SONG SELECTION: read with Don't Wanna Fall in Love by Kyle
As the morning sun slowly pulled you out of the most beautiful sleep you’d ever gotten. You rolled over to face him and once again were surprised to find him already up and out of the bed. You could hear him talking on the phone in the bathroom which didn’t seem odd until you heard him refer to someone as babe.
You grew irritated, quickly and asked as soon as he walked back in: “Do you have a girlfriend?”
Josh: “I’m not exactly boyfriend material, if that wasn’t obvious.”
You: “You claimed you weren’t the type to do a lot of the things we did last night… multiple times.”
Josh: *smiling as he stepped closer* “Yeah we did... But don’t let it go to your head.”
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You couldn’t help but pout so he kissed the top of your head and added: “It was fun though.”
The car ride home was completely different than the one that took you to the most magical night you’d ever experienced. He sipped the coffee he’d grabbed from the hotel lobby before checking out and nodded along to the music that was blaring way too loud for how early it was. It didn’t surprise you at all when you pulled up at your house that he just offered: “I’ll see you around.”
He’ll see you around? Wow, the audacity of this man was stronger than the coffee he was drinking. You huffed to your door but was shocked when he jogged after you and stopped you just before you reached the porch. You turned, hopeful but he just reached out his hand holding your purse: “You almost forgot this in my car.”
You must have looked as sad as you felt when you thanked him because he hugged you as Jaden watched unknown to both of you from the window. You hadn’t even shut the door completely before Jaden was jumping down your throat: “What tf was that?”
You: “A ride?”
Jaden: “No, that’s my teammate. The douchiest of them in fact. Wtf? Were you with him all night? Of course you were. He basically groped you on my front porch.”
You: “Don’t be stupid, Jaden. Of course not. It was just a ride and just a hug.”
Jaden shook his head in disappointment before sighing: “You never used to lie to me and now you have Amelie lying to me too.”
You paused at the bottom of the stairs and warned: “Don’t push and I wouldn’t have to lie.”
He knew you were struggling with him and Amelie so he decided to drop it but did advise: “Just be careful around him. I don't want you to get hurt.”
You: “Well good thing it was just a ride then.”
It’d been over a week and you hadn’t heard a word from Josh. Why or how would he have even reached you because he still didn’t even ask for your number. You knew better than to expect any different. You couldn’t even accuse him of playing a game because he’d point blank told you what he was in it for.
You were sitting at the skate park watching Zack flirt his way into teaching Emma to skateboard. Amelie was supposed to be meeting you but she was late. Luckily Griffin was there too. Normally you’d have been grateful for the time together but you were completely off lately. Griffin sensed your bummed out mood so he plopped next to you: “How you doing kiddo?”
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You: “I'm not a kid. We are literally the same age.”
Griffin: “What's your problem? I always call you that.”
You: “Well, don't.”
You could tell his feelings were hurt and you started to feel awful because you knew that you were the one acting ridiculous. You just felt powerless to turn your mood around.
You: *bumping your shoulder into his* “Wanna head to the ice cream truck? My treat.”
As you two laughed over ice cream, you started to feel like yourself again... That is until Amelie showed up, holding hands with Jaden and the anger started to simmer again. Jaden took one look at the mood written all over your face and slowly let go of Amelie’s hand. You knew you should feel guilty for making them feel guilty but you just couldn’t seem to change how you felt.
Jaden: “Hey, Amelie. I’m gonna head home so you can hang with your friends.”
You felt the guilt finally reaching you and spoke up: “Stay. I never get to hang out with you anymore.”
Zack: “Plus, you’re our friend too dude.”
The rest of the night ended up being the more fun you’d had in a while. All you needed to do was let go and forget about the face you kept looking for in the crowd.
