Not Like Before

Chapter 18

Third Person POV
TRIGGER WARNING
Mature language
Panic attack (ish)
This chapter is MADE to make you uncomfy so beware of that

"Bro this changes everything! What if she likes you back? You guys can date like before." Zay was talking Chandlers ears off.

"Calm down. She likes Bradley and Bradley likes her." Chandler said as they walked back into the house.

"Yeah but if she knew you liked her then maybe—" Zay started when Autumn pitched in from behind them.

"Wait Chandler you like someone? I thought you said bros before hoes! Who is it?" She asked.

Chandler sighed deeply and massaged his temples.

"He likes Laura." Zay whispered.

"Uh—n-no. I don't." Chandler said quickly. Autumns mouth fell open and she smiled.

"No way! We have to tell her." She said. Chandler shook his head vigorously.

"Are you mentally handicapped? No one tells anyone anything. Got it?" He asked, Zay and Autumn snickered.

He sighed.

What am I gonna do? He thought to himself.

"So why do you act like you hate her? Have you been taking advice from Jared?" Autumn asked, laughing.

"Look I don't wanna hear any jokes about this okay?" Chandler said seriously, and Zay and Autumn weren't sure if his face was so red because he was angry or because he was embarrassed.

But for the first time in a while they were willing to bet it was the second one.

"Any jokes about what?" Laura piped in, with Bradley beside her.

Chandlers eyes involuntary widened as he whipped around to face them. He thought he was gonna have a heart attack when he was met with her expecting expression.

Zay tried to suppress his snickers behind him.

"C'mon I wanna know the joke." Laura smiled obliviously.

"Y-You don't get to know the joke. You probably wouldn't get it anyways." Chandler sputtered, because for some reason that's what his brilliant brain came up with on the spot.

Laura's happy expression faded to an angry one.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" She scoffed, Bradley's eyes widening beside her.

No one said anything.

"Are you calling me stupid? You know I actually thought you were starting to be less of a jerk." She shook her head.

"My bad. When you're an asshole most of the time it's hard to just turn it off." Chandler mumbled.

Laura sighed.

"Whatever." She said as her and Bradley disappeared into the crowd of people. Chandler noticed that she grabbed his hand like she used to grab his.

"Snap out of it." He thought.

"Okay but seriously. Do you realize how horrible you timed this? You couldn't have told her you liked her before she went all googly eyes for Bradley?" Autumn asked.

"Googly eyes? Are we second graders?" Chandler remarked sarcastically and sighed, going and sitting on the couch towards the center of the party.

Autumn and Zay followed in suit.

"I'm not telling her. Even if I wanted to, she deserves someone who has their life together a-and my life is a disaster. You two do realize that right? I mean...she got shot because of me already." Chandler explained.