After letting Mia cry some more, she's the one to finally break the silence. "He's never said that before, you know." She pulls away, looking at me, before sitting on the floor and I sit opposite her.
Okay... We're actually doing this. Sitting on a dirty bathroom floor.
I guess considering its not even first period yet, it should've been cleaned the night before anyway, right?
"We never got round to saying that to each other," I recall what just happened.
"Please, just believe me. I..." He hesitates and the way my stomach churns makes me realise I know what he's about to say. "I love you."
'I love you'
He told her that he loved her. For the first time? I presumed they had already said it, I guess I was wrong.
"Why would he tell me that, Ands? D-does he hate me that much? Why would he want to mess my head up so much, is he trying to make it even harder for me?" Her voice trembles and before she has a chance to shed more tears, I scoot over to hug her.
"I'm scared it's the complete opposite," I mumble to myself, not expecting Mia to hear me.
Unfortunately, she does.
Jeez Andie, think things like this in your head next time, not aloud.
"What? You think he loves me?" She asks and I look at the floor, not knowing what to say.
Maybe I should just shut up and not try and make this situation any worse.
"If he loved me then he wouldn't have kissed some other girl." I know the bitterness in her voice isn't towards to me, it's towards Josh.
I nod, "You're right, I'm sorry. Forget I even said anything."
I can't forget it though.
I can't forget thinking he was telling the truth.
I can't forget the voice in the back of my head screaming that something doesn't add up.
"It's fine. You know... For a second, I believed him too. All the sadness I finally managed to turn to anger just disappeared." She sighs,
"I just wish the circumstances were different. That he would've taken me to the place he always wanted to show me and told me there instead." She swipes the few tears away and continues,
"Maybe then I wouldn't be sat here thinking I wasn't good enough for him."
What she's telling me makes my heart ache, just for her, but I thought I knew what to doâwhat to say. Now, I'm sat here with no clue what to tell her.
I thought it was as simple as my cousin being a cheating bastard who just wanted to make the number of girls on his list higher. But now...
Now I'm not so sure.
The way he looked wasn't fake. No one can fake that. It was real. I know it.
I stay silent and she tells me a couple of stories about her and Josh. "Do you wanna know how we met?" I nod and she rests her head on the wall behind her.
"I tutored him. It was a day or two after I slept round, he asked me to help him with math. I agreed, god knows why I agreed." I can see the smile she's wearing and it's a painful one. The recollection of the memory must be hurting her.
I suddenly realise one thing in what she just said makes no sense.
"Josh didn't need help with math, Mia." Her head snaps towards me,
"What? Of course, he did. He said he was failing, that's why he asked me." I shake my head,
"Josh may have this reputation he feels the need to uphold but he isn't stupid. Especially when it comes to math. He excels best in that subject, always has, he wouldn't have been failing. Not a chance."
She takes a few seconds to answer, "But that means he just asked me because... He lied and..." It seems that she can't finish what she's trying to say so I take it upon myself to finish her sentence for her.
"Used math as an excuse to spend time with you." She looks down while fiddling with her fingers.
"It all makes sense now." She murmurs, more to herself than anyone else.
"When he had his first test after me tutoring him, he managed to get top marks. I was so confused and he just said it was all down to me and wanted to take me out for dinner to say thanks."
Now that's sweet.
See, so why the hell would Josh do something like that to ruin it?
"That's when it first started. The dinner was when I certain I had feelings for him. I suspected it before that though. Every time I would tutor him he would always get distracted, distract me, with his stupid jokes.
I would laugh but roll my eyes, saying we had to concentrate. He would just smile and say I looked cute when I laughed." She pulls her knees to her chest and continues the story while still smiling.
"I got so embarrassed the first time he told me but the more we talked, the more I blushed and the more I blushed, the more the butterflies in my stomach would appear. Soon enough after that, it wasn't just the comments making me feel this way, it was whenever he was around. Whenever he looked at me...
It sounds super cheesy when I say it aloud, but my stomach and heart would flutter. At first, I thought it was anxiety but then I realised." I know what she realised. Everyone knows what she realised, she doesn't have to say it.
She realised she loved him.
"But then... But then this happened." The smile is now gone and she's wiping the tears away again.
"He asked me to be his girlfriend at the party but we both said we liked each other before that, I just didn't want you to be mad I was dating your cousin. I was shocked you were so okay with it, to be honest."
"He may be my cousin and you may be my best friend but I don't have any say in who you both love."
"I just don't get why he would tell me so many private things about him and then do this." She runs her fingers through her hair, clearly frustrated. She quickly stands up and I wonder where she's going but she stops at her bag, digging around.
She must be looking for something and when she finally pulls out what she's looking for, I gasp.
A ring.
My nan's ring.
Our nan's ring.
"He told me about the close relationship you both had with your nan before she passed away a while ago. He said that she told him to give it to someone special when he was old enough.
He said he wanted to give it to me and couldn't see himself giving it to anyone else." Her voice cracks and she slumps back to the floor while twirling the ring around her finger.
I know for sure now.
He really does love Mia because I know for sure he wouldn't just give it that ring to anyone.
How do I know that? You might be asking.
Well,
I was there when she gave it to him.
"I love him," She begins to cry. "I love him so much that it hurts. It physically hurts and I don't know how to stop it. I don't think I can."
"Oh, Mee..." She cries into my shoulder.
I'm not sure how long we've spent sitting on this floor but after a while, Mia decides enough is enough and starts to clear the makeup off her face.
"I can't spend the whole day in here crying and feeling sorry for myself, I need a distraction and what's a better distraction other than school?" She says and I check the time before we leave.
Turns out we didn't hear the bell for first and second period and we're just on time for break.
"I wish I could be there for you in all your classes today, but we only have health together. Just promise me you'll text if you need me and I'll be as quick as I can."
She nods, "I promise," I smile and just before the bell goes she says one more thing. "Thanks again, Ands. I never really had a proper friend here before you at this school and I couldn't think of anyone else who I'd want as my best friend."
I smile at her, "You made my move here so much easier. So really, I think I should be the one thanking you."
Now that break is here, we have a little more time together before Mia and I have to go separate ways.
I catch her looking around the canteen, turning her eyes towards the entrance, never peeling her eyes away.
It's obvious she is looking for Josh and he is nowhere to be seen.
My guess is he went home.
I see Ash, Seph and Bryce walk towards us, sitting down. Well, this is new, they never sit with us. That must mean...
Yep, I'm right.
Cole has just walked through the doors to the canteen and heads our way as well. It seems like I can't control the smile on my face when he gets closer.
As his figure gets bigger and bigger, my heart flutters along with the butterflies in my stomach.
He must spot my huge smile, not that it's hard to miss, and smilesâif it's even possibleâjust as much as I do.
He sits in the seat opposite me and greats me before saying a simple 'hey' to anyone else. "Princess," My smiles grows bigger and I'm internally screaming for me to quit it.
I might as well have 'I like Cole jones' written on my forehead in black marker.
Seph mutters something along the lines of what I think is "He's so whipped."
I must've heard wrong because Seph doesn't mutter. If he spoke then the rest of the canteen would hear what he says too.
While everyone is speaking, Noah shows up to join us and Cole's smile is wiped off his face, replaced by a scowl.
I try not to smirk when my attention is drawn to Cole's grip on his water bottle. He's squeezing it so tight his knuckles are white and I'm just waiting for the bottle to burst.
I know I shouldn't exactly enjoy Cole being jealous but I can't help it. Just like everything else he does, it's kinda...
Hot.
God, what's happening to me?
"Hey, guys." Noah smiles and greets everyone, even if he hasn't exactly spoken to everyone here. He introduces himself more to the people he hasn't seen yet and everyone says hello back.
Everyone but Cole.
All of us are back to chatting with each other while Cole doesn't say a word. He just sits there looking miserable as ever.
"Cole, people who have been sent down for murder have looked happier than you right now." He looks up at me, finally smiling, to then turn towards Noah's direction to just go back to frowning again.
"That's because they don't have to deal with Mr Perfect for the next thirty minutes." I scoff at his comment while rolling my eyes.
"Paid actors are less dramatic than you, you know that?" His smirks at me and I swear for a split second I saw his eyes on my lips.
"Well paid actors aren't as attractive me either." I can't help but laugh and his smirk turns into a smile.
After what was a quick thirty minutes, and a painfully long time for Cole considering his constant glaring at Noah, the bell finally goes and before I even get the chance to see what I have next Cole grabs my arm.
"We have English," I follow him out of the canteen after saying goodbye to Noah and Mia. "How the hell don't you know your schedule yet?" He chuckles.
"I'm surprised you know yours, you show up for 1 out of 6 lessons a day if I'm right?" I fire back and he smirks.
"Wrong. I'm pretty sure I have at least two lessons with you a day so two out of six." I try not to let his comment affect me, that was the whole point in his comment anyway I guess.
Once we're in class and I've tossed my bag under my desk, he speaks up again. "You look tired." I nod, resting the side of my head on my arm while facing him.
Well if you didn't show up in my mind whenever I close my eyes, that wouldn't be a problem, would it?
"I just couldn't sleep that's all." I close my eyes for a few seconds and I swear I hear Cole say something. I just don't hear all of it.
"...so fucking...iful" I don't even time to figure out what he said before the teacher walks in.
*****
The lesson just ended and it's safe to say I'm somehow more tired than I was before. I blame the revision and her boring chat about our test this Wednesday. I pick up my bag and we walk side by side to health.
And by we, I mean me and Cole.
"So I was thinking that we could study together before the test we have." I scoff. I stop and so does Cole, causing huffs by multiple people who have to walk around us.
Cole glares at all of them and I roll my eyes at him, I almost forgot about our first encounter and how rude he was.
"Are you okay, do you have a temperature?" I tease him and lift the back of my hand to his forehead, pretending to check his temperature. "The normal Coley Woley would never say such things." He grabs my wrist, pulling me closer to him and I suck in a breath.
Everyone in the hallway has cleared and it's just us.
He's looking me right in the eyes and I can't help but blush. "I thought that nickname wasn't going to be a regular occurrence princess, wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you now, would we?"
"I-ugh...I-" I stutter.
Great way to show him he doesn't affect you, Andie.
"What? Lost for words." He smirks and I can't help but look at his lips.
Stop looking! Stop looking!
He notices and before I know it, we're both moving closer and clos-
"You two! You're both let for your classes, go now before I give you both detention." I nod while muttering a sorry but disappointment fills me when I realise we were both so close to kissing again.
I can try and deny it all I want but deep down I know. I know that I was dying to kiss him. I still am.
"Well someone's a happy soul." He says sarcastically and I can't help but laugh. Well, he's not wrong.
"Tell me about it." We're almost to health when I speak for the last time before heading into the class. "You know, I think you just want to study because you're just dying to spend all your time with me." I joke and he smiles, not replying, just beckoning to the open door.
"You're not wrong." I hear him mutter, or at least that's what I thought he said.
"What did you say?" I ask and he doesn't even let the question sit for a second before speaking.
"I said after you." Yep, it's official, I need sleep asap. That was completely different from what I thought he said.
"Thanks," I say quietly and walk into the class slightly embarrassed when I see everyone staring at us. I awkwardly walk toward my sit and Cole must be behind me considering we sit next to each other.
I catch Mia staring at us and I quickly mouth her a question. "How are you doing?"
She smiles while mouthing a quick "I'm okay." And I tell myself to meet her straight after class. Her smile turns to a smug one when she looks between Cole and I.
"What are about you too?" A mischievous glint lingers in her eyes and I can't help but feel like she saw everything that went on back in the hallway.
I hear a cough beside me and I turn to see that it's Cole. He looks like he's trying to suppress a smile, was he laughing?
******
The day goes by quicker than I anticipated and before I know it, I'm saying goodbye to Noah and Cole and leaving with Mia.
I'm walking to my car and once Mia is inside, I hear distant voices. Familiar voices.
"I swear I haven't seen you at a party in forever dude. What's wrong with you?" If I'm right, it's Bryce's voice but Seph's laugh.
"Just like Seph said earlier, he's whipped, that's what." I'm almost one hundred percent sure it's Ash's voice now. But one thing I can't seem to stop thinking about is that I was right. I wasn't just hearing things earlier, Seph actually said that.
But the question I want the answer to is..
Whipped by who?
"I don't even know why I still hang around with you dicks." Yep, that's definitely Cole's voice.
I jump slightly when Mia leans over the driver's seat, opening the door. "Hey, you getting in?"
"Yeah, sorry." I start the engine and drive away, looking at Cole and the others through the side mirror. "Is it okay if I drop you off at yours and then head back once I get my things?"
She nods, "Yes, of course, it's your choice but wouldn't it just be easier to go straight there?"
"I'm not sure what time my Aunt and Uncle are going to be back and I wanna say bye. Plus, I'm pretty sure Josh went home after what happened this morning..." She agrees and once I've waved her goodbye, I head back home.
I feel slightly bad about lying to Mia. My Aunt and Uncle both have the day off so the real reason I wanted to go back by myself is so I can speak to Josh about Mia.
Something about this whole situation isn't right.
"Hey honey," Nadia's voice greets me and I head into the living room to see them both cuddling while watching tv.
"Do you think you can speak to Josh for us? He refused to speak to both of us about why he skipped school. He just went upstairs and hasn't left since."
Bingo.
Would he be this bothered if he wasn't upset about what happened? Nope.
"Yeah sure." I make my way upstairs but stop. "Also, I'm going to spend the weekend and Mia's, she needs me right now." They nod and I think they finally piece together that something went down between them both.
I quickly pack my stuff and then knock on Josh's door.
There must be another reason as to why Josh kissed another girl.
And I plan to find out what that reason is...
>>>>>>
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter :)
Sorry if there are any mistakes, it's almost 1am but i need to post so i'm publishing it now. The original chapter of this was 1900 words but somehow it's now 3200 lolð¤£
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