Disclaimer: I do not own The Host, it belongs to Stephenie Meyer.
You guys can't even begin to understand how sorry I am about not updating earlier.
The reason why I didn't make an author's note was because I didn't want to give you false hope.
Major writer's block, guys. I hope you'll forgive me. It won't happen again.
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Chapter Four: Whatever You Say
With the way we left things, Ian and I seemed like we were on good terms. What I don't understand is why I felt like that wasn't enough. I wanted to talk to him more, get to know him. Maybe Melanie would have some answers. As I was walking to her house, I saw a car pull up beside me. It looked familiar enough, but I knew who it was once their foot was out of the car. Converse. Purple Converse. The only person that I know that has purple converse is Steven. I smiled up at him, happy that it was someone I knew.
"Hey, Wanda. Do you want a ride?" he offered.
"Actually... sure," I agreed.
"You say that like you don't want to be around me," he said, while grinning.
"Maybe I don't," I replied, holding back a smile.
"That hurts. That hurts right here," he said, while patting his chest.
I just laughed. "So, where are you headed?" he asked.
"Mel's place. You know where it is, right?"
"Yeah. I have to go there to pick up Jared anyway. I guess it was just meant to be, huh?" he said.
"I guess it was". With that, I smiled and got in the car.
"So what's with you and Ian? I saw you and him talking at school," he asked.
Why do both of them ask about each other? It's getting pretty weird.
"Nothing really. We're just kind of talking now, you know?" I replied.
"Oh. So you guys are hanging out now?"
"I guess so. Maybe." Why does he care so much about me and Ian all of a sudden? This really is getting weird.
"That's cool. Just watch out. You know how he is with girls. I don't want you to get hurt."
"It's not like that. We're just talking, that's all," I assured them.
Why do both of them think I'm with the other?
"Okay," he dropped it. The rest of the car ride was fun; the awkward conversation was drowned out of the car by the music that was playing on the radio.
When we got there, Jared and Melanie were already on the front porch, waiting.
I got out of the car and ran up the steps to meet up with Melanie.
"Hey, man. It took you long enough," Jared complained.
"Just shut up and get in the car. You're lucky I'm even doing this for you after what you pulled today," Steven retorted.
Jared just laughed. After giving Mel a quick kiss, he jogged down to Steven's car and they both waved goodbye.
"I'll never understand how they're friends." Mel stated.
"Me neither. Come on, let's go inside; I have more Ian stuff to tell you," I said, smiling at her.
"Finally," she said, walking into the house with me.
We went upstairs to her bedroom and sat on her bed.
"Okay, okay. I'm sick of waiting," she said after I didn't say anything for a few seconds. She's so impatient. Plus, I couldn't even try to keep secrets from Mel; I'm a horrible liar.
"Fine. He told me about how he was bullied as a kid up until he moved here to Detroit. That's pretty much why he went out with Sharon; he didn't want to go through that again," I told her. That was all there was to tell. Apparently that wasn't enough for Mel though...
"I feel sorry for Ian; it kinda makes sense now. He still shouldn't have done all of that, though. Did anything else happen?"
"Um...I met his brother! That was funny. I thought he was Ian when I first walked in." Just remembering it made me laugh.
"They look similar? How old is he?"
"He's in college, so I think he is around twenty."
"So...what about you and Steven? He seems to kind of like you..." she trailed off, suggestively.
"What are you talking about? I mean he did offer me a ride... but that doesn't mean anything! Does it?"
"Maybe, maybe not. We will just have to wait and see how all this plays out; you and Ian, you and Steven, I mean."
"Whatever. Nothing is going to happen because I don't like either one, and they don't like me."
"If that's what you think, than I guess I can't change your mind."
The rest of the day was spent talking and doing homework. Nothing more was said about Ian or Steven, thankfully.
I went to school today, thinking everything would be the same as any other day. I was so wrong.
First of all, Ian sat beside me on the bus, which was fine because Mel was sitting with Jared. It was still weird though.
"Hey, do you mind if I sit here?" he asked.
"Go ahead." I replied
He sat down and started a conversation. "I'm really glad we had that talk yesterday. Thanks for listening."
"Don't thank me, I wanted to hear. I asked in the first place."
"Still, I'm glad you listened. I've never told anyone one about that before."
"I guess I'm the lucky one then."
"Why is that?" he asked.
"Because I'm the only one that you've told, so I guess that means I'm the only one you trust," I answered, smiling.
"I guess so," he agreed, smiling back.
"By the way, now I know where you get all that sarcasm from."
"What do you- oh, yeah, Kyle. So, what did you think of him? He can be a real pain sometimes, and out of line."
"Don't worry, he was nothing but nice... and sarcastic. He wasn't rude at all," I reassured him.
"Good. I honestly don't even know why he's here in the first place. He never comes to visit."
"Come on, Ian. He's your brother. You have to at least be a little happy about him being here."
"Well... maybe I'm a little glad that he's here. I haven't seen him in a while. But he's still annoying as hell," he laughed.
"Whatever you say..." I smiled at him.
When we got to school, Ian walked me to almost every class. Some people were staring, and honestly, I would have stared too. I think I'm starting to like him again. I think that mostly because I'm just randomly blushing whenever he looks at me for no apparent reason. This day was completely different from any other day. Not because Ian sat beside me on the bus. Not because Ian walked me to every class. Not even because every time Steven was around, Ian would either glare at him or start speaking a little louder. I swear I'll never understand guys. No, it was not because of any of that. The reason was because, instead of sitting at his regular table, Ian decided to sit with me, Mel, Jared, and Steven. Brandt and Cassandra went out for lunch again today. But that's not the point. The point is that one of the most popular guys in our school, not to mention the guy I could possibly like, was sitting with us. That was the weirdest, above everything else. Jared, very obviously, didn't waste any time interrogating him, though.
"So, Ian, why are you sitting with us today? Did the cool crowd kick you out?" Jared questioned. Melanie slapped him in the back of the head. I shot him a threatening look.
"Don't mind him, he's just being annoyingly nosey today," Mel told Ian.
"I don't mind. I just felt like I needed a little change, you know? I hope you guys don't mind me sitting here for a while," he answered.
"Of course not. I was just wondering. It's not every day that someone comes to join our little group here," Jared concluded, while rubbing the back of his head. I was trying not to laugh at that.
It was a little awkward with Ian there at first, but as soon as that passed, Jared and Steven were their old joking selves again. Mostly Jared though, since Steven doesn't seem to like Ian very much. I don't understand why they have a problem with each other, they never did before.
Other than that, everything went smoothly, although I didn't expect what Ian asked me after school.
"Hey Wanda, wait up!" I heard Ian yell from behind me. I turned around to see him running up to me.
"Yeah, Ian?" I asked. What was so important?
"I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out sometime. Maybe on Friday?" he asked. Was that a hint of nervousness that I heard in his voice?
I seriously cannot believe this is happening; Ian is asking me out? He was pretty much the last person I would have ever expected to hang out with. Just yesterday I couldn't wait for the semester to be over because I didn't want to be lab partners with him, and now I'm ready to be friends, maybe more than that. Just thinking about being more than friends with Ian was making me blush. What the hell was wrong with me lately? I've always been prone to blushing but I really hope it doesn't start to get out of hand.
"Yeah, I think I could go out on Friday. When and where?"
"Well, we could go to the movies if you want. Say around seven?"
"That sounds good. I'll see you there." I walked off to get on the bus. Friday was going to be a very good day. I can't believe that in two short days, I went from hating Ian to possibly liking him again, because of hearing about what happened years ago, and then having it seem like one of my good friends might like me.
When I got home, the first person I see is my annoying cousin, Lacey. Why is she here again? My aunt and Lacey visit us from time to time but I always hate it. Can they just not visit us? No one ever really wants them there, but my mom and dad put up with them so it doesn't start any unnecessary family drama. But still, don't they have their own lives, or can't they just intervene with someone else's? Anyways, this was going to be a very long day.
"Hey, Wand. Aren't you happy to see your amazing cousin again?" Lacey asked, snobbishly.
"No, not at all actually. And I thought I told you not to call me that again," I responded, slightly angered.
"Whatever. I'm going to go watch TV." And with that, she stormed off into my living room. So is so annoying!
I went upstairs to go to my room and try to do some homework, but I couldn't concentrate on it. I have to tell Melanie, she left school early today for some doctor's appointment, that's why she wasn't on the bus. I took out my cell phone and dialled her number. After a few rings someone picked up.
"Hello?" I heard, Jamie's, Melanie's twelve-year-old brother, voice on the other end of the phone.
"Hey, Jamie, it's Wanda. Is Mel there?"
"Oh hey, Wanda! Yeah Melanie's here. One second."
"Hello?" This time I heard Mel's voice on the phone.
"Hey, Mel. I have something really important that I have to tell you!" I said, excitedly.
She laughed. "What is it?"
"Ian asked me out, but I think I'm starting to like him."
"I told you so." That was all she said.
"What? What did you tell me Mel?" I asked.
"I told you that he liked you. I also knew that you liked him. Therefore, I told you so," she explained. I could hear the smile in her voice.
"Yeah, yeah. You were right, I was wrong. That's not the point, though. The point is that he asked me out!"
"I always knew you guys would get together someday; I just never knew when. I guess today's the day."
"I'm kind of excited. Anyways, why aren't you with Jared today?" I asked.
"He's with Brandt and Steven. They're planning some kind of massive prank that Steven came up with. I don't know what it is or who it's for, but apparently it's the best one yet," she explained.
"I feel bad for whoever they're doing this to, this is definitely not gonna be good."
"Yeah. Well, I'll talk to you later gotta do homework. See you, tomorrow?"
"Yeah, sure. Bye."
"Bye." I hung up the phone and debated on calling Ian. What would we talk about if I did? Never know until I try I guess.
I dialled his number and waited for someone to pick up. It rang out. Oh, well, I'll see him tomorrow, anyway.
I was about to start working on homework, but then my phone rang. I went to check the number, and it was Ian. I answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hi. Did someone just call this number?" It certainly wasn't Ian on the phone. It sounded like a girl, too young to be his mom and he didn't have a sister.
"Yeah, this is Ian's friend. Is he there?" I asked.
"Not now, but he should be back from soccer in about an hour."Of course he would be at soccer practice, that's why he didn't get on the bus. "Can I ask whose calling?"
"This is his friend, Wanda."
"I'll tell him you called, then."
"Thanks. Bye." I hung up the phone. Who was that?
Was it good? Soooooo sorry for the really late update but I was busy with homework and packing to go on this trip, I had no time .
Anyways, please review even if you don't like it, and thanks to all of you that have reviewed, story alerted and made this their favourite. I love you guys 3