Chapter 119: Tickle war

Noah took a glimpse at Daniel before he stared at Aria. "He is my sister's boyfriend."

Aria looked at him bewildered. "You know about their relationship?"

"Yes. Why shouldn't I? He is involved with my sister. I keep my tabs." Noah shrugged.

Daniel too was shocked to hear that Noah knew about him. He was still not ready to face Rachel's family as he was not sure how they would behave. Now listening to Noah tell them that he knew all along, he sighed. At least there was one less candidate he had to please in hopes that Noah had already accepted him.

Aria narrowed her eyes as she glared at Daniel. "When were you thinking of telling me?"

"Aria, listen to me. I wanted to tell you about Rachel. But.."

"But, the day did not come. I would not even know if I hadn't caught you speaking to Rachel in the hospital."

"Rachel was in the hospital. What happened to her?" Ivy asked entering the living room.

"You knew about Rachel too?" Aria asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, I was the first one to know."

"Looks like we are going to have one hell of a show," Joshua whispered chuckling to himself. Noah nodded. It sure did look interesting.

"She got to know before me? Daniel, care to explain?" Aria folded her hands.

"This looks fun." Ivy sat on the sofa as she took in Daniel's frustrated face.

"Ivy just happened to chance upon Rachel. It was a coincidence." Daniel tried explaining.

"Really, and you did not have time to tell me?"

Noah and Joshua too sat down. They couldn't deny as it was too amusing to look at the two friends fight though Noah was a little agitated. He was not sure why he felt uncomfortable.

"You were in London when it happened and you didn't tell me about you and Noah." He pointed at them.

"That. I thought of telling you after I returned." Aria said sheepishly.

"What if I said the same?" Daniel raised his eyebrows.

"That means was I the first one to know about your relationships?" Ivy pumped her fist in excitement.

"See, you told Ivy before telling me."

"She is my sister."

"And she is my best friend's sister," Daniel replied with his voice lowered.

"So, basically both of you told Ivy first?" Joshua questioned suddenly making everyone look at him as Ivy furrowed her eyebrows.

"Yes." Both of them replied together.

"You have one good relationship." He commented.

"What are you saying?" Ivy looked at him waiting for him to answer.

"Nothing. I am just appreciating your bond." He raised his hand backing off.

Noah was astonished looking at Aria and Daniel fight like small kids. That was a new side of her he had discovered that day. Although they were fighting, he could sense the closeness they had and it was making him jealous. He stood up without saying any word and walked towards Aria. he held her hand trying to calm her anger.

"Aria, just how you wanted to tell him about us after coming back, he too must have thought to do the same. So, I think nobody is wrong here."

Aria suddenly started feeling guilty hearing him. It was true that nobody was at fault. She had unknowingly fought with her best friend.

"You are right. We both did the same thing." She sighed and turned to look at Daniel.

"Danny, I am sorry. I acted quite childish before." She apologized though she had a small smile on her face.

"Are you done?" Daniel queried trying hard not to laugh.

"Yes," Aria replied and suddenly both of them started laughing like maniacs. Ivy, Joshua and Noah looked at the duo baffled. They couldn't comprehend what was happening.

"Aria, are you alright?" Ivy asked carefully.

"Never been better," Aria responded in between her laughs.

"It was quite good to see your faces," Daniel spoke holding his stomach trying to control his laughter.

"So you both were acting right now?" Ivy stood up suddenly.

"What do you think?" Aria grinned.

"I am going to kill you two." Ivy charged towards Aria and Daniel.

"Spare me. It was Aria who suggested the plan." Daniel moved away making Aria the scapegoat.

"Daniel, what are you doing? You traitor." Aria shrieked before she started running away from Ivy, trying to dodge her.

"I don't want to get punched again. Good luck."

"You..." Aria picked up a sofa cushion and hurled it at Danny as she ran away from Ivy. The cushion smacked him right in his face.

"Bullseye," Joshua commented. The scene before him was too entertaining for him, he was liking it.

"Aria, you are dead meat." Daniel threw the cushion and tackled her from the front while Ivy came from behind. In the next moment, Aria was down and she was crying. She was being tickled mercilessly by the two people and she had nowhere to go.

"Stop." Aria pleaded in between her giggles but it fell on deaf ears.

Looking at the mirthful scene before them, Noah and Joshua did not know what to do. Although they had been friends since childhood, they had never experienced such bonding. They were completely different from the trio. Though Joshua, teased Noah and Ian it never went physical. They started to feel that they had missed something.

"Noah, help." Aria cried.

"You wanna join?" Noah stared at Joshua as he pulled his sleeves up.

"Definitely."

The next moment, the house was filled with chaos until it stopped altogether. Noah had pulled Aria away from Daniel while Joshua attacked Ivy. Noah was holding Aria by her shoulders while Joshua was hugging Ivy from behind and Daniel did not know what to do. The more he looked at the twins and the men holding them, the more he felt that they looked perfect with each other.

"So, now the fight is over? Daniel asked.

"Think so," Ivy said scratching her head. She had still not realized that Joshua's hands were on her waist.

"Is either of you hurt? That was quite a good fight we had. I hope you are okay." Aria scrutinized Danny and Ivy but they looked fine.

"Yep." Ivy and Danny nodded.

"So? Who won?"

"Is this a competition?" Noah stared at Aria weirdly. Why was his girlfriend crazy?

"If you say it that way, then it does look like one." She shrugged.

"You lost," Ivy answered pulling out her tongue.

"There is always a next time." Aria huffed.

"Definitely, now shall we have dinner. I am famished." Joshua said suddenly, startling Ivy. She didn't have to turn to see how close he was. She could feel his breath on her neck as he spoke and it gave her goosebumps. He was too close for her liking. She pulled away from him abruptly and gave him an awkward stare.

"I'll set the table." Ivy cleared her throat and left the living room.

"Danny, do you wanna stay here and have dinner. I am a little tired to go out."

"Sure. Before that may I have a chat with you in private?"

"Okay." Aria smiled at Noah which he returned immediately. She then went to her room with Danny following her. The entire time Noah was watching her like a hawk until the door closed.

"Today was good," Joshua stated. Despite not finding any relevant clues, he was happy as he had fun. Also, his heart had fluttered for the first time since the day he had vowed to never love another woman. He was confused, yet he could not remove the alluring face of Ivy when she had fallen over him. He was not sure what was happening, but he had a notion that he was attracted to Ivy and he was unable to control it.