I laughed as Macy rolled her eyes, telling me about her sister's last prank. Sometimes I swear that Raven went out of her way just to mess with her.
"It's not that funny when you're the one living it."
"I bet." I zipped my bag and closed my locker, following her towards her on the other end of the hallway, carefully avoiding the passing students. "Have you ever thought about getting revenge?"
We halted by her locker and she gave me surprise look, baffled, before chuckling and pulling it open. "Wow. Didn't think you would be the one encouraging revenge."
I blushed, shrugging one shoulder as she pick her stuff. "Just saying. You're always complaining about her pranks. Maybe she needs you to push back once."
"I wish it was that easy, but she's far more imaginative than I am."
"I'm sure Norah would be glad to help you plan something."
"She might, won't she?" Macy chuckled. "And her brain is messed up enough to be able to stand up to Raven."
"Right." I giggled. If anyone could stand up to Raven's imaginative ways of messing with Macy, for sure ti would be Norah. She might even do it gladly, enjoying the dare. "You should let her plot something. Might as well be entertaining to watch."
"I bet." but then her malicious, smug grin at the thought turned downwards a little and she eyes me differently. With a feeling I couldn't quite understand. "We should all hang out sometime."
"Sure."
"I mean it." she insisted and I pursed my brows, eying her as she sighed, closing the locker and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's just... ever since we're... together, or whatever, we haven't really hung out the three of us." she explained. True, this past weeks we hadn't really hung out the whole group at once. "I missed it."
"I miss it too."
"Then? You're always 'busy' and I know exams are near and there also the photo scholarship your working on, but... I mean, are we good?"
There was a strained edge in her voice that set me off, like unease, but why? "Of course we are."
"Because, I thought- I don't know... that maybe you were uncomfortable? About us? About... I don't know, about anything."
"What?" my eyes widened. "No, no! Of course not! I just thought you were starting and would want to have some time to adjust? And also..." I felt the heat climbing up my neck and her dark eyes sparkled with interest.
"Also?"
I looked down at my hands fiddling with the strands of my backpack. "I don't like being the third wheel, okay?"
"What? You're not."
I scoffed. "Yes, I am. I was when you were just friends, and I'm pretty sure I would still be now that you barely can stay away from each other. I just... I thought I'll give you time and then we could go back to kinda being normal?"
"I... I didn't know you felt that way." she muttered and I shrugged, shifting in my feet feeling stupid that he now felt guilt at something so stupid.
"It's okay! I get it. And I'm happy for you. Really."
"But we make you uncomfortable." she deadpanned and I grimaced.
"It's more like... you forget I'm even there at times."
"I'm sorry." I shook my head, but she looked really troubled by it. I didn't want that. "I mean it, Alyson. We never meant to make you feel like that."
"It's okay. Promise. I'm sorry we hadn't hung out together lately. It wasn't all because of that. I'm really busy."
"Mhm..." she hummed, looking at me like she was seeing right through me, making me gulp and then smiled sweetly. "We need to change that. How about we have a sleepover this next Saturday? My place. And I swear we won't act like a couple."
"N-no, feel free to be cuddly and cute, just maybe not that much?"
"Alright." she sent me one beaming grin, cheered that we were finally moving forward and I too felt relieved to get her out the apparently doubt that's been eating her.
I never wanted to make her feel like that, I didn't even though it would be a big deal, I just thought I would give them time to adjust, not really thinking they would actually notice or feel bad about it.
But once that was solved the air feel lighter as we agreed to have this 'back to the basics' next Saturday, and I found myself really looking forward to it. For the past month we've kinda lost the trio vibe. I was always with Macy or Norah, but not so much with both. And I missed out group hangouts as well. So we then proceed to plan out a whole weekend together as we made it to the next class.
And then I caught a glimpse of a familiar red hair. And alone. For once. I've been trying to talk to her for the a few days and she was always surrounded by her endless friends.
I couldn't let this chance escape.
I waved Macy just as we reached her class and marched that was before the redhead was unreachable again.
"Lydia! hey" I caught up with her in the hallway, just as she was to enter her science class.
She turned around, surprised, but when she saw me her lips melted into her charming grin. "Oh, hi Alyson. How was your weekend?"
"Good, yours?"
"You see." she shrugged, stepping aside so we could continue this little chat without being in the way for other students. A silent gesture that proves she wasn't trying to get rid of me anytime soon and the knot in my chest loosened a bit. After all, Lydia was part of the cool kinds, the favorite to be next Flower Queen at the ball in a few weeks. I'd talked to her only with Hunter or Brett, and she was always nice, but the different hierarchy position was glaring obvious now.
She was in a pretty flower top, laced gracefully around her slim waist and a set of skin tight trousers and sandals. Also, her red mane was so straight at shiny that made her look right out a commercial. And then there was me: simple T and jeans, but at least my hair wasn't frizzy today and since I've started learning little tips on make up I felt prettier wearing it.
But still, this was Lydia Hammel, just having had the luck to catch her alone was an achievement on its own. And I needed to check on how much he'd seen when she walked on Connor and me a week ago, and who she's told. Because I wasn't sure if I was ready for certain auburn to find out. I didn't know the reason, but I had this feeling like I need to... be wary about how and when he find out. Probably because our messed up past.
I'd been trying to talk to her ever since, but as I'd said, she was always surrounded by her crowd.
"Look, Lydia." I sighed, deciding to go just for it, and tightened my hold on the books feeling my cheeks burning. "Um, about what you saw last week... um, what did you see?"
Her eyes widened, but then she recovered with a soft nervous chuckle as she brushed her hair off her shoulder. "Oh, you mean you and Mendley getting at it?"
Okay, now I was blushing.
"N-no, t-that's n-not what we-"
"Oh really? Because I'm pretty sure I caught you lip-locked." she teased and I shushed her, holding her wrist and pulling us further into a corner; making sure no one was listening, but student just went on not really paying attention. Lydia laughed, but allowed me to pull us to the side. "That looked like a kiss to me."
"Y-yes. I mean, it was..."
"So are you, like, together? I really didn't mean to snoop, I was just walking by. So you and Mendley, uh? Well, I didn't see that coming, he's just so..." I waited for her to say something bad, knowing the reputation he had here, and my insides tightened beginning to rise backbone if she did. But Lydia shook her head and finished: "So unlike you. But you do look kinda cute I guess, who doesn't want a bad boy?"
I giggled, fiddling nervously with the black ring on my thumb. Connor's ring. "Says the girl dating the biggest softie."
Lydia grinned warmly, as if the mere thought of Hunter made her happy. "He is, isn't he? But back to you and Mendley."
"Yeah, well... I was just wondering if you... if you've told anyone?" I felt stupid even while asking and the way her smile faltered made me anxious. Has she?
"Why? Are you, like, secret?"
"What? No!" I shook my head, my stomach tightening.
"Then why are you so worried I told someone?"
"It isn't like-"
"You're worried I've told Brett." she put it together easier than I would have liked it.
I felt ashamed, but I couldn't tell if it was because she reading me so easily, or for this stupid feeling of betrayal whenever I think of the auburn player. It was ridiculous. I'd loved Brett. Years ago he'd been my everything, but everything had changed since then. It made no sense that now I was feeling like this when everything else that I felt when I was with Connor was remarkably amazing.
It was stupid, I didn't like him anymore. We were friends. Barely. But somehow I feel like I need to let him know it gently.
"Why don't you want him to know." asked then Lydia, her brows lightly pursed in curiosity and something else.
"Have you told him yet?"
"Why?"
"I just want to be the one to tell him." I explained rushedly, my pulse loud in my ears. If she'd told him... if he'd known already... "I j-just, things are a little weird right now, we're fixing our friendship and he's..." he's been acting weird lately, but I wouldn't tell her that. I gulped, just stating: "Considering our past and all, I need to be the one to tell him."
"Because you're afraid he would flip?" she tilted her head; not exactly being noisy, but a bit too curious for me to be comfortable with. Luckily, right now the hallway was almost empty.
Afraid he would flip? Something in that guess seemed to push a button and I lifted my chin. "I'm allowed to like whoever I want."
Her eyes widened and just then the bell rang over our heads. Shaking my head I went to sidestep her, giving up on the conversation; but she held my hand, preventing me to. Her eyes were full of sympathy and warmth now.
"Alyson, I haven't told him yet. Nor Hunter or anyone. I'm not one to get into others' business. Of course, feel free to like whoever you want, but, "she bit her lip, as if balancing whether to follow through her 'not minding other's business', and finally conceded: "Make sure everyone knows who that is. Some might get hurt if not."
My brows furrowed. What does that even mean? But she was already waving and getting into her class. Which reminded me the first bell had already ran and I should be heading for mine as well.
Deciding to deal with her cryptic words, I made in class just before the second bell and the teacher still wasn't there.
Great. Placing my bag on my lap, I took my usual seat, putting out all the things I'd be needing.
I almost jumped out of my skin when something dropped on my deskmate's desk, and to my complete shock there stood Connor. Today he was back to his casual joggers and the black hoodie I'd seen him wear thousands of times. His hair was the usual mess and my fingers immediately itch to slide through it, but he was currently busy glaring down at the girl on my side, Olivia Penrose, who too was looking at him, eyes wide.
"Move."
It wasn't even a question. He stated it, bored. His face was stoic, but his eyes daring the girl in a stare down as she snapped out her shock and frowned up at him.
"Are you kidding? Where am I supposed to sit then?"
Connor tilted his head and the answer was clear in his whole demeanor: Does it look like I care?
The girl looked at me, around the class and finally back at Connor, as if considering if it was worth the fight. Finally deciding it wasn't, she piled her things and stood; letting her chair dramatically scratched the floor and huffed.
"Whatever."
She moved somewhere to the back and Connor took her seat, sliding the books he'd dropped a minute ago from the corner of the desk 'till it was before him. Pushing aside the butterflies in my stomach and the stupid mad beating of my heart at his mere presence, I couldn't help but feel bad for Olivia. I'd barely ever spoken to her, but she was nice.
"That wasn't very nice." I mumbled, letting the bag at my feet, but of course he couldn't be more unbothered by my statement. Instead, I questioned: "Are you taking this class? I've never seen you in it."
"I don't think I've ever attended it." was his bored reply, slouching back against the chair. His knee almost brushed against mine I I felt shards of shivers from the heat of it, barely an inch from me. "But apparently showing up is already half the way."
My chest warmed as he quoted my words, completely succeeding in erasing my previous bitterness for his dick move on Olivia. "Oh, really?
"Mh. What are we even doing here?"
"Well, this is History, so we're basically going over the 20th century events. We're now on the Cold War." I explained, opening my notebook from the last class and he scoffed, leaning forward over the desk and using his folded arms as a pillow while his eyes close. "Oh, come on." I poked his shoulder with the rubber of my pencil, but Connor didn't react. "It's a war. Don't you like violent and horror movies? This is pretty much it. If we behave he does actually put on a related film on Fridays."
"It's the Cold War, Alyson." Connor mumbled into his arms when I tapped his shoulder again and opened one eye to glare at me briefly before closing it once more. "That's pretty much politics."
"So? It can still be interesting. Last week we were over all the programs following the Second World War, now that was thick, but this? It can be entertaining come on." He barely hummed, ignoring me completely and I frowned. "Hey, no sleeping." seeing I wasn't getting a reaction, I moved the pencil up his shoulder and poked his neck instead. "What's even the point of coming if you still aren't going to attend?"
I went to tap him some more, but he spoke before I could. "If you don't stop I'll kiss you."
I immediately came to halt. Kiss me? Before the whole class? I blushed deep red and saw the corner of his mouth tugging upwards.
"Y-you wouldn't."
"Try me."
Just then the teacher entered and save me from that sudden buzz. "Fine." I mumbled, turning towards the front of the room, but not before noticing the humorous hints in his collected features.
I had to conceal my own grin, my chest fluttering as I took in that he heard me, took my advice and attend the class he claimed to hate. And he literally made the girl by my side move to take that place.
"Mr Mendley." the teacher actually acknowledge him, severity in his tone. "What a nice surprise you finally decide to show up, but maybe you've been avoiding this so much that you forget this isn't your place to take a nap."
Connor took a deep tired intake of breath, but straightened into a sitting position once more, his face completely blank from any emotion. He made no move to prepare himself to class, yet that satisfied the teacher enough as he turned to copy some things on the blackboard.
He's come because I told him. Because he thinks highly enough of me to take my advice. Even if it was crystal clear he rather be anywhere else.
Who doesn't want a bad boy?
I grew hot as he shifted, leaning so close as he whispered in my ear that his breath brushed my neck. "Why are you smiling?"
I was? I hadn't noticed. It was hard to keep staring forward, glaring at the blackboard; but the public around us made me self-conscious and I couldn't be sure what would be the outcome if I turned just enough to look at him. So I felt my face heating and the stupid smile stretched.
"I'm just glad you came."
I felt his smirk, but still didn't look when he lazily leaned back against his chair and I began writing down what the teacher was saying.
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QUESTION: Favorite song?
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