."

"Where are you taking me?"

"Not me. I mean, not only me. Several friends are coming too. Edmund is coming. Peter's not. Busy with his student council thing."

Edmund. The mention of his name turned my expression into something more less cheerful, yet I could still manage a smile. I haven't talked to him much after what happened at my house. He was actually sleeping with me on the couch that time. I felt it. But when I woke up he was already gone and replaced by Peter who by then had his student council work sheets across from me. And then he took care of me.

And Edmund hadn't called afterwards. It's weird actually, but I was a little expecting him to call me.

"So, what do you say?" His voice snapped me back to reality, I found myself saying yes. "Ah! Good then! You have no idea how much I love you!" He hugged me and I found myself giggling.

After having a talk with Jack about after school plan, I turned on the corner of the hall to get to my class just to saw Susan leaning against her locker, about a few friends of hers with her. Surprise, I couldn't find the blonde girl who had an incident with me on my first day in the cafeteria. Guess Susan and her weren't friends anymore after the incident.

Why did I always have something bad going on in cafeteria?

Suddenly, I froze in my mid-step when my eyes found his. Edmund was among the group, looking as if he had been the head of the group for a long time, which is true. He looked so calm. He gave me a smile and he was obviously talking to...

Samantha?

It stunned me for a while there of how much power she has to the access of popularity.

I was about to turn around and walk away, not wanting to deal with seniors and their drama because I pretty much love being left alone. Because I'm comfortable that way. And I feel so intimidated being so close with pretty senior girls, and then I heard her familiar voice calling my name, "Lucy, come here!"

I cringed when I knew Susan beckoning me, smiling at me with her beautiful smile that I really adore. Her friends started to look at me like I'm some sort of a new leather jacket on mannequin being placed on the glass window, having the sale poster plastered across its still forehead. Their faces showed amusement, guess it was because of the cafeteria incident a few days back. How embarrassing.

And then there was Samantha. She stood beside Edmund. Her face was completely blank. She dressed in a stylish crop t-shirt and a pleated skirt. She looked gorgeous, though her stare was like a piercing hot laser at me. And I scrunched up my nose at that.

I decided the most hideous thing to do. I moved my feet towards the other direction, not heading to where Susan was.

I was walking away from her in a quickened pace. Maybe because I just didn't want to deal with her famous group of friends, if only she was alone then I would want to talk to her. She is a nice girl, a nice senior that I'm comfortable talking with.

Before I realized what happened, someone had me by the arm and was literally dragging me towards the group. I looked at the capturer only to found his familiar lips curving a smirk.

"What are you doing?!" I hissed at him.

Edmund didn't answer as we got to Susan and their friends. "Hi Lucy! Feeling better?" Oh wow, so many people asking the exact question.

"Hi.. Yeah, I'm feeling better. Thank you so much Susan for your help. The medicine worked, but then I got a fever."

Susan raised her eyebrow as if I was talking about another whole different topic she was not included in, "Erm, what medicine?"

I heard Edmund clearing his throat, looking...nervous? He ran a hand through his hair and it gave me tingles in the stomach.

"The painkillers?"

"What painkillers.." She trailed off in a whisper, her face looked like she was thinking to herself trying to revive memories.

I looked around and saw Susan's little group were staring at me in a different way. Smirking, smiling, some even had the expression of completely blank, as if I was invisible to them. That is, except Samantha. She was looking at me in disgust, as if I wasn't famous enough to stand next to her.

"You seriously need new clothes." She sneered at me. I tried to remain as calm as ever but I was failing. I was blushing furiously and I really wanted to smack her face, I didn't know why. That such comment had never bothered me this much before. "You are a girl. You're not supposed to wear that, especially to school."

I looked down at my clothes. I was wearing a football club jersey that I love and a baggy jeans. I knew I should have bought a new shoes as my eyes landed on them.

I felt my face flush. "Um.. I like it. It's more comfortable." I replied uneasily.

"Considering her absence, it's alright for her to wear whatever she is comfortable in wearing." Edmund snapped sarcastically at Samantha and it made my eyes widen.

"I'm just giving her my opinion."

"Could have fooled me." Edmund rolled his eyes and took my arm, "Come on, let's head to class."

I didn't get the chance to answer because he had already begun dragging me again. Susan waved a hand at me and yelled "Get well soon!" And I smiled back at her. At mid way, I spoke up, "You were being harsh. She's just giving a comment."

"Well, she deserved it." He answered, shoving his hands into his pockets.

I found myself blushing, "She is just being Samantha."

"And I don't like it she judges you like that, okay?" He stopped, turning his head at me. "Just drop it." He walked off, leaving me behind in the almost empty hall wondering by myself what had gotten into him being so caring of me. He turned around when he realized I wasn't walking beside him anymore. "Are you coming or not?"

"Y-yeah!" I hurried by his weird feeling I get whenever he's around...

After school, I was leaning against my locker reading the book Mr. Tumnus had given me a while ago. I didn't have that much time to read it so if I had some free time, even if it's not much, I take it to read it.

"So, waiting for me huh?" Jack came into my side and I flipped shut the book.

"Hm, in your dream." I joked and he laughed.

"Come on, everyone's waiting."

So, my excitement drained a little bit when we arrived at our destination. Jack promised me an ice cream shop, but this wasn't an ice cream shop.

Of course, the four guys were greeted with as much respect as kings, leaving me as nobody. Why do I just nod at whatever Jack said? I should have known it would end up like this.

I stepped through the front door. Jack had gone off to talk to his guy friend, the rest were hanging around a group of girls or just going deeper into the wild crowd. Some rude individual shoved me roughly into the crowd as they walk.

"Hey, Lucy! Let's go get a drink!" Jack called over the blasting music. I was so relieved that he hadn't forgotten about me. I thought he had.

We pushed through the rowdy house, passing some people dancing and I could feel some stares at me. Stares of nonrecognition I felt my cheeks turned crimson red. As we made our way down to the kitchen through the narrow hall, I spotted Edmund standing in front of the counter surrounded by his fellows. When I said fellows I mean girls with their lack of material of clothes.

I was the only one dressing up pretty decent with a pair of long jeans and a simple shirt with a jacket.

I didn't expect it to happen, but our eyes locked for a few seconds, but then I looked away and hurried to Jack's side.

God, what is wrong with me, I thought, trying to calm the tingles that were jumping around in my stomach like crazy. What was that?! Oh my, oh my, they better be sparks of hatred!

"Lucy, are you alright?" Jack asked as he gave me a cup of drink. "You look...flushed."

"Huh?" I gave him a confused look, "I'm fine. Just a little breathless over the lack of oxygen. Can we get some less crowded area?" I shouted over the music.

"Let's go to the back lawn then. I think I saw my friend there."

I nodded and he led me to his direction. I was in a battle with my inside voice about whether to look behind or not. But when I did, I couldn't find him. He was gone.

Why am I looking for him?! Snap out of it.

"So, where is this little friend of yours?" I sighed in irritation. We have been looking for Jack's friend for about fifteen minutes or so, but we couldn't find him anywhere.

"Chill Lu, gosh. We'll find him soon, be patient."

"I am patient." I shot him a glare just to convince him of how patient I am waiting for his little friend. Guess, not really that patient.

"There!" He said pointing a tall guy with a hair that fell down his ear. "Caspian!" The guy turned his head and when his eyes found Jack's figure waving at him, he waved back and came approaching us.

No, scratch that. Approaching Jack. He is not my friend.

"Hey Jack!" He tapped Jack's back, "Long time no see. You came!"

"Yeah, I did!" Jack chortled and turned to me as if he sensed how tense I am, "This is Lucy Pevensie. Peter's little sister. Have heard of him haven't you?"

"Oh yeah, definitely. We have met a few times." Caspian replied and his gaze met mine. He was wearing a simple white polo shirt. His baggy jeans was not that baggy, sort of fitted his long legs. Even though he has longer hair than everyone which only fell down a little after his ears, it was actually looked neat. He looked like a clean person. "I'm Caspian, nice to meet you." He handed his hand to me, and I had a hard time of choosing between shaking it or just stare at it. Suppose the last choice sounds dumb, I took the first one.

"L-lucy." I stuttered.

"You look like your brother. Other than he has blonde hair and you have brown." He chuckled and I felt my cheeks heating up.

"That's a wonder for me too," Jack interrupted and rolled his eyes, "OH MY GOD IS HE GOING TO JUMP INTO THAT FOUNTAIN?!" His scream almost making my ears deaf as he hurried to the crowd around the fountain. I could see a red head guy had took his shirt off revealing his broad chest. He looked like he was about to jump into that fountain.

The worse part is, Jack left me alone with Caspian. And since I didn't know the guy much I kept my presence still. Unfortunately, it only drew more attention to me. "You came here with him?"

"Jack? Y-yeah. He asked me. Lied about taking me to get some ice cream and going here instead."

"Sounds like a five year old lie." He giggled and I felt my cheeks blushing. I think he saw this. "You know, if you were a hamburger at McDonald's, you'd be my McBeauty," he purred.

It wasn't lame, I found it funny. I felt myself straining with all my power not to laugh. Failing, eventually I burst out laughing. "Make a better metaphor next time."

"What? I think it's the best I could have come up with." Caspian grinned down at me. I could feel he wasn't like most jocks around here, he looked nice. The way he dressed up was just different from others, and I actually liked it. It made him leave a different impression of him on me. A good one. "Okay, so another one. You better be impressed."

Depends on whatever it is, I thought to myself.

"Okay, what is that behind your back?"

"W-what? Where?" I turned around to look at my back but found nothing.

"I didn't know angels don't always need wings to be one." He winked at me and sipped at his drink.

By the time, I was having a hard time of opening my mouth. I felt my lips cracked a smile before bending my head low shyly. I burst out in a silent fit of giggles.

"So, that is a way of you saying it worked?" He spoke up.

"You got me there for a second, you know?"

"Glad to know I'm that good at entertaining my company." He said gesturing to follow him. "Come on, let's go inside it's getting crowded here."

I nodded and followed him. After that we were talking about a lot of things in the almost deserted living room and I actually found Caspian very funny and amusing. The way he talks about things were just different. He got me. He knew what I wanted to talk about and I found myself fast drowning into our conversation.

Not after what I saw afterwards.

I noticed Edmund's presence just around the corner of the hall. Not that I was specifically watching him out of the corner of my eyes. But he just happened to be there. I watched as he leaned over to whisper something to a girl I didn't know the name. The girl curved a smile and looked up at him in such a lust expression before nodding her head and led him somewhere, and soon their two figures vanished from my sight.

"Lucy? You still there?"

"Y-yeah?" I snapped to reality again.

"Do you want another drink?" He asked, his face looked like he was concerned of me.

"S-sure. I'll come with you." I said and we both went to the kitchen. "Is there any coffee here?"

"You want some?" He asked me.

"Well, you know where they put it? I don't think this kind of party ever serves one." I said as a matter of factly.

"They don't, but if you want I can make you one." He said and put out an instant coffee sachet out of the drawer. "I'm the owner of the house. I shall please you with whatever you want. You are a guest here."

I choked on my saliva, "You what?! How come you didn't say it earlier?!"

"Well, no need to be so shocked." He laughed and started to make the coffee.

"Oh my God, thank you so much." I said to him because I was so thankful he was so nice to me. With Jack and others leaving me alone like this, it's comforting to meet such a kind person as him. It's only a plus that he owns this huge house.

I was about to turn around after taking a cup of drink placed on the counter next to me, when he tapped me on the shoulder and I turned around - and I bumped into him. Splashing all the drink on his shirt.

Lucky he wasn't tapping to give me the hot coffee. He hadn't made it yet. "I'm so sorry! Oh my God, Caspian I'm so sorry!" I apologized over and over again as the pink liquid ruined his white polo shirt.

"It's okay Lucy don't worry. Can you bring me that handkerchief over there?"

"S-sure." I took the handkerchief next to me and gave it to him. "D-do you want me to take you to change? Anything? I feel so terrible - I'm so sorry."

Caspian chuckled, "No. Lucy, don't be. It's alright. You are so kind but I can get my change myself." He said smoothing his shirt as he walked pass me. But then he turned around, "Unless you want to come along, that's alright of me."

I flushed at his statement and threw him the handkerchief childishly, making him laugh as he caught it. "I'm just joking!"

"You better be." I said giggling.

He was gone for a while, leaving me with my hot coffee that eventually I made myself. I'm addicted to coffee and times like this are when its presence seems so comforting, at some point making me high.

When I felt everyone was coming inside again one by one, I couldn't help but feeling excluded, standing alone in the kitchen like this, sipping at a cup of coffee like an old lady.

I sighed and put the cup on the counter. I walked around trying to find Caspian only to realized he had probably gone off to his bedroom. I found the stairs, guessing his bedroom would probably be on the second floor. I Hesitated for a while, until I finally walked up.

They were a few doors in the hallway and I was struggling to find which one was his. I opened the first door near me, just to found it was empty. The next one too. And the next. I heard the sound of footsteps approaching, and I jolted on my spot. I was not in the mood to be found by a couple searching for an empty room, so I twisted the handle of the next door and darted inside with a pumping heart.

I shut the door behind me breathing heavily. And I came to the conclushion Caspian was no where to be found, I sighed in irritation. The room was dark. The only source of the light was from the window on my left, from the little lamps down in the lawn. I turned the switch on near my head, only to hear snickering.

It was then I became aware that I wasn't alone here. Turning around, I saw two figures standing on the corner of the room in front of me, bodies were pressed against each other. Their features were not very clearly seen under the dim light.

A low moan was heard and a girl's voice spoke in a low voice, "You're so good, Edmund."

"OH MY GOD NO NO!" I cried in disgust, hands covering my face.

I tried to find the handle door with my other hand covering my face, but not before the girl caught my presence. "Lucy!" She shrieked furiously. I peeked behind my fingers to saw Edmund turning his head to me; face flushed, lips swollen. Lucky they still have their clothes on. For a few seconds there, I saw a shock expression on his face, yet hurt and pain were swimming in his deep brown eyes.

Without giving anything for feedback, I turned the door handle and walked backwards and found myself falling on my butt on the floor. This is fantastic, I thought to myself.

I scrambled to my feet and fled in haste down the stairs and outside. I leaned against the lampost across the street from the house, trying to catch my breath. I just intruded into a make-out session, and it happened to be Edmund's.

I didn't know I was sinking down to the ground. But when the realization came to me, I ran a tired hand through my messy hair.

I had just intruded.

A make-out session.

Of the guy I liked.

Wait! It can't be that way. I hate him too much.

Having a hard time of admitting it, I got on my feet and decided to walk home with my feet alone.

No... it can't be possible...


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Sorry, been so busy over school. And suffering over math because I'm such an idiot when it comes to math. If any of you is good at math, mind to tutor me? uh oh.