Chapter 12: Chapter 12

R I O N A

That boy is an idiot!

How dare he lay his hands on me?!

"Rie! Thank God you came out, you were very quick to text me that you'd be right outside once the bell goes off but you then you didn't! I even heard your last class was cancelled so I hurried out so you wouldn't wait." Thalia explained as soon as I came close to her.

" I know, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" I apologized wholeheartedly.

I unlocked the car and we both got in after which Thalia used her seatbelt.

"It's okay, what kept you? Did teachers ask you to do something?" She questioned.

" No, I just had to deal with a certain issue." I vaguely told her.

She frowned and narrowed her eyes. " Don't tell me you beat up someone?"

"What? No!"

" Alright then. Let's go get the girls." She ordered while she typed on her phone.

Wait.

I put the key in the ignition then paused. I brought out my phone and scrolled through my contacts and selected Leonardo's name.

"What are you doing?" Thalia asked and eyed me suspiciously when she saw me struggling to type.

"I..um.. sending a text." I kept my gaze on my phone screen to avoid looking her in the eye.

Her suspicious gaze get even more suspicious as she raised her brows and wore an amused smile.

"Who you texting huh?" Thalia wore a mischievous smirk while raising her eyebrows every second.

"Stop." I clearly told her.

Thalia went quiet while casually trying to stretch her neck to see what I was typing. I just typed a quick message to Leonardo, telling him who I was and also my home address.

I picked up the girls from school and we all joyfully went home. When we got home we all went into our rooms and took a shower. I put on an oversized blue shirt and wore shorts under. My black hair was in it's usual ponytail while I dropped my glasses on the counter in the kitchen.

"Rie is wearing shorts!" Cassidy announced to the whole house like it was an achievement.

" Yikes! You're wearing shorts?" Thalia eyed me suspiciously. "Rie has been acting weird since we were at school and now she's wearing shorts."

I guess I understand why they are surprised, for almost two years since my dad has been in the hospital, I've always only worn over sized shirts at home wearing nothing under except my panties.

" Someone from school is coming over." I announced and everyone point blank stared at me with wide eyes and mouths slightly opened.

"What?!" I rolled my eyes.

"Who is coming over?"

"Did you make a new friend?"

"When does she get here?"

Thalia suddenly gasped, "We didn't cook anything!"

"That's not needed." I say to them but I feel like they didn't hear me because they went on talking like I didn't say anything.

"We can order pizza." Cassidy replied.

"But we don't know we she'd like?!"

"We should order a chicken special! Everyone loves it!"

" What if she's vegan? Don't all high school girls like going on diets?"

" That is true."

" Guys."

" We can order both and when she comes she can decide what she'd like!"

"Guys."

"What about drinks?"

" Diet Coke!"

" Ugh..what's with you and diet!"

" Guys!" I abruptly yelled causing their attention to fall on me.

I brushed a loose strand of hair to the back before continuing, "It's not a girl, it's a guy."

With that, they all looked even more shocked than before because they all let out a squeal.

"Rie is bringing a boy home!"

"No wonder she wore one of her special oversized tee."

"Is he hot? Do I know him?"

" Omg.... I have to rush to the store to get drinks immediately!"

"Why aren't you wearing something more...you know." She tried to explain by moving her hands but I didn't understand.

"If you guys can calm down for one second then I'll explain to you all." I announced and the girls settled down.

" It's for an assignment. We have an assignment to go out three different times and then write a report." I tried to explain as casually as I could.

" I knew it!" Thalia slammed her hand on the coffee table. " He's the one you were texting yeah?" She completed and the eyes of the girls moved from thalia to me.

"Rie texted someone that wasn't from work or her family? Must be some pretty interesting assignment." Cassidy said with a smug look on her face.

" I wanna go to high school and go on dates with boys for free." Iris shook her head in disappointment that she was still in middle School.

"It's not a date!"

The doorbell rang and everyone gasped, including me.

Why am I gasping?

"Please guys, act normal." I pleaded as I got up to open the door concluding that it was Leonardo.

"Sure hunny!" Cassidy replied in an English accent.

" Really?"

The doorbell rang again and I took a deep breath before twisting the doorknob open.

I opened it slightly to confirm who it was and then I opened it wide when I confirmed it was Leonardo.

"Hey." He greeted with a charming smile. His sharp jawline and brown hazel eyes caught my attention.

Shit! I never look at people for more than two seconds and here I just noticed he has brown hazel eyes.

"Come in," I ushered and he walked in but I just noticed he held a brown bag in his hands.

After I closed the door, I looked at Leonardo who just stood awkwardly looking in a particular direction, I followed his eyes to the couch area where the girls gathered to sit.

"...and that is how you change the channel." Thalia explained showing them the remote.

"ooooh." They both nodded simultaneously like the remote was some foreign object to them.

They fight for it all the time with me. I said act normal, not act a drama.

I cleared my throat and like robots, their head slowly turned to the door area.

"Oh hello Rie! I didn't see you there." Iris winked at me and I mentally face palmed myself.

I bet Leonard's gonna write that I have a weird family.

"Come say hi." I ordered and they lined up according to age that is, Iris was first in the line then Cassidy then Thalia and then they all marched towards us.

"Hello! I'm Iris, I am sorry we're acting weird, we just don't know how to act towards new people especially if it's Rie that's bringing them." Iris introduced and over shared.

" That's not needed Iris!" Cassidy face palmed herself and moved closer. " Hi, I'm Cassandra but I'm called Cassidy." She introduced then moved aside.

" Hey! I'm Thalia, I remember you! You are the guy from the hallway!" Thalia introduced and also over shared.

"That was necessary, Lia!" I sighed.

The doorbell rang and I immediately groan then glare at the girls. These guys must have ordered pizza without informing me first.

With fury very visible on my face, I marched towards the door.

**