Chapter 25: Forgetting About the School Trip

ADDY

I’m strolling down the street, phone pressed to my ear.

“Did you tell him yet?” I ask.

“Don’t be mad, but no, I haven’t,” Kaylee admits. I can’t help but groan into the phone.

“You’re kidding me! It’s been weeks since I told you to spill the beans to Blake.”

My whining seems to irk Kaylee, who immediately launches into a long-winded explanation about why now isn’t the right time to confess.

I fall silent.

“Kay.”

She keeps on talking, so I try again.

“Kaylee?”

Finally, she stops.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you. But you really like him, right? I’m just saying you should tell him before it’s too late. Blake’s a good guy.”

She sighs.

“I know, I know.”

“He’s not like your asshole ex. I’d slap him silly if he ever hurt you, and you know it. But Blake’s a good guy.”

“I hate it when you’re right. I’ll tell him when we leave for the school trip.”

My eyebrows knit together.

“That’s too long!”

“What do you mean too long? We’re leaving in two days.”

“TWO DAYS?” I shriek, stopping dead in my tracks.

“Please don’t tell me you forgot. Addalynn!” Kaylee’s voice is full of laughter.

“Oh shit, oh shit, I totally forgot!”

“I can’t believe you. Remember when you thought your flight was a day later than it actually was, and you went all the way to the airport last year?”

“Don’t remind me and stop making it sound more complicated than it was!” I run my fingers through my hair, spinning around.

“So, you haven’t packed yet?”

“Yep, heading home now.”

I pick up the pace, groaning at the thought of all the packing I have to do. I hate packing.

“Addy, look to your right.”

I whip my head around to see my best friend approaching, a wide grin on her face.

I end the call and throw myself into her arms.

“Can I just stay? I can’t be bothered to pack and buy all the stuff I need,” I plead, pulling back to give her my best puppy-dog eyes. But I know Kaylee won’t fall for it.

“No way, missy. Why do you think I came to your place when I was planning to meet Blake?”

I grin up at her.

“Shut up. We were just going to Netflix and chill.”

I raise my eyebrows suggestively. “You realize what you just said, right?”

Kaylee slaps my shoulder, pushing me away slightly. “I meant literally?”

I giggle.

“Addy!” Kaylee suddenly grabs my hand, pulling me around the corner.

“What?”

“Isn’t that Gabe?”

She points behind me and I turn around, my eyes widening.

“Yep, and Irin. She’s been his tutor for a few months now.”

“Oh! So she’s the one he likes.”

I nod, quickly pulling out my phone.

“How do you know her?”

“She sits next to me in bio.” I duck down, pulling Kay with me.

“What are you doing?” Kaylee nods at the phone in my hand.

“Getting proof that he likes her.”

“You’re such a stalker. It’s Saturday. She’s probably just tutoring him.”

“Exactly, Saturday. Irin works at the café nearby every Saturday, so she doesn’t tutor on Saturdays. So if Gabe’s with her…”

“Ah, this boy.”

I snap a couple of pictures for future teasing material.

“Now he can’t tease me about Asher anymore.”

“He knows?” Kaylee looks at me.

“Yeah, Blake and Gabe know.” Kaylee opens her mouth to say something, but a loud crash interrupts her. I look back at Irin and Gabe to see them arguing loudly.

We can hear them clearly from our hiding spot, and I stifle a grin as they bicker.

Kaylee snatches the phone from me despite my protests, hitting the record button.

“Stop being so damn stubborn!” Gabe throws his hands in the air.

“Stubborn? You’re the one who’s stubborn.” Irin’s voice drips with annoyance as she points an accusing finger at him.

I start to giggle, but Kay shushes me.

I clamp my mouth shut.

“Why can’t you just agree?” Gabe hisses, stepping closer.

“I don’t have time for dinner with your dumb ass. You just broke my porcelain vase!”

“It’s a stupid vase. Just make a new one. It’s not like you have anything better to do. All you do is sit around and—”

His sentence is cut off as Irin’s foot connects with his crotch.

He lets out a pained yelp and crumples to the ground.

“Ouch,” we hiss in unison, stopping the recording.

Irin turns on her heel and walks away, not even glancing back.

I take my phone back from Kaylee and shove it in my pocket. Then I stand up and walk over to Gabe, who’s still on the ground.

He looks up and groans when he sees me.

“Please tell me you didn’t see that.”

“Every single detail.” I smirk, waving my phone in front of his face.

“Damn it, what do you want?”

“Stop teasing me about Asher and admit that you like Irin.”

Gabe reaches out a hand, and I help him up.

“Kaylee, help me!” Gabe pleads to my best friend, who raises her hands in surrender.

“You’re on your own, buddy.”

“Hold up, how do you know Irin’s name?”

“I share a bio class with her,” I reply, helping Gabe onto the bench beside us.

He nods. “I guess I kinda like her.”

I arch an eyebrow at him.

“Okay, okay, I really like her.” He shifts, wincing in pain. “Damn, she got me good.”

“That’s pretty obvious,” Kaylee remarks.

“I live just around the corner. You should ice that,” I suggest.

“My best friend lives next door to you, girl, I know!” He winks at me.

I gesture towards my phone in my pocket.

“No!” Gabe protests, and I can’t help but laugh. He manages to stand up slowly, taking a small step before crying out in pain.

“We’re not getting home anytime soon,” Kaylee observes, looping an arm around his left side while I support his right.

“He probably had it coming,” I whisper to her.

“You guys suck,” Gabe grumbles.

We just laugh.

***

“Why are Gabe’s shoes here?” Asher asks, pausing in the doorway.

“Long story, and keep it down, he’s sleeping.” I head into the living room.

“Sleeping?”

I nod. He visibly relaxes, and I give him a curious look.

“So what have you been up to?” he asks, not pressing me further.

“Kay came over to help me pack. I totally forgot about the trip. Blake just came to pick her up.”

“Oh. Wait, how did you forget?” He laughs, and I stick my tongue out at him.

“Had other things on my mind.”

“Daydreaming about me, Buttercup?” He drapes an arm over my shoulder.

“In your dreams.”

I glance over at the sofa where Gabe is still out cold.

“Care to explain why Gabe is sprawled on your sofa with an ice pack on his crotch?”

~I thought he wasn’t going to ask any more questions.~

“Someone might have kicked him,” I admit, wriggling out of his hold.

If he doesn’t stop touching me all the time, I’m going to lose it and jump him.

“No way, who?”

I take a seat on a kitchen stool.

“Can’t tell you. Why are you here?” I ask.

“I’ll find out eventually. I was bored, and we were supposed to watch a movie tomorrow but I still have to pack, so I thought we could watch something today?”

“Sure, I don’t mind. Mom and Dad are out anyway.” I stand up, just as Gabe stumbles into the kitchen.

“Hey, Addy, thanks for—” Gabe stops mid-sentence when he sees Asher standing next to me. His frown morphs into a smirk.

“Going out to eat with Dad”—he raises his eyebrows—“don’t have time to hang out today…bullshit!”

I give them a puzzled look just as Asher coughs, shooting Gabe a glare.

“Gabe, we’re about to watch a movie, want to join us?” I ask.

Asher shoots him another look, which he completely ignores, grinning at me.

“Seeing as this jerk ditched me for you and I have absolutely nothing—” he doesn’t get to finish his sentence as Asher rushes over, slapping a hand over his mouth.

“Actually, Addy, Gabe was just leaving. He has to look after his dog. Right, Gabe?” One look at Asher’s face and Gabe nods in my direction.

“Thanks for everything! Maybe next time, Addy,” Gabe says, heading towards me. I reach out to give him a goodbye hug when Asher suddenly pulls him back.

“He really needs to go now,” Asher practically growls, dragging his best friend towards the door.

“He’s just jealous that I’ve hugged you more than he has!” Gabe yells in my direction as Asher drags him out of sight. I chuckle.

“I swear you and Blake have been ditching me ever since—” I try not to eavesdrop as I head to the door. They stop talking when they see me.

“Thanks again. I owe you one.” I nod at Gabe, a smile on my face, and he smiles back.

“Gabe, your dog really ~misses you~,” Asher hisses, and we both turn to give him a puzzled look.

He opens the door, shoving Gabe out and slamming it shut.

“What are you—”

“I told you, his dog really misses—”

“If you say his dog misses him one more time, you’ll be the next one on the sofa with an ice pack between your legs. I’m not an idiot. Gabe is allergic to dogs.”

Asher’s cheeks flush as he moves past me into the living room without another word.

“You can pick the movie,” he says.

“That’s what I thought.” I follow him, trying to suppress a smile.

Asher King just ditched his best friend to hang out with me.

~Damn.~