2

"If I'm with Dian, it's to give myself more reasons not to love you. And I've lived with that, but if you leave this god-forsaken town, I don't know what I'm gonna do."

Stupid uniform.

Stupid uniform. Stupid Ice-cream. Stupid Matthias.

Although I've always loved my job and the uniform. This is probably the best of the latter any ice-cream store in Beckinsdale would offer it's employees so I guess it's just stupid Matthias at the end of the day.

It's been two weeks. Two weeks, fourteen days - ten school days, and he hasn't even put a call through. Not a text either. And we go to the same school so if he's not avoiding me, then he's probably jumped off a cliff and is out of existence. Which I honestly wouldn't mind at this point.

God. I hate that I feel this way.

I hate that every time I walk by the Chemistry lab, i'm hoping to see his stupid head through the window or something. I hate that every time my phone lights up I'm hoping it's a text from him, clarifying everything he'd said the other night. Fingers crossed he won't be changing any words said.

"Hey."

Dammit. I begin pulling myself together knowing full well that if I hadn't heard the bell ding before the person walked in then i'm pretty much out of it already.

The voice registers, and when I lift my head from across the counter, I'm not surprised at who I see. Well, I am surprised at the new hair color, but Dian's always been one to play with different shades of blonde. She's a natural brunette.

"Hey." I echo. Then trying to sound more like a Sundae's employee, I try again. "Hey! Hey, Dian. Shall I get you the usual?"

"Gosh, yeah." She laughs in her hearty way. She's always been all, what I'd call, sunshine. That's a pretty weird way to put it but when you think Dian, it's never dark hoodies or sweats. It's rather sparkly cheer uniforms, or a yellow sundress and white trainers. Exactly what she's in today. Yellow sundress and white trainers.

She also has warmer facial features, well compared to me. A warmer face and bambi eyes. But if there's one thing I envy it's her hazel eyes.

And well, whatever.

I honestly wouldn't mind preparing her usual - strawberry and chocolate with coconut sprinkles - in silence, but Dian always has something to say. So, it's only a matter of time.

"You know," She starts, leaning forward on the counter and picking on her long, polished nails. "We hadn't had the best time. Matthias and I- oh and could you make one for him as well? He's around the corner somewhere."

My ears perk up at that, but I focus rather on the cream machine. "Oh, he is?"

"Yeah, he drove me here actually. Just had to get something in a shop around."

I cannot believe it.

It stings that the ass is still in existence but I guess it's, again, whatever.

"Same thing then?"

"Yes, except the coconut sprinkles." She laughs. Again. "And yeah, what was I saying?"

"You weren't having the best time, you and him." I say, now placing her order on the counter, kinda hoping she continues the conversation. I've never cared about what goes on in their relationship. Yet, at the same time, never really not cared. Especially now. Not that I expected they'd have broken up just like that, I'm just... mildly interested.

I clean my already clean hands on a rag, eying the almost empty booth. I like how the people in Beckinsdale prefer to eat ice cream at night. And I like how the place being less busy during my shift doesn't remove a dime from my paycheck.

"Oh my God, I said that? I shouldn't be bothering you with my problems."

"You're not a bother, Dian." I say truthfully.

She eyes me for a second long, her lips parting like she's got something to say. "Well... you know. We're fine now, anyway. He's much more thoughtful about his actions now and... yeah. I see the effort and honestly, I really want this to work."

That's okay.

I'm frozen solid, but I think it's okay. Should his relationship be getting better just when he confessed feelings for me, though? Looks like wrong timing to me.

As if on cue, Matthias in all his very existent and alive glory, walks in. His eyes, due to arrangement of things, fall on me first, before spotting his girlfriend when she hollers at him.

As they indulge into all that couple greeting, I busy myself with the register. Even when they're done, I don't let my eyes lift too far up. Although Matthias slapping a hand next to mine, nearly has me doing so.

"Melanie."

"What's good?"

Dian gets a call, and both her boyfriend and I quietly watch as she takes it. None of the words being enough to figure out what's going on. Except when she says, "Alright. I'll be there in ten."

"You're leaving?"

"Yes. I'm so sorry, Mattie, I know we've had this planned for like a week now and," blah blah blah.

I block out their conversation, rolling my eyes when they start all the sloppy love argument, but chastising myself for doing so. They are dating. Plus I've always supported their relationship, and Dian's a good girl.

"Okay, so see you around Lee!" She waves, already running out.

"Of course. Drive safe!"

A group of teenagers walk in as Dian leaves, coming straight to me. They must all go to our school since this town, last time I checked, is pretty small. So if you see a group of rich kids, it's a large chance they go to Lorde's High. I'm not rich, not Einstein enough to get a scholarship either but I am always lucky. Lucky enough to get in there a few years back.

Plus I recognize at least five of them.

When i'm done with their order, they take a table far away near the door. And I give Matthias a flat look.

"Gonna stand there all day, staring at me?"

"If it's allowed, I don't mind." He gives that boyish smile that I want to slap off his face. I also want to put my hand through his soft curls and steal his hoodie.

But I'm not his girlfriend. So I just roll my eyes and busy myself.

"We should probably talk." He says. Though thankfully, my shift is over.

I perk up, "Oh, would you look at that." I say to no one in particular. Though in reality, it's to spite him.

Without sparing Matthias a glance, I'm off to the change room, talk with a few colleagues as I take off the uniform returning to my initial baggy white shirt on jeans. But as I walk out the shop onto the sunny street, I hear footsteps coming after me.

He grips my arm from behind, spinning me to him. "Damn Melanie, do you have no courtesy?"

"I have no courtesy?"

His expression softens as he lowers his gaze to meet mine, "Alright, I get it. I know I've been an ass for going MIA on you after that night."

"Well, it's one way to put it." I scoff.

He glares. "Come on, now. I'm trying."

"What conversation are you trying to have?"

He rolls his eyes, ruffling his hair, something he does when he's irritated by problems he most likely created himself. "I know there's an elephant in the room we've got to address."

"We're outside, Matthias, not in a room and there's definitely no elephant here. If you'd be clearer, I'd appreciate it. Got things to do at home."

He laughs idiotically, "Like what?" The casual expression is quickly rubbed off his face once I look at him. "Okay, okay, I... I wanna talk about that night."

I feign nonchalance. Even though everything in me is alert and very interested in all he has to say. The wise part of me has me warned not raise any hopes but at the same time... I don't know.

"About that night," He steps closer to me, "I'm sorry."

Sorry?

Of everything I expected to hear, that was the last.

Maybe I did get my hopes a bit high at the end of the day.

I try to ignore the sting as I stare into his green eyes, that really do show how sorry he is. "You're sorry?"

"Yes, I am, I swear. I don't know what got into me, guess I was so scared of you leaving that I..." He sighs. "You're my best friend, Melanie. It was selfish to do so, but I really thought to use anything I could to keep you. Which now that I think about it, wasn't the best tactic."

"You're sorry."

"God, Lee, I am." He bends so our faces are directly facing each other, and in order not to let him see how pathetic I look right now, I turn mine the other way. "I swear that I am, please."

A tear falls from my left eye but i'm quick to catch it. Sniffling after. Of course he's sorry. Of course that's what he would say, what else was I expecting?

And it's probably best this way. So, instead of storming off to cry at home, I let him hold me in an embrace 'cause we're friends. And that's all we should be at the end of the day.