Jo
"GOD, SHE ANNOYS me. Does she know what the time is? Mrs Lendermann's child is already fifteen minutes old." Cass murmurs beside me as we stare at the Semia's lavish looking house from Khalid's van. We were supposed to meet at a coffee shop but apparently she woke up late and coerced Khalid to drive down to her house to pick her up instead. Now, we're thirty minutes behind schedule but we're all seated in Khalid's van and gladly waiting for her to appear at the front of the door of her house after sending a text to the group chat saying she was almost ready. She being a part of the group chat was Mel's doing last night.
It's always Mel.
I pull my head warmer away from my head out of annoyance and suck harder from the straw in my milkshake.
"She's got a nice house though." Khalid says, messing around with his fro-yo and Amanda sneers.
"Khalid, if she isn't out in five, I'll kick your ass out of that driver's seat and drive us to the hospital myself." Amanda warns and Khalid shoots her a naughty grin from the mirror up at the driver's seat. Austin is sitting next to him at the passenger seat with a headphone around his head while he plays a video game with every form of aggression possible.
I glance at the gift hamper behind us and sigh before leaning further into the seat. Thank God it's pink. Fifteen minutes ago, Mrs Lendermann shot me a text telling me she had put to bed and also a meme saying 'IT'S A GIRL!!!!'.
"Anyway, good news is we made enough money at the fundraiser yesterday and we're definitely having a winter formal." Amanda beams and Cass snorts.
"She's excited because Tony asked her out to the dance yesterday."
"Who's Tony?" Khalid asks, turning his head backwards to look at us and Cass pushes his face away.
"Shut up. This is girl talk."
"Oh yeah, he did alright. He gave me a cake at the bake sale yesterday that said 'dance with me?' He's so cute." She gushes and I smile at her enthusiasm.
"Sorry Manda, I just threw up in my mouth." Khalid barfs. "If he really wants you to go to the dance with him, he should do it like thisâ" he turns back around and gives Cass a funny look.
"Cass, you either dance with me or you dance with no one."
The three of us laugh at the same time and Cass rolls her eyes to the back of her head. "Okay, stupid and I'm agreeing because we're both pathetically single."
Khalid grins and leans forward with a fist and she bumps it with hers.
The second I check my watch and lean forward on the chair out of annoyance, the front door opens and reveals the cause of my irritation dressed in a short, polka dot gown while a red scarf is wrapped loosely around her neck. Everything is perfect. Her hair, her makeup, her dress and I hate that I find it perfect.
I divert my attention back to my milkshake and suddenly find the cup fascinating. At the passenger seat, I hear her speak at the window.
"Hey, I prefer shotgun. Exchange?" She sweetly asks Austin and Austin being who he is, doesn't argue. He gets out of the car and joins us at the back and takes a seat next to the hamper before going back to his video game.
A buzz rings and Khalid takes out his phone before reading through and shooting someone a quick text. "Flynn just texted me. He'll meet us at the hospital."
I can't stop myself from stealing a glance at Semia to gauge her reaction but once I look, I find her already staring at me with a perfectly arched brow. I look away, seeming unaffected and then I sink further into the chair.
Unaware of the tension amongst us, Khalid tosses his phone back into his pocket and adjusts his side mirror. "Alright then. Sit tight everyone."
Semia takes out a mirror and pats her face with some more powder and even though I think her makeup is flawless, I don't comment on it. I let out a breath and shoot Mrs Lendermann a quick text, informing her that we're on our way so we don't miss her at the hospital and then I close my eyes and try to control my emotions for the rest of the ride.
Khalid connects his phone to the car's stereo and Amanda and Cass sing along with him regardless of what their voices sound like. It's fun at first and I have a good laugh a couple of times but it falls through when Semia demands to choose a song herself since she isn't familiar with any of the songs we're singing along to. And then it's quiet because she's the only one who hums along to the funeral-like song in her playlist and no one is in the mood to pick up a fight with her.
It's a little bit hard to try and ignore her existence while we file our way to the hospital because she keeps receiving phone calls enthusiastically with shrieks and giggles and by the time we get out of the elevator and see Mrs Lendermann's ward room in sight just like the woman at the front desk had described, I quicken my footsteps as if there are hot coals under my legs.
The door opens and a fairly tall man with a buff build and slightly greyish hair steps into our line of sight. There's a wedding band on his finger and it doesn't take me too long to realize he's Mr Lendermann.
He smiles at us and gladly lets us in. Mrs Lendermann is sitting on the bed in a hospital gown with a bottle of water going into her mouth. Her hair is up in the messiest bun I've ever seen and there are stress lines on her forehead but immediately she sees us, her eyes light up and she gestures for us to come over.
"Congratulations!" Amanda gushes when she opens her arms for a group hug and we all wrap ourselves around her.
"Gosh, I haven't seen you kids in a while," Mrs Lendermann sighs and her lips break out into a smile when Cass drops the hamper on the bed.
"That's from all of us." I tell her and she dramatically places a hand on her forehead.
"Goodness," she blushes. "You didn't have to." She brushes her hair out of her face and waves a hand for someone to come closer.
"Kids, this is Tom, my husband. Tom, these are my kids." She says and Tom nods, smiling excitedly at all of us before telling us he'll give us some time to chat.
"Where's Mel and Flynn?" She asks and I tell her Mel has an appointment while Flynn will be joining us soon.
"Speaking of kids, where is she?" Cass asks and I'm surprised to hear Austin speak.
"Here." He's standing next to a crib with a baby in his arms. He's looking down at her while gently rocking her back and forth and my jaw drops because that's the most I've seen him express in one day.
Amanda, Cass and Khalid don't hesitate to hurry over to join him and he narrows his eyes at them when they start to 'aww' too loudly.
"Wow," Mrs Lendermann laughs before turning to me. "I never thought I'd see Austin like this before."
"Beats me." I admit, admiring how they gather around him in a bid to vie for the sleeping baby's attention.
"Oh," she says, looking at the doorway and I turn around to see her staring at Semia who's standing awkwardly by the door. "Who's this?"
"Our newest member." I say happily, like the true captain I am. "She joined us yesterday. She's still a bit awkward around us."
"That's not unusual." Mrs Lendermann says and gives her a welcoming smile before telling her to come over. "We're glad to have you. What's your name?"
Semia looks at the rest of us but they're to busy with the baby to even notice what's going on. "Semia."
"Okay, Semia. It's nice to meet you. Once you're a part of us, you're not just a club member. You're family. Okay?"
Semia shrugs and sends a tight smile her way and for a moment, I actually consider the fact that she may be feeling left out and I start to feel bad. Just a little. I think of what to do or what to say and just then, Amanda asks, "What's her name?"
"We're going to call her Grace." Mrs Lendermann beams and then she frowns. "Or Natasha. Or Tammy but I think we should stick with Grace."
Khalid snorts and Cass hits him upside the head in response because he's the one carrying the baby now. Mrs Lendermann sighs and then she asks me about school and how the club has been fairing and being the nice person that I am, I try to engage Semia in the conversation even though she looks like the last place she wants to be is here. It's not like we forced her to be here but whether she wants to be here or not, I don't want anyone to feel left out because I know what that's like, so I carry on, regardless of the annoyed glances she's throwing my way.
The door opens and Flynn walks in and immediately he does, our eyes meet and I look away because I know why I've been feeling slightly antsy since we got here. I just didn't admit it to myself.
Mrs Lendermann opens her arms as wide as ever to give him a hug and he smiles before hugging her back and congratulating her on the arrival of her newborn.
He looks good. Too good in fact and I don't know why he does since we're in a hospital but when I think about it, he always does and it doesn't matter if he's wearing nothing extraordinary. Like now. He's wearing a black, band T-shirt and jeans and his hair is messily attractive and I pull my lip between my teeth and look at the floor instead.
"Hey," I hear Semia say and when I look up she's punching his shoulder playfully and smiling like he's the best thing that ever happened to her. Or maybe it's just me.
He nods. "Hi." And then he turns to look at me but I look away as fast as possible and head to the door.
"I'll be back soon." I say to Mrs Lendermann. "I need to get something done."
She smiles at me and gestures to Flynn. "You still don't like each other very much? You both hated each other before I went on the leave. Your petty banter was pretty entertaining."
I clutch the door knob and twist it open because that seemed like a lifetime ago and I'd never in my wildest imagination thought I would fall for him.
"They're like two peas in a pod now." Khalid jokes and I give him a wary glance.
Mrs Lendermann nudges Flynn with her hand. "Is that true? You don't fight anymore?"
He looks at me knowingly and the corner of his mouth lifts. "I'm not sure. We're pretty tight but she confuses me sometimes."
Wow. Those words again.
I meet his stare with a look that I'm sure is screaming 'are you nuts?' And then I laugh awkwardly and tell them to excuse me before slamming the door shut. I don't think I want to go back there again. At least not until I get myself together first.
I walk away from the maternity ward and stand in front of the elevator and once it opens, I'm glad it's empty. I walk in and just before the doors slide shut, a hand appears in between and takes a hold of one of them. I know that hand. I know those tattooed fingers.
I stand straighter and fold my arms when Flynn walks in and stands next to me. I instinctively look behind him to see if she's behind him but he's alone and then the elevator doors shut close.
He doesn't talk and I don't and the silence is uncomfortable. It's hotter than usual in here and after a few minutes after staring at the buttons on the elevator, I decide I can't stand it.
I don't look at him when I talk. "Pretty tight? I confuse you?"
He doesn't respond and when I look at the mirror, I see him shrug with no expression on his face and God, I find it so annoying because he'd expressed a lot more on his face when Semia was standing next to him. But now, he's displaying an attitude and that's cool because two can play at this game.
After a few seconds, he asks, "Where are you going?"
In response to his question, I lift my shoulders mimicking the same annoying shrug he'd just did and he nods, poking his cheek with his tongue.
I dig my fingers into the pocket of my jacket and hand a folded paper to him. He looks from the paper to me and raises a brow. "What's that?"
"It's your essay. Take it."
"You carry it around every time?"
"No." I grit. "I knew you'd show up at today and that's why I did."
He leans further into the wall and jams his hands into his pockets. "Did I do well?"
I slap the paper on his chest and shrug. "I don't know. You have eyes. Open it and see for yourself."
He's not bothered by my tone at all. If anything, his eyes never leave mine and they slowly trail up and down. "You didn't take a look?"
"No. It's not my business."
He bites his smile by taking his lip between his teeth before plucking the paper from my hands and unfolding it. He glances through it and turns the paper around so it faces me before pointing a finger at his grade.
"I got a B."
"I know."
"I thought you didn't look."
I bite down hard on my lip and take a step back before turning away from him. I press the button on the elevator repeatedly because I'm embarrassed and I need to leave now.
"You'll break your wrist at that rate."
"Does that bother you?"
He doesn't say anything in reply and so I turn around to face him with a glare on my face. "You're lucky you got a B." I say. "Now you have a sixty percent chance of graduating. You're welcome and it doesn't matter if you paid me or not. I put in a lot ofâ"
"God, you talk too much."
I scoff and eye him again. My ears are ringing. "I talk too much? Too much? I'm trying to let you see theâ"
He cuts me off again and points to my face. "You're red."
"Oh I'm sorry. Maybe it's because I'm annoyed and you're being such a big, fat jerk."
I'm so annoyed. Why am I so annoyed? I don't know but all I can see is Semia smiling up at him and caressing his bicep. Why would she even do that? Right in front of Mrs Lendermann? And he just stood there and let it happen.
The elevator slides open and I march out with indignation but he pulls me back immediately and slams the buttons on the wall.
"Waitâ" A lady starts in front of us but he waves at her as the doors slide shut again.
After a few seconds of silence, I blow my cheeks out and ask, "Did you just annoy me on purpose?"
"Yes. You don't talk too much, I was kidding. And besides, I like hearing you talk. You should know that by now."
I place my hands on my waist and chew the inside of my cheek. "Well I didn't find that funny."
He grins. "Clearly."
"I was going to see your sister."
"She got discharged this morning. She's not here anymore. I did ask you where you were going since I'd suspected you were planning to see her but for some reason, you were mad even before you left the room." He rolls his lips together and shrugs but I can tell he knows from the way he's looking at me. "I wonder why."
I fold my arms and look away. "I wasn't mad. You gave me an attitude first."
"That was intentional."
"Why?"
"I needed to confirm something."
"Confirm what?"
He stares at me and places a hand on the wall next to my head. "Did you miss me?"
"What?"
"I gave you space for a week. Did you miss me because I'm sick of pretending I'm okay with you keeping your distance."
I wasn't expecting him to be so brazen about it because I've been trying to avoid this conversation as much as possible. But he has laid it out there and I'm at a loss for words.
"Those words you said to me that night? 'I don't care, None of this was real in the first place, We had fun' That was bullshit."
I lick my lips and shake my head. "It wasn't."
"Does it bother you when you walk into the class and see Semia sitting next to me?"
"No." I lie.
"Does it bother you when I smile at her and not you?"
"Not at all."
"When she touched my arm at the ward, did that offend you?"
I blink and try not to fumble with my words because I'm a bad liar. "I don'tâwhy would I be offended byâ"
Flynn doesn't let me finish because he cups his hand on the side of my face and kisses me hard. And I really have no shame because I kiss him back with the same intensity with which he's kissing me. Why wouldn't I? He's constant in my head, my thoughts and in my heart. Every single time I see him, I want him.
The kiss doesn't last long. Not as long as I'd like it to be because he pulls away and parts his lips to speak. "Would it bother you if I kissed her the way I kissed you now?"
"Flynn." I warn because he's treading on dark waters now. I can't deny the fact that, that question hurts even more than seeing the action itself. I don't even want to imagine it. I don't want to see it.
"Do you want to tell me what you're scared of? Why you keep running?"
I ball my hands into fists and look at the mirror instead. I feel like a coward because my mouth seems too heavy to tell him the reason why. What if he finds it ridiculous? What if he thinks it's stupid?
"This isn't going to work."
"We'll make it work."
My heart races at his words. "Flynn." I call his name like I'm pleading because he's making this harder by the minute. He drops his hand from the wall and looks at me.
"Turn around."
Very slowly, I turn around until I'm standing face to face with the mirror. He comes behind me and runs his fingers through my hair for a moment before tucking the loose strands around my face behind my ears.
"After we won the game, do you remember when I told you I wanted to tell you something that night?"
I nod because that night I was dying to know whatever it was that he wanted to say but then I ruined it when I put a stop to everything.
He meets my gaze in the mirror. "'I'm crazy about you. I want to be with you for real this time. I'm tired of pretending to be with you for show.' Those were the words I wanted to say to you later that night." He admits. "It was either that or like you advised, I'd walk up to you and say, 'Hey Jo. I like you. Would you let me buy you coffee?' But then I'd discovered I'd been getting you coffee way before I even knew it."
The elevator doors slide open but neither of us make a move to leave.
"You can keep running, Jo. But I'm always going to chase you and I'm not going to stop until you're ready to walk with me. If it's a challenge, I'm up for it."
"And what if I really want us to be apart? What's going to happen then?"
He smiles and turns me back around to face him. "Then. You'll let me know then. We're in the now. Let's sort that out first. One thing at a time."
And then he opens the door to the elevator and leaves me standing alone.