Chapter 10

"What's the matter?" Tyler asks as the boys sit down next to us with sleepy looks on their faces.

We have been sitting in this cafè for about an hour with Alyssa and Emma. They are trying their bests to convince me into not going on a date with Josh, but I'm simply rejecting the offer. He deserves a chance, everyone does. It's not going to hurt going to the movies with him. Well... Unless he is a serial killer or something. That would not be so delightful, you know?

"Hey to you too ba- Tyler." Emma greets them with a mocking voice, a word I can't make out right away slipping from her mouth but she saves it quickly.

"Oh my God, I'm going to faint." Alyssa puts the back of her hand on her forehead and sighs dramatically.

I hold her, thinking that she is actually going to pass out any moment. Her face is pale, and she has a frown on her face.

"Alyssa, hey, what's wrong?" I rush out as I try to hold her still. The boys are watching us, trying to understand what's going on just like me.

Alyssa instantly shoots up and turns to me. "First you are foing on this date with Josh, now my brother and Emma are dating!" She falls on my lap once more, fanning herself with her hands.

"Huh-"

"WHAT? NO-" Emma's reaction comes very quickly, not letting me show my confusion in the process. She is panicking.

"Stop it! I heard it. You were going to say 'babe' weren't you?!" Alyssa sits up again, narrowing her eyes at Emma.

"I mean- yeah, but we aren't- we, uh-"

"Christ, Emma just tell them." Tyler cuts Emma as she sighs in defeat. She looks at all of us one by one before speaking.

"Okay, we are dating."

"My little baby brother is dating a girl, I can't believe it." Alyssa has both of her palms on the sides of her face with her elbows resting on the table, as if she is stretching her face to the sides. Her facial expression is priceless.

"She'll be okay in a few minutes guys." I say, placing my hand on Alyssa's back as she continues to be in a state of shock.

"Why didn't you tell us all this time?" Jason asks, smiling - which is a common thing since he always smiles.

"We were going to tell you guys eventually. I was just being too shy." Emma answers.

"Oh... S-"

"You're going on a date with Josh Star?" Romeo's deep voice comes from next to me, making me shiver as it always does.

It suddenly is very hot.

It's fall Bloss. It isn't hot in fall.

I slowly turn to him, afraid of what I'm about to face with. He sounds pissed, and I don't really want to meet the pissed Romeo.

"Umm..."

"Yes she is. We've been trying to tell her what dumb of an idea this is for almost an hour but she just won't get it." Emma puts it all out there.

I feel guilty all of a sudden for going on a date with Josh. I don't know why, but it feels like I'm doing something wrong. Romeo learning about it makes me feel awful, and I don't even know why.

He stays silent for a few seconds. Just when I'm thinking he is about to start shouting, he only asks a simple question.

"Why?" His voice is low, full of dissapointment. I swear the entire cafè is dead silent at the moment, or I just don't hear anything due to all the blood pumping into my ears.

"Uh, I- I..." I trail off, suddenly not able to form words. What the fûck?

"Nevermind, I don't care." With that Romeo stands up from his chair, grabs his phone from the table and storms off.

What just happened?

I'm frozen in my place, not knowing what to do. I guess my situation is pretty obvious since Tyler speaks up, telling me I should probably go after him.

I don't even know why this is happenning.

My legs have a mind of their own as I get up and run out of the cafè in hopes of reaching Romeo before he drives off.

I find him opening the door to his Mercedes and that's when I start sprinting towards him. He drops his keys on the floor and bends down to take it, this saves me time as I finally reach him.

"Rom, Romeo..." I'm panting. "Look-"

"Save it." He attempts to get in the car but I hold his arm, pulling him back.

"Why are you so angry about this?" I ask, frustration clear in my voice.

"I'm not, now if you will let me..." He gets into the car, this time I can't stop him. So I quickly run around the car and get into the passenger seat before he can start driving.

How was I that fast? I need to be an athlete or something... Actually, naw. I'm too lazy for that.

"Jesus..." Romeo gasps when he sees me.

"I know you are angry. Why?" I insist, not planning to leave without an answer.

"Why do you care?" Is his immediate response.

I'm taken aback for a second by his harsh tone

but quickly recover. I can't let him get to me.

"Why shouldn't I?" I respond honestly.

"Well, don't." He doesn't look at me while talking. His gaze is fixed at the steering wheel which has his both hands on it.

"Then don't act so pissed without telling me the reason behind it when I know it concerns me!" My frustration is at its climax, and I can't help but raise my voice a tad bit.

He sighs defeatedly, pincing the bridge of his nose before turning his head to look at me. Finally.

"Just go back to the cafè, Blossie." He says rather calmly.

We are still on a nickname basis. That's a good sign.

"I won't until you tell me." I'm being stubborn and annoying, I'm aware of that. Though I don't like him being angry with me. I don't like not knowing why even more, so I will learn it. And I will fix it.

"Gosh... Why are you so fûcking stubborn Blossie?" He asks, playfulness hinted deep inside his voice, as if he likes me being this way, and can't help the appreciation reflect to his voice. But that can also be me imagining things since he always manages to confuse me to the core, but oh well...

"I'll call you later okay? We'll talk then." He says, his words enough to satisfy me.

I just nod and give him a small smile. "Okay." With that I get out of the car.

***

Turns out Emma and Tyler have been dating since the party that was a week ago. She managed to hide it so well, or maybe I was too caught up to realise. I usually don't hesitate to catch her lies, which are not more than one or two a year, and are perfectly harmless. Though this time I couldn't, my mind is a complete mess, that I can tell you.

"Thanks mom, it was delicious." I say to my mom, snapping out of my thoughts in realisation of my empty plate. I get up from the dinner table to take my plate to the kitchen.

"Thank you, sweetheart. Are you going up to your room?" She asks.

"Yes." I smile while replying.

"Oh, okay." She smiles back along with dad and I go to the kitchen.

Soon I'm in my room with my door locked. My parents think it's a studying habit - to lock my door - and that it helps me focus. When in reality I'm just trying to keep myself somewhat safe.

Brandon is still not home, which is a thing to be thankful for. Though he will be here any minute, since he told me he had some unfinished bussiness with me in the morning via text.

It's an understatement to say I'm scared, but I'm used to it. Used to the fear.

The ringtone of my phone interrupts my thoughts, and I reach it while still sitting on the bed with bunch of homework scattered around in front of me.

My heart speeds up when I see who's calling, so I quickly answer it before I can change my mind.

"Hey," Why am I breathless again?

"Hey Blossie." Romeo says back. "How are you?" His voice affects me without my conteol, for the millionth time.

"Um, good." I struggle to speak. "What about you? Are you feeling better?" I ask.

"Yeah, I'm calmer now." He responds, making me sigh in relief.

Then the reason behind his call comes to my mind and I instantly get to the topic without wasting any time. "Will you tell me then?"

"Yes, Blossie. I will tell you." He falls silent for a moment, making me impatient.

"Romeo?.." I break the silence, wanting him to start explaining.

That's when curiosity kills the cat.

"I was jealous."