Hacking The Relationship Code

Chapter 2: Clumsy Eating

My sister, Aurelia wouldn't be home till four which meant I had the house to myself. Aurelia was in her last year of high school. She would soon be leaving our home for university. I will miss my sister when she's gone. Although I didn't like her at many occasions, I can't imagine a home where she isn't there.

We get into fights regularly. I don't contest that. But she is the closest person to my heart. I look upto her. Someday, I want to embody her. She was a fierce person who always stood up for what she believed in. I liked that in her since I wasn't as strong as her. My voice faltered when I spoke up while hers never even flinched. I felt safe around her.

Even though we had a two-year gap between us, we were best friends. I never confided into my parents as much as I confided into her. We would hang out in the evenings, go out on shopping sprees and she would even help me with my classes. We were always upto some mischief together which would end up with me passing over the blame on her when we were caught. She could take the berating. I was sneaky that way. Our parents spoiled me because I was the younger child. She, being the elder one would always end up into trouble with our parents.

She was my dearest supporter but also my number one critic. We had one thing in common. We were both ambitious and had plans for our future, just like our parents. Which is why schooling was given the topmost priority in our household.

I had lunch which our housekeeper had prepared. Mrs. Jameson was a great cook. My mom relied on her for everything. My mom and dad had pretty successful careers. My dad ran his own equipment business and my mom was a freelance interior designer. My parents were busy people but they never compromised on values. My mom had taken a few years off from work to raise me and my sister the way she deemed necessary. Once we grew up, my dad encouraged her to start all over again. We were not the richest people on the earth but we were well off.

I spent the afternoon doing some schoolwork. Since it was the first day, not much was to be done. Aurelia returned from school with our favorite takeout of Jimmy's burger. I told you wasn't she the bestest sister?

We devoured the burger. I was a very clumsy person. My chin and lips were smudged with the mayonnaise from the burger. Aurelia of course couldn't miss the opportunity to click a nasty picture of mine and send it to my friends. We knew most of each other's friends. I and my friends would sometimes tag along with her friends at concerts as we were still not allowed be out late by ourselves. She was also my designated driver since she had her own car.

***

The next day thankfully I was right on time to catch my bus. I saw it from a distance and made a run for my stop. Aurelia and I attended different high schools, so, she wasn't of any use to me.

After enduring the arduous fitness session, I marched towards my class only to be greeted by Adrian with a bitter expression on his face. Looking at his distaste of me really spoiled my day. I had done nothing to deserve the hate directed my way. I sat at my seat and this time just to get the better of him, I moved my desk further away from him. Our eyes met for the first time and I could see the amusement flashing in his eyes.

He was wearing an emerald hoodie which covered his entire arm. Who even wears a hoodie in this weather? Come to think of it I haven't ever seen him in anything but hoodies and full sleeved t-shirts.

"Hi" I whispered, laced with uncertainty.

"Hi" He replied hoarsely. Better than not replying at all.

In the recess, I incidentally got into a friendly banter with Nick Garryson about whether Paris or Norway, which is the better holiday destination. It ended with him asking me out to hangout in the evening. We agreed to meet at Temptations for some ice cream at 5.