half/closer

half / 12 [2/2]

......

Group study.

That was my excuse to make my parents allow me to join for a sleepover at Quinn's house. She invited us to cheer up Bailey who took turns from a happy camper to a zombie apocalypse. I was expecting that already though because, like her, I was missing Tiana terribly. Days had gone by but we couldn't get over it. It was really disheartening to go to school and eat at the cafeteria with a missing soul inside you.

We could have a sleepover at Arisa's mansion but we knew that Bailey would be even more dejected because it would remind her that we lost Tiana two weeks ago. They tried to fight for her but unfortunately, they didn't have the rights in the first place. Moreover, Tiana's biological parents denied giving them any info about Tiana because they were so livid for stealing her away from them for eighteen years in total. They were irrational but I could see that the emotions were strongly taking part in all of these. And it was a proof that life is truly unfair.

As best as we could, we tried to carry on our lives. It was difficult but we must stay sane and hopeful for all this. We must be optimistic or else, life would treat us harder than it was.

So we tried to be together as much as we could, especially for Bailey. So the reasons why I had to lie to my parents because after getting detention for clawing Arisa's enemies and running off in the middle of the class for Tiana, I knew that they would keep me in tabs. Heck, Dad even thought that Arisa was starting to be a bad influence in my life. That was a first, actually. Before, you couldn't get any wrong with Arisa Valentines, which is exactly the opposite.

And I had someone who was also a representation of a bad influence. And I was heading to her house so I should prepare myself for the worst. After our little talk in the treehouse two weeks ago, Khloe distanced herself from me. I felt so disappointed in myself for opening my mouth but it was the truth.

She must be thinking I was being strange for kissing my sister. I admit, that was really not normal and I wasn't planning to share with her why I ended up in that situation. It was a private memory yet she must be special to me because I told her a part of it. Well, she deserved to know why she reminded me of my sister whenever we kissed, which is totally weird in my opinion. She also must be thinking that I was being delusional or something. I had no idea, man! If only my parents didn't call me at that particular moment, I would've explained it better. Well, I had a chance to explain while she was driving me home but I was too afraid to even go back there because of the way she looked like that time. Her face was the absence of liveliness as usual and she didn't even look at me in the eyes the whole ride. Wow, and she promised that she wouldn't get mad.

I couldn't even fathom that our friendship ended like that. I was stressed enough on how I could handle my dark emotions from all the happenings around me. My parents wanted me to settle my grades once and for all until graduation, Tiana was gone and Bailey was down for like centuries until now. Arisa and Quinn were still adjusting to their relationship because actually, they fought just recently about the big word 'trust'. Though I was glad that they already made up in the middle of Bailey's I-don't-give-a-f**k,-I'm-miserable attitude, it seemed that there was still more in store for them in the future. Damn, I was so downright single.

Not to mention, the gangster-wanna-be was obviously wanting to mate with my Ex-of-Everything. Alec was the only one keeping me sane because he was just being normal from everybody else.

"So what are we watching?" my captain asked as she plopped down on Quinn's bed.

"Got these new 4k Bluray copies of Harry Potter series," Quinn said, showing the stack of movie cases in her hands as she stood by the edge of her bed.

I glanced at Bailey at the other side of the room. She was sitting on the couch, just watching us silently. "Bailey, do you want to see the whole series tonight?" I tried to pull her into our conversation.

"Anything will do," she answered, not bothering to acknowledge me at all.

Quinn, Arisa and I looked at each other, greatly unsure of what to do. This was a sensitive moment and we must cheer her up or have a heart to heart talk with her before she completely shut us off.

Arisa crawled from the bed and approached our friend. I crossed my arms and leaned on the wall while Quinn sat on the carpeted floor of her room.

Our blue eyed-captain sat beside Bailey and took her hand in hers. "You must not stay like this, Bailey."

Bailey frowned. "Like what?"

"Like a dead living sitting in my room," Quinn answered for her girlfriend. Her phrase was inappropriate but it was the reality as of now.

Bailey glared at her. "What do you suggest me to do? What do you expect me to feel? This sleepover is actually stupid. I know what you guys were trying to do. Well, headline news, Jaguar! No matter what you do, I won't leave this pitfall until I get my Tiana back."

My blood started to boil in my veins because of her selfishness but I remained silent, knowing I would cause more pain in her once I open my mouth. Had a lot of history of disaster because of that...

"Look, we're also trying, Bailey," Arisa was also beginning to lash out. By the sound of her voice, she was on the verge of slapping her friend. "I know that it's painful but you shouldn't stay like this."

"As if you care," Bailey rolled her eyes as she forcibly drew her hand from Arisa's.

"I don't care," Quinn sassed, causing us to gawk at her in disbelief. She wasn't repressed as she glowered directly to Bailey. "I don't care about your attitude right now. You can leave all you want and be like that for the rest of your life because I'm hella sure Tiana won't be coming back to you if you keep on doing all this bullshit."

If stares could kill, Bailey was already burning lasers with her eyes to the masked sweetheart and murder her at once.

Way to go, Blackburn!

I pulled myself straight and clicked my tongue. "Quinn is right. If you keep on doing this to yourself and makes us worry all the time with your selfish attitude and defiance, no matter where Tiana is, I'm certain that she'll be disappointed in you. We don't have any control over this because legally, her biological parents have all the rights. But I trust Tiana will wake up and settle this once and for all. I believe that she will come back to us because we're already part of her life no matter who she is. She will always be our Tiana and she will always love us, especially you. All we have to do is to stay together and trust our friend to get better. And I will wait for her no matter how long it will take because, she too, is a part of my life. For goodness sake, I love her like a sister just as much I love you, Bailey and I promised to her that I will take care of you while she's gone. But you're not making it easy for us. Surprisingly, you're already blinded by your own emotions. Actually, among all of us, I expected you to stay rational. I look up to you so much because for me, you're the wisest person in our group and it makes my heart ache to see you like this."

After my discourse, Arisa looked at me in admiration before she turned back to Bailey who was already crying. "I second that, Bailey. It pains me to see you like this so you must lift yourself up for Tiana's sake, alright?"

Bailey bawled and she nodded before she threw herself into Arisa's embrace. "I'm- I'm sorry."

My Captain was doing her best to soothe her heartache away. It was odd because she takes pride in herself most of the time. She was the kind of person who wouldn't offer her shoulder to cry on. I was pleased that Quinn transformed her nature so much. In the contrary, Quinn was nothing like sweet and I was beginning to get to know her better. Quinn was harsh, daunting even but wise underneath. Something we all lacked. She was an impressive addition to our group.

She was like her sister, Khloe. A mischief but insightful beneath.

Wait, where is she anyway? Gosh, as if she will acknowledge me.

After to a series of sobs, we started to watch the Harry Potter series. It was already ten and Miss Summer already said her goodnight to us. We thanked Khloe's mother for allowing us to sleep over at her house. She was a pretty cool woman and I could tell that Khloe had gotten her looks mostly from her mother.

Always about Khloe. s**t!

Anyway, Bailey was already joining our conversation about Emma Watson's frizzy hair. We were all gathered at Quinn's large bed. Arisa was snuggled in her girlfriend's arms while Bailey was resting against her stomach and robbed the bowl of popcorn to herself. However, I was in my own zone, thinking about a certain brunette.

"I'm out of popcorn," Bailey declared, setting aside the bowl.

Quinn tried to push Arisa to get up so that she could get downstairs for popcorn but I stopped her.

"I'll get the popcorn, no worries," I said, grabbing the empty bowl and headed downstairs.

The house had automatic lighting so it was easy to maneuver my way to their kitchen. Once I got there, I cursed at myself for not asking where should I find the popcorn. I decided to search for it first by opening each of the top cabinets but I wasn't having any luck so I turned to walk back to Quinn but a silhouette by the hallway made me jump in horror.

"Oh my god! Crap, you scared the hell out of me!!" I cried out, putting my hand on my thumping chest when I realized it was just Khloe who was giving me an amused smirk. Part of her features was covered by shadows so when she stepped forward, I got a hitch in my throat and my body shook like a leaf.

Stamp me! This was the first time I've seen her like this. With her brown hair in a high ponytail, she looked so different and the smart eyeglasses on her forest eyes greatly blowjob my mind. Plus, she was only wearing an oversized mustard-colored shirt and black boxer bikini bottom underneath. I could bet she wasn't wearing any brassier on that molded chest. I found her so sexy and I was stupefied and beyond shocked at the moment.

I watched her walked towards their fridge and retrieved a jug of water. She turned to me before tugging a drawer and taking a glass out. "What are you doing here, Boots?"

I cleared my throat and forced myself to remain calm, although I was freaking out inside, scolding myself because I literally checked her out. "I-I'm trying to find the popcorn," I said, c*****g my head on the empty bowl I left on the kitchen island.

After gulping a glass of water, Khloe turned her back to me and opened a large cabinet on the side. She snatched three large packages of popcorn and handed them to me with a foxy smile on her face.

I awkwardly grabbed them and made my way to the microwave. Starting the timer, I anxiously waited, wishing that time would go faster because I could still feel her presence behind me.

"How's the sleepover so far?" she asked quietly as she sat on the kitchen counter near me. I could clearly see her smooth legs, causing me to swallow the lump in my throat.

To refused the growing tension, I transformed it to anger."Now you're talking to me?!" I scowled at her, crossing my arms as a defensive state.

She pulled out a confused look. "Why shouldn't I?"

I gasped. "You've been avoiding me like a plague since our talk about my sister, Khloe. Don't act like a saint right now."

"I'm not avoiding you," she looked astounded at my claim.

"Oh yeah, try to convince yourself then."

Khloe laughed before she suddenly rustled my hair and I instantly swatted her away. "Are you kidding me?! Not my hair!"

"Why are you so hype about the idea of me avoiding you?"

"I'm not!"

Khloe chortled. "It's not true. I'm not avoiding you, Hilary. It's just that in the past few weeks, I didn't get a chance to talk to you because you guys looked like a bunch of bleak robots, walking down the school hallway like it's only the purpose of life. I simply don't want to meddle on a miserable lane which is clearly not my business. Aside from that, I had so much to do."

What? Flirting with your Xander? I controlled myself from saying that, of course.

"But you were ignoring me the whole ride to my house after 'the talk'," I chided, raising my eyebrow for an explanation.

"I was thinking that time. I'm going to admit it. It's weird coming out from you but it's not enough reason to end our friendship. In the first place, I agreed to be part of it and it doesn't matter anymore whatever your reason is. The important is, we both agreed to start over and decided to be friends instead. Isn't that a progress?"

I smiled in relief. "Yeah, sorry. I really thought you're avoiding me."

"No," she giggled. "In fact, I missed talking to you."

Jupiter's thunder! Khloe missed me?

My smile formed into a wide grin. "Me too."

Stop fangirling, will you? This is not you!

Khloe hummed and bounded off from the counter. "Why don't you pay me a visit later in my room? I'm going to be up until one. I want to show you something."

My heart began to race at her offer. Was she inviting me to spend time with her after midnight alone in her room? I shouldn't feel giddy about this but I was. I wondered what was in her mind. This was a great chance to be closer to her and it was about time for her to share something with me. I wanted her to be an open book when it comes to me.

"Yeah, sure. I'll make sure that the girls are already down by that time," I eagerly nodded as I heard the microwave dinged, indicating that our popcorn was all ready.

Putting the content in the bowl, I glanced at Khloe and bit my lips. "So later?"

Khloe nodded and saluted me. "Later, Boots. My room is at the end of the hallway. Just knock twice for your signal."

"Sure will do," I beamed before storming off the kitchen. Excited that this night would turn into a great one.

I just wished that I could handle myself. Because Khloe Summer was truly dangerous.

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