Follow me:

Instagram: @a.lake.yeah

Twitter: AlekhyaBhat

Chapter 18: Feign Frustration Because of Surprise Cleanups (Feat. the Haunted Underwear)

It's funny how people keep telling others to just 'be themselves' but in reality would judge them as soon as they did.

~Starlight24

It was funny how I'd just cleaned my bedroom yesterday, but I really couldn't even find my bed today. Was it because of the innumerable clothes on my floor? Sure. Was it because of the books that were scattered across my table? Definitely. Was it because I was a very, very good girl and I kept my stuff well? Haha, no way.

"Aargh!" I screamed, feeling frustrated. I didn't know why. I felt like I wanted to wear some boho clothes but I had nothing in my cupboard. I felt like my hair was soft but I had no style to put it in. I felt like my room needed cleaning and redecoration but I didn't know where to begin.

"Whoa, chill it," muttered Dylan shaking his head in disbelief from his window. I hated how he always did that, and owing to my frustration I'd already had bottled inside me I threw the closest thing in my room directly at his face without registering what it was.

The piece of cloth hit his face, and he grinned at it and I internally face palmed. Of course, out of everything that I could've thrown, it had to be my underwear. Thank goodness it was a fresh and clean one, though.

"Day, you could've just come over," he smirked. "Don't throw your lingerie at me and try to act all sexy. Especially if it's a Winnie the Pooh one."

Jesus, this boy was going to be the death of me. However, despite my furious frustration that I'd developed a few minutes ago, I couldn't help but crack a small smile and try to smother down the red that was working its way up my cheeks. "It's just an underwear and it was an accident. Now give it back." I muttered, feeling my face heating up.

"Nah-uh, pick it up yourself. Unless you wanna give me more, while you're at it? What about a Piglet one? Oh, and I'm sure Tigger feels lonely and so does Rabbit." He said this with a very serious expression on his face and I burst out laughing.

I hated laughing when I was supposed to be angry. It ruined the fierceness.

"Stop making me laugh. I'm trying to be angry and frustrated and temperamental." I informed him this with full seriousness.

"Sweetheart, you can't force yourself to PMS," he said, giving me an impish grin and I had to use all my willpower to not slap that silly expression off his face. "Oh, so that's why you didn't come over. You couldn't have done anything anyway."

I'm pretty sure my face was going to spontaneously combust because of my embarrassment. "Go away!" I yelled, deciding to be productive and clean my room instead of get into long and pointless conversation with this ultimate loser.

My room was too much of a mess for me to ever clean. So I decided to call someone who would probably help me out... Max. Then again, I don't think I'd want Max to come into my room that looked like it had been turned upside down and ransacked. It literally looked like a tornado had taken a visit.

Deeds was with that weird guy that she'd met at the mall; he was a college kid -yes, I was right! -and his name was Adam. Hailey was out for the weekend camping with her family. Marie was with Zachary and even if she was free she'd probably never help me. Dylan? Well, I didn't want him to get the wrong idea. And I'm fairly certain that Jase would get the wrong idea too.

So I picked up my phone and dialed the number of the person I'd never thought I'd call to help.

*****

"And why would you think I'd be interested in helping you clean up this dump again?" a whiny voice called from inside my walk-in closet.

"Because Dylan lives next door?" I asked hopefully, staring at the dirty blonde headed girl as she walked out with her hands on her hips.

"Okay, I guess that's a good enough incentive." Cady looked at me with her big eyes and then she sighed, defeated. "Okay! So the thing is, I cleaned up your cupboard and I'm very, very disappointed in you." She shook her head in annoyance.

"Why?" I asked noncommittedly, shoving a frock I didn't know I'd owned into an overstuffed drawer.

"Isn't it obvious?" she asked, looking at me with disbelief as if she couldn't quite imagine how I wouldn't know what she was talking about.

"No, quite evidently," I said, rolling my eyes.

"You have absolutely nothing from Victoria's Secret and three fourths of your underwear has either Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh or a Disney Princess on the front!" she exclaimed, seemingly distraught. It was funny how she was getting so worked up about this.

"Please, not you too," I groaned. I was sick and tired of people scrutinizing my underwear. They were underwear for a reason, and I hadn't been planning on showing them to anyone in any circumstance.

"What?" she asked, looking confused. "Someone else said the same thing?"

"Dylan..." I said, the corners of my mouth quirking at her reaction.

"What!? How on Earth did you show Dylan your underwear? Oh Day... you'd never seemed like the types... I always thought you were such a good girl! But you should seriously get some better looking stuff if you wanna—" Cady started rambling and I cut her off. At this rate, my face was going to be a substitute for an oven because of how warm it had become. All thanks to my stupid underwear in my stupid room.

"No, calm down. This morning I was frustrated and I threw my underwear at his face because he was taunting me. You have to chill and clear that dirty mind of yours." I said, trying to placate the hyperventilating penguin of a girl next to me.

"There are only a few thoughts that come to mind when a girl says a hot guy saw her underwear." Cady deadpanned, looking mildly relieved -and also irritated that I'd snubbed her- that I'd not done anything even remotely scandalous with her crush.

"Dylan's not hot," I scoffed, lying through my teeth, of course.

I stood near my door with my hands on my hips, admiring my work. It was clean. Sure, it wasn't magazine ready or even remotely close to being perfect, but it was still good and I liked it a lot. Soon enough it would be a mess again. My hunch is that it'll stay nice until tomorrow morning. Cady disagrees, though. She thinks this won't even last till tonight. She had so much faith in me, you see.

"Hey Cady!" called a voice that signaled that my time with Cady was up. No complaints there, really.

"Okay, now you're allowed to be free. Fly away," I said, shoving her towards the door and towards Dylan's house. Apparently she was a good kisser or something but considering the fact that I was way too spit conscious to ever even touch someone's lip with my finger- forget my own lips- I don't think I'd really know what that meant. Ever.

*****

"How much?" I asked in a bored tone, trying my best to not sigh out of frustration and run out of the dreaded doors of this horrible place.

Okay, maybe I was being very dramatic and there were quite a few other people here as well who were mostly my age, but I still felt suffocated in this disgusting store and I was eyeing the exit doors like I was a leprechaun and they were the ends of a rainbow.

My cashier on the other hand seemed to be very nosy and chirpy. "So... what's the special occasion?" she asked slyly, eyeing my bag of underwear.

Yeah, if you hadn't guessed before, I'm very stupid and insecure and easily embarrassed so here I am, blowing up $100 on underwear at Victoria's Secret. I personally don't think it's worth it at all. I wish Victoria would keep her secret intentions to herself and not impose it on other unfortunate people.

"Embarrassment is the occasion," I grumbled, handing her the cash and getting the stupid bill so I could get out of this stupid place.

"Aw, what happened?" she asked, pouting. On normal circumstances, I would've indulged in a full-fledged talking session with this random stranger but I was kind of irritated and wanted to get the hell out of this place without anyone catching me here, so I ignored her and ran out of the door.

Then, two minutes later, I immediately felt bad and went right back in and handed her my phone number and said that we should become friends. Now I think she thinks that I was into her.

Oh well.

I was fast-walking towards the basement. I wouldn't want to be caught dead carrying any of this.

"Day?" called a familiar voice, and I wanted to literally sink into a puddle and disappear forever.

"Uh... Hi Max!" I said a little too enthusiastically as I hid the stuff behind my back. I didn't want him to get the wrong idea.

"What's wrong?" he asked, immediately concerned by my wavering tone.

"N-nothing," I said, smiling. I was blushing and sweating along with stammering because I was incredibly embarrassed out of my mind.

"Did someone hurt you? What happened?" he asked, protectively rushing to my side.

"No, I'm fine," I said collecting myself and moving a little to the left so he didn't see the bag.

"Uh... What's behind your back?" he asked a little cautiously, peering behind my shoulder because he is just very tall and I'm very tiny.

I was about to deny the fact that there was anything, but Max pulled it out of my hands and burst out laughing. He first looked a little confused, and then he was laughing so hard that he dropped the bag and held his stomach. Jerk.

"Don't make fun of me," I pouted, picking up the bag and feeling very stupid.

"Day... You could've just told me your intentions." He then gave me one of his flirtiest smirks and I realized he wasn't the same nice boy I'd met at the start of the year. "Was it a Christmas special thing? I mean... were you trying to build up the heat during the Winter?"

I had nothing to say to that, so I just stood there like an awkward tomato and pushed my hair behind my ear rapidly and slapped his arm playfully.

"Day, can I drop you home?" he asked, like the gentleman that he was. Everyone pretty much knew that I didn't own a car because I'd failed my first two driving tests and I'd given up by the third time.

"That would be nice," I admitted, as he put his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. He was wearing a very comfy hoodie and jeans and I immediately made a small spot near his chest home and snuggled into it because it was nice and he smelt nice and I liked him.

"I like you very, very much Day," he told me randomly as we walked into his car and he cranked up the heat and that one sentence sent my heart into overdrive. I could literally feel it thumping through my chest and I was scared he would be able to hear it.

Okay, let me just get something very clear and very straight: I'm not a very romantically inclined person. I don't generally go all sappy and soppy or have moments where I'm drowning in love or anything. I'm not that kind of person at all. But something about Max just made me want to be that kind of person; I felt like he deserved that after all that he said to me that meant so much.

Suddenly I remembered something.

"Well, you definitely don't like me enough because you conveniently forgot to mention that you were dating my biggest enemy." I know I ruined the moment, but oh well.

"Day... I hate her, okay? I just don't like talking about her much and I like you too much to let my past get in the way of my present. And Day, you are my present. You're my gift from god and everything, but I don't think you even get that. I don't think you even know what a big thing this is for people; what a big deal this is for me. I have such major trust issues, and yet I decide to trust you. I saw the kind of person you are, Day. I love the kind of person you are. I love you."

My breath hitched. Okay, I didn't really know what the big deal about love was or anything. I didn't even know how to respond to that because unlike Max, I was terrible at framing my words when I was talking out loud. Sure, I could write pages and pages of senti, cheesy bullshit but I couldn't actually think of it on the spot and say it out loud.

"I... I..." Yeah, that's what I meant when I said I couldn't say stuff. Congrats to me!

Max was concentrating on the road, but I could tell he wanted me to say it too.

"I... I'm kind of hungry." I randomly said, because I was the socially awkward girl that I am.

He sighed, looking kind of irritated and I think he had every right to hate me right now.

He gently placed his fingers on my bare knee and started drumming his fingers across, and I'd be lying if I said that each time he did it there was no electricity. I could literally feel little sparks of pleasure shoot up my skin and my pulse quicken every time he touched it. I felt kind of embarrassed by how hard my heart was thumping.

We stopped in front of Burger King, and neither of us moved an inch. I was frozen to my seat as he brushed his hand against my skin over and over. Did he seriously not know that he was giving me a major cardiac arrest right now?

I felt like I needed to reciprocate his words that weighed heavy in my heart. I honestly wish I'd been better with words, because if I had to tell him how I felt towards him I'd probably morph into some rare retarded goldfish.

So I used an easier method of communication: action speaking louder than words.

"Max?" I whispered, turning from the bonnet to face him.

He stopped brushing his hands across me and I could feel the areas around his touch burn like fire. "Yeah?" he asked, staring back at me with his intense light eyes that could literally make me pee.

"I... Uh..." Yep, brilliant. He looked at me disappointedly. Then I leaned a bit forward, my lips slightly parted. I had no idea how to do this. He widened his eyes a bit, as if he wasn't really expecting me to do what I was about to do. I kind of chickened out halfway, so I was stuck at an odd position between the gears and his face, and I was starting to feel the insane blush that was gushing up to my face.

"Have I ever told you how much that damn blush turns me on?" he asked, his voice a husky but undeniably sexy mess that just made my cheeks flame up further.

He moved forward too, so that our chests were touching. Then he moved a lock of hair that had decided to escape my ponytail behind my ears, and stared into my eyes with more love than I'd ever thought possible. I could see the lust swimming through like a glistening pond at sunset.

"Day June Winters," he said, his breath fanning across my face and sending tingles down my spine. "I am so lucky to have met you." With that, he closed the gap between us.

I could feel the kiss soft and loving against my lips, like we were both moving to a melody only he knew. My fingers instantly sprang into his hair, pulling him closer towards me and allowing the locks of shaggy brown to wrap around my fingers. We were both in perfect sync and harmony, and I could feel his hands cupping my face and touching every bit of it; running his fingertips across my nose, under my eyes and across my cheekbones.

My other hand rubbed against the smooth contours of his back, feeling his muscles ripple beneath his shirt as he moved. My heart was beating louder than the loudest drums and my blood was pumping harder and faster than a cheetah.

Suddenly, some idiot had to cough behind us and break the perfect moment.

"I'm sorry, but some people are actually coming here to eat and not make out."
I'd recognize that stupid voice from a mile away.

We both sprung apart like we were like magnets. I could see his face was flushed, and I was pretty sure mine wasn't much better.

"Dylan Stupid Daniels," I hissed. "I'm sorry, we were never making out. Are you hallucinating?"

He shot me his signature smirk. Jackass. "Oh really? I'm pretty sure his tongue was shoved down your throat."

I laughed humorlessly. "Yep, you're delusional!" I concluded.

"Okay, but I think it was going to get to third base or something if I hadn't interjected. Isn't that right, Max?" he asked, addressing Max for the first time.

Max's face looked like a freakin' beetroot.
"I... Uh..." Oh goodie! He was catching up on my style of communication! I feel proud.

"One word, Dylan. LEAVE." I was seething because he'd kind of just ruined my first kiss. I would clobber him later.

Max and I were too awkward to really buy something and he dropped me off at my door, and we mumbled our goodbyes before I ran into my house and slammed the door.

My whole body was tingling with excitement, and I had fireworks like the Fourth of July in my stomach.

I was going to have good dreams tonight.

A/N:

There's Day again! =D

Hey lovelies!

Ugh. Probably my hardest chapter yet, because I've seriously never kissed before so I'm sorry if this didn't have as many... Details as you may have liked. Oops?

Yay!! I love everyone's enthusiasm towards my book and it's SUPER encouraging =)

Best comment gets a dedication!

Song of the day: Love is the Name by Sofia Carson

Teaser: Late night chats are always the best chats.

Early update, you're welcome!! XD I'm on vaycay so pardon me if they aren't so frequent.

Sorry this is unedited... I'll proofread it later, promise.

Love you all,

~Lexi