Chapter 36.

I roll over and hear a faint buzzing coming from the bedside table. I frown and shuffle myself over grabbing my phone. I turn down the brightness and see message upon message from Mitch.

I furrow my eyebrows and swipe across the newest message.

From Mitch☺️: Soph? Are you awake? Meet me downstairs.x

As I'm reading that message another one comes through.

From Mitch☺️: please?x

I gaze up to the top of my screen and focus on the time. 3:25am. Why the hell is he texting me at this time of the morning.

To Mitch☺️: okay, I'm coming down now.x

I lock my phone and place it back on the bedside table, slipping out of bed. I open the door quietly and look back at Perri sleeping peacefully. What am I doing?

I sigh and tiptoe downstairs, trying not to step on any creaks.

I head into the living room and see Mitch sat staring at the floor, jigging his leg.

"Mitch." I say making him shoot his head up.

"Soph." He says surprised to see me, even though I replied to him.

"What are you doing down here?" I ask, whispering.

"I needed to speak to you." He says, rising from the seat.

"About what? And why couldn't it wait until it was light out?" I question.

"Look, I haven't been able to think properly since Perri questioned me about having feelings for you." He begins, trailing off.

"Mitch, I know what you're getting at, but trust me- you don't like me like that." I sigh shaking my head.

Why did I agree to come downstairs to speak to him?

Why didn't I just stay in bed?

"No, that's the thing though Soph, I do." He says stepping closer to me. "Since we came to your school I thought you were beautiful, and then you and Clara started coming down and I realised how I felt." He explains.

"Yeah Mitch, I started coming down more often because I'm dating Perri." I stress. "You don't like me like that, it not a possibility."

"I can't help it." He whispers, gradually moving closer until he's inches away from my face, staring right at me. "I know how I feel."

"Mitch, no-"

"What's going on?" Perri announces from the bottom of the stairs.

"Nothing." Mitch says quickly, backing away.

"Soph?" Perri says, folding his arms.

"Yeah, um, Mitch wanted to speak to me." I stutter.

Do I tell him what he said?

"Yeah, it looks like it." Perri mutters, shaking his head. "I can't believe you."

"Are you kidding me Perri, nothing happened!" I exclaim. "Why don't you believe me?!"

"Because I saw you both, pulling away." He sighs.

"We didn't kiss!" I say raising my voice, and throwing my arms around. "Tell him Mitch."

I look over at him and he drops his head to look at the floor.

"Seriously Mitch?!" I exclaim, anger filling me. "I swear to you Pel, we didn't kiss."

He shakes his head and turns away, walking back upstairs.

What just happened?

I turn to Mitch who slowly looks up. I stare at him, I don't understand. Why didn't he tell the truth?

"We didn't kiss?! Why wouldn't you tell him that?!" I hiss.

"I couldn't, because I wanted to kiss you." He says.

What?!

I shake my head, heading across the living room and jogging up the stairs. I push open Pel's door and peer into the darkness.

"Perri?" I half whisper. "Why don't you believe me? Why would I kiss Mitch? You know I love you."

Silence.

I sigh and close the door. It's no use, he's not going to answer me. I slide down the back of the door and rest my head in my hands.

"Soph? I-" Mitch begins.

"Piss off Mitch." I say bluntly.

*************

I wake up, scrunching my face up as I sit up, moving my stiff body. I must of slept the rest of the night outside the bedroom door.

I heave myself up and push the door open the rest of the way.

"Pel! Please listen to me." I plea as I watch him pull on a pair of socks. "This is a joke." I state, grabbing some clothes and heading into the bathroom to get changed.

I pull on my high waisted dark blue jeans and a pink, off the shoulder crop top.

It's getting warmer outside, after a long winter.

I complete my makeup with all the items in my makeup bag, which I conveniently left by the sink.

I open the bathroom door and watch Perri walk straight past me downstairs, not even looking at me.

I roll my eyes and grab my phone from the bedroom, closing the door and also heading downstairs.

I push my feet into my superstars and do up the laces. I hear someone grab their keys. I look up and see Perri heading out the door, unlocking his car.

"No it's fine, I'll walk to the studio, I don't want to be a hassle." I say sarcastically under my breath.

"Look, you can come with me." Mitch says behind me.

"I'll walk thanks, don't want to get in any more trouble with you." I reply, less sarcastically.

"Soph, please don't be like this." He sighs.

"Then you better fix this." I answer, opening the front door.

I make my way down the street, thinking everything though, I honestly don't get why he won't believe me.

About 15 minutes later I arrive at the studio. I pull open the heavy doors and step into reception.

"Hi, sorry to bother you, could you tell me where studio two is please, it's my first session and I don't know my way." A girl about my age asks.

"Yeah sure, I'll walk you there, I've got nothing to be doing." I smile, adding a little chuckle.

"Thanks." She smiles. "I recognise you." She says studying my face. "That's it! You came to JD for your tester day."

"Oh yeah! I asked you were Jon was!" I chuckle. "I'm Sophia."

"Saffron." She smiles.

We head down the corridor and make a right until we are outside studio two.

"Here you are!" I smile.

"Thankyou so much!" She replies gratefully.

"You taking Nathan's class?" I ask, peering through the small window in the door.

"Yeah, I've heard he's really good!" She says.

"Oh god yeah! He's really really good!" I agree. "Hey, once you're done, find me- I should be in studio one." I add.

"Cool, see ya." She beams.

"Enjoy." I finish.

I turn around and head towards studio one, taking a deep breath before pushing open the door.

"Soph!" Jordan beams.

"Hey!" I smile back.

"Yo, what's up with Perri and Mitch?" He asks, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Where do I start." I sigh.

"Really?!" He replies shocked.

"Mitch was texting me at like 3 in the morning asking me to meet him downstairs, I was like "okay?" So I went down and he started telling me about how he likes me and about his feelings for me." I begin to explain.

"Wait, what?!" Jordan says shocked.

"Yeah, and I told him nothing could ever happen because I'm with Perri, then he started getting closer and closer and just as I began to back away Perri walked down." I continue.

Jordan listens patiently, taking everything in.

"Perri believes that me and Mitch kissed- which we didn't- and I tried to tell him we didn't but he wouldn't listen and Mitch wouldn't back me up." I say, choking up.

"He hasn't spoken to me, and walked straight past me getting into his car and drove here, Mitch offered me a ride but I know how Pel would take it- so I walked instead." I finish, blinking backing the forming tears.

"I did not expect that." He says, sighing.

"I just don't get why he won't believe me. Like why would I jeopardise everything that we've got and what he's done for me after everything thats happened?" I say wiping my eyes.

"Come 'ere." Jord says pulling me into a hug. "Let me speak to him, I know you wouldn't do that."

"Thankyou so much." I say gratefully, sighing. "I just hope he listens to you..."

*******************

Hey everyone!☺️

Sorry for not updating, I've been on holiday down with my family I haven't seen in like a year- so I wanted to spend time with them 😚

This part is slightly longer to make up for it, so vote and comment if you enjoyed- much appreciated 💙

Unedited 😁 so you might of spotted mistakes but I've legit gotten back from a 5 hour journey as wrote this😂