Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Chapter Seventeen

Shane

Shane lay on his bed looking at the ceiling, thinking. Everything was fine. Not even fine but wonderful. It was a mere coincidence meeting her in café. He thought she wasn't going to be there because her working hours were over and the cafe was shut. When he saw her sitting in a corner his heart had sped up. A warmth had spread in him. Without thinking he ordered his coffee and went straight to sit with her.

When she spoke rudely to him about sitting alone, it felt like a punch in his gut. Still he forced the pain down and went to stand up when she grabbed his hand. He doesn't know why, but every time she did that it was pure bliss. Suddenly her question brought him out of his state. She could not know from where he got that mark so he lied. When they drank their coffee in a peaceful silence and watched outside the glass, it just felt right. 'Jesus! I'm going crazy.' Shane said with hiss. Rain was still pouring down as he laid without a shirt on.

Then he remembered meeting James. He was happy. He knew something was going on between Sonya and James. Nothing romantic but something that he could not quite put a finger on. It feels like they knew each other before he came into get - together. When Sonya shivered Shane wanted to do something but when James gave her his jacket it made him furious. Shane wasn't wearing a jacket to give it to her, only a shirt that was soaked. He was furious with himself too.

"What's happening to me?" Shane muttered. He brought his both hands up and rubbed his face. "Forget it. Dude. Just forget it." With that Shane got out of his bed and came out of his room to grab a glass of water and saw Sonya searching for something in the fridge.

"What are you doing at two in the morning?" Shane asked. Sonya jumped and bumped into the side of the fridge.

"I'm hungry so I am looking for…" she stopped and looked Shane upside down.

"Something to eat." with that she smacked a hand on her mouth. The way she said it and the way she looked at me it felt like it was said in a way that shouldn't. Shane smirked.

"I mean leftovers." Shane nodded but didn't stop smirking. Sonya turned around. Shane knew she was embarrassed.

"Kara had a pizza today. There must be some slices left on the counter."

"Thanks." Sonya said as she picked it up and walked straight to the stairs but stopped and turned to Shane.

"I didn't mean you. By the way. Earlier. I'm vegetarian." With that she turned and went upstairs.

Shane watched her go upstairs with a huge smile that can be considered a grin. He went to the fridge and fetched a water bottle and gulped it down. He put it back and looked at the stairs where Sonya had disappeared just a few minutes ago. He smiled the rest of the night until he fell asleep.

Shane woke up and realised it was Sunday. He yawned and scratched his head. He freshened up and came outside to see a note pasted on the fridge. 'Went for groceries. James will hang out with us today. So prepare meals for all of us. I know it's you Shane who is reading this. Wake Sonya up. Please. I'll come back in two hours. See ya.'

Shane smiled again. He looked down at himself. He was wearing a red shirt and trousers. He had never given second thoughts about his body or looks but last night made him weirdly aware of his looks. Then he remembered Sonya's face from last night. He laughed. He went upstairs and started to walk in the direction of Sonya's bedroom. He heard her singing. Her door was barely closed. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Sonya just in a towel singing in front of a mirror. He was only half in his way to reach her bedroom. Sonya saw him too. She had just came out of shower. Her head was covered in a towel. Shane saw her as she bowed her head and her hand reached to its side. Shane walked straight to her room looking into her eyes as she raised her head. Shane picked the knob of her bedroom door and closed it.

Sonya

He came straight to my room. Looking in my eyes without his eyes wandering in anywhere else and closed the door. His eyes didn't show a hint of lust.

He just had an intense look. After he closed the door Sonya went straight to the door and opened it. Looking at him as his back vanished downstairs. Sonya put her head against the door and closed her eyes. 'Wow. What a great guy.' Sonya's heart ached with a newborn respect for him. And something else as well. A kind of respect that was bloody hard to get from her.

Sonya dressed and walked downstairs to hear voices of more than one person. Shane stood with James beside him. They looked at her as she approached them.

"How did you sleep? I heard you are a heavy sleeper?" James said with a smirk. Sonya looked at him.

"You know I can reply to that question with a very rude remark with your insomnia but I won't. Because I am such a nice person." Shane's eyes flickered to Sonya and she looked at him.

"Why are you so rude?" Sonya was going to reply but she shut up.

"I don't know." Sonya sighed. "I don't know why."

"Forget it. We're gonna have a pool party. So, help us prepare the food." Sonya nodded. They all began to work.

James spoke "You know once, when we were having a pool party Shane threw a girl into the pool. On a dare. And… she was wearing white." Shane stomped on James's foot and James cracked a grin.

"What?! You made the girl cry dude." James said. Sonya looked at Shane with disbelief. Shane looked at her and murmured "I was just a stupid kid. It was her fault that she was wearing white."

Sonya looked at him "How would you feel if you went for a swim and lost your underwear. It would have been the same for her, coming out of the pool and being completely transparent in her white clothes."

"Whoa…. Calm down girl. You know he was just a kid." James said looking between her and Shane.

"Whatever." With that Sonya starts working on other things.

Shane

Shane glanced at Sonya while he glared at James. James' eyes were laughing without shame. Shane turned his face away and started to cook.

"It's impressive, you know." Both Shane and James turned to look at her. Sonya turned to them.

"What's impressive?" James asked.

"That you can cook." James looked at Sonya with confusion and Shane shook his head in understanding. Sonya looked at James, who was frowning.

"She can't cook." Shane said. Sonya looked at him and glared.

"Yeah. I know it's not a big deal for you but I'm not good at cooking." Sonya said and murmured in a soft voice "Kara makes dinner for me."

With that Shane started laughing. Full on laughter. He slapped James on his shoulder and continued laughing. James looked at her and asked with an oblivious look on his face "What are you trying to say?" Shane was still laughing and he stopped Sonya before she said anything with "It's her way of communicating. She's trying to start a conversation but had no subject so she picked the most random thing." He started laughing again.

"She's tr…. try…. trying…" with that Shane started laughing again. Sonya was embarrassed and utterly humiliated. James smiled at her and dropped one arm over her shoulder pulling her to his side.

"Thanks for the compliment. And about your cooking skills. If you're really not good at it then I can teach you." Sonya looked at him with a grateful smile and nodded when maybe, she realized that it had become quiet in the kitchen. Shane looked at her when she remained at his side without any discomfort and didn't remove his hand away. She looked at Shane who was looking at both of them with a mixture of resentment, anger and jealousy. His eyes landed on James' hand that was draped over Sonya's shoulder. The door opened, making his eyes move to the door and then entered the whole group of his friends with an ever smiling Kara.

"Hey, yo, you guys!" Noah spoke as he entered the kitchen with others. He pointed a finger at James, Sonya and Shane's direction.

"You're all traitors! You were going to have a party without me?" Michael shoved him in his side. "... I mean us… Us!" Shane rolled his eyes and Sonya sighed.

"We are not having a party. You party animal." Sonya said. Noah came to her side and tucked her in his arm.

"You know me so well Sonya. You're falling in love with me?" Sonya grimaced and tried to get his arm off. Shane was irritated. He loved his buddies but hated them sometimes, so much he wanted to kill them. Shane walked over to Noah's side and pulled him into the kitchen. He looked at Sonya who smiled at him.

"Well now that you all are here, come and help me and James in cooking. Let the ladies rest." Liam grumbled while Michael and Alex followed him in the kitchen without any protest.

"Ohh.. you all are such a sweetheart." Kara kissed Shane on his cheek as he looked at Sonya who after watching Kara kissing him on his cheek, suddenly turned and walked into the back yard. Shane wasn't able to watch her expressions.

"Where's my kiss?" Noah pulled his lips together and made a kissing sound. Alex slapped him on his head from behind. "Oww.." He said while massaging his head. "You ruined my hairstyle." Noah said and Michael chuckled. Alex ignored him and said

"I think you should call Matthew as well. We can have a pool party like old times?"

"That's my boy. Alright, I'll call him." Kara said and walked out in the backyard to call her brother.

Shane was listening to all of this as he chopped broccoli. He turned to Alex who was working side by side with him.

"Why are you all here? And all together?" Shane said. Liam snorted and said "I heard that." Shane shook his head and turned around to face him.

"I didn't mean that I don't want you here, I just thought you all will be busy, doing your weekend things." Liam sat on the counter and stared Shane down. Alex leaned against the counter.

"We had plans. At least our family did, but we did not go with them. We figured that we can spend some time together, after such a long time. Our old summer time." Shane looked at them. He knew very well that they were staying because they thought he'd miss his family. Shane's not one of those people who will show gratitude to people but sometimes he feels really lucky to have friends like them.

"Although this time it may be different from our last summer vacation together." Michael said, looking intently Kara and Sonya behind the glass door.

"Yeah man. This time it's gonna be a little more fun. After all, Girls…" Noah said in a low voice that made them laugh, causing both girls to turn their heads to look at them. Kara and Sonya looked at each other and shrugged.

"Let's make a bet. Whoever can get both of them in the pool with them will win. We can take them separately or together." Michael suggested with a hint of seduction.

"And what will they win?" Shane asked with shame. He didn't indulge in these games but thinking of Sonya, it was hard not to. Everyone stared him down, including James.

"Forget it." Shane mumbled, ashamed.

"They'll get a chance to spend time with each other without any disturbance. The ones who lose will make sure of that." Alex explained.

"I'm on." James spoke. "So am I." Noah said. They all turned to look at the girls. 'Yeah, so am I." Shane said to himself in his mind.