That Brat

Chapter 04 Just Friends

Chapter 04 Just Friends

" It seems you two have become friends. What's the conversation about? Tell me too,"

Olivia playfully inquired, and Mira felt a strange mix of relief and gratitude to have Olivia by her side, especially considering the way Dheeraj was teasing her. He couldn't resist stirring the pot, his smirk dancing with mischief as he said, " Olivia she told me to try on you."

Mira's heart skipped a beat, feeling the weight of this moment. It was all in good fun, but still, the way Dheeraj had turned the tables on her was a bit disconcerting. Dheeraj quickly added, " But..But I told her that you are my best friend and not interested in relationships."

Mira looked at Olivia in an apologetic way as she knew Olivia was heart broken two times before.

It was Olivia's turn to chime in, and she did so with an affectionate arm around Mira's shoulder. " That's right. I'm more interested in having relationship with girls than boys, aren't I, darling? " Olivia said with a loving squeeze.

Mira played along with a laugh, adding, " Yes, my baby. "

Dheeraj couldn't resist pouting, " Hey, that's unfair! What about me? "

Olivia chuckled at his reaction, " You? You go buy something for me! Since you're giving me a treat for coming back to our city. "

Dheeraj, ever the gentleman, agreed, " Surely! I'm feeling hungry too. Tell me fast, what would both of you like to eat? "

Olivia didn't hesitate. " I want burgers and nuggets."

Dheeraj turned to Mira, " What about you, Mira? " Dheeraj asked politely.

" Nothing, actually. I just had lunch. You guys enjoy; I'll see you later. " Mira declined politely and left, ignoring his banter.

As Mira left, Dheeraj couldn't resist a parting tease, winking at her retreating figure. " Okay, then I won't buy anything for you. When you see me, you can have me." He chuckled to himself as Mira walked away, clearly ignoring him.

Olivia shook her head in amusement at Dheeraj, " She already has a flirty boyfriend. Have some mercy on that poor girl."

Dheeraj, still grinning, proudly declared, " I'm better than anyone else."

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Their light-hearted banter continued as they headed outside after their lunch. They reached the playground and sat on the steps, providing them with a prime view of some students enthusiastically playing football during the lunch break. The rhythmic clatter of the ball and the boisterous shouts of the players created a lively atmosphere.

" I shouldn't have eaten so much; I have practice in the next class, " Olivia groaned, resting her elbow on her knees. As she settled on the stairs.

Dheeraj couldn't hide his astonishment as he asked, " You play football? "

Olivia chuckled and corrected him, " No, silly, I play basketball."

Dheeraj was genuinely impressed, and he patted her shoulder appreciatively. " Wow, I'm impressed."

Olivia, feeling a bit proud of her basketball skills, couldn't help but tease him, " I know you always imagined me as the princess from our school play script."

With a playful grin, Dheeraj admitted, " Yeah, you did have that princess-like air about you, especially that bowing scene."

Olivia laughed, remembering the hours of rehearsal and Miss Kimberley's perpetual dissatisfaction. " Shut up! You made us rehearse that scene a gazillion times."

Feigning innocence, Dheeraj defended himself, " Well, Miss Kimberley was driving me crazy, and I thought I was doing all of you a favor. "

Playfully, Olivia shoved him. " Shut up! But, honestly, that play brought us together as friends. "

Dheeraj continued to tease her, " And your eyes lit up just like this when we became best friends. " He leaned in dramatically, his pupils widening and constricting comically, mirroring excitement and focus.

Olivia couldn't resist and burst into laughter at his theatrics. " You're a funny one, Dheeraj. You really know how to make me laugh."

Dheeraj grinned at her, delighted that he could bring some laughter and cheer to her day. " Well, that's my specialty, making you laugh. "

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Dheeraj, after that hearty lunch, found himself navigating the maze of classrooms and lecture halls, a world of academia bustling with students from diverse backgrounds. It was in the economics class that he had his next intriguing encounter.

As he settled into his seat, Dheeraj noticed Peter, a fellow werewolf, making his way towards him. Peter was an imposing figure, with a rugged handsomeness that made him stand out in the crowd. He had a strong, athletic build, a mane of wavy dark hair, and striking amber eyes that seemed to hold a hint of mischief. It was as if two wolves had spotted each other in the midst of a bustling forest, recognizing a shared bond that transcended mere coincidence.

" Welcome, Dheeraj. The population of the 'secret club' seems to be growing. " Peter joked, his words a clever nod to their unique identities as werewolves.

Dheeraj couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. " Well, we're not as rare as we thought, are we? " Their hands met in a hearty hi-five, sealing their camaraderie with an unspoken pact amidst the sea of unsuspecting humans.

Peter, a natural teaser, couldn't resist taking a playful jab at Dheeraj. " So, you've already found yourself a college crush, huh? "

For a moment, Dheeraj was taken aback, wondering if Peter had somehow discerned the significance of Mira to him. He responded cautiously, " It's not like that. I'm just getting familiar with people around here."

Peter raised an eyebrow with a sly grin, pointing out, " You've only been getting 'familiar' with one girl all morning. "

Realizing that Peter was referring to Olivia, Dheeraj felt a little relief but he quickly clarified, " She's my best friend from childhood."

Peter couldn't resist continuing the playful ribbing, " Sure, dude! Long-lost love."

Dheeraj laughed heartily at the suggestion. " Oh, come on! We're just friends."

Peter was relentless, however. " Are you sure she's not your mate? I can see into your eyes, you care for her a lot more than just a friend. "

Dheeraj, trying to brush off the suggestion, laughed again. " And why do you think like that? "

Peter, who had a knack for reading people, didn't give up. " I've seen your eyes, man. You care for her above anything."

Dheeraj was intrigued by Peter's observation. " Well, I do care for her a lot. But, by the way, why were you peeking on us? " He pretended to be suspicious.

Peter shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. " You guys were interesting."

" Uh-huh. I hope you didn't find me interesting," Dheeraj joked.

Peter assured him with a laugh, " No, no, you're safe with me. I've already met my mate." His eyes held a warmth and contentment that spoke of his happiness.

As the conversation took an interesting turn, their economics teacher walked in, effectively putting an end to their chat for the moment.

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A couple of hours later, after their respective classes, Dheeraj and Olivia reconvened on the practice field for their warm-up exercises. Dheeraj's athleticism and supernatural strength were on full display as he breezed through the exercises, realizing how effortlessly he could outperform the other humans. It made him miss his days at Atlanta Academy, where he used to compete with members of other academies, all passionately trying to one-up each other. It was a world of fierce competition, and everything he once knew seemed to be missing in his new college.

" She's with Jatin "

While they were practicing, Dheeraj couldn't help but overhear some girls gossiping about Mira and Jatin, which grated on his nerves. It appeared that Jatin was causing some trouble, and it was becoming clear to Dheeraj that he was beginning to dislike him. The protective side of him had started to emerge.

" OMG! She missed the class to enjoy with Jatin? " one girl exclaimed.

" Because of him, she got detention today, and now again she missed the class," another chimed in with a knowing smirk.

" She's gone crazy like Martha," a third girl added, fueling the conversation.

" Martha got pregnant with her boyfriend," yet another girl revealed, the scandalous tidbit only adding to the drama.

" And that Jatin, he's probably aiming to take her virginity," one more girl speculated, causing them all to erupt into laughter.

Dheeraj couldn't help but shake his head at the sheer absurdity of the rumors and the way students were so quick to judge and make wild assumptions. The university seemed like a breeding ground for sensational stories, and Jatin, with his playboy reputation, was the perfect subject for such gossip.

After their practice, he made his way to the changing room with the other boys. There, amidst the chatter and the clinking of locks and keys, Dheeraj overheard more about Jatin's recent escapades.

" Jatin took Ana and Mira into the same room. Both of them must be strangling him after their catfight, " a boy standing next to Dheeraj informed his friend.

Dheeraj couldn't help but clench his fists in frustration. The more he heard about Jatin's behavior, the less he liked the guy. It was becoming increasingly difficult for him to keep his cool and pretend not to be affected by the unfolding drama.

He couldn't deny the growing protective instincts he felt towards Mira.

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After practice, Dheeraj headed to the hall to wait for Olivia to bid his goodbye for the day. As Dheeraj waited in the hall for Olivia, he couldn't help but notice Mira exiting a classroom. She had a mischievous smirk dancing on her lips, and it was evident that something had brought her immense amusement. However, when her eyes met Dheeraj's, her expression abruptly shifted. The smirk vanished, replaced by a more neutral, almost startled look, and she hurriedly averted her gaze, rushing off.

Dheeraj, like a curious cat chasing a glinting piece of string, couldn't resist the urge to follow Mira. Her abrupt change in demeanor, from smirking to running off, was a puzzle he couldn't ignore.

As he trailed behind her, Mira eventually sensed his presence and came to a halt, her posture a mix of surprise and intrigue. She wasn't used to being pursued so persistently.

" Are you following me? " Mira queried.

" Are you running away from me? " Dheeraj, not one to let such an opportunity for banter slip by, countered playfully

" Why would I run away from you? " Mira raised an eyebrow, the unexpected question making her pause to consider the implications.

" Then why would I follow you? " Dheeraj, grinning in a way that suggested he had a trump card, replied. It was his turn to pause and give her an inquisitive look, setting up a light-hearted game of verbal ping-pong.

" That's what I asked you," Mira responded, rolling her eyes at his quick-witted retort.

" Was i? " Dheeraj asked, playing innocent, his eyes dancing with amusement.

Mira shook her head at his response, realizing that she was falling deeper into this conversation than she had intended.

" Have you seen Olivia?" Changing the direction of the conversation, Dheeraj inquired, seamlessly transitioning from their playful exchange to the topic of his unrelenting curiosity.

Mira's eyes darted briefly in thought before she responded, " No, my class wasn't with her."

Dheeraj, crossing his arms in a mockingly exaggerated stance of waiting, proclaimed, " Alright then, I shall wait here for Olivia." His tone was filled with playfulness.

Meanwhile, Mira, coolly situated in her car, made her grand exit, skillfully driving away, leaving Dheeraj behind in anticipation of Olivia's arrival. Their quirky exchange was yet another thread in the intricate tapestry of their developing connection.

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When she drove away Dheeraj sent a quick message to Olivia, asking her to meet him at the parking lot.

Minutes later, Olivia arrived and, with an amused grin, observed the cute frown on Dheeraj's face. " What happened? You seem like you've just stumbled onto a mystery," she asked with concern.

" Nothing," he replied, trying to brush it off.

" Come on, you can tell me," Olivia insisted.

" Nothing, Olivia. I'm just feeling tired and want to rest, that's it," Dheeraj explained, not wanting to share the gossip he had heard.

" Okay, but promise me you'll come for dinner at my home," Olivia said sweetly.

" Please, no," Dheeraj groaned playfully, knowing he might have to miss his gym session again.