Never Before Ever After

CHAPTER 6

A Bright Red Tomato

G R E E C E

In the back of my head I knew it was him but then I was shaking with the fact that he had sent a bomb photo and how I wanted to take a screenshot of it but it was too quick that it disappeared within five seconds. Also, even if I took a screenshot, he would know about it since he would be notified if I did.

Walking along the hallway, I was literally covering my mouth with my hand as my entire insides were still feeling agitatedly trembling. This could not be happening, those words were repetitive in the back of my head as I finally gained the courage to type a message to finally respond to him after seconds of sinking everything in.

@chasinggreece: OMG.

@chasinggreece: I am so sorry for the previous messages I sent you. I know there are tons of them and they are embarrassing because all of them are absolutely dumb. I guess I have gotten used to sending you through your DMs because I never really thought that this day would come and you would actually freaking respond.

I walked towards my next class, attended it and felt like I was always on the edge while checking my phone constantly. When my day ended, I constantly kept checking my phone if he had sent me a message, but he had not. I figured that he might have been busy since he had a basketball career that he had always been prioritizing about since the beginning. Also, I am just a random fan that he had randomly responded to so maybe, perhaps, I was one of the lucky ones that he had responded to all because he was bored. So, maybe, he will no longer respond back.

Moreover, he has been with that model Sara Rowe for the past few days now, perhaps he is more focused on an actual woman than a random fan that he barely even knows.

I spent most of my time studying in my free hours and in the evening I spent most of my time doing some homework and studying for my next week’s exams. Living in a dorm building has been something that I have been trying to get used to, especially about the fact that I am very close to my family. So, being away from them was extremely difficult for me, moreover, having a roommate who is actually a stranger to me even after three years of being in the same dorm room as her. Suzie-Anne was a freshman like me, but studies occupational therapy and spends most of her time inside the dorm room that she hoards the small study desk all to herself forcing me to actually study in the massive common study room which is open twenty-four seven along with the other students.

Being in the common study room, there were only a few students and lots of vacant tables with designated cubicles for the privacy of each student. But, most students especially when it is a Friday, like today, do not really waste their time here, instead, they go out to frat houses to party and waste their time for fun. I mean, I could do that as well, but I just choose not to since I barely make any friends here who belong to any fraternities or sororities.

Randomly, my phone vibrates on my desk, waking me up from my sleep, reminding me again that I was still in the common study room. Groggily, I tried opening my eyes and noticed that it was half past eleven o’clock in the evening, clearing my vision. I see London’s name on my phone screen.

I groaned inwardly and sleepily as I grabbed my wired earphones, plugged it in then put it on my ears before swiping it to answer London’s video call, “Hey London. What’s up?” I rested my left cheek back to my table and faced the screen of my phone which was leaning against my water bottle.

“Are you sleeping or awake?” He asked as soon as I closed my eyes again.

I hummed softly, “Neither. What do you want?”

“Can you come tomorrow for the kids’ friendly basketball game?”

“What do you need me there for?” I asked still with shut eyes.

“The nurse backed out just now and she said that there was a family emergency she needed to attend to tomorrow.”

“And???” I answered, sounding a bit more annoyed.

“And I need you as a substitute nurse.” He responded.

I opened my eyes instantly, “A what now?”

“A substitute nurse.”

“What? Wait. Why me?”

“Because you know how to do things medically.”

“But I have not even graduated yet. I do not have a license.”

“You are still learning to become one so you know a thing or two.”

“You can not be kidding.”

“Nope, I am not kidding. Also, you will not really do much, you will just be there in the small booths just in case there will be minor injuries.”

I shut my eyes back, “I will think about it.”

“No, I need you to answer now.”

I shut my eyes tighter, “You are so annoying.”

“Come on, Chasen Greece.”

I hummed low before asking, “Am I going to be paid for being there?”

“What? No. Why do I have to pay you?”

I opened my eyes again at him, “Well because you are going to waste my saturday and my time is very precious.”

“Oh come on Gollum,” He joked while grinning at me. “I am your dear brother and–”

“Bad Dobby,” I interrupted him right away, teasing him back before adding, “As a matter of fact you have to pay me because I am your younger sister and isn’t that considered a violation against minimum wage?” I arched a brow at him, grinning.

He groaned and finally, “Okay fine. I will pay you. Just come tomorrow at ten in the morning. Would that be alright, Gollum Your Majesty?”

I closed my eyes again and smiled groggily at him, “Very good, Dobby the house elf. Do you still have anything to tell me because I need to sleep to wake up later to continue studying.”

“Nothing more, thanks. Be on time tomorrow.”

Even before I could say goodbye, he had already ended the call so I went back to sleep.

The second I felt my table vibrating again because of my phone, I groaned angrily, feeling annoyed that London is calling me again. Without even looking, still keeping my eyes shut, I answered the call and whined, “What is it this time???” My voice sounded more annoyed, scratching my cheeks, not caring about London on the other line as I continued to say, “I already told you I will be there tomorrow at A Step Ahead Basketball School, so what else do you still want from me, Dobby?”

“Dobby?” His voice in a surprised tone before adding, “Well I am not Dobby.”

My eyes immediately widened as soon as I realized it wasn't London's voice and my grogginess had literally left my complete body system. I uttered a gasp and immediately sat up straight after realizing that it was Archer's face on the video beckoning me, giving me the sensation of having an electric bolt shoot down my entire body from the top part of my head to the tips of my toes. The instant I got myself into an upright sitting position, my phone screen clattered against the table, and my heart started to race.

“Hello?” Archer’s voice echoed through my earphones and it sent a shiver down my spine. “Are you still there?”

My cheeks were then redder than a bright red tomato.