Chapter 19 - New Experiences

June Wolez

Methane and I spent the entire night talking and laughing over the phone. Even as I went to bed when the sun was shining outside the window, I had a smile plastered to my face. It was my first time staying up so late, but then again, I was experiencing a lot of firsts now. Although Camilla would certainly kill me for each of these firsts.

I was woken up in the late afternoon by a call from Ella.

As soon as I put the receiver to my ear, Ella started speaking, "Hey, it's Neil's birthday tomorrow. Violet wants to surprise him at twelve by throwing a party at a club. So you in?"

I rubbed my face to get rid of the grogginess and replied, "Yes, of course. Who else is invited?"

"Anyone who isn't hated by Neil," Ella joked. "Which basically means anyone from the school. You know, Neil doesn't really celebrate his birthday, even though he has tons of friends. That's why Violet decided he deserves a grand party on his sweet sixteenth. Also, we will be telling Neil that the club belongs to Violet's dad's friend and it's for free, so be careful not to let it slip that Violet is the one paying for everything."

I hummed in response. Neil was self-dependent; his dad was paralyzed and his mom worked to pay all the expensive medical bills and house bills while Neil himself managed the other bills by working part-time jobs and doing music gigs because he was a singer and a guitarist. Meanwhile, his girlfriend Violet belonged to a really wealthy family. He hated Violet spending too much money on him. "Yeah, of course. I will tell Camilla then."

"And confirm me, okay?"

"Yeah, and um, I have another question, can I bring a plus one?" I asked a little hesitantly.

I could almost see Ella's eyebrow raise. "Who can be your plus one besides me?"

I suppressed my urge to giggle and answered normally, "You will see."

"Why don't I have a good feeling about this?" she asked suspiciously, and I let out a chuckle.

"Just wait."

###

I was practically walking on air as I got ready into a sleeveless bottle green knee-length dress. I informed Camilla that I would be staying over at Ella's place tonight, which was a lie, of course; otherwise, she would never let me go to a party at midnight. I was going to crash at Ella's place after the party, though.

It went without saying that my plus-one was going to be Methane. This party would be the perfect place to let everyone know that Methane and I were a couple now.

I told Methane to come to pick me up a couple of hours earlier because I had somewhere to be at first.

When I heard a honk from outside, I grinned and grabbed my golden purse before running downstairs in my black high heels.

Methane was standing outside the car, and I ran to throw myself on him. "Hey, I missed you, handsome," I told him, grinning up at him with my arms around his neck.

He placed his hands on my waist, and I didn't feel weird like that day. He matched my grin and said, "I missed you as well, babe, even though it's only been twenty-eight hours since we last saw each other."

I couldn't help but blush a little at the new endearment. He started calling me that last night, and I really liked the sound of it. I finally had someone who would call me with a sweet nickname—things that boyfriends do. Schoolmate Methane and boyfriend Methane were vastly different.

I was waiting for rain eagerly so that I could get drenched with Methane. One of my dreams would come true then.

"So where did you want to go, babe?"

"The hospital. I want to pay a visit to Mike," I answered simply, and a dark shadow fell over his face before it disappeared into a smile.

"Wouldn't that take a lot of time? Though I know it's not mandatory to bring a present, I would feel bad attending a birthday party without a present. I was hoping to buy it before the shops close down."

"Oh? Is that so?" I glanced at the time on my bracelet watch and said, "Then, let's buy your present first. The visiting hours should be open till eleven."

Methane kissed my nose and said, "Thanks for understanding, babe."

I smiled and mustered my courage to kiss his lips, even if it was brief. Even though this whole experience of a relationship was new, I couldn't help but feel thrilled by it.

###

"Hey, that watch is really pretty," Methane said when I was helping him pick out a present from a gift store for Neil.

"Oh, this?" I smiled down at the black and golden bracelet watch. "Troy gifted it to me on my last birthday."

Methane's eyes were fixed on the watch before he forced a smile and let out, "Oh."

"Anyway, how's this for Neil?" I showed him a showpiece, and he shook his head. I frowned. "What do you even want for Neil?"

"I don't know. I'm totally confused."

I huffed. "You know what? Instead of getting him a useless gift, buy something that he can use for a long time and would be useful to him."

A frown creased on his forehead. "I have no idea what that could be. I don't even know the guy."

I slapped my palm over my forehead and said, "Let's buy a camera. I'm sure a camera could be handy for him since he often clicks photos of Violet."

"Then, let's go to buy a camera. I know a great place where they sell nice cameras," Methane perked up.

After half an hour, he drove us to the camera shop that was almost at the end of the shopping district of the city. The clock was near eleven.

I was going to look for a handy camera when Methane picked up a DSLR and said boredly, "Let's just take this."

"That's too expensive for a first-time gift," I reasoned because I knew Neil wouldn't be comfortable receiving it from someone who was nearly a stranger.

"It's not expensive for me," he stated and walked to the counter to pay with his credit cards. I didn't bother to complain anymore. He glanced at a pink polaroid camera and handed it to the counter as well.

I watched until he came walking to me with two bags in hand. He handed me the one with the Polaroid camera and said, "It's for you."

I gasped at the generous present and said, "No, no, how can I take it?"

"Consider it your belated fifteenth birthday gift," he said with a cute smile, and my heart thumped for him.

He really was such a sweetheart, wasn't he?

###

The visiting hours at the hospital were over by the time we got there, so I couldn't see Michael, but I did end up talking to Joshua who was staying with Michael every night in his cabin as Dalton was as busy as ever catching robbers and criminals.

From the hospital, we headed to the club that Violet booked for Neil's birthday party. Neil had a gig tonight and bringing him here on time was Violet's responsibility.

"So shall we enter, handsome?" I asked, looping my arm around Methane's elbow.

He smiled radiantly at me and pecked me on the cheek before replying, "Yes, gorgeous."

As we entered the club, I could feel all the eyes on us.

Many of the single girls squint their eyes to look at who was standing hand in hand with their crush Methane Jeff. Methane's popularity really surged after Michael and Joshua being gay were revealed. Of course, he deserved the fame since he was so handsome, but I would have been glad if no one else got to look at that face except me.

However, right now, I didn't have to worry because Methane was officially mine. Mysteriel could spread that gossip anywhere he wanted.

"Oh My God, Is that June Wolez?"

"June, the girl who has been Mysteriel's hot topic? Is she actually Methane's girlfriend now?"

I heard a few girls whispering as Methane and I walked in.

Yep, that's right, bitches. I'm his girlfriend.

I almost had the urge to smirk smugly at them. I was literally showing those girls and Mysteriel the middle finger without actually having to show it. After all, they all mocked me for getting my heart broken over my gay best friend. That's why despite never liking to be the center of attention like Ella, it felt awesome right now.

"I have never seen her with a boy like that. I thought all she does is study."

That was true until a few days ago. So naturally, no one could believe that June Wolez came to a party with another boy—that they were walking with their hands entwined.

"Girl, when did this happen?" Ella almost exclaimed as she spotted us. She hit my upper arm and accused me with narrowed eyes, "Why did you not tell me?"

"I did call you last night, but you were at a party last night as well," I retorted.

Her mouth formed in an 'O' before she shot me a big grin and nudged me. "Give me all the details later." After that, she went back to the group of girls she was having a conversation with to give me and Methane time alone.

"Should we get something to drink?" I asked Methane who was scrutinizing the crowded place.

"Like alcohol?" he asked when his eyes returned to me.

"It's available, but I'm not drinking. My aunt has the nose of a dog; she will know in a heartbeat if I consumed even a little alcohol, then you can kiss our dates goodbye because I will be grounded for eternity."

He chuckled. "Then, I better not drink as well. Let's just get some soft drinks."

As we sat on a barstool and drank some soft drinks, a few guys from my Algebra class approached me.

"Hey, June, how's Mike now?" one of them asked.

Before I could even open my mouth, Methane answered on my behalf, "How will she know? She's not Michael's guardian."

What the hell? He is doing the same thing he did with the guy in the convenience store!

The guys stared at us with slacked jaws.

"Chill, dude. We are just asking a normal question," another of them said.

Methane wrapped his arm around my waist, and I shivered at the tight grasp. "Then, ask Michael's boyfriend, not my girlfriend."

The guys scoffed. "Whatever, dude." With that, they all walked away.

I turned to look at Methane. "Hey, that was rude," I rebuked lightly, not wanting to create a scene at a party.

He rolled his eyes. "They were checking you out earlier and just came to hit up a conversation."

"So?" I demanded.

"So I couldn't allow other men to hit on you because I'm your boyfriend, your protector, and the only one who is allowed to check you out."

"Aww, you're jealous, aren't you?" I pulled his cheeks mischievously, and he frowned.

"Don't do that, babe," he protested weakly, and I stretched his cheeks even more, bursting into giggles.

Soon, Violet arrived with Neil at exactly twelve, and we all let out a very loud 'surprise!' and startled him, then we cut the cake and the real party started. After a few pop songs were played for partying hard, the screeching sound of a mic test got everyone's attention.

"I dedicate this song to the boy who has always loved me, despite all my flaws and mistakes, so can I ask you for a dance, Neil Keins?" Violet asked on the mic when a romantic song started playing.

Neil smiled and took Violet's hand to go to the center of the dance floor to engage her in a romantic yet silly mock-waltz. In a few moments, other couples joined them as well.

I looked at Methane and proposed, "We should go dance, too."

"I don't like dancing," he said flatly, and I narrowed my eyes on him.

"So you want me to go up there and dance alone? If that's what you want, that's what I will do," I challenged, and he sighed.

"Okay, fine." He forwarded me his hand, and I grinned before taking it.

We went to the dance floor to start swaying to the soft music. I felt many eyes on us, but I didn't care. All I cared about was the boy in whose arms I was dancing.

I remembered the dream where I had been dancing with my soulmate. Maybe this was it? Methane had to be my soulmate.

In between the dance, he wrapped his fingers delicately around my wrist, and I felt something coming off my wrist but didn't bother looking down. I was too lost in the romantic moment.

After the dance was over, our friend group got together, even Methane was part of that group from now on.

"Guys, we are planning to go to the beach tomorrow," Violet let out enthusiastically.

"Oh, my God, that sounds great. I have been dying to lay under the sun and chill on the beach," Ella chimed.

"You want to bet who would win in surfing this time, June?" Neil asked.

I laughed a little before saying, "Just know that you are going to lose the money." I was really good at surfing, and Neil always challenged me whenever we went to the beach but always ended up losing.

"This time, I'm going to beat you, just watch," Neil challenged.

"I'm afraid not this time," Methane interrupted, and we all looked at him. "Because June is not going."

"What? Why not?" I asked, shocked.

He smiled softly at me and said, "Because I have got a date planned for us tomorrow."

"Aww, that's so sweet," Violet let out and looked at Neil lovingly. "Baby, maybe we should go to the beach with just the three of us then."

"Pardon me, but I'm not going to third-wheel a couple, so leave me out of it. I will just hang out with my girls," Ella said and walked away, seeming a little pissed off, towards Carol and Anna.

Violet and Neil stared at each other a little awkwardly before excusing themselves from us.

"Why did you not tell me about the date?" I demanded.

Methane wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to his chest and said, "Because I wanted it to be a surprise, babe."

"But couldn't it have waited? A Beach trip with my friends would have been really fun."

"So you would rather spend the day with your friends than me?" he asked, feigning a little hurt.

I immediately shook my head. "No, I mean—"

He placed a finger on my lips and said, "That's all I need to know. I should be your priority, just like you are mine, get it, June?"

I didn't know if what I was doing was right, but I nodded, nonetheless.