Chapter 57
638 vouchers
I frowned as my heart did this weird, fluttering stutter–stop the second my eyes landed on him.
When I say him. I mean the stupid vomit guy,
His hands in his pockets while standing right next to Asher, looking like he had just stepped off a magazine cover for ‘Disheveled but Devastatingly Handsome Rich Boys. His shirt is half–buttoned, like Asher’s, his dark hair is still damp, and he has the audacity to look just as shocked as I feel.
“You??” The word flew out of my mouth before I could stop myself.
Asher’s head whips between us, his brow furrowed in confusion. Wait. Do you two know each other?”
“No!” I say, a little too quickly.
At the exact same time, Vomit Boy runs a hand through his hair and lets out a low, strained chuckle. “Uh. We sort of… ran into each other yesterday.”
“Unfortunately,” I mutter under my breath, my cheeks burning. I can still feel the dripping of that warm, chunky splatter from his lips. I think this trauma is going to be with me for life.
Asher’s eyes narrow, first at me, then at vomit boy. “What does that mean? Nolan? What did you do?” He asked, glaring.
Oh so his name is Nolan.
Nolan held up his hands in a gesture of surrender, “calm down man.” he looked at me, his emerald green eyes on me felt like they were staring into my souls. “It was an accident. A really, really unfortunate one. I wasn’t feeling well and…”
He trails off, now staring at the ground.
“Oh my god,” Asher groans, connecting the dots instantly. His face morphs from suspicion to horrified amusement. “You’re the stupid vomit boy she had been talking about, right?”
I felt my face burn at his words.
“In my defense, I had a stomach indigestion, I also didn’t know she was your sister,” Nolan says, finally tearing his gaze away from the ground to look at Asher. “And I did apologize. Profusely.”
“While still actively puking, if I recall,” I snap, finding my voice again.
A faint pink tinge colors Nolan’s cheekbones.
He’s blushing?
“Look, Aria, was it?” he says, his voice softer now, “I am genuinely, truly sorry. It was a bad moment and I would really like to make it up to you.”
“You can start by never mentioning it again,” I say, folding my arms tightly across my chest. “To anyone. Ever.”
“Deal,” he says quickly, a small smile forming on his lips.
Asher stood, watching our entire exchange with a slowly spreading grin, clearly enjoying Nolan’s discomfort a little too much. “Wow. This is the best thing that’s ever happened. Nolan West, brought to his knees by my little sister’s… presence.”
“Shut up, Asher,” Nolan and I spat.
We both blink, startled by our synchronicity.
1/3
Chapter 37
Asher just throws his head back and laughs. “Oh, is vomit boy and tinker bell angry?”
“Don’t you have anywhere to go?” I frown.
“Probably,” he shrugs, still grinning. “But this is way more fun.” He claps a hand on Nolan’s shoulder. “Nolan, this is Aria, my baby sister. Aria, this is Nolan West, my best friend and apparently, your personal vom…”
“You better not say that except you want me spilling those beans Nolan spat, cutting him.
The first bell rings, a sharp, shrill sound.
“Saved by the bell, Tinker Bell,” Asher says, ruffling my hair. I swat his hand away. “You’ve got homeroom. I’ll walk you.”
“I can find it.” I insist, wanting nothing more than to put a space between me and this walking biohazard.
“I’m sure you can, but I also don’t want you meeting some vomit prince charming,” Asher said, already dragging me down the hall. He glances back at Nolan. “See you at practice, man. Try to keep your lunch down today.”
Nolan just shakes his head, a wry smile on his face as he watches us go. I can feel his eyes on my back all the way down the corridor, and it makes the tiny hairs on my neck stand up.
“I can’t believe he’s your best friend,” I hissed at Asher as we walked through the crowded hallway, the other student standing
to stare at us.
“He’s usually way smoother, I promise,” Asher chuckled. “The guy’s a legend. Captain of the rowing team, he’s one of the smartest people I know but that’s only when he bothers to try.“he groaned. “He’s known to get a lineup of girls waiting for a shot at him that’s longer than the school driveway.”
“I’ll say he’s no different from you. He’s left a very different kind of personal impression on me,” I mutter, adjusting the strap of my leather backpack. “A smelly one.”
“But you love me sissy”
“Unfortunately, I do lob… uh what’s that word again.”
Asher chuckled, ruffling my hair again. “He’s a good guy, Aria. A bit of a player, sure, but loyal. And he’s clearly mortified. Cut him some slack. I just grunt in response.
We stop in front of a door marked ‘Ms. Davina – Grade 9. And i stepped a few steps backwards at the intense noise.
“You got this.” Asher smiled. “Listen, just… be cool in there and remember, you’re a Morales. We Morales do not bow except when it’s extremely necessary.”
“His words are surprisingly reassuring. I take a deep breath. “Okay. Thanks, Asher.”
He smirks, “Yeah, yeah. Go on Tiny Bell.” He gives me a gentle shove toward the door. “Go.”
And with that, he turns around and is gone, swallowed by the river of students. I stand there for a second, may hand hovering over the doorknob. *Okay, Aria. You can do this. New school, new you. Just don’t throw up on anyone.* The thought makes me snort, and a little of the tension drains away. I push the door open
The room falls silent almost instantly. Twenty–five pairs of eyes swivel toward me, taking in every detail of my new uniform, my face, my everything. I feel like a specimen under a microscope.
The woman at the front of the class, who I assume is Ms. Davina, looks up from her desk. She has kind smile. “You must be our new student! Come in, dear, don’t be shy
eyes
and a warm
079
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
