First Love

<16> Atonement

Toni's POV

"WHAT?!" Alex exclaimed as she stopped fixed her things inside my room.

I finally told her what happened yesterday.

'W-would you be my partner for homecoming?'

"He asked you to prom too?!" she exclaimed again, now facing me as I leaned against the door.

I just nodded as a response but, something suddenly caught my attention.

"'too'??" I asked and squinted my eyes as I sensed something suspicious.

"Oh, well... uhm, Josh asked me yesterday too..." she answered and slowly began to fix her things again, clearly avoiding eye contact.

'So this is what they've been busy with..'

"Yeah, I thought so too," Alex suddenly stated which made me look at her with eyes widen.

"You heard it? Did I say it out loud again?" I asked and covered my mouth right after.

Alex just chuckled and nodded.

"I said yes to Josh." she stated with a smile as she got done with fixing her things and sat on my bed.

"That's great!" I exclaimed and sat beside her.

"You? How did you tell him?" Alex asked as she already knew that I rejected Steven since I told her about what my parents told me the other day.

"I apologized... and told him about what my parents said as my reason," I replied and fiddled with my fingers.

I don't honestly feel that great after doing so...

There was a small part in me that wanted to say yes, but I remembered my parents.

Alex sighed. "That's such a bummer. What's his reply?" she asked again as she laid down.

"He said he understood and asked me to at least keep the painting he made for me," I answered and stood up to get the painting he gave me.

"Is that it?" Alex asked and stood up as well to check the painting.

"Wow. Didn't know Steven was an artist," Alex exclaimed in amusement.

I just chuckled and nodded.

'Neither did I'

><><><

Today is the first day of homecoming week and to be completely honest, I do feel excited but, not super excited like how I expected.

Just thinking about the fact that I rejected Steven the day he asked me to be his partner made me sigh.

"Everything alright, sweetie? You've been sighing since you sat down," mom asked as we were all eating breakfast.

I saw how Alex looked at me and pouted, making me chuckle silently.

"Yeah, everything's fine, mom. Sorry for making you worry," I apologized and continued to eat my meal.

~~

"Sis! Steven is here!" I heard Sophie exclaimed Alex and I was fixing our things for later.

"So, this happens every morning?" Alex asked as she continued to fix her things.

"Yeah. Actually, I got used to it before but then, the incident happened and even my siblings were sad, but when everything was okay between us again, I can't get myself to get used to it," I replied and smiled.