I hesitate to go back inside the restaurant because of the commotion I had just created. Eric had asked me what was wrong and when I told him all that had happened he said he could take me back home if I wanted. In a way I did, I'd rather just run away from all of this, but I knew that if it wasn't dealt with today it would eventually be dealt with tomorrow.
I let out a shaky breath and Eric reaches for my hand and squeezes it. I give him a small smile and open the door to the restaurant, guiding myself and Eric inside the reception where everyone was.
"Well maybe it was because you never approved of our relationship! It's not like when we spent Christmas together things would be fine, I saw those eye rolls!"
"Eye rolls? You're the one that always came with an attitude, how was I supposed to react?"
"Oh shut up Elizabeth. My daughter was right. I don't need yours or anyone else's approval. My family is a little messed up, sure, but at least when we really need each other we stick together no matter what. Let's go boys."
I watch as my mom grabs her things and angrily walks away from Elizabeth, with my dad, Sage and Ethan following behind. Elizabeth stares in shock as my mom walks over to where I had just entered.
"You're back," mom acknowledges, "let's go, I'm done here and I'm really craving some pizza."
I merely nod my head and follow behind with everyone else as my mother stomps to the car. I had never seen her this angry in my life, but at the same time she seemed so badass as she walked out of the restaurant.
I turn back to Eric and give him a sheepish look.
"I'm sorry you drove all the way over here for no reason," I say.
He shakes his head, his red orange hair bouncing as he does.
"It's honestly no problem," he says.
"Well do you want to join us for some pizza since you did come?"
"Yeah of course," Eric replies with a smile.
"Cool, let me tell my parents. I can ride with you on the way if that's cool with you."
"Definitely," Eric replies, "I'll go turn on the car so that it's warm once you get inside."
I smile at him and go tell my parents Eric is coming along with us. We go to the nearest pizza joint and eat there, occasional laughs about tonight's event come up. I laugh along with everyone forcing a smile here and there because in the end the words I said were true. I set myself up for rejection and gave myself high hopes. I guess I should've known better. Eric drops me off at my mom's house an hour later. She had already gotten here before us and she's sitting on the couch by the time I open the door.
"Lux," mom says before standing up and walking over to me. She gives me a wary smile and asks me to sit. I stay quiet, knowing already what it is she is about to say.
"About tonight," she starts off and I stand up from the couch.
"I really don't want to talk about it," I conclude.
"Oh okay. That's fine. If you ever want to talk about it though, just know I'm here for you."
"I know, thanks mom."
"And Lux," she says.
"Yes?"
"I know tonight was crazy, but you really opened my eyes to things that matter and I'm sorry I had to force you and Sage and your father to act a way we're not just to impress them. I shouldn't have done that."
"It's okay mom, really."
"Okay, get some rest."
"Good night," I say and walk up to my room.
It would be an understatement to say that a tear or two didn't slip as I laid in bed. But as I wiped them off of my face I forced myself to stop crying and instead push whatever feelings I had or thought I had for Aaron Reeves away. So far away that when I would see him tomorrow morning, the sight of him wouldn't cause any type of emotion.
The next day I wake up groggy with my throat feeling sore. I get up sighing as I get dressed for school. As soon as I'm ready walk downstairs finding my mom in the kitchen cooking up some eggs. She turns around sees me as she puts her eggs on a plate.
"Good morning," she says.
"Morning," I mumble, my voice hoarse.
"Are you feeling alright?" she questions.
"I'm fine," I say, "just a sore throat. Do we have tea?"
"Yes, let me make you some so that you can take to school."
"Okay," I nod and sit on the table as I watch her boil some water. She pours the hot water inside one of the travel mugs and puts in the tea bag before closing it and handing it to me.
"Thanks mom," I say and stand up.
"You don't want eggs?" she asks.
I shake my head and say, "No thanks, I'll eat at school."
"Okay have a good day. If you're not feeling good go to the nurse."
"I will. Bye," I say and walk outside of the house and go to my car before driving off to school.
As soon as I park my car at school and get down I catch the sight of Aaron leaning on his motorcycle. He's looking around the parking lot, his head going from left to right. Thankfully I am parked a few cars away from him so he doesn't see me right away. I grab my bag and my tea before walking the opposite way from where Aaron is at.
My body doesn't relax until I finally get inside the school. I walk toward my locker and open it, taking out the books I need for the day. As I'm doing so I feel someone's presence getting close to me. I turn my head and find Aaron but quickly turn away when we lock eyes.
"Lux," he says and I would be lying if I said it doesn't hurt hearing my name come out of his mouth. I mentally scold myself for feeling this way right now and in general because essentially Aaron Reeves never said he liked me. I mean he has but not genuinely. It's all been a show from the beginning so I don't understand why I let myself believe it could be more.
"Hi," I say, looking inside my locker instead of him.
"Lux I am so sorry-"
"It's cool," I say turning his way and forcing a smile.
"No it's not. Let me just explain-"
"I said its fine Aaron. We're good. You didn't have to go if you didn't want to so don't feel bad," I say slamming my locker shut. I turn around to walk away but Aaron grabs me and turns me around.
"I did want to go, I swear. Just let me explain."
I let out a sigh and cross my arms. "Fine."
"That day I saw you when I went to go pick up the fake teeth I was invited to a party. My friends were gonna be there so I went but not with the intentions of drinking a lot. I was only going to have one drink," Aaron sighs and brings up his hand to mess with his hair before continuing. "I don't know how one drink went to a bunch of others, I barely remember most of the night but by the time I woke up the following day it was already a couple minutes past four. I couldn't find my phone so I couldn't text you. So I got dressed and I went to your house in hopes of finding you there but you were already gone. The directions to the wedding were on my phone but since I lost it I had no idea where to go. So I went to the diner to find Nat and I asked her where the wedding was being held. After she told me I drove as fast as I could to the ceremony but it had finished. Luckily there were still people there from the wedding and so I followed them to the restaurant where the reception was held."
"I didn't see you," I confess.
"I know," he replies, "I left after I saw you with some guy."
"What guy?"
"I'm not sure, he had red hair. When I saw you walking in the restaurant with him I realized that I was too late and that you already had a date for the wedding that wasn't me. I wanted to tell you everything last night but I didn't want to ruin the rest of your night so I went home. I was looking for you in the parking lot earlier but only saw a glimpse of you as you were walking passed the entrance doors."
"Wait so you're telling me that you actually went but left because you saw me with some other guy?"
"Yeah," he says and his voice cracks for split second causing him to clear his throat immediately after. "I didn't want to be the third wheel or whatever. I know we're just friends and I didn't know who that guy was so I just assumed-"
"He's just my friend. Only my friend. Like us, we're only friends." As soon as the words I bite my tongue. Why do I always do this to myself?
"Right," Aaron says letting out a cough, "we're just friends."
And just like that I regret saying the words even more. Again I was setting myself up, causing myself pain. It's as if I want him to reject me to make up an excuse, a reason to not like him so that I can be able to push these feelings away. Because that's all I want; to not like Aaron Reeves. And just as the thought of not liking him crosses my mind I open my mouth to say the words that will finally put an end to these feelings. All I needed to do was be a bitch, I mean it shouldn't be that hard, being a bitch was my specialty.
"You shouldn't assume things," I say.
"I know I just-"
"You were just making up an excuse so that you didn't have to come Aaron."
"Lux, I swear that's not it. I told you what happened-"
"Yeah I heard your story and maybe your intentions weren't bad but in the end I was hurt that you weren't there-"
"-I'm sorry. Lux please just listen-"
"No you listen. Its only games with you. One second I think we're friends and then next you're out getting drunk and blowing me off. And I get that, that who you are. How could I possibly let myself forget? You're the bad boy Aaron Reeves."
"What is that supposed to mean?" he says and just like that I know that I've hit a nerve.
"Bad boys aren't romantic remember?"
"Lux you know I'm more than what I show myself to be." And he's giving me a look with his eyes, pleading me to just stop and forgive him. But I can't because I'm so close to ending this.
"Are you though? It seems to me you care more about your reputation than anything else. So let's just make things easy from here on out. You go your separate way and I go mine. It's not like our friendship was gonna last any longer, we're just too different."
"You're really gonna end our friendship like this? You're not even gonna give me the benefit of the doubt?"
"I gotta get to class," I say and turn around.
This is it. This me pushing my feelings away. I should be happy.
But I'm not.
Hey!
What up?
How are you guys? (:
Don't hate me too much lol
Lmao get excited for the next chapter...not sure when it'll be up...but hopefully within the next two weeks...
What do you guys think so far though?
Also I just want to thank you guys for all the support you give this book. Each and everyone one of your comments give me a big smile and just makes my day so much better, so it's just really means a lot to me. Ily you guys ð