3: "HUG ME"

Early mornings were never really something that Alonah had taken a liking to. If anything, that’s one thing she absolutely dislikes. She didn’t make a habit of waking up early, nor is she planning to start now.  So right now, knowing full well that it must still be around seven or eight in the morning, the only thing she wanted to do was punch the hell out of whoever is disturbing her treasured sleep. Feeling all that bouncing and shaking just managed to irritate her further, since those were the two actions done when waking up someone she loathes with every fiber of her being. "Wake up, Ally!" She heard Lu faintly say, feeling her weight press down the bed.  Deciding to just let her friend be, she forced herself to succumb back to dreamland and was close to achieving it too when Lu suddenly threw herself on the bed, landing right on top of her sleeping friend. An irritated and inhuman growl immediately escaped Alonah’s mouth as she pushed the duvet off her, causing Lu to fall down the bed with a huge thud. Alonah sat up on her bed and just stared at Lu falling face first on the floor, amusement swirling in her eyes. The latter started to stand up, groaning in pain in the process. She glared at the grinning girl sitting atop the bed once she was up while massaging her temples along with a growl that emanated from her lips. "Woah!" Alonah exclaimed. "Easy tiger." She gave her a smirk and Lu just continued glaring at her. "Get ready. We're going to the mall." She ordered and Alonah raised an eyebrow at her. "Who are you to order me around?" Alonah queried, a smirk slowly making its way onto her face. "Your best friend and the girl you pushed down the bed." Lu replied with a smug look on her face.  Alonah silently cursed Lu for knowing her too well, along with the fact that she really can’t take guilt. Her conscience would slowly eat her up until she finds a way to make herself feel better--which in this case would be going along with Lu’s nonsensical demands at nine in the morning. Groaning, she said, "Fine, fine. But if you order me again, I'm seriously bailing on you last minute." As soon as she got the confirmation from her friend, Alonah stood up from the bed and went inside the bathroom. She took her precious time in taking a shower, knowing full well that it would annoy Lu to no extent. As far as she’s concerned, the latter deserved to be in that position after what she did to her.  A chuckle escaped her lips when she heard Lu groaning outside and shouting profanities, making the former’s brother go inside her room in order to shut up the girl blowing a gasket. Well, that's Lu for you. After another five minutes in the shower, Alonah finally decided it was about time that she went outside, a towel wrapped around her body. Once she was out, she saw that an outfit was already laid out on top of her bed, a small note lying beside it that says: I already picked out your outfit, because I know that you would take an eternity if you were the one who chose. And by the way, Reese messaged you ;) - Lu xx Not really the first time she did it, but Alonah still can’t believe that Lu pried through her phone. Well, she also can’t exactly blame her friend for her action since that’s what she does too. She thinks it’s most probably because of how much they trust each other that they can allow the other to pry through. Alonah put the note back on her bed and went towards her bedside table to get her phone. Surely enough, she saw a message from Reese when she unlocked it.  From: Reese 9:21 AM Hey, Al :) Surprised by his sudden text message, she stayed glued to her place to the extent that she can't even dare to move a muscle to text him back. He never really texts her much so seeing that message now, she absolutely has no idea what to do.  Her phone buzzed in her hands and as she looked down, she saw that it was another text from him. From: Reese 9:58 AM Okay, that was, technically, a stupid thing to do. I was just so bored, and I saw your name through my phonebook, and I was like, "Hey! Why don't I text Alonah instead?" And then I started sending a message to you, and then you didn't reply, so I figured it was stupid or you were just busy, or—Okay, I should just shut up. I, uh, I'm already blabbering, so uh, I should just stop, but then I figured—Okay, I should just stop. I'm already ranting and it's supeerrr unattractive, so I should just shut up, so, uh, okay. Okay? Okay, bye. Laughing upon seeing the text message he sent her, she started typing in her reply. The guy probably just wants to talk to someone and they are friends after all, so what’s the harm? To: Reese 10:01 AM Hey Reese :) I'm sorry I wasn't able to reply right away. I was taking a shower. :) From: Reese 10:02 AM But you called me, but then stopped it right away… Seeing that made her release a sigh in her place. Her best friend just had to go and do that, didn’t she? Doesn’t she have anything better to do other than teasing her? To: Reese 10:02 AM Hahaha that wasn’t me; that was Lu. She's here in my house and she pried through my phone when I was showering. You know how Lu can be. From: Reese 10:02 AM Of course that was her. Well, I have to go. I already found something to do. ;) Bye :) To: Reese 10:03 AM Well, okay. :) Byeee x Well, no wonder the guy texted her. It honestly makes her wonder what goes on inside Lu’s mind sometimes. Shaking her head at her friend’s antics, Alonah put her phone back on her bed and grabbed the outfit that Lu prepared for her to wear. It was a black shirt that said, "HUG ME" in big bold letters, brown pants and black converse.  She has to say, Lu really knows her style. She’s pretty sure the latter didn't even have a hard time trying to figure out what she should make her wear. She put her hair down and brushed it as she looked at herself in the full length mirror in order to assess whether or not she looked fine. Upon seeing that she’s presentable enough, she grabbed her phone and her wallet and made her way out of her room. As she trudged down the stairs, she expected Lu to be up and about, complaining and groaning about how long it takes for Alonah to get ready. But instead, she found her sitting down on the couch with her legs tucked beneath each other as she typed away rapidly on her phone. Then, she groaned and typed more rapidly, looking as though she was trying to kill the phone. ...or whoever is on the other line. "Damn shitty asshole." She stated vociferously and tossed her phone beside her.  Chuckling at her friend’s violent reaction, she made her way towards her and offered her a grin when the latter looked at her. For as long as Alonah could remember, Lu has always been like this. Every time she gets upset over something or someone, she curses loudly, not caring if what she said has already offended the other person. One thing that Alonah also noticed is that Lu is really obnoxious when she gets pissed. It's like a whole new side of her. "So," She started. "Who managed to get you to act like that?"  A grunt was the first reply she got from her and it was later followed by a, "Don't you dare bring that asshole up." She stated, disgust lacing her every word. "He's so bloody egotistic and his cocky attitude is untolerable! I don't know why I even bother to put up with him." Alonah chuckled. "Let me guess." She grinned. "It's Keith, isn't it?" Upon hearing her words, Lu let out a growl, causing the former to assume that her deduction is true. She went closer towards the fuming girl and she could practically see her nose flaring, and smoke coming out of her ears. Keith is Lu's current...confessor/Chemistry partner. He's been very clingy towards her recently (which is to be expected since the guy is partnered with the girl of his dreams so it’s only plausible that he would take advantage of the situation) and she hates it when boys—aside from her guy friends—is clingy since it makes her feel suffocated. But for Alonah, she thinks it's sweet when boys get all clingy. After all, you rarely see them get clingy towards a girl, so seeing that is a pretty rare sight. But Lu being Lu, would always tell the former that she probably bumped her head on a wall every time she tells her that. "Just forget about him. Let's go to the mall like you requested. After all, you did wake me up pretty early for this." The knowing look that Alonah had plastered on her face as she said those words were enough to make Lu smile—even if it’s just a bit.  "Well, alright." She replied and started to stand up as she grabbed her phone beside her. The two friends made their way out the door and went inside the car. As Lu started to drive her car to the mall, Alonah just looked out the window, observing the trees as they passed by. For her, It's all the same every time. The dull, green trees are wet as always, seeing as it is always raining this month. The stores they passed by are also crowded like it always is, and the houses they passed by are full of children, just like any other day. She didn't even notice they had already arrived but when Lu nudged her on the side, she looked up at her now smiling best friend. "Come on, we're already here." She said. Making their way inside, the sight of people filled Alonah’s eyes once again. Not that it hasn’t during their travel here, it’s just that there are more people here than streets they passed by. "So," She started. "Where to?" "Uh, let's go to a music shop first. I need a new keyboard anyway." She stated as she faced a slightly dazed-looking Alonah, who seemed to have been overwhelmed by the people she saw. "What about you? Do you need anything?" It always amazes Alonah how Lu never seems to have any care in the world when she’s out shopping. That sentiment also applies to her but just not as much as Lu. "Yeah. I need new strings for my guitar, and my brother asked me to buy him a new electric guitar." I replied and she chuckled. "Alright, well, let's go."  As they made their way there, a thought occurred to Alonah. She turned to face her friend and asked, “Did you know that Ashton had a crush on you before?” Lu blinked her eyes a couple times, her mind still processing the words she heard her best friend utter. After a moment of just staring at Alonah, a chuckle eventually surfaced. “Yeah. He actually told me in a nonchalant way.” “So...he got rejected?” Alonah asked. A fond smile appeared on her lips. “Not really. He told me that when he got over his crush since he knew right from the start that I would just end up rejecting him either way.” Alonah chuckled. “Well, I guess being friends with you got him the advantage of knowing what your answer would be.” “At least he got that.” Lu grinned. “The others didn’t even have that advantage.” Once they arrived at their chosen store, Lu immediately went towards the piano station, while Alonah checked out the guitars. She was about to pick one up, when she felt someone hug her from behind. Astonished, she stayed glued to her place and blinked her eyes several times in surprise, turning around when the person let go. She didn’t really know what she was expecting, but she definitely didn’t expect it to be a stranger. It just seems weird, doesn’t it? No one really just comes up to a person they don’t know and hugs them as if they have been friends for the longest time. "Uh, hi?" She greeted, although it came out as a question, more than a statement. The stranger grinned at her and replied, "Hello." Despite that though, Alonah has got to admit that the guy isn't bad looking at all. His eyes are definitely the most attractive part of him though. Just one look and you’ll instantly end up getting entranced by it.  "What's your name?" He asked, smiling at her in the process. She returned his smile tentatively. "Uh, Alonah.” She replied. "What about you?" "Oh, well, my name's Paul." He replied. An awkward silence ensued after that. She really didn’t know what to say, especially since she wasn’t anticipating this at all. Not a moment too soon though, her answered pray came in the form of her best friend. Looking at him up and down as she silently assessed him, she turned to face Alonah once she had finished her inspection. "Who's this?" She asked bluntly as she pointed to Paul, who is looking at her in amusement. Alonah rolled her eyes at her bluntness. "This is Paul. And you’re so blunt, you know that?" "Well, I can’t really help it.” She replied while sending her best friend a smirk.  The former could only shake her head in amusement, already used to Lu’s current behavior. Feeling neglected, Paul cleared his throat to catch their attention. "Oh, hi. You’re still here.” Lu smiled sweetly at him. Alonah sighed. “You just couldn’t have made it less obvious, could you?” Paul laughed. “I don’t really mind. I like girls who can speak their mind.” Lu raised an eyebrow at his words but immediately let out a chuckle right after. “Well, I'm Lu. Alonah's best friend."  Knowing full well what Lu is trying to do, Alonah rolled her eyes once she saw her best friend’s sweet smile returning. This thing never gets old, really. For as long as Alonah could remember, Lu always tried to charm every boy that practically looks at her. And as she could tell (and what the latter told her), it’s merely for her entertainment and every time she does it, it amuses to no end. Paul blinked at her in surprise, probably seeing the sweet smile she was sending him. He smiled flirtatiously back at her, and she smirked in response. She looked over at Alonah, as if telling her that her mission succeeded. The latter rolled her eyes in amusement at her friend’s yet another basic antics and let out a low chuckle. "So, any reason why you hugged my best friend here?" She asked, letting out one of her 'angelic' laughs—well, as what it would seem to the boys anyway. Paul smirked at her in a charming way before responding, "Well, her shirt says hug me, so I took the chance." She smirked at him. "Trying to charm her?"  "What?" He scoffed. "Of course not. Do you know who I was trying to charm?" He asked, letting his voice drop in a low, and seductive voice. Lu smirked at him, already knowing the answer. "Enlighten me." She replied in her oh so famous flirty and seductive voice.  "You." Paul replied, stepping closer to her as he wrapped an arm around her waist.  She smirked at him, raising her hand, and trailed it across his broad chest. “Really?” “Definitely. So, tell me about yourself." He said, as he looked at her in a flirtatious manner. Alonah grimaced as she took in their interaction, silently wanting to be anywhere but here. She already saw this type of situation play out in front of her more times than she can count so it wasn’t really all that new to her. However, that still doesn’t diminish the fact that it doesn’t really interest her. "Oh, sweetie, I'd love to, but..." She trailed off, continuing on trailing her hand on his broad chest, trailing it up to his face. "But?" He questioned, with a frown etched on his face. She smirked seductively, and leaned in so that she could reach his ear. Alonah was pretty sure she heard his breath hitch. "But, I have to go meet a friend." She whispered, then pulled herself away from him and went outside the store, swaying her hips professionally for effect. He let out a low whistle, and there is absolutely no doubt that the guy was staring at her ass the whole time. She rolled her eyes at his action and sighed right after. "You do realize that that was my best friend you were just hitting on, right?" She questioned him as soon as he turned to face her, a smirk now plastered on his lips. "Jealous?" He asked. Scoffing, Alonah replied, “As if. Why would I be jealous of that?” “I don’t know. Maybe because you have a crush on me?” “Wow, I can’t believe how delusional you are. No, I don’t have a crush on you and I never will." She replied as she grabbed the silver electric guitar she was looking at (before she was so rudely interrupted by the guy) and a set of strings. She passed by him, purposely hitting his shoulder on the process.  “Jerk." She mumbled under her breath. Alonah paid for her items and went outside once as soon as she finished, not seeing the guy anywhere on her way out. She didn’t really mind though since she also didn’t want to see him again. She continued her search for Lu, only to find her sitting on one of the benches as she typed again rapidly on her phone. Letting out a chuckle, she made her way towards her best friend with a mirth-filled smirk plastered on her lips. "That was quite a show you put on there." She commented, making the latter look up from her phone and smirk at her. "Well, a heartbreaker has got to do its job, right?" She asked and Alonah let out a laugh as she sat beside her.  Lu suddenly started digging through her pocket while putting her phone down on her lap, making Alonah wonder what she could possibly be looking for. "Look." She said as she handed Alonah a piece of paper when she was done rummaging through her pocket. "What's this?" She asked, unfolding the paper in her hands. She didn’t really need Lu to answer her question because as soon as she saw what it was, she laughed and handed it back to her grinning friend. "He still managed to give you his phone number?"  "Yeah, apparently." Lu replied, making Alonah laugh even more. "Where to next?" "Hollister?" She suggested, her laughing fit now beginning to wane. Lu was quick to agree to her suggestion so the pair immediately made their way there. When they were almost halfway through the store, Alonah felt Lu nudge her on the side. Turning to face her, she replied, "Yeah?" I replied. As soon as she saw Lu sigh, she immediately knew whatever she was about to say was not going to be great news. “Remember Ian?" She asked and Alonah could only look at her in confusion, but nodded her head nonetheless. "Well, uh..." She started and the latter raised an eyebrow at her. "What?" Alonah asked, the feeling of impending doom only heightening when she saw the sheepish smile Lu sent her way. "Well, he's coming here ahead." She replied and Alonah raised an eyebrow at her again. "So? What seems to be the problem?" She asked, taking her gaze away from her companion to look for the store. "He'll be arriving here next week. Alone. Without the rest."  And those words were enough to make Alonah look at her in surprise with her mouth hanging agape, and eyes that looked like they were about to fly out of her sockets. She’s pretty sure that she looked like a fish out of water right about now. "What?" She replied, earning a few stares from people. Lu’s sheepish smile only grew. “Surprise! You’re going to meet one of them now.” “Lu, I swear…” “It’s not a joke, I promise!” She exclaimed. “He really is coming here ahead without the others. We talked last night and that’s what he told me.” “Well, why is he coming here ahead then?” Alonah crossed her arms against her chest. At this moment, Alonah is pretty sure she’s going to have to strangle her best friend for always dropping a bomb like this. If the girl could give her a few moments to prepare for what she’s about to say, that would be superb. “You know, I wonder about that too.” Lu replied. “He never really did give me a straight answer when I asked.” “But you have a guess, don’t you?” “Of course.” Lu grinned. “Well, knowing him, it’s most probably because he wants to meet you.” “What? Why would he?” “Just because.” “Just because?” “Yeah.” “That’s not even an answer!” Lu laughed. “Ally, seriously. Stop worrying about it. They’ll like you just fine. Trust me.” Alonah knows she should take Lu’s words to heart because she does know them like the back of their hand but somehow, she just can’t help but feel like a storm will ravage her life when they finally meet face to face.