The side effect of dying

Part X: Confessions

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*Gus' POV*

I was a bit surprised that I wasn't jealous about the fact that Nick and Tori were an Item. Sure, there's still this uncomfortable feeling inside me but on the other hand, there's Penelope.

Oh god, when I remember how she knocked on my door to apologize and thank me, I get giddy.

I watched how Tori was laughing with Nick in the hallway. He was leaning casually against his locker, wearing his varsity jacket and a football tucked under his arm.

The championship game will be next month and our team was already preparing for it. The hard way.

Yesterday, Coach Donald visited Nick's place and told him to do 50 push-ups. I found it funny when Nick told me that but I stopped when coach visited me next.

"Does it hurt?" Penelope's voice startled me. I spun around.

"Hurt what?" I asked.

"To see them." She eyed the couple who were still laughing.

"A little." I admitted. "But not that much anymore."

She sighed and smiled up at me. "See you in History."

^

I rubbed my hands together and leaned back on the headrest of my car.

Tori.

Penelope.

Why the hell do I get feelings for my best friend's girls?

Fuck.

"Hey." Somebody tapped on my car window.

It was Frances, a girl from English class. She was one of the nerds that I barely talk to.

I was surprised that she wants to talk to me.

I rolled the window down and plastered a smile on my face. "Waddup, Frances?"

She brushed her dark fringe out of her face and handed me a piece of paper. "Augustus, right?"

"Gus." I corrected automatically.

"Gus then." She snapped. "Can you give this Nicholas? I can't find him anywhere. And since you guys are like stuck together, can you give it to him?"

I looked down at the paper. A fat F was written on the paper.

Oh-oh. Coach Donald will give him a beating for this.

"Sure. Thanks." I told Frances and waved at her.

This is gonna get ugly for Nick.

^

I pulled up on Nick's sidewalk and got out.

It was Tori who answered the door, which didn't surprise me.

Hey, they're going out for almost three months now.

"Oh hey ,Tori." I smiled.

She smiled back. "Gus. Hey, what's up? Wanna come in?"

Under different circumstances I would have just barged in but I nodded politely and entered the house.

"Nick's in the showers." Tori explained and that's when I noticed that she was wearing his shirt and a pair of his boxers.

They did it.

Blood rushed to my face as I looked away and busied myself to sit down on the couch in the living room.

Tori sat down beside me and smiled sadly. "Listen, I'm sorry that I ... I led you on."

I glanced at her. "It's okay. I mean, I'm always the second choice." I babbled.

She frowned and shook her head. "What are you talking about? Gus, I like you. You don't deserve to be an option."

"Then why him?" I demanded. The anger in me started to bubble out.

I know I told myself that I wasn't jealous .

And I wasn't.

This was different.

I'm like this best friend who quietly stood behind the star player. People needed me to get close to the star.

Girls prefer him over me.

It has always been like that.

The worst thing is, that you can't hate Nick.

He's nice and all that shit.

I clenched my fists and squeezed my eyes together, hoping to calm down.

"Gus." Tori whispered. I felt her warm hand on mine. "I'm sorry. I feel so bad and I know I shouldn't because I didn't do anything wrong."

Yeah, that's Tori. Always hitting you with the truth.

I opened my eyes and saw her watching me. Her grey eyes looked like thunderstorms.

"Nick is a great guy, Gus. And so are you. Stop with all this shit you're pulling off. I didn't chose him. It just happened."

"Besides," She continued, "I saw you with Penelope during the dinner party. You like her."

I couldn't help but smile. "Was it that obvious?"

Tori laughed, her thin shoulders shaking quietly. "Yeah."

I threatically  clasped my hand on my face. "Shit."

She laughed again. "You like Penelope."

"Did Nick tell you that?" I eyed her suspiciously.

"My mom is a psychologist, Gus. She taught me how to read people." She explained and gave me a loopsided smile.

"Good. Tell Nick he's failing."

I handed her the paper and grimaced.

Tori scanned it frowned. "Ugh."

I laughed. "I know. You guys better stop making out and study. Well, he should."

She nodded and placed the paper on the table. "I will."

I nodded back at her and stood up. Before I left, I hugged her tightly.

"I really do like you, Tori." I whispered.

To my surprise, she hugged me back. "I know. But you like Penelope more. Go to her."

I let her go and stepped outside. "See yah."

I got in my car and instead of driving back home, I did a retour.

-
Penelope looked surprised when she saw me in her doorsteps.

"Gus, I-" I interuppted her with a kiss.

I pressed my hand on the small of her back as I pulled her closer to me while my other hand was in her hair.

"Holy," she gasped when I pulled away. "That was ..."

"Yeah." I smiled and kissed her again.

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