"So how was camping?"
Sage and Ethan give each other a knowing look and the girls and I laugh realizing it probably did not turn out good. As soon as the boys came back today we decided to come to the city plaza to eat together.
"Let's just say that we're not as adventurous as we thought," replies Ethan.
"Why not?" asks Maru.
"Well we couldn't figure out how to set the tent and when we finally did it began to rain and all the water came and flooded inside because we didn't set the tent right. So we went to the car to sleep there but it got really cold at night and the seats weren't that comfortable so we didn't sleep at all. We actually stayed up all night talking. And then when we went back out in the morning to get our things we stepped on what we want to believe was dog poop," Ethan explains and we make a face.
"So," Sage continues Ethan's story, "we didn't realize we stepped on poop until we stopped at a diner on the way back and the waitress told us. It was embarrassing."
I can't help but laugh.
"You two are something else," I comment and they laugh as well, my attention goes to them as they hold each other's hands.
"So what happened yesterday with Aaron?" asks Maru.
"Aaron?" questions Sage with wide eyes, "he did something again."
"Of course he did," Maru replies with a laugh, "it's getting kind of pathetic with all his little attempts."
"What do you mean?" I can't help but ask.
"Well all he wants is for people to see that he's changed for the better but let's be real. He's still the same old asshole from the recording. People don't change and it's sad if he thinks people will actually believe he's different."
I don't know what it is or why but her word struck a chord on me and I clench my jaw so that I don't say anything I will regret.
"I agree," says Sage and I turn my head to his direction, "people like him don't change. I honestly think you need to tell him to stop already Lux. Like he's made his point, he's failed to change a single person's mind so I think it's time to move on. He's bothered you enough."
It's as if something heavy has been put on my chest and I bite my tongue hard. I don't even know why I'm so annoyed suddenly.
"Yup," replies Maru, "he's getting kind of old. If nobody likes him then oh well, he'll have to deal on his own. It's annoying how everything is suddenly all about him. I've barely had time to hang out with just you Lux. The last time we did was when we went shopping for homecoming dresses and then after that it's been all about him. Right Nat?"
Nat doesn't look at Maru but instead keeps her eyes focused on me and that look she gives me tells me that she knows how upset I am feeling at this moment.
"Can we stop talking about this? Have you guys done the essay for--"
"Why?" Maru asks cutting her off.
"What?"
"Why are you changing the subject? You wouldn't do that unless there's a reason."
"Why are you guys being so harsh on Aaron. He doesn't seem that bad," Nat backfires.
Maru gives her a confused look and then turns to me.
"Are you joking? He's not that great. Right Lux?"
I let out a sigh.
"You don't really know him," I mumble.
"What?" she asks.
"You don't really know him," I reply louder.
"So you agree with Nat that he's not that bad? Seriously? Dude you're the one that wanted everyone to see the asshole that he is so badly."
I roll my eyes. "Its not like that Maru. I don't get why you won't just let this go so that we can talk about something else."
"Maybe it's because you contradict yourself Lux. Like one minute you hate Aaron and the next you're all about him. It's annoying. And don't even get me started on his annoying friends."
"I didn't hate him and I'm not all about him. I admit I did say bad things about him before but it's different now."
"Why? Because you like him or what?"
"Maru chill," Ethan warns.
"What's your deal?" I can't help but ask, "the acting is so sudden."
"The way you're acting is so sudden. When did you start prioritizing some guy over your friends."
"When did I do that?"
"Uh are you seriously asking me that?"
"Actually yes," I reply.
"Maru can you stop," says Nat. "Calm down."
Maru rolls her eyes. "You're stupid to like him. I'm honestly shocked you would."
"When did I say I liked him?"
"When did you deny it?"
I let out a scoff and grab my bag and stand up.
"Lux sit down, let's just forget about this," says Sage.
"No," I say, "I'm too upset. I'm leaving." With that said I turn around and walk away from them and out to the rest of the plaza feeling upset but more confused than anything.
Other than being confused on the way Maru is acting I can't help but be confused as to why I am so upset about this; aout Aaron. Only a month or so ago was it me saying all those things about Aaron.
"Aliens are definitely real."
The familiar voice makes my head snap up.
"I don't think so, replies Aaron as he gives Omar a weird look.
"They are! I saw a U.F.O. once."
"When?"
"Lux."
"Lux?"
Omar points my way and I suddenly feel the need to hide. Aaron turns around and sees me and we lock eyes. What are the odds I would bump to him.
"Hey Fuddy Duddy come here," says Omar.
"What did you just call me?" I ask as I walk over to them pretending to be annoyed at him but I can't help but smile at his presence.
"Oh nothing," he replies as I take a seat beside them.
"What's up?" He adds.
"Nothing," I say, "And you?"
"Just eating some ice cream, duh," he says as he shows me his ice cream.
"In late October?"
"I can eat ice cream no matter the weather," he says eating it.
I playfully roll my eyes as a small smile tugs on my lips before I turn to Aaron. He gives me a look but I turn away, for some reason ashamed. I just can't look at him without feeling bad.
"Do you want some," asks Omar pointing at his ice cream once he notices me staring.
"Mm, sure," I say.
"Okay," Omar says and gets up.
"Where are you going?"
"To buy you one."
"I didn't mean for you to buy--" but it's too late because I don't even get time to finish my sentence before he's already gone.
"Are you okay?" asks Aaron. I force my self to look up at him.
"Yeah," I say and fake a smile.
He gives me a look. "Are you sure? You seem a little weird. Well weirder than usual."
"I'm fine."
"Okay."
Omar comes back with another cone of chocolate ice cream and hands it to me.
"Thank you," I tell him as I grab it.
"No problemo," he replies as he finishes eating his cone.
"So where's Bianca and SoHo?" I ask.
"Bianca had family stuff to do and SoHo is working."
"Oh where does he work?"
"At a pizza place near school."
"Nice."
"You bet it is," says Omar, "I get free pizzas."
"That's because I always end up paying for them dumbass," adds Aaron.
The conversation continues from there with an occasional argument between Aaron and Omar. By the time we leave an hour as passed. The tightness in my chest and the unpleasant feelings I had before thanks to two ridiculous boys.
We get up, throwing away whatever trash we had left.
"My mom's here," says Omar.
"You two are getting a ride back from your mom?" I can't help but tease.
"We don't have cars. Besides my mom is cool, right Aaron?"
"Definitely," he replies and I laugh.
"Do you need a ride too?" asks Aaron.
"Um," I pause for a little, "No I'm good. Thanks though."
"You sure?" he continues.
"Of course," I say.
"Okay then bye," he replies.
"Bye Lux," says Omar.
"Bye," I say waving them off as they walk toward the car.
I let out a sigh and turn around, walking toward the table in front of the one where Aaron, Omar and I sat.
"Hey," I say.
"How did you see me?" Asks Nat.
"How could I not? You were so obvious," I tease.
"Are you okay?" She asks.
I let out another sigh and take a seat beside her.
"I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Nothing is wrong with you. Maru just," Nat pauses, unsure of how to continue, "things just got a little messy. She didn't mean to come out so harsh."
"I know," I reply, "but I also know that once something bothers Maru she is going go tell me with no hesitation and the fact that I've become so involved with Aaron and his friends obviously bothers her."
"Its not like that. It's just weird to see you with people we could've sworn you disliked. And we barely know them so it's hard for us to understand why you've suddenly changed your mind. But from what I just saw you've gotten pretty close with them. Haven't you?"
"You know when you judge someone from the start that suddenly you create this idea on how that person is despite the fact that you're not close with them? Well that was me with them. I thought they were so different that what they really are."
"So they're pretty cool huh?"
"If you just give them the chance you'll see that they're not that bad."
"I trust you," Nat says.
"Maru is really upset at me, isn't she?" I can't help but ask.
"I think she's more upset at herself for upsetting you. You know she's also impulsive and the words she says aren't always what she means. I bet that by later tonight or early tomorrow she'll call you."
"We'll see," I reply.
"Let's get you home? There's school tomorrow."
"Okay," I say.
When Nat drops me off I go to my room. I immediately take a shower and when I get out I check my phone. I have a missed call from Sage and Maru and a text from Aaron. I click on the message first.
Aaron: Call me.
I knit my eyebrows together as I stare at his message. I click on his name and call him.
"Hello," he says.
"Why would you text me to call you when you can just call me."
"I wasn't sure you'd answer."
"And what made you so sure I'd call you," I retort.
"Because I know you wouldn't let the fact that I texted you to call me go."
"Am I that predictable?"
"Maybe," he says.
"So," I say.
"What?" He asks.
"You tell me. You're the one that wanted me to call you."
"Oh," he says and pauses little, "is everything, you know, good?"
"What?" I ask confused.
"You just seemed weird. I don't know."
"What is this? Is the Aaron Reeves worried about me?"
"You do realize I can hang up any second right?"
I let out a laugh. "I know."
"So tell me."
"Admit that you were worried first."
"Why?"
"Mm I don't know. I just want to hear it."
"More like you just want to be right."
"Just say it," I tease.
"Fine, I was a little worried."
"Thanks," I say.
"Its not like I had a choice," he says, "you made me say it even though I--"
"No," I stop him, "I mean thank you for worrying."
"Will you tell me what's wrong now?"
"Do you think it's weird at how close we've gotten. I mean today I had ice cream with you and Omar like if it was normal. Like we're friends."
"I'm hurt," he says, "I thought we were friends."
"I'm being serious," I say and Aaron stays quiet for a while.
"So what if it's weird," Aaron finally speaks up.
"But--"
"Maybe we are friends," he says. His words hit me hard because I realize that although Aaron and I becoming friends through a ridiculous situation doesn't necessarily mean that our friendship is ridiculous in itself. And somehow, that makes me feel better.
"My friends aren't too thrilled that we're friends," I tell him.
"Why?"
His question hurts me and maybe it's because the answer is so dumb, so ignorant and unfair. And I don't want to tell him because even though he's read the mean comments on Instagram, I don't want to voice the fact that someone who doesn't know him thinks he's something he's not.
"Lux? Did you hang up?"
"Oh no," I reply quickly.
"Then tell me why."
"Well," I say and pause again, letting out a small groan while at it.
"They don't think I'm worth you time, do they?"
"Its not like that, it's--"
"That's okay Lux."
"What?"
"The fact that your friends don't like me, that's okay. No one said they had to."
"But they don't really know you."
"So? I don't really know them either and I'm pretty sure they don't care about what I think about them. Don't stress about this. It's honestly fine."
"Aaron."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for understanding."
"What are friends for," he says I let out a small chuckle. "So what are you doing?" He adds.
"I just got out of the shower. I'm about to stud--"
"Shower? Damn why didn't you tell me."
"Of course you say that."
"How could I possibly let it pass?"