Chapter 4

While making our way to the quad, Travis and I walk past Austin and her best friend, Wyndy. Wyndy Hammers. The most beautiful creature I have ever set my lowly eyes upon and have had the privilege of being in love with ever since I was twelve. Three years, nine months and counting. I still remember the day Austin brought her to our house and introduced her as her new best friend. Aside being beautiful, she is nice and sweet, with her attractive hazel eyes that glisten whenever she's talking about something she loves, her plump lips and her curly ginger colored hair cascading down her elegant shoulders. I shouldn't forget to mention that she walks like a model and has the voice of an angel. I could go on and on, but let me stop here. The girl is just...perfect. 

Wyndy, being the nice human being she is, smiles and waves at us as Travis stops to greet Austin, forcing me to stop too. 

"Hello Austin, fancy bumping into you on our way," he says to her. 

"We didn't bump into each other, you just stopped us," Austin replies saucily.

"I just wanted to say hello."

"Now that you've said it, can we go?" 

"Austin don't be so rude to the new guy," Wyndy nudges her. The both of them are polar opposites, no doubt. I admire Wyndy as she scolds my sister; she looks extraordinarily beautiful today although she's wearing minimal makeup, and the little bubblegum pink dress she's wearing perfectly hugs her figure. How can one girl look so heavenly? I stop myself from staring so I don't creep her out. 

"Hi Wyndy. You look really pretty today, as always. I love your dress." I give her my best smile, hoping it would melt her heart just like her smile melts mine. 

"Thank you Avan," she smiles back at me. Oh that heart-melting smile of hers. I hear Austin snicker.

I continue to stare at her, unable to get any more words out of my mouth and unable to look away. She breaks the silence by clearing her throat. She knows how much I've been crushing on her for the past few years so I'm sure she understands why I'm speechless. She can't say she doesn't know how attractive she looks.

"So... Are you done with the invention you've been working on?" she asks politely.

"Yeah! I've even gotten my entry in for the contest," I reply, grateful to her for making conversation to end the awkwardness.

"Have you tested it yet? Does it work?" she asks curiously and I can't even tell if she's being genuinely curious or just feigning interest.

"Oh, it works perfectly well," I answer, holding Travis in front of me.

"Did he help you out with the invention?" she asks, puzzled.

"No, but he's a product of the invention," I answer and I watch her expression go from puzzled to utterly puzzled.

"Let me explain," I tell her, "my invention teleports people and objects from one universe to another and Travis here was teleported from a parallel universe."

"You mean Travis is not from this universe? No way!" She exclaims and I smile proudly while Austin scoffs. "Is that why his clothes are like two sizes smaller?" She asks, tilting her head to get a better view of Travis.

"These are my clothes."

"Oh. So can you teleport him back?" she continues to ask like she cares though I know very well that she hates science. 

You don't have to try so hard, Wyndy, I'm already smitten by you. 

"Of course, but my invention's a bit faulty now so I'll have to get it fixed first and return Travis to his universe tonight." 

"Teleporting someone from a parallel universe? I bet this invention would be one of a kind and the science people would have no other option but to give you the prize cause you are a fucking genius, Avan!" Wyndy says and I am unable to stop myself from blushing like an idiot. Though, she has always openly admired my brains and complimented my inventions so encouragingly. I really wish Austin could take lessons from her.

"I know he'll be leaving soon but permit me to introduce you guys. Travis, this is Wyndy, Aimee's best friend and the most amazing and beautiful girl in the world, and Wyndy, this is Travis as you already know," I introduce them and Wyndy smiles at Travis like the angel she is. 

"Nice to meet you, Travis," she greets. 

"Nice to meet you too, Wyndy. You are indeed beautiful," Travis compliments her and her smile widens. I give him a look. 

"Are you done? Can we go now, please?" Austin interrupts.

"Chill, I'm just saying hi to the new guy and to Avan," Wyndy tells her.

"You've been saying hi to them for the past five minutes. Let's go."

"Sure. See you around Avan," Wyndy says as she and Austin walk away. Did she just wink at me? I couldn't have missed it, that was definitely a wink.

"I see you really fancy Wyndy." Travis nudges me with a smirk. 

"Yeah, she's the best," I muse, replaying her wink over and over in my head.

"Does she fancy you too?" he asks. 

The loaded question.

"I don't know, I think she likes me, but I'm not sure if she likes me likes me," I say.

"What does it mean for her to like you like you?" he enquires.

"It means she has deeper feelings for me, just like I do for her," I reply.

"Does she know you like her like her? Have you told her?"

"I haven't."

"Why?" 

Dang, this guy should be a detective or something, he's such an inquisitor. 

"I haven't been brave enough to, whenever I want to tell her, she turns my feet to jelly and I just ramble," I confess. 

"How do you want her to know that you like her like her if you don't tell her?"

"I'm sure she sees the emotion in my eyes when I look at her and in my voice when I speak to her. According to Austin, it's unmistakable."

"It is, but don't you think she needs more than emotions to confirm your feelings for her? She needs you to say it to her face."

"What if she rejects me?" That also counts as one of the reasons I've been scared to confess my love to her. Wyndy is a beautiful girl with a beautiful heart, everyone loves her. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only guy in her life that thinks same. She probably has her eyes set on one of the more handsome, cool and popular boys in school so I don't know if she'd be interested in someone like me."

"Even if she does, at least you were able to get it off your chest instead of keeping it bottled up, which is worse." Travis says like it's no big deal but I'd prefer the latter to heartbreak. 

I don't get why he's trying to play the role of a relationship counsellor. 

"I hear you," I dismiss him before he can ask any more uncomfortable questions. He follows me as I make my way to the chemistry lab, my third home after my real home and my room, which is also my workshop.