Choices

Chapter 9

As we sit down during lunch break, the first thing that came out of Nate's mouth was "I can't believe you abandoned me".

"Don't blame me, I didn't send her to you" I mumbled with food in my mouth.

We were all eating sandwiches today. I was eating my personal favorite, ham sandwich while Nate and Julie was eating cheese and tuna sandwich respectively.

The cafeteria was busy with students bustling about. People of different gender, grade and cliches sat at different tables with their friends.

As usual, the popular cliché sat down at the middle of the cafeteria as they bickered and laughed loudly drawing a lot of attention which I was sure they wanted.

Among them Brad sat with his latest 'girlfriend' on his lap. She sat down with her hand around his neck looking all smug and proud. I shook my head silently, she'd probably be gone by the end of next week.

Brad was a great friend but he honestly wasn't someone I would advice anyone to date. Mason and Chloe also sat there near Brad laughing and talking.

I averted my eyes.

"What's he talking about?" Julie asked with a curious look.

"Camilla" Nate says.

"Oh she hasn't given up yet?" Julie asks with a questioning look.

"Oh you know?" I ask.

"Yeah" she replies as she shovels her sandwich into her mouth "even if Nate hadn't told me, she makes it soo obvious".

"Why don't you even give her a chance to see if things would work out?".

"She's not my type" he mumbled as his ears turn red.

We immediately focus on the action.

"Who is your type?" Julie asks leaning foward.

"You know someone cute, has beautiful hair and quiet but still a little confident" he replies with his eyes still on the table as a smile forms on his face.

My eyebrows and Julie's goes way up.

"Do you have a crush on someone?" she takes the words right out of my mouth.

His eyes snap up "no" he replies defensively and way too quickly.

"Sure......" Julie replies with a smirk.

"Yeah, he definitely has one" I add.

He narrows his eyes to look intimidating but the red still spreading across his face doesn't compliment the whole look "change the topic" he grits out.

"Sure, but don't think this is over. We'll find out. After all, what are best friends for". I reply with a grin.

Julie puts her palm on her forehead and tilts her head back dramatically with an even more dramatic groan "oh no... I'm the only one without a love life".

My head snaps towards her "what are you talking about?".

"Oh you know......"

"No. I don't know what you're talking about".

"Don't worry about it, I'm sure you'll find out later" she says smugly with a all knowing smirk.

"I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that, we all know nothing's going on with me. So whatever you got in your head, get it out".

She just keeps staring at me with that smirk that's starting to annoy me.

"What are you talking about Julie?" Nate asks with a curious look.

I send him a look and wave my hands in front of his face "don't ask, just don't ask".

I remember something and retort "what about your cute guy from the supermarket, huh?".

She blushes a little.

"Why do I feel like I know nothing happening anymore?" Nate questions us. We both burst out laughing.

"It's this cute, shy guy we met at the supermarket yesterday. Was pretty much all over her and eventually asked for her number" I summarize.

"What?. Are you guys sure that's a good idea?. Is he decent?. What did he look like?. What was he wearing?." He pretty much bombarded us with silly questions.

I rolled my eyes. Nate thought as the guy in our trio, he was automatically supposed to play the role of an  overprotective big brother.

"I think we can take care of ourselves Nate, it's not like they're getting married, so chill". I answer.

Satisfied, I put the last bit of my sandwich in my mouth and switch the topic back to him before he asks more ridiculous questions "but if you'll not at all interested in Camilla, just straight up tell her no".

It worked.

"You know I'm notoriously bad at saying no" Nate groans.

"Well if you don't say no now, it's gonna look like you led her on. Stop being a baby". I say.

Julie reaches forward and flicks his forehead "yeah, grow up".

Nate leans back and flings her hands away. He reaches forward to mess up her hair but she catches his hands on time and they struggle over the table.

Julie almost gets the upper hand because Nate is trying to not hit her hard when her phone pings signaling an incoming message.

She leans back and reaches into her pocket to bring out her phone. She scrunches her eyebrows together as she reads the message.

"Oh, he texted" she waves the screen at me and I attempt to read it. But she's waving it around so crazily I can't see a word.

I reach forward and snatch the phone. She startles and lets go of the phone.

"How am I supposed to see it when you waving it crazily?".

"Sorry" she replies sheepishly "just giddy I guess".

"Hey I wanna see too". Nate leans over my shoulder and reads the message with me.

"Ah, he's asking you on a date on Saturday".

"Yeah".

"I was right". I say smugly.

"Yeah, yeah whatever" she replies sassily.

I suddenly feel tingles running up my back like someone's watching me. I wait for some seconds then turn around to catch Mason's eyes. He smirks immediately we meet gazes.

Chloe's also watching me. She looks at Mason, then back at me, then frowns.

I turn away quickly and pretend I don't feel uncomfortable at all.

Why is he looking at me?. Why is she also looking at me?. Is there something on my face?.

I resist the urge to reach up and touch my face while they are still staring.

Just pretend they are not there. Just ignore them..ok?. Eat your food like no one's watching.

I look at the time. Lunch break is almost over. Seeing as they're through with lunch, I say "come on Julie, let's go put up these flyers for the tryouts before it's time for the next class. You too Nate".

We get up and move toward the doors of the cafeteria. Even though I try to ignore it, I can still feel a pair of eyes on me.

Don't look back. Don't look back. Don't look ba....

I look back. He's still watching.

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Woohoo!!, This is a bit longer than my usual chapters.

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