Opposites Attract

11.

Take a deep breath,
Pick yourself up,
Dust yourself off,
And start all over again.

°°°°

It's eleven o'clock now. I'm pretty late I know but I was pretty upset and the wedding order was huge. Plus I had to do my part time job tonight too.

Before entering the house, I take out my phone from my bag. When did I put it on silent?

Fifteen missed calls from Ethan. Thirty two from Jacob. Ten from Noah and Liam each. And even one from Sina.

I'm in trouble when I step inside these doors. I sigh and pull my shoulders straight. It's not like I have to explain my actions to them. The more we stay out of each other's personal lives, the better.

The four are seated inside in the hall. When they spot me, they get up together. Each one of them is angry.

"Where were you?" They ask together. If it weren't for the serious atmosphere, I would've laughed.

"I don't think I'm bound to answer that question." I give them a cold shoulder and plan to cross the hall to make my way to my room.

Just after taking two steps forward, Liam, who was the closest to me, grabs my wrist, pulls me back and makes me sit on the couch not so gently.

From my other side, Noah takes my phone out of my hand.

"I'm installing a tracking app in your phone and you're never to delete it. Got it?" He asks in a scolding tone.

I nod.

"Now tell us where were you?" Ethan asks.

I look at Jacob who seems perfectly fine now. His hand also seems intact. So what was that I saw in the morning?

"We've made a deal haven't we Jacob? I will not be questioned about my whereabouts." I reply, equally mad now. They don't tell me about themselves but they want to know all about me.

Wait, did I just call him Jacob?

"Why didn't you pick up your phone?" Jacob asks.

"Why are you guys being like this? This morning, you implied I'm intruding where I'm not supposed to. Made me feel guilty for worrying about you. And just when I accepted that fact, you all are acting all caring again. Please stop confusing me and tell me what do you want me to do? Am I allowed to worry about you? Am I allowed to care for you, to support you? Am I allowedto call you my friends?" My cheeks burn and I cover my face with my hands in exasperation.

The room fells silent.

"Do one thing Jacob, you all decide how I am supposed to behave in this house and put it in an agreement. That way, atleast I will never upset you again." I say crossly.

"Why are being like this?" Noah asks, his gaze soft now.

"You are not our servant." Liam says.

"Or a toy." Ethan puts in.

"Am I really not? Then why did you shout at me when I asked for help? You didn't even tell me anything. You took out your helplessness out on me like I am a toy who does not have feelings." I direct this to Ethan. Then I look at Jacob. "And I don't even want to start with you."

"Sierra.. we were just preoccupied with stress. We know this about Jacob and how he gets. And I just.." Ethan tries to explain.

"I'm scared of you all now." I say in a quiet voice but they all hear it and I can tell it hit them bad. "I don't know when anyone of you will flip out on me just because you're under stress about something else."

"Don't say this Sierra. ." Liam pleads.

"I can't... I'm sorry but you do scare me." A tear drop falls off my eye.

I get up and walk out of the hall. This time, no one stops me.

An hour later

There is a knock on my door. I hop on the bed and get inside the covers. Then I pretend to be asleep.

"I know you're awake Sierra." Jacob says from the other side of the door. "I'm coming in." With this, he enters the room.

I still pretend to be asleep.

"You're breath rate is too fast. You are awake. Now get up." He pulls off the covers.

I open my eyes and sit up. "For all you know, I could've been naked." I say.

He smiles. "You are not the type of girl who sleeps with their clothes off." He replies. Then he raises the food tray in his hand. "Ethan made this. As an apology from our side. You must be hungry." He places the tray in front of me.

It's spaghetti. My favourite. Damn Ethan.

"I'm not hungry." I avert my gaze.

"My mother used to say we should never take our anger out on food. It means we are disrespecting it." He says wisely.

I have to agree with this. I pick up the fork and start eating. He doesn't leave.

"You wanna eat?" I ask.

"I thought you were mad at me."

"That I am." I look away. "But.."

"But you still care about me." He completes. I nod. He lies down on my bed. On my bed!? "When I was four, I was in a car accident. The bone of my right hand was badly broken."

The atmosphere immediately turns serious. I can't believe he is opening up to me.

"I had seven surgeries in six years. The pain.. I still remember it loud and clear. And that was the time my mom.. she left me. Ran away to be precise. And my dad never gave me any attention. I was on my own with only my three friends by my side." He turns his body to my side. In his eyes, I see the pain and vulnerability of a little kid. "It took three years of physiotherapy to make my hand functional again. But every now and then, I feel the pain. It's psychological not physical but I just can't tell the difference."

"Why didn't you let me stay?" My voice breaks. For him. I feel his pain.

"Because I didn't want you see me like that. Weak and vulnerable and scared." He sits up. "I didn't want you to pity me." He tells.

"So does that mean you won't let me help if it happens again?" I ask.

"I can't say. I'm not myself during that time." He looks away.

I cup his face and make him look at me. "I won't pity you. I just want to be there for you."

"Why?" He asks. "Why are you like this? Don't you get fed up of me. Of my tantrums and bossyness and arrogance. Why do you not hate me?"

I place my hands on his and smile. "Because you are a good person. You care about me too. Or you wouldn't have brought food for me or cared whether I am safely back home or not. You are the same as me Jacob."

He smiles. "Why did I suddenly change from Mr Woods to Jacob?"

"Because now I know you're a normal human being just like me. Not the perfect emotionless human being you pretend to be."

"Is it a good thing or a bad thing?" He asks, skeptical.

"The greatest thing ever."