Chapter Twenty-Three: Coffee’s and Rainbows

“From the top you two,” Sarah instructed to Gavin and I.

I let out a sigh, walking over to where Gavin was standing. “Can we please take a break? My feet are killing me,” I said complaining.

“Not until you two, get this part down. What is so hard, that you can’t do a simple eight count?” Sarah questioned looking at me.

“If it so easy how come I have to do it?” I retorted crossing my arms over my chest and huffing.

I know I sounded like I was a whiny baby, and I probably am. But, we’ve been at the same part for the last half an hour and I was becoming restless.

“Do you want to sing?” Sarah asked interrupting me from my thoughts.

“No,” I grumbled crossing my arms over my chest.

Since we were a group of three, we decided to do something a little different and giving the whole dance assignment our own touch on it. Sarah suggested that since it was an odd number that we would have two of us dancing while the other one sang. I was against that whole idea, at first cause I knew I would end up dancing with the bad boy himself. However, I was outnumbered.

“Good. From the top, please.” She said pointing at Gavin to get up from his position and the floor.

I stood next to Gavin placing one hand on my waist and the other hand on top of my head, as the beat of Paramore’s Ain’t it Fun blasted through the speakers.

As the song progressed I continued to do the dance moves that Sarah and Gavin had choreographed together. I tried to take part in it, but apparently I can’t dance and my ideas are lame- words of Gavin. So they decided to leave me out of it. I was a bit pissed off at first then I realized it meant less work for me.

“Where you’re from,” The singer’s voice blasted from the speakers. “You might be the one who’s running things,” I did the routine as I was told running up to Gavin and pushing on his chest. As he backed away once, then grabbing my hand and spinning me around. “Well you can ring anybody’s bell to get what you want.” The next verse was sang, as I pulled away from Gavin trying to escape from his embrace.

The story of the dance was basically about a boy- AKA Gavin, who only thought about himself. He was self-centred, selfish and impatient. He then on meets this girl AKA me, who basically gives him a reality check soon enough, he falls for her and wants her but she is giving him a run for his money and giving him a tough time. When Sarah first pitched the story to us, we thought we would be playing different roles but when she told us what Gavin’s role was, in the dance. I made a joke how he didn’t have to play a role for this dance, in return he gave me the finger.

“So what are you going to do when nobody wants to fool with you?” The next verse of the song rang out from the speakers.

“Cut!” Sarah said over the music waving her right hand up, her eyes directed at her phone, she then went over to the speakers turning off the music.

“What now?” Gavin asked, breathlessly. “I think that was the best one so far, considering Miss Two Left Feet, here didn’t fall once.”

I directed a glare at Gavin, “The other two weren’t my fault.”

Gavin raised his eyebrows at me, “Really? So you just happened to step on me three times, fall on me twice, and hit me in the face about a gazillion times.”

I let out a snort, “You are overreacting.” I said waving my hands dismissingly.

“And you are an accident waiting to happen, oh wait it already has.” Gavin retorted smugly.

“I might be an accident, but at least I am not a mistake.” I said to him, smiling sweetly.

In return Gavin just narrowed his eyes at me, he opened up his mouth to speak but Sarah cut him off.

“Look, you two. I have to go and babysit my brothers so please work on the dance.” Sarah told us, as she grabbed her bag from the floor hoisting it up to her shoulders.

“Yeah, that’s not happening.” I stated.

“I, for once agree with this nerd, I can’t be seen with her. It will ruin my reputation.” Gavin whispered.

I rolled my eyes, “Reputation, my ass.” I muttered.

“Look, Gavin. I know you have gone out with Ali a couple of times. So please, just go and get some coffee or something.” Sarah said her eyes darting to the two of us.

“Why?” I said speaking up.

“Because you guys need to work on your chemistry together. You guys have it, but it’s buried underneath all that annoyance and hatred with each other.”

“I know we have chemistry,” Gavin said smirking a little. “We have it every day together second period with Mr. Kelly.”

Sarah just rolled her eyes at his lame joke, “Whatever. I will see you guys tomorrow.” She said waving at the two of us and heading out the door of the dance studio.

I sighed impatiently as I watched the door of the dance studio shut. I then looked at Gavin who was staring at me with a weird look on his face. However I ignored it, grabbing my bag from the corner of the room and proceeding to walk out. There was no way I was going to waste my Saturday having a coffee or doing anything that related Gavin and I alone. If I remember correctly the last time we went out somewhere together I was almost raped, and considering my dad made me take martial arts when I was younger it was quite embarrassing.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Gavin asked me.

“Home,” I stated. “Sarah is nuts if she thinks I am going to be hanging out with you willingly. The last two times we hung out I was forced. Not this time, buddy.” I said to Gavin who was watching me with amused eyes.

“It’s just coffee, what’s the harm?” Gavin questioned me grabbing his own bag and walking towards me.

“The harm? If I remember correctly but you were against hanging out with me two seconds ago. Remember apparently you have a reputation to keep.”

“I do,” Gavin said nodding his head. “I will just say that I am hanging out with you, cause of a project or something.”

I let out a sigh, “You’re ridiculous and rude.”

“I know I am. It’s all part of the charm,” Gavin said smirking at me giving me a quick wink. I let out a chuckle, rolling my eyes at the boy’s attempt to flirt. “So, Ali would you be a gem and do the pleasure of saying yes to agree to go on a coffee date with me?”

I raised my eyebrows at Gavin, “Sarah said all we have to do is get coffee she said nothing about us dating. Or even going for a coffee date. It is merely just two people getting some coffee and seeing if they have chemistry.”

Gavin’s face crunched up in confusion, “That’s a date…” He spoke slowly.

“No it’s not.” I stated.

“Yes it is.”

“No it’s not.”

“Yes it is.”

“Look I could stay here all day and argue with you, but I have to get home.” I spoke, opening the door of the dance studio and walking out leaving Gavin even more confused than he already was.

*

“So let me get this straight, Gavin asked you on a date and you rejected?” Holly asked confused.

I nodded my head slowly, my eyes focused on my phone. “Yup. Pretty much.”

“Why?” Holly asked, her tone of voice confused.

“What do you mean?” I said, my fingers tapping on my phone screen.

“Why didn’t you say yes?” She asked, as I felt her grab another piece of my hair.

I shrugged my shoulders, “God dammit.” I swore as the game ended with my bird dying. I swear the creators of flappy bird are stupid, they make the tunnels that the bird has to go through so small. No wonder I always end up dying.

“Well, if I was you I would call Gavin back up and agree to go out with him.”

“Why?” I said turning off my phone and giving up on the game, giving my full attention to Holly. “Weren’t you the one who told me to stay away from him? Why the sudden change?” I questioned, curiously.

“Well maybe Gavin is changing for the best…”

I let out a snort, “I doubt it. It’s so cliché why would a guy just change for a girl. It’s stupid and shallow.”

“Look if you don’t call him, I will. And I will tell him that you agreed to go on a date with him.” Holly said putting the curling wand down and grabbing her phone from her back pocket.

I rolled my eyes as I stared at Holly through the mirror. I watched as she scrolled through her phone, when she found what she was looking at her she gave me a quick wink before placing the phone to her ear.

I put the curling wand down as I turned the chair around to face Holly, she had a grin on her face. “Holly what are you doing?”

She shushed me as her brown eyes darted around the room, “Hello?” She said speaking to the phone, she waited for the response before she spoke up again. “It’s Holly,” She said. “Well the reason I was calling cause Ali, was too shy to call you, and wanted me to tell you that she would love to go out with you.” Holly said smirking at me.

I let out a bark of laughter as I stood up from the chair clapping, “Bravo, Holls. You really fooled me there, like I am honestly going to believe that is Gavin on the phone.” I said sarcastically walking over and grabbing the phone from her.

Holly’s eyebrows knitted in confusion as I took the phone away from her, “Ali what are you talking about that is Gavin…”

“Yeah, and I am Santa Claus.” I said sarcastically. “Hello?” I said into the phone.

“Isn’t Santa Claus supposed to be fat, have a white beard and smell like cookies? Cause I would have remembered if you smelled like cookies, nerd.” The person spoke from the other line.

“Gavin?” I asked incredulously.

“The one and only, babe.”

“What do you want?” I whined, into the phone.

“A date and I am not taking no for an answer.”

“Well, it’s a no. Goodbye.” I said, getting annoyed.

“You can’t say no since Holly already agreed to it, I will see you at the Starbucks on Jarrett Street in twenty, babe. See you then.” With that Gavin hung up the phone.

I stared at the phone in my hand in disbelief. I then looked at Holly in annoyance. “Why do you want me to go out with him so badly? It doesn’t make sense.” I said chucking her phone to her.

“I am just trying to help you find someone.”

I titled my head at her, either Holly was very bipolar or she was lying. And for a fact of knowing her all my life, I knew she was lying. But, instead of calling her out on it I simply let it go.

“Fine, I will go. If it makes you happy.”

“Good, now come on. I will drive you there,” Holly said tossing me my wallet and opening the door. “It’s a good thing, I did your hair.”

I rolled my eyes following her to wherever the hell she was going. To be honest I didn’t really want to go out with Gavin, or even hang out with him. Due to the last couple of times, was it wrong not to feel safe around him. He was a somewhat good person, a little conceited, weird and annoying. But he was still however a good person and he showed me that side of him with his younger brother Garrett.

We made it downstairs as we walked towards the front door, Holly a little bit ahead of me. I bent down to pick up my converse and pulling them on.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I looked up as I got up from the floor, finishing tying my laces.

“Hey Ben,” I said managing to give him a small smile.

“Aren’t you grounded?” He asked crossing his arms over his chest, his brown eyes narrowed at me.

“I am.”

“So, then what are you doing leaving?” He questioned.

“She’s got a date with Gavin,” Holly said cutting into the conversation.

I inhaled deeply, trying to control not yelling at Holly, for saying that in front of Ben. “You what?” Ben asked incredulously.

“It’s not a date, it’s simply two people going out for coffee to see if they have chemistry.” I stated in a clam voice.

“That’s a date.”

“Well then if you guys think that’s a date then I suppose we have different meaning of the term date. Now if you would excuse me I have somewhere to be.” I said, turning around and grabbing Holly’s arm and hauling her out of the house and towards her car.

“What the fuck was that for?” I seethed at her.

“What are you talking about?” She asked innocently, starting up the engine of her car.

I buckled myself in, turning to her as she pressed on the gas pedal driving towards the gates where the guards have now opened it up. “Holly, I honestly don’t know what you are doing, but you are beginning to act like a bitch.” I stated.

“Look, it’s not my fault you have two guys going after you.” She said her hands clutching the steering wheel.

I let out a sigh, “Is this what this is all about? Ben?” I asked her, “Cause if you want him and I know you do, you can have him. I have no interest in him.”

“I am not talking about Ben,” She said in a tired voice.

“Than what are you talking about…?” I asked confused.

“Look, it doesn’t matter.” She said stopping at a red light, turning to me.

“Than if it doesn’t matter tell me!”

“I will tell you when I am ready, okay?” She said glancing at me from the corner of her eyes as she pressed on the gas causing the car to lurch forward. “We are already late as it is.”

I shrugged, “Fine, whatever.”

“I am sorry.” She spoke up quietly.

But instead I didn’t reply I just stared out the window as I watched the scenery before me. A few minutes later we pulled up to the local Starbucks. Holly parked the car in one of the open spaces as I made no movement to get out of the car, from the corner of my eye I noticed a red truck. Right away I knew it was Gavin’s due the time he took me from school to go paintballing, or what I called kidnapped me from school on Valentine’s Day. I never really admitted it, but it was fun and I kind of did enjoy myself. I always did when I was with Gavin, which was kind of odd.

“You should go, you’re already late and Gavin might be wondering where you are.” Holly said speaking to me.

I nodded my head, I hated when we fought. It was always awkward and weird afterwards and I didn’t like it. “I’ll call you if I need a ride or anything, alright?”

She nodded her head in return, I took that as my cue to leave. I opened the car door, walking towards the Starbucks as I watched Holly’s small Red Toyota Civic drive out of the parking lot.

I honestly couldn’t believe she was making me do this, she hated Gavin. I am pretty sure she even loathed him, why the heck would she want me to go on a date with him. When I arrived home from the dance session, I took a quick shower calling Holly to come over. There I explained to her what happened between Gavin and me.

My eyes scanned inside the small coffee shop for a certain annoying bad boy by the name of Gavin. “Of course,” I muttered under my breath when I finally saw him. He was sitting at a table with a blonde girl sitting across from him, leaning across the table giving him her full attention.

I turned around to leave, I didn’t want to be here in the first place. When I heard Gavin call me, but not by my name. “Nerd!” He shouted, “Nerd,” He said running up to me and turning me around to face him. “When somebody calls you, they usually turn around knowing the person wants to talk to them.”

“Wouldn’t you rather go sit beside that blonde girl who is glaring at me as we speak?” I suggested, looking around him at the girl whose eyes were narrowed at me.

“Nah, I’d rather talk to you,” He said giving me a quick wink.

I rolled my eyes, his signature dark leather jacket was replaced with a blue hoodie and he also had on a pair of dark washed jeans. As I scanned him up and down, when I looked back to meet his eyes he was smirking at me. “You were checking me out.”

I pretended to make gagging noises, “I’d rather claw my eyes out with a fork.”

“Say what you want nerd, you want some of this.” He said gesturing to his body.

“Whatever, can we just find a seat?” I asked changing the topic.

Gavin motioned for me to follow him to the back of the room. There was a table, at the corner of the room I took a seat across from Gavin where he remained standing. “I am going to go ahead and order something, anything you want?”

I looked at the menu before me, but it didn’t really help. I never tried any of these things before in my life, “Um, no thanks.” I said closing up the menu and looking up at Gavin.

“Oh come on, Ali. Please tell me you aren’t one of those girls who watch everything they eat.” He said with a roll of his eyes.

“I am not, one of those girls. It’s just that I have never been to Starbucks or tried any of these things before, alright?” I admitted.

Gavin’s jaw dropped open, “You never had Starbucks? Oh dear Lord, please tell me you’ve tasted coffee before?”

“What would you do if I said no…?” I said shyly.

“I would slap you, which I minutes away from.” Gavin must have noticed the horrified look on my face, because he started chuckling. “I am joking I don’t hit girls, plus this is a new experience so we are just going to try everything.” Gavin said rubbing his hands together in an evil manner.

“We aren’t doing that.” I told him, chuckling.

“Why not? As your date for the evening, I am entitled to do everything it takes to make this a memorable evening, so Miss Clair, shall we?” He said bowing his hand and holding his hand out to me.

I let out a laughed at his dorkiness, “We shall Mr. Storm.”

*

“I can’t believe you got us kicked out,” I said incredulously as Gavin started up his engine for his truck as he pulled out of the Starbucks.

“Well it wasn’t my fault.” He said turning onto the road.

“Wasn’t you fault?” I blurted out in disbelief, “You got into a fight with a fifteen year old!”

“Hey!” Gavin called out, “That kid was not fifteen. He looked old enough to get into a strippers club.”

“He was freaking fifteen, plus he didn’t even do anything to you anyways!” I said crossing my arms over my chest.

“He was basically undressing you with his eyes!” Gavin exclaimed.

“Look, Gavin. That’s sweet that you did that, but next time can you not punch the poor kid, you’re lucky they didn’t press charges.”

“And there lucky that they had people strong enough to pull me of him.” He muttered under his breath.

I rolled my eyes leaning back against my chair, as I played the nights memories in my head. When we ordered enough food, some things that Gavin himself haven’t even tasted we began to eat. As the night progressed we began to get to know each other better, and I learned under all that Gavin there was actually a good person. Up until he punched a fifteen year old. After that all hell broke loose and we were kicked out from Starbucks, I am pretty sure we were even banned but I didn’t want to go back to make sure.

“You’re not mad at me are you?” Gavin asked quietly.

I looked at him, as he was glancing at me from the corner of his eye. I shook my head, “No. You had your reason and I understand that. I think I should be thanking you, I had a fun night and it was pretty memorable.”

Gavin smiled at me, it was genuine and it made me feel giddy. “I had fun too.”

He stopped the car to look at me, as he took the key out of the engine. “Maybe we can do this again sometime?”

I smirked at him, “Maybe.”

“I told you I wasn’t so bad, if I had to say so myself I think I am pretty awesome.”

“Yeah you keep telling yourself that,” I said as it just finally processed in my brain that he stopped the car. “Why’d you stop?”

“Because remember last time? You wanted me to drop you off at Pennsylvania Avenue, so I did.”

“You remember?” I said clearly shocked that even someone like him, could remember something so small.

“Yup, I think it’s only because it’s odd that I am dropping you off on the street. But, if this is what you want than alright. However, I am in no way responsible to what happens when you step out of this truck.” He said in a serious matter.

I rolled my eyes, “Whatever, I will see you at school, rainbow.”

“Rainbow?” He asked confused.

“Yup, that’s my new nickname for you.” I said smirking at him, “Since you call me nerd, which I am not. I think it is only fair that I give you a nickname.”

“But why rainbow?”

“Because your last name is Storm, and after every storm there is a rainbow.” Gavin’s mouth made an ‘o’ sound as he finally realized. “Well, see you tomorrow Rainbow.” I said smiling and shutting the door as I waited for him to start up the engine to his truck as I watched him drive away.

I honestly did enjoy myself, even if it was with Gavin. He wasn’t so bad…

*****

Hello Lovelies,

Wow this took me eighteen days to update. And once again I do apologize, since it is Easter I am off for Holidays so I took two days to sit down and type this out. So I hope you guys I appreciate this, I want you guys to leave your comments below. And your thoughts about this chapter! And about their whole date thing, and Holly’s mood swings…

Also the dedication for the whole prank thing, the comments were outstanding, and some of them made me laugh my butt off. But sadly I had to pick one, and this is dedicated to @lizzygirl12 her prank was a sleepover on April fools and when her parents left her and brother cut off the internet and power, and scared her friends by putting blood on her hair and just really scaring the living day lights out of them! I died laughing it so thank you! :D

On an unrelated note, I want to know how many of you guys have vine? If you do go ahead and follow my awesome best friend @fiercettes and watch her vines they are hilarious! And I know you guys will love them too!

PS if you guys aren’t following me you probably haven’t heard but I did enter my short story The Sound of Music, for this year’s Watty Prize and it would be greatly appreciated if you guys can show your support! It would honestly mean the world to me!

To win a dedication tell me an embarrassing story for me it would most probably be when I accidentally walked into the boys bathroom, and when I finally realized I was in the wrong one. When I was half way in, and I am like “Why is the walls blue? And since when did we get a urinal?” Once I realized I was in the wrong bathroom, I sprinted out only to be greeted with a bunch of guys about to walk in… #neverfeltsoembarrassedinmylife

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Xoxo_mysteriousgirl