#Chapter 13: Gathering
Third Person's POV
"Uh, Jack? What are you doing here?"
Beth had just finished sweeping the house and was about to put the broom down, until she heard knocks and her silver-headed teacher came in. A teacher. In her house. Right in her room. In the morning.
"Just wanted to see how you're doing with what happened the other day. Your house is actually not too far from mine either so I thought to pay a visit. Sorry I didn't knock by the way. But your mom allowed me to get inside." He walked right in and scanned around the room. He seemed to have done a morning run. His black and blue parachute jacket along with matching pants and metal color Nikes were the giveaway. Beth wondered though, since he was still wearing his glasses
"You don't have to. See? I'm perfectly fine," Beth said
"If you say so- Whooh! You're really into computers and hacking huh? I can see you read a lot!" Jack said as he spotted a shelf of his student's row of books each more than four hundred pages. He took one out and began to read
"Those used to be my dad's, but now they're mine," Beth said. Jack nodded and put away the book
"Um, about Anna's offer..." she trailed before exhaling deeply "Can you consider to join?"
Beth only stood stiffly in place. Jack reached closer and placed his hands on both her shoulders and shook them gently
"Hey, you can, right?" His deep blue eyes were so sparkly and hopeful. Beth gulped"I'll..I'll try," was all she could say.
A smile curved the young man's lips. He released his hands from her shoulders and encircled them around the girl's figure. Beth was slightly shocked and confused but decided to return the hug in an awkward manner
"See you around then," Jack said as he let go and headed outside. Beth stood solemn in place. Hiro walked in with a playful smirk.
"A new male encounter eh? Gee sis, I thought you're not into those. He does look pretty sick for ya though," he teased
"Shut up short stack! You better wipe that smirk off before I do it myself with a mop! We're just friends.." Beth said, trying her best to keep down the heat on her cheeks.
"Suure. Then in the future, you two will walk into a gazebo under wedding bells. Seriously though, it'd be awesome to have him as a brother-in-law." Elsa hated the way his smirk grew wider
She slipped off a sandal and threw it to her brother's face, and missed "Missed me!" he laughed.
"COME BACK YOU KNUCKLEHEAD!" Beth yelled, yet laughing along as she chased with a broom in hand
Night slowly crept the sky and Beth had yet to stop from pacing around her room. Anna's offer and Jack's advice kept haunting her thoughts. The girl had already asked her family about it, hoping to see even the smallest resent. Everyone had positive views of it, however. Said it would be great for her. She needed to socialize and make friends. Still, they reminded her to be carefulWith a sigh, she unplugged her phone and dialed Anna's number she gave her secretly. Few moments later, a rippled fuzz sounded
"Hello?" Anna said. Beth closed the speaker with her palm for a second so the other party wouldn't hear her exhaling deeply
Here goes nothing
Anna's POV
I was having a sleepover with the rest of the group. My house was the place of choice. My parents allowed it since they had a business trip anyway. We were watching a medley of movies till I heard my phone rang. I picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hey Anna, it's Beth." The voice made me jump out of my sofa. I ran outside, leaving the rest to stare back awkwardly
"Hey Beth! What's up!"
"I accept your offer."
I blinked twice. A huge grin stretched so wide it might as well rip my face off. I tried to hold it back and not to get too hopeful. I had to make sure.
"Um, come again?"
I heard her sigh, Looks like she's a 'Don't make me repeat it' kind of girl.
I like it!
"I accept your offer, Anna. I want to be in your group." I couldn't hold back my squeal and did it sith glee.
"That's great Beth! Hey, are you free?"
"Uhh, yeah. Why?"
"I'm having a sleepover at my place. Everyone's here. I know this is sudden, but can you join?"
"Sure. See me in fifty minutes."
"Great! I'll send you the location. Bye then!"
"Bye."
I was too delirious to hold my legs from jumping before skipping mindlessly back inside. This is fantastic! All the more easier to pair them up...
"Something wrong Anna?"
I froze in my happy dance as the rest stared weirdly from the front door. I picked up ny composure. "Nothing~ Now, why don't we go back watching Netflix?" I sat on the sofa and did as I suggested.
"Who called you?" Kristopher said suspicious.
"You'll know later on~" Anna sang, and couldn't help but smirk
Fifty minutes later...I heard three knocks from the door.
"Coming!" I ran to and clicked the door open to see none other than Beth with her backpack. She was in her usual black jacket with a dark blue shirt contrasting underneath, bottomed with her white jeans with matching Adidas. She ran a hand down to fix her french braid before pushing her glasses up her nose
I could only feel happy as she arrived, and being the lover of happiness that I am, I encircled my arms around the girl. She seemed to be taken aback of my action, but returned the hug anyway
"HEY EVERYONE~! BETH'S HERE~!" I yelled. The gang rushed out as soon as they heard meThey all greeted her with smiles and warm welcomes. Beth looked a little surprised to be treated nicely. In all matters of politeness, she managed a small smile. Jack shyly rubbed the back of his neck as he saw her, but try to cover it by gave her a smile. Such convincing body language. Might it be...? Hah! I knew it!
"Come on in!" I said. We all went back inside and the sleepover events resumed. Time passed and we all decided for a game of Truth or Dare. I placed up an empty bottle of coke on the floor and spun it around
Third Person's POV
The bottle spun around and around, slowed, stopped. The end pointed towards Eugene's toes
"Truth or Dare Gene?" Jack asked
"Dare," the brunette declared
"Ya sure bruh?"
"Yeah. Give me your best shot."
"If you say so! I dare you to wear one of Rapunzel's outfits and prance outside like a moron! And sing 'Barbie Girl'!"
Eugene looked slightly disgusted, but a man wasn't a man if he's not true to his words. Rapunzel gave him an outfit and he went away to change. He returned sporting shorts along with a shirt printed with 'No Boyfriend No Problem'. Since Eugene wore clothes more than twice Rapunzel's size, the clothing squeezed him all around, restraining his arms and thighs, even revealing his belly. A bow proud and pink was clipped on his hair for a final touch
The poor boy swallowed his pride and ran out to do the dare.
"IMMA BARBIE GIIIIIRRLL~! IN A BARBIE WOOOOOOORRLLD~!" he operad as he danced senseless. He zoomed back in as soon as he's done.
"Shoot. One of your neighbors just snapped a shot," Eugene cursed. Being the caring friends the rest were, they rubbed salt to the painful shame and laughed away.
"I did too." Merida did swipes on her phone before showing a slideshow of photos. She even recorded a video of Eugene in all of his Barbie singjabber glory. Eugene stared silently in horror
"Just..just don't show that around at college, got it redhead!" he said deeply and demanding. Merida only smirked in his direction
"Got it, thief," she responded mockingly. Eugene spun the bottle again
After all the suffering, karma was finally on Eugene's side and the tip found it way under Merida's feet
A smirk played on his lips. "Payback! Truth or Dare?"
"Dare..."
"I dare you to kiss Hiccup!"
Everyone gasped
"On the cheek!"
Everyone sighed
For a flash, Merida sealed her dare with a kiss on the target's cheek. They were both flushed afterwards.
Merida spun the bottle and Anna was the next victim
"Truth or Dare?"
"I've done truth several times, so dare!"
Merida opened her lips for words, and came out a chortle. There were no good news when Merida chortled. "I dare you to sniff Christopher's armpit!"
"F-fine..." Anna went to flushed and dumbfounded blonde male. He bashfully looked away before raising his arm. Anna scrunched her face and leaned her nose in, before coughing off. Fish liver, garlic, and bad feet. That's what she smelled
"Yeeesh! When was the last time you took a bath?!" Anna said, rubbing her nose
"I dunno. Maybe three or four days ago?" he said in embarrassment. He never felt any shame for not touching the shower before
The bottle was spun once more and pointed to Jack
Anna's POV
At last! After the long wait, it was finally Jack's turn.
I turned towards him and didn't miss the pale look on his face. I then glanced to Beth's direction and was disappointed to see her all wrapped up in a novel, Maze Runner to be exact. I didn't even recall her making a single sound the entire game, other than the inaudible flip-flaps of a page being turned over. Wow, this girl must have the word 'happiness' in her dictionary
Note the sarcasm -_-
I snapped my fingers as an idea came to mind.
"Jack? Truth or Dare?"
"...Dare."
Oh, this is gonna be good.
"W-W-WAIT!" Before he could say more, I butted in. "I dare you to sing a duet with Beth! and the song is Geronimo."
Elsa snapped her head around. Two same, widened blue eyes gazed at my direction and wished to pierce
"...Alright then." Beth clapped her novel shut before standing next to Jack. Hiccup and Eugene grabbed guitars and followed the melody as they sang
Jack
Elsa
Together
...
...
Can you feel it
Now it's coming back we can steal it
If we bridge this gap
I can see you
Through the curtains of the waterfall
When I lost it
Yeah you held my hand
But I tossed it
Didn't understand
You were waiting
As I dove into the waterfall
So say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Can you feel my love
Bombs away
Bombs away
Bombs away
Can you feel my love
Bombs away
Bombs away
Bombs away
Say Geronimo
Well we rushed it
Moving away to fast
That we crushed it
But it's in the past
We can make this leap
Through the curtains of the waterfall
So Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Can you feel my love
Bombs away
Bombs away
Bombs away
Can you feel my love
Bombs away
Bombs away
Bombs away
Well I'm just a boy
With a broken toy
All lost and coy
At the curtains of the waterfall
So it's here I stand
As a broken man
But I've found my friend
At the curtains of the waterfall
Now I'm falling down
Through the crashing sound
And you've come around
At the curtains of the waterfall
And you rushed to me
And it sets us free
So I fall to my knees
At the curtains of the waterfall
So Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Say Geronimo
Can you feel
Say Geronimo
my love
Bombs away
Say Geronimo
Can you feel
make this leap
my love
Make this leap
Can you feel my love
The last note ended with two blushing teens.
The game proceeded with more bottle-spinning and pride-swallowing dares till they were all worn out and everyone went to their rooms. The boys used Jack's room while the girls used Anna's. A run of chatters and a bit of giggling later, they called it a night
Merida and Rapunzel snored sweetly under the covers, but Beth and Anna had yet to stop from talking and laughing. It was a sleepover, inevitably not all teens would sleep
"Hey Beth, do you mind if I asked you something...you know...personal?"
Elsa sighed with a smile. "Sure thing."
Anna leaned close. "Do you like my brother?"
The words sprang out and struck the blonde like endless thunder. She looked at all directions for a mirth of courage and give the girl her awaited answer, but found none
"Oh, I-I'm sorry. It-..it's just, I'm just curious. It's okay if you-"
"No no, it's fine. I'm just surprised is all."
"Oh, well, what's your answer?"
Beth saw hope in her eyes, and didn't know what it was for. But she answered with, what she thought, her honest opinion
"I...no. Not at all. We're just friends," she said as blankly as she could.
"Yeeaahh, suuuurre. Friends with sparks flying everytime you both touch," Anna giggled
"Anna!" Beth playfully threw a pillow to her company's face
"Alright, alright. Hey, it's getting late. I'm gonna hit the hay. G'night!" Anna turned off the lamplight and tucked herself to sleep
Beth followed her lead. "G'night Anna."
Despite whatever Beth said, the song of which she and Jack sang, contained lyrics of how they truly felt for each other deep in
Can you feel...my love.
In three days, the group continuously hung out with one another. Beth was slowly getting warmer with her new friends. In the last day of the sleepover, Rapunzel tapped Beth's shoulder to have a little chat somewhere at a lone hall
"What's wrong Punz?" Beth asked
"Well, you know, before you came to this group, I always thought that you were a nerd with thick glasses and your world revolved only around keyboards and books.." Beth raised a brow
"But...after I got to know you better, I realized you are way more than that," she finished, curving a smile on the fellow blonde's face
"So...friends?" Rapunzel held out a hand
"Friends." Beth eagerly shook it