"Who's interested in some lemonade?"
An overly chirpy Alan's cousin showed up, lifting the transparent jar of lemon juice with a sweet smile.

"Oh hi, and you are?" She directed the question at me finally acknowledging my presence, seeming intrigued and maybe confused at seeing me as she busied herself with filling my glass before going onto Alan's.

"Uh..." At a loss of words, I turned to Alan and then back at her raised brow of curiosity.

What am I supposed to say? I couldn't say friend. Alan and I are nothing close to being friends, I could say enemies but that's way too implausible.

Maybe frenemies?

Why am I overthinking it?

"She's Barbie"

"I'm Raven" I turned to glare at Alan as we replied simultaneously.

"Don't listen to him, I'm Raven" I interject firmly.

"But I call her Barbie"

"Aw, so that's like your nickname for her? That's really cute"

I choked on the lemonade, staring wide-eyed at her grin.

"Pft, cute? It's more of what suits her character to me" Alan shrugged, sinking further in his seat, getting more comfortable, eyes fixated as he typed away on his phone.

"And I really hate it" I sneer at Alan, getting a wink from him.

Zara frowned, propping her hand on the hip she jutted out. "Why's that? She doesn't seem plastic to me"

Alan shrugged, lazily swirling his straw in his lemonade before bringing the glass to his lips.

"I don't know, it just seems more fitting to me"

I roll my eyes in a bid to avoid any further argument on this topic. Zara dropped it too.

"So you guys must have known each other for a while now"

"Pft what? Hell naw" I shake my head vehemently at Zara's assumption. "We've barely known each other for a month and it's only cos of a stupid project at school. We don't interact outside that" My dry chuckle filled the oddly dense atmosphere before using a large gulp of lemonade to swallow the ball of nervousness that suddenly developed in my throat.

"Oh okay..." Zara chuckled awkwardly. "that was so much for a simple question-oh well, let me go give Aunt a hand. I'd be right back! I'm leaving the jar of lemonade here, in case you need more" She gave me a final smile before excusing herself, leaving behind a tense silence as I felt Alan's stare boring through my scalp.

"Is that what you think?"

"Huh?" I asked, playing dumb. Whether he caught my act or not, he chose to elaborate further.

"That we only interact cos of the project. What would make you think so?" The sides of his lips tipped downward slightly in a frown. 

"Well-uh cos it's true?" I replied in a duh tone.

"We wouldn't be here if it was"
The atmosphere shifted when his eyes met mine, from a tense one to something I couldn't quite decipher but it had my insides twisting especially with his words but I know it has a lot to do with the meaning in his words and a lot more to do with the intensity behind his eyes or maybe I'm the one misinterpreting everything but-good God those eyes!

The memories of the time with his friends and the events that took place when we were seen together in school played like a melancholic tape in my head causing a sea of dejectedness to wash over me.

My stomach twisted but for a whole different reason than they were a few seconds ago.

"Hey, are you good?" I could hear the worry in his voice but I couldn't bring myself to look him in the face and instead kept my eyes on the lemonade. I suddenly lost my appetite, only satisfying his question with a bare nod of the head.

"You sure?"

I mustered the sweetest, fakest smile I could offer. "Yeah, sure. I just need to use the bathroom"

His brows puckered before smoothening out almost as immediately. "Oh. Last door to the right" he pointed down a hallway.

Throwing another fake smile, I jolted out of my seat and sauntered towards his guided direction.

♣•♣

"About time you returned, what took you so long?"

I raised a dramatic brow, smirking at Alan's question "Do you really wanna know?"

"On second thought, I don't care"

"Just as I thought" I shook my head, chuckling lightly turning my attention to the packaged food laying on the table, my hungry ass already greedy to devour the source of the amazing aroma.

"So how much would it be?"

"Don't be silly, you're family. It's on the house"

"You don't have to-"

"Oh shush!" I chuckle at the funny conversation between Alan and Camille.

"And darling, I never got your name"

I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my hair, returning a polite smile "It's Raven"

"That's a beautiful name for a beautiful lady" I blush at her compliment "I hope to see such a pretty face around here real soon"

"Enough of the ass-kissing Camille, we gotta go- ow!" Alan picked up the food only to get swatted by Camille.

"Bye darlings, drive safe!" She saw us out the door, beaming brightly.

"Bye!" I return her smile and wave, entering Alan's car.

"So what did you get?" I eyed the food, my mouth watering to have a taste.

"Why don't you check it out" he muttered indifferently.

Without needing a further go-ahead, I tore open the food and began digging in. I load a forkful of the amazing spaghetti into my mouth and moan loudly when it comes in contact with my taste buds.

I momentarily forgot I wasn't alone till I heard an amused chuckle reminding me of Alan who has been watching my actions. I blush hard in embarrassment.

"Sorry" I could only murmur with my mouth full, sinking further into his plush seat.

"Nah, you're good. Enjoy yourself" I nodded, unable to meet his eyes. He probably thinks I'm a gluttonous panda.

After a few minutes of filling my belly with this sumptuous meal, I take several gulps of the Sprite Alan got, sighing in satisfaction. I turn to Alan who has been typing away on his phone only taking a few sips of his Sprite.

"Aren't you gonna take yours?" He seemed confused at first but when his eyes turned to the direction of mine; on his food.

"Nah, I'll take it later or do you want it?" He eyes me with a little teasing smile playing on his lips.

I snort, tapping my belly. "I swear, if anything gets into this guy again, I'm gonna blow"

He chuckled at my words, a certain twinkle in his eyes.

"You got a lil sauce on your face" he pointed out.

I scrunch my brows "Oh where?" I tried using my tongue around the corner of my lips he pointed at.

He chuckled again at my antics before reaching out towards me "Here..."

I didn't realize what was happening till I felt his soft touch on my face and as if automated, my eyes landed on his, hypnotized by the flecks dancing in his eyes. His hand lay on my face a little longer than necessary and I subconsciously lean into it. I'm probably imagining things but I swear his eyes land on my lips for a solid second before turning back to my eyes.

"It's gone now" his breathy voice brought me back to reality or rather the proximity between our lips. I felt heat rise on my neck and burn my face.

He eases back into his seat, creating some much-needed space between us. His face was void of any emotion, just his jaw clenched.

Did he feel it too?

I probably don't want to know the answer.

I blew a puff of air and tried to form coherent words without giving out my smitten state "Good then can we leave?"

Only flashing a small smile in response, he brought the engine to life, finally leaving the parking space.

The cool air from the AC makes the car chilly as Surrender by Natalie Taylor plays. I rub my bare arms, regretting not bringing a jacket.

I could feel Alan's eye on me for a moment before returning them to the road. "cold?"

"Mhmm" I nodded in response, feeling the goosebumps increase in number. With his left hand still on the wheel, he turned off the AC with the other.

"Thanks" I murmured silently.

The car comes to a stop at the red traffic light and Alan starts taking off his hoodie, leaving him only in his wife-beater.

I shook my head in refusal but he cut me off "There's no need-"

"Just take it" he said firmly, leaving no room for argument.

Feeling a sense of deja Vu of the moment he ruined my top at the party, I begrudgingly put it on and over my barely-cladded arms. The cozy feeling of the hoodie welcomes me and I snuggle into the hoodie, engulfing in his smell.

"Thanks" I smiled at him, truly grateful for the warmth provided.

He reciprocated the smile, returning his attention to the road when the light changed green.

The silence returned not long after, a much comfortable one at that as I bobbed my head to the song playing on the radio.

"You know..." I turn my head to Alan expectantly. He doesn't meet my eyes though but continued "I don't only hang out with you cos of biology or whatever shit you said back there"

I fix my eyes on my lap, tracing out some lines on my jeans, feeling awkward.

"I don't know what would make you think so but it's not true" I felt his burning gaze on me for a moment making me shift under his scrutiny.

"It is..." I murmur, tucking my hair behind my hair.

"And what would make you think such?" I could hear the frown in his voice.

"It's no big deal, it doesn't matter-"

"-no, talk to me" he asserted quickly, and at that moment our eyes met.

"What would you think I only hang out with you cos of biology?" He repeated slowly, as if choosing his choice of words.

"You're making it sound like a big thing Alan. I mean it's true, what did you expect me to say back there, huh?" I rolled my eyes and slumped back into the seat, making it known to him I was tired of the conversation.

I place my elbow on the window, my fist supporting my chin as I refuse to look at him, rather looking out the setting sun, all too aware of his stare at me once in a while.

"Hey! That was supposed to be our turn" I snapped my head at him, confused as to why he didn't take the exit out of the highway that leads back to town.

"I know" I frowned at his monotonous reply.

"Okay so... Where are you taking me? Told my mum I'd be back before dark"

"Somewhere..."

I raised a brow, expecting more but nothing came. "What do you mean somewhere? I swear Alan, I have a pepper spray in my-"

"Jesus, chill!" He chuckled loudly, his eyes twinkling adorably.

"What's so funny you asshole?" I playfully shove his arm, a little smile on my lips.

"Let's just say I'm tryna hang out with you outside the biology project" He smiled curtly at me.

I raised a brow in disbelief "You know you don't have to prove shit to me right?"

"I know" After a moment or two of expecting an idea as to where we're headed, I got nothing and decided to break the silence.

"So where are we going?"

"You never shut up do you?"

"Nope" I shake my head sideways, with a toothy smile, popping the 'p'.

"Tell me about it" he playfully rolled his eyes.

I ignored his comment, staring at the fleeting cars, still on the highway.

"Hope there's gonna be food there, this baby needs to refuel" I tapped my belly "-what??!" I blurt at the unbelievable stare he gave me.

He shook his head, still wearing a smile. "You have a monster in your stomach"

Xoxo Ruth 💅