I have been writing this for the past two and a half hours. I hope it paid off. There's a lot going to happen from this chapter onwards so enjoy the confusion and the drama :D I never proofread so sorry for any typos or errors. What with Helen, Hina and whatnot, I get carried away while typing :P
Chapter 27
Breakfast couldn't be more awkward.
Tala was sitting opposite Hina and he had never looked at his plate with more interest. Every time he caught a glimpse of her, last night would flash back. Guilt would flood through him, not at his rude behaviour but at how easily he had forgotten Anna. His metal heart was working overdrive and he could feel it heating up.
Kai was sitting beside Tala and for once Tala didn't find comfort in the presence of his best friend. His best friend was being stupid.
Kai was staring at his plate with none of the same concentration as Tala but with an indifference that could only account for the vacant chair beside him. The second he had sat beside Diana and tried to hold her hand, Diana had got up wordlessly.
"What's up, Diana?" Hina had asked, happy to distract her burning face from the embarrassment of sitting opposite Tala.
Diana gave a sad excuse of a smile, her glass of orange juice shaking in her hand, and said, "The outside weather is so great I thought I would just finish eating my toast there."
Kai made to get up when Diana added tightly, "Alone."
"But its raining," Jennifer said but Diana had already left.
Ian picked up four slices of bread and butter and wolfed them without even sitting down. He gulped a glass of water and laughed, "It's a beautiful day. I'm going to Giselle's. See ya."
"What's up with him?" Bryan asked. "Why is he dressed? Why is he so happy?"
"Is it safe for him to go to Giselle's?" Jennifer asked. "She knows kung fu and she's pissed at him. Should we stop him?"
Tala didn't look up from his plate. Kai shrugged playing with the crumbs on his plate as if he didn't care. Hina looked up and somehow Tala chose the same moment to look up and both of the blushed, looking away.
"I think I will just go and check on Diana," Hina blurted nearly running outside.
Tala's shoulders sagged in relief.
Spencer looked in the distance and said, "Should I invite Helen for lunch?"
Bryan and Jennifer looked at each other. What was happening to everybody?
Lunch should have been better but it wasn't.
Jennifer had been spying on her mad household and about an hour ago her efforts had been rewarded. She had finally realised what was wrong with the resident power couple. Kai and Diana were having a row!
Diana had been out on the porch since breakfast, typing furiously on her laptop completing some measly report when Kai had finally gone out. Their conversation, sadly inaudible to Jennifer, had been short and had included Diana massaging her temples, Kai sweeping back his hair, Diana standing up, Diana pushing Kai away, Kai raising an accusing finger at Diana and Diana going back to her laptop, ignoring Kai. Kai stood there for two whole minutes and then walked inside, banging the door so loudly that it was a miracle it hadn't broken.
Judging from the way Diana had closed her laptop and the way her shoulders shook, Jennifer knew that an all-girls meeting was very, very wanted. Jennifer rushed towards the door, full of good intentions when she felt the floor slipping from beneath her feet. With a great yowl she landed firmly on her backside. She tried to get up but couldn't fight against the searing pain in her lower back.
And so when lunch arrived, only Spencer and Helen were there on the table. Tala joined them soon but regretted it immediately when he saw that Hina was the one serving lunch. Bryan had taken a screaming Jennifer to the hospital. Ian hadn't returned from Giselle's and Bryan was worried for his safety. Kai had helped Bryan to take Jennifer to the hospital after realising that Diana had vanished after their little talk.
Over lunch,
"So, you have a music store?" Spencer asked trying his best not to become awkward.
"Yeah, boring but pays," Helen replied, smiling, her brown hair flitting across her shoulder, distracting Spencer.
"Uh-huh?"
Helen laughed, "You're not very great at paying attention to people are you?"
"Ce-certainly not when it comes to you," Spencer replied, blushing madly.
Tala groaned, "Take pity on me, you two."
"Tala, shut up," whispered Hina lightly and then her eyes widened as she realized she had talked to him.
Tala looked at her with surprise. Why was she so interested in Spencer and Helen? In fact, what was she doing here at all? He made a mental note to go and ask her photography group when they were leaving. She was bad for him.
After that, Hina was subject to the uncomfortable scrutiny of Tala. What was his problem? One minute, he ignored her, next he didn't, one minute he was friendly, next he wasn't…and what was with the staring? Pervert! It would be best to ignore him even though he did look hot with his red hair falling over his eyes.
And so, lunch passed with Helen asking Spencer about himself and his friends and Spencer losing his inhibitions slightly. He couldn't help feeling that Helen was (maybe) the one for him. She didn't make him feel like an object and she actually took time to know him.
Hina tried to ignore Tala and busied herself with Spencer and Helen's conversation, smiling at their sweet compatibility and wondering when she would find THE ONE.
Tala stared at Hina trying to figure out what her real intentions were, judging every movement, every smile and unknowingly falling in the very danger of liking her very much.
Helen soon left because her shop needed her. She looked really disappointed to go and her parting words were very strange, "Goodbye, Spencer. You are a really nice guy."
Spencer smiled shyly, "Goodbye, Helen, and um you are a really nice girl."
They stood there for a few second in which Spencer gathered his guts and closed the distance between them. "I-uh-I…I know, this will make you think that I'm a super weirdo, what with meeting only yesterday, well, we did meet before but I don't think that counts, yeah, what with meeting yesterday and you probably don't uh, I don't know, don't like me uh, but I really like you and would you, maybe, want to-"
Helen kissed him right there, putting an end to his bumbling speech. The kiss was perfect and they were perfect and Spencer felt belonged and so did Helen but when they broke apart only Spencer was smiling.
Helen spoke before he could, "Today has been the best day of my life. It totally has and I don't want it to end but it has to and this is why I'll be honest. We can't be together. It's just not meant to be. No, no, you're not the problem. Its me and I really like you too and that's why you need to leave."
Spencer's smile was fast disappearing, "What do you mean?"
Helen's accent was more pronounced now, "I mean it. Leave. All of you. Please, leave."
"Wait, Helen, please-"
But she was gone and Spencer wasn't the type to run after a girl.
Thankfully, Jennifer had just bruised her spine and a rib after slipping on the spilt coffee. After taking a few painkillers and getting a prescription she felt much better. The trio reached home where Tala informed his best friend that Spencer was sulking over his 'break-up' and Diana hadn't returned for lunch.
Diana did return two hours later with red eyes and an over-cheerful, "Sorry I'm late."
She walked by Kai who asked in a cold voice, "Where have you been? Its late and we were worried. You should have at least called."
Diana's attempt at cheerfulness was thus prematurely defeated. She stiffened as if trying to stay quiet but finally muttered angrily, "I don't think you are entitled for an answer to that question or that concern, Kai."
The room's temperature must have dropped because everybody felt it change. Tala immediately decided that he needed a walk. Bryan decided he needed a walk too. Diana walked to her room. Kai looked shocked. Jennifer tutted and dragged Hina to Diana's room for the all-girl's meeting.
Long chapter to help y'all forget that I'm two days behind the deadline :(
And now you have a lot of food for thought so please be awesome and leave a REVIEW to show me you're enjoying this.
Among the things that are, as of now, scheduled to happen in the future of this book, Mariah and Ray's daughter gets kidnapped, Kai and Tala go on another mission, Kai goes missing and much more so please stay tuned. I promise you'll love everything that is to come :)
A HUGE thank you to Superkami, SMRA (Yep, vacation was great! Missing it already. Haha XD I do hope you find someone like her and there are people like Diana out there. She's a real person, at least inspired from one and she's the truest of all my characters, so don't lose hope. You find THE ONE too. I really shouldn't be giving love advice though :P I don't know myself whether its cute or funny lol. Kakashi is mine okay? :D Thanks for the sweet words and the long review :) RR!), indraniFOREVER, gizmo5225, Phoebe Kate ( Yup Judy is in hot water. Sad for Max I know. Future chapters may bring out more about her role in all of this. Yeah, I totally understand what you said about Mikan. I ship Hotaru and Ruka 3 Aww thanks. Glad my story and your attention span somehow work together. Yayyyy! Happy New Year and hope your Mom didn't strangle you :P RR!) and Susan who msgsd me for reviewing.
Love y'all!
See ya :)