†𝖜𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖉 ∞ ongoing

chapter 19 ∞ not yours

Nova

thursday

The days have been dragging on. It feels like time has been manually slowed so that every second on the clock feels like a minute and every minute feels like an hour. 

But finally, the bell for the last hour of the day rings loud and clear, waking me up as my face rips itself off the flat surface of my desk. 

"Yo Via — babe hold on!" Jackson yells.

I quickly grab my backpack off the floor and stride off out of the classroom, directly towards the parking lot to get out of the school before I could ever get the chance to bump into you know who after class. I've always managed to make an awkward encounter with him since Monday, especially since our cars are parked right alongside one another's. 

 I've been ignoring him all class period even after he's thrown paper balls at my face while we were taking notes and slapped my arm with the flat side of his ruler. Noah wasn't in class today.

I already see my group of friends waiting by the entrance of the door and I start running to them, slamming the doors open and out of the school. 

"Jesus Christ, why are you being so aggressive?" Syrena asks, motioning towards the doors as Ayra and Willow just shrug like it was usual, daily behavior.

"I'm running away. Come on, let's go!" I shout before digging in my pocket to fish for my keys. That aren't there. Cusses start slipping from my mouth like water as I drop my backpack and dig some more to only find crumpled-up gum wrappers at the bottom.

"Want me to drive?"

I nearly throw myself onto the trunk of my car before turning to him and holding my hand out. I think I could recognize that voice from anywhere. He smiles and dangles the keys above his head.

"Come get it." Jackson teases, "Let's see how athletic you are, young man."

"I swear to fucking god, I'm not doing this today. Just give it." I stand very very still, attempting to control my anger from how damn annoying he's been.

"It's funny watching you get mad. All riled up, I mean." He smirks, coming over to me as he flicks the bottom of my chin with his free finger. I sneer as he's looking over to my friends and waving, "Enjoying the show, are you?"

Every word that comes out of his mouth feels like thorns pricking at my skin. Anger management therapy is something I might want to consider in the future. I glance over at my friends — Willow looks amused, Syrena and Ayra seem slightly concerned.

"What do I have to do for you to just shut the fuck up and give it?" I ask, clearly irritated. This was a last resort. I'm tired of having to constantly deal with him like this. 

He lowers his head down to my level and I nearly fall backward. He's a couple of inches away and I'm terrified he can hear my heartbeat like last time while he stares into my soul. Everyone goes quiet.

"We're still on for tomorrow, yeah?"

"Yeah? No."

"What's tomorrow?" Willow asks, leaning her hip to the side of the car. She widens her eyes at me and she doesn't look one bit hesitant.

I grimace, "Absolutely nothing—"

"Our date."

I whip my head around and give him a stone-hard glare.

"He asked you out?" Syrena adds in, looking at me in disappointment because I didn't tell her. I actually told no one, so there's no point in disappointment at the moment.