Stuck On You { Owen Joyner }

chapter eight

November 3rd, 2018

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Care and Mariaaaa! Happy birthday to youuuu!" Carolynn and Marianna blew out the candles on the cake and hugged eachother, wishing the other a happy day of birth.

All their friends had gathered in Carolynn's house for a shared birthdayparty for the girls. Even though Care was (literally) a year older than Marianna, the girls got along really well. So,  even though the older brunette turned 18 that saturday, she had no problem sharing the spotlight with the blond girl.  Which Marianna was grateful for and Carolynn knew that.

She also knew how guilty the girl felt when she asked her if they could share their party.

"Hey Care, can i talk to you?" Marianna asked mondaymorning as she approached Carolynn, who was talking to Jeremy and Alex. "Yeah sure, what's up?" She grabbed Carolynn's arm and walked away. She stopped when there was enough distance between them and their friends. "It's about your ... mine .. our birthday.... i - i mean i know you're turning 18 but i just .... can we-" Marianna looked to the ground. She felt ashamed to even ask her this, who would want to share their 18th birthday with a then 17 year old? But Carolynn understood. "Still that bad?" She asked, Marianna immediately knowing what she meant.  Her silence spoke a thousand words and the Rowland girl hugged her tight and promised her that it would be the best birthday ever.

Back at the party, a pair of eyes kept staring at Marianna. It wasn't his intention, it really wasn't. But it felt weird, seeing her talking to the other guys. He didn't have to be afraid his friends would steal her, i mean they knew. Didn't they? Ever since he realised his feelings, he did everything he could to avoid her (and to be honest, it was hard since she basically lived in his house) . But this was her birthday and they had become quite fond of eachother (without eachothers knowledge ofcourse) since the day the first message came in.

Realistically speaking was that like a week ago but who's counting.

The time ticked by, glasses filled with alcohol were clung and stories were told. November 3rd quickly turned into the 4th which meant their first day as 18 and 17 year olds had officially started. Everyone was tipsy enough to lift any tension that existed in the house and everyone was enjoying themselves.

Marianna Smith was no different. The now 17 year old was dancing with her best friend Alex and laughing every time one of them fell. Out of the boys, he was one of the few she had the most in common with. And not only that they liked boys.

Owen Joyner was on the other side of the room, talking to Jeremy and James, absorbing beer as if it was water. He was looking at her dancing with her (or their) bestfriend and laughing her ass off, cheeks red from the alcohol consumption mixed with the heat. Jeremy saw him staring and told him, drunk as he was, to just tell her how he felt.

So, the blond guy, feeling like Harry Potter on liquid luck, stepped up to the girl and asked her if they could talk. She agreed and walked to the hallway and closed the door.

"Soo? What did you want to talk about?" Marianna leaned up against the darkwooden detailed staircase. The girl had been drinking quite some booze, but still in her right mind somewhere. He inhaled and exhaled deeply, not looking her in the eyes.

"Marianna listen. There is something i need to tell you. And before you say something, i know how you may feel about me okay and i get it. I think? I get it if you don't want anything to happen between the two of us. I mean the brother and the bestfriend. How much more cliché could we go? But i really like you Smith. I do. And i mean it."

He had avoided looking at her, not wanting to see her facial expression when he confessed his feelings to a girl for the first time in his life (well, not in his life but we won't talk about that first time.)
The silence was deafening. Why wasn't she saying something? Anything, even a, no and some sucky apology as to why not was better than hearing no noise at all.

He finally picked up the courage to lift his head and looked at her, unsure. Her blue eyes were filled with concern as she was repeating one thing: his name. "Owen? Owen? Joyner are you okay?" He could hear her say as he finally arrived back on earth.

"Y-yeah yeah i' m fine. Why?"

Why didn't she say anything about his confession?

"You asked me if i wanted to talk,  i agreed and when we came her you opened your mouth and just .... didn't say anything. It took me 5 minutes to get an reaction out of you Owen."  She led him to the stairs and they sat next to eachother in silence.  "What were you gonna say though?" Her head lightly tilted so she could look at him a little better. "I - ehmm.. nothing. Nothing important anyway ." She nodded and stood up.

"I'm going to get something to drink. You want something? Water maybe?" She joked. "No thanks, i'm good." She nodded again and wanted to walk away as he called her back. "Yeah??" He stood up and hugged her, tight. "Happy birthday Smith." She unknowingly blushed as she let go of him in the dimly lit hallway. Marianna thanked him as she walked into the livingroom once again, a blush on her cheeks, smile on her face and asking herself what was going on with him. He never hugged her. Like .. never.

The other side of the duo remained in the hallway. Owen Joyner was contemplating about what to think of the situation. He had wanted to tell her so bad. But on the other hand,  it was still way too soon.  Although... when is the right timing to tell someone something like this. He placed himself on the stairs once again and burried his hands in his face.

What to do now?

A/N

Hello lovelies

I don't know how to feel about this chapter but here you go.

Fun fact: i actually do have the same birthday as Carolynn so i thought why not feature it in the story.

And you didn't think he would already confess did you? Nahh .... "too soon."

Well hope y'all enjoyed

xx