Hello Readers,
This is my second work and I'm posting it under APRIL FOOLS STORY CONTEST 2017. I came to know a little late about this contest. That's why I might not have done justice to the story, but still I've tried my best to write a story that you will like. Also, this month being a festival month, has kept me busy. I had to ask my friend, who was constantly nagging me to make 'Gujiya' (Indian Sweet) for her, to hold her horses so I can get some writing done. The festival went well and so did my writing. I hope that you will like it.
Don't forget to vote and comment. I would love to hear your opinions.
At last I want to wish you a Very Happy Holi. May god fill your life with colours of love and happiness.
God Bless You.
Enjoy the story!
-Avinash
**********
'Okay! It's official! I'm late again,' I thought as I walked swiftly through the corridors of St. Mary's College. I could feel everyone's eyes on me as I made my way to the Mathematics class which everyone in my section dreaded.
It was something about Professor McAdams that made everyone skip a beat. He was especially tough on the ones who came late in his class and disturbed other students, like everyone would be paying attention to him anyway.
There was this guy who walked into the class about two minutes after Professor entered the class. He had to write the assignment given that day, five times, else he would have failed him in the finals. He is a dead beat when it comes to punctuality in his class. And here I am trying my luck by walking in his class about fifteen minutes late.
I stood at the door and saw him speaking something about integral calculus, something I never understood. I had no interest in Maths whatsoever, but it was Maths or History. I chose Maths over History. I hate repeating dates. I knocked on the door and every eye in the class turned towards me. I saw my best friend Martha breaking into a grin.
"You are so in trouble," she mouthed.
I heard the Professor clear his throat and I came back from my thoughts to this terrifying reality standing in front of me.
"I believe Ms. Riley Smoke knows a lot about Integration By Parts. That's why she decided to come late in this class," he said, his hands crossed around his chest. His eyes were red with anger. They appeared red to me at least.
"I'm sorry Professor. It won't happen again," I mumbled, my head hung low, imitating my best cute girl voice. Knowing well that it won't change anything. I am going to get punished, no matter what. He began again but was interrupted by someone.
"Sir, I have a question."
His eyes followed the voice. I too looked in that direction. We both saw Kevin, his one hand raised and his eyes staring at me, as if telling me to not to speak. How dare he?
"Yes Kevin?"
" I tried this exercise on page 298. There is a question which uses a different method of integration by parts. Can you tell me the difference and how we can implement it?" he said, nudging at his glasses to let them climb further up on his nose.
"Oh! Well I am glad that you asked that question. At least someone is sincere in this class," professor said, looking in my direction. "Well done Kevin."
I stood there like a statue as Professor began lecturing the students about the great discovery that crazed guy has made. I looked at him and he was scribbling whatever the Professor was saying in his notebook.
"Are you going to stand there or get to your seat so you can write something down?" I heard Professor speak, looking at me.
I quickly shuffled to the back the class thinking about what had just happened. I was sure that Kevin did it intentionally. He helped me out of this situation. Everyone in the class including me and my friend Martha was surprised that Professor McAdams pardoned me so easily. All eyes were on me and it made me feel ridiculous. I began hating Kevin as soon as I loved him for what he did for me. He was such a pain.
"I am telling you. That boy has a crush on you. That's why he saved you from 'Virus'," Martha whispered in my ear. Everyone called Professor McAdams as 'Virus'.
"Oh please. That guy? He knows his place. He can't even fall in love with my boots, let alone me. I hate him big time."
"So you do have feelings for him? That's interesting," she said, nudging me.
I rolled my eyes and focussed my attention on what Professor McAdams was writing on the board. But my mind kept on drifting towards Kevin. I shook my head and focussed on the board again. I shouldn't think about that creep. Yeah, that's what he was, a creep. I wanted to hit him. I have to teach him a lesson. But for what? It's not that he has done something to offend me or something. But his actions, the way he looks at me. I have to stop this. I'll think of something.
**********
The bell rung indicating that the class was over. My breath was caught in my chest anticipating a punishment from Professor McAdams. That boy got his punishment when he was leaving the class. Maybe he spared her at that time only to give her punishment later at the end of the class. But nothing happened of that sort. I saw Kevin walk up to him asking questions, engaging him. I thought that it was the perfect time to sneak out, and I did.
"Hey Riley!" Mark called from behind me as I was making my way to the next class.
He was the leader of the gang I used to hang out with. I had a crush on one of the guys in the group when I first joined this group. And now Mark is the only reason I still hang out with them.
He walked up to me and we fist bumped. "What the hell just happened? I thought that he was going to stone you. He had that look in his eyes."
"I don't know Mark. I guess I was just lucky."
"Oh yeah? Okay, I believe you. So what are your plans this April? Have you thought about your victim this year?" he asked with a strange glow in his eyes.
Pulling pranks on someone we chose every year on first of April, was somewhat like a tradition of our gang. Me, Martha and Mark were friends since fourth grade and we've been having these prank wars since then. Over the years the pranks were becoming nastier. Mostly I would be the leader and got to chose the victim, but this year I had so many names that I just couldn't decide.
"There are so many names Mark. I just can't decide," I sighed.
"Really? Let's do all of them."
I chuckled at his choice of words and said, "We can't do that. It's against the rules."
"Okay, what if I decide for you? I have a name and I think you'd want to fuck with him too," he said.
"Yeah? And who would that be?" I asked.
"I'll tell you later. Right now, I think you are getting late for your class....again," he said with a mischievous grin.
"Oh shit! Mark, if I get busted again? You are so dead," I said as I sprinted towards my next class.
The rest of the classes were as boring as they seemed. I somehow got through with them, but as I made my way to the canteen my shoulders had an extra amount of slump. Grabbing my lunch I skipped beside Martha who was already munching on her hamburger. I took a fry from her plate and popped it into my mouth. I pouted as soon as I realised that she was going to protest. She sighed and shook her head.
"Someone seems extra bitchy today," she said taking a bite of her hamburger.
"Because someone is extra good today," I said giving her my best Barbie smile. "Seriously if I were interested in girls. You would have been my bitch."
"Well. Lucky me!" she said. " Bitch reminds me, have you thought anything about this April's victim?"
"You know what? Mark asked me the same thing. You guys are so made for each other. I don't understand why you keep running away from him," I said wiggling my brows.
Everyone in the college knew that Mark liked Martha. They have been together since childhood. Even before I came to live and I got along with Martha. That's how I knew Mark. She was the one who introduced us in fourth grade. They have been inseparable. But something has changed. Now Martha keeps ignoring him. I know she has feelings for him but she never says. I don't know why.
She rolled her eyes and gave out a laugh.
"Says who?" she said cocking her head.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"You know what I am talking about. You know Kevin crushes on you, but you don't admit."
"Because it creeps the hell out of me. Honestly I do not care about what he feels. I don't give a fuck," I said with my chin up high.
"Oh yeah? Then prove it," she said.
"Prove it? How?"
"I dare you to make him this year's April Fool. Try and build a fake relationship with that closed guy. Win his heart, which I think he has already lost to you, do a little mushy things with him. Take him to the edge, but still leave him hanging. And when it becomes serious. Tell him on first of April that it was just a joke. No big deal," she completed finally.
My jaw dropped open. I couldn't believe what I've just heard. I didn't knew that my best friend could be so malicious. Her eyes were sparkling as if she has rediscovered herself. Someone brought a finger to my chin and closed my mouth which was hanging open. I followed that hand and saw Mark standing beside me. He was followed by the gang and everyone began crowding the small table. Martha snickered at that.
"So what do you think? Are you in on that, Riley Smoke? Or are you concerned that your lover boy might get hurt and will stop loving you," he said with a grin.
"You two in this together? Well, that's a first." I was surprised that Martha was working with Mark and the gang. She always got grossed by the idea of them around her.
"Make nothing of it okay. We both just want to have some fun," Martha snapped, glaring at Mark, daring him to disagree. Yeah that was Martha. She would do anything to make her day even better.
I looked at Mark and he nodded. I thought about it for a second. I really don't care about how Kevin feels. Like I said, I don't give a fuck. But I have never done something like this. Playing with someone's feeling? Yes, I know I hurt people, that's why they call me a bitch. But everything has always been impersonal. I have never hurt anybody personally.
"So?" Martha snapped her fingers in front of my eyes. "You can chicken out. We will understand."
That just did it. "Just wait and watch," I said and got up to leave.
**********
There is difference between saying and actually doing something. I was standing at that exact crossroad. I really haven't done anything as crazy as my friends were asking me to do. But now I have gone with the wind and agreed to do it. If I back out now, they will certainly think that I have some kind of soft spot for that guy, which I don't. My mind was doing its flops and I don't think it's a good sign.
