Chapter 3 Sister-zoned

It's been a week since the incident and I haven't heard anything about Flynn's friend, whom I now recall Mira calling Zyle. 

“Zyle…” I mummured his name with a smile. 

If he hadn't caught Mira trying to implicate me, I would have been behind bars. 

She's his girlfriend after all perhaps he ran off to bail her that's why he disappeared from the hall quickly. 

I sighed. He must have felt guilty that his lover could attempt something so despicable and decided to help me out. 

“Do you like him?” Onyx asked, I looked at her and hit her arm softly. 

“What? How? Of course not? What makes you think so? It's impossible really…” Monroe shut up. 

“I see…” what was with the spark in her eyes?

“How did you know who I was referring to?” she asked with narrowed eyes. 

My face flushed. 

“Onyx please stop. I don't know what you’re talking about.” I pleaded, walking faster. 

“…you've been calling his name since we got off the bus.” Have I? 

“Yeah… I'm just really glad he saved me…you know…” I said. It wasn't a complete lie anyway. 

“Whatever.” Finally she dropped the matter. 

“Guess what! I joined a theatre club, you know, extracurricular and stuff.” 

“Wow, good for you.” I said beaming. I was still confused about which club to join as well. Onyx could easily choose theatre because she's a literature major.

I, on the other hand, was an anatomy major…although I was considering the first aid response team.

“Yeah…practice starts three weeks from now and I would love for you to come see me,” she said trotting backwards, I was scared she would trip. 

“If that's acceptable…sure! why not?” 

“I've spoken to the student director, and he didn't have a problem with it. So it's a date right?” She asked cocking a brow a silly smile on her lips. 

“Whatever,” I answered with a slight wave of my hand. 

“Catch ya later!” she waved me off, I waved too going towards my own building. 

Freshman year was more like a networking event with many students flashing their best smiles and trying to make as many friends as they could. 

I nudged my glasses and waded through the crowd arms outstretched to keep balance, twisting my body to dodge elbows and backpacks. 

I opened my bag when I had successfully pushed through the crowd and sat on a bench. I spooned out a wrapped box and stroked it with mixed feelings. 

Was it childish to give him this? He saved me so it was mandatory to show gratitude…right? What if he thinks I'm being too…forward? 

I bit my dry lips and licked them. Picked up my phone and texted Flynn, since they were friends it's better to tell Flynn first. 

‘Hey bull dog…where are you? 

I kinda feel bad about the whole thing that happened last week, sorry for crashing your party.

I also wanted to thank your friend personally. He really helped me…’

I wasn't the one who crashed his party though but it was slightly my fault. So I hit the send button and stuffed the small box in my tote bag, sighing. 

‘ding’ the notification sound came. I hurriedly read through it,

‘… Basketball court, opposite the theater hall. And stop calling me a bull dog you…’

I smiled and flung my bag over my shoulder before walking in long strides towards the basketball court. 

…

“Step away, you stink!” I said pushing Flynn's sweaty arms aside. He was trying to hug me all soaked like that. 

My eyes darted around, scanning the area in search of someone. 

“Where's Zyle?” I asked Flynn, while handing him a bottle of water.

“he was here a minute ago…” he cocked the bottle open and drained all the liquid before sighing in satisfaction. 

“There he is…” he said looking behind me. 

I spun around and the image I hadn't seen in a week was walking towards me, in black loose tank tops, and black sweatpants. 

My eyes naturally traveled to his exposed  toned arms flexing as he moved. Beads of sweat glistened in the sunlight. 

Oh Lord, please have mercy. 

I looked away trying to recollect my thoughts, and rehearse what I'll say to him. 

“Hey…it's you.” I heard him say. 

“Flynn come on man…” some guys called for Flynn and he patted my back before jogging towards them. Finally some privacy.

He motioned for us to sit on a bench and I followed. Unlike Flynn, he didn't stink…he smelled like the cologne I remembered in his mustang. 

“Um…hello,” I said, my mind blank. 

“Have this,” I said, hurriedly fishing in my bag before handing him a bottle of water. He smiled and accepted it. His eyes peering into mine, too bad he wore contacts again. 

“Um…Thanks for the other day…I'm sorry the party had to end abruptly.” I  nudged my glasses and fidgeted with my fingers. 

“I'm sorry about what happened to Mira, I hope she's okay…” My voice trailed off. If they were really together he must be in some sort of sadness. 

“It's okay,” he said sipping on the water I gave him. 

“I only attended ‘cause of your brother. I'm not a fan of parties.” He looked at me and I averted my gaze focussing on my fingers. 

“Um, I hope your girlfriend is fine too…” Monroe you are pushing it too much, he's gonna notice. 

“Mira?” He asked. 

“She's not my girlfriend though and don't worry, she's been bailed already…” The rest of the words didn't make much sense since my brain decided to pick the ‘she's not my girlfriend.’ 

I couldn't help the smile that crept up my face. 

I opened my bag and brought out the small wrapped box and stretched out my arms with my head slightly bowed. I wouldn't want him to see how tomato red my face had gotten. 

“Oh!” He said, his voice sounding surprised. I nodded when he collected it.

“I didn't quite get your name,” he said placing his elbows on his thighs. 

“I'm…I'm Monroe” I said, looking up at him. 

Something like a glow flashed behind his contacts, it was gone before I could properly notice but I had picked it up. 

What was that? 

“Monroe…” my name danced out of his lips like a lullaby. 

“Labubu…what are you still doing here?” Flynn yelled. I stood up both annoyed and embarrassed. My face was so red at that moment and the last thing I wanted was for Flynn to know I had a crush on his friend. 

He looked at me with knitted brows and I looked everywhere except at him, picked up my bag, and spun towards Zyle. 

“I'll be going now…thanks again.” I brushed past Flynn and walked off, deliberately slowing my movements to hear what they were discussing. 

“I know you love to play with ladies, but my sister is off limit man!” I swallowed, Flynn had always been a barrier in my love life. 

“Honestly Flynn, I don't like your sister. She's like a sister to me as well. I would never look at her that way. Don't worry. ” The words flowing from his lips stung more than I ever thought they would.