The Heaven I Found In Hell by Ashley Andrews

eyes.
     
    "No, no! I'm not saying that Anthony is ug-…" I started quickly, while my mind tried to process the right words to say. "I'm not saying that Anthony isn't like-able…he is…"
     
    Cindy cocked an eyebrow up at me; Nathan smirked at my nervousness, and Anthony remained his eyes on me, waiting for my next words.
     
    "He's like-able…I just don't like him…"
     
    Cindy arched her brow once again; Nathan grinned even wider, and Anthony listened more intently.
     
    "I just don't like him in  that  way." I continued, emphasizing the 'that.'
     
    "Right…" Cindy answered, looking at me weirdly.
     
    Before I could make a fool of myself even more, the food came, and for a minute, no eyes were on me. I mentally thanked the waiter, and was about to fork my salad when Nathan started talking.
     
    "I never knew you liked Anthony." Nathan teased, making me tense up even more.
     
    That smirk of his remained plastered on his well-figured… cough…cough… face, but even though he had high cheekbones, and a well-defined jaw line…and very attractive eyes, that were almost covered by those almost-always disheveled almond-colored hair… damn …to cut it short, his hotness couldn't stop me from getting irritated. Even though, tease-fests never really got me 'going on,' from time-to-time, I'd feel my veins clogging, and eventually found myself shouting or ignoring people.
     
    At the current situation…I was getting pissed because these people (a.k.a. supposed to be my friends) were ganging up on me, giving me an image, that was so not me, which could eventually let some people think wrongly or differently of me.
     
    "I fucking don't, okay!" I said a little bit too loudly. "I'm getting tired of you guys teasing me already!"
     
    I forked my salad dangerously giving most of the green leaves horrible deaths. My cursing made the three of them shut up (finally), and I was about to continue eating (peacefully) when Nathan spoke up again.
     
    "So, is our deal still on?"
     
    "What deal?"
     
    "The 'costumes' deal. You and Cindy should be able to make Nathan and I go goo-goo eyed while we guys should be able to awe you and make your mouths hang open." Anthony answered as he forked some of his onion rings.
     
    I thought about the 'deal,' and immediately started to object. Deals were supposed to be interesting…
     
    "Let's add more fun to it…" I suggested, looking especially at Nathan. Surprisingly he was looking down at his almost empty plate. I frowned at the possibility of him being angry or pissed off with me, as I was with him…but hopefully he'd get over it soon…hopefully.
     
    "How can we make it more fun?" Anthony asked, and immediately for the nth time since I first saw him at the mall, thoughts about his soon-to-be girlfriend started to cloud my mind.
     
    "How about…"
     
    "It better be nice…and 'fun.'" Cindy said, giving me a smirk.
     
    "Why not...whoever will be proclaimed King and Queen will be declared the winners…hmmm?" I said, putting thoughts to my suggestion.
     
    Cindy and Anthony brightened up, while Nathan remained apathetic to the things I said.
     
    Okay…he is mad at me…
     
    "That sounds really great, although it goes against the whole 'guys-are-better-than-girls' thing we were supposed to prove…"
     
    Cindy stepped in, and started to speak, as she defended our femininity.
     
    "No, we were trying to establish that 'girls-are-better-than-girls'."
     
    "Nuh-uh."
     
    "Uh-huh, we were."
     
    "Guys, guys…whatever…so what's the deal?" I interjected, stopping the silly argument that was about to start.
     
    "What you said."
     
    "Okay…no other conditions?" I asked, finally finishing my salad, as I slouched back down on my seat, even though it looked very unprincipled.
     
    And hey…who thought salads could make me full?
     
    Cindy and Anthony shook their heads, as we waited for Nathan's confirmation that he was part of this deal.
     
    "Nathan, are you in?"
     
    He looked up from