Obstacles

5

Warnings:
-Mentions drinking

George's POV

I sat with Quackity during the second break and suddenly saw Clay walk up to me. My face got as red and I looked at Quackity who was giggling.

'Help me instead of laughing, idiot,' I hissed as I looked at Clay. He smiled at me and lifted my book I forgot earlier.

'You forgot this earlier when you walked off,' he smiled.

My whole body felt weak and I looked away, forgetting to grab the book.

'George, the book,' he giggled.

'Oh uh-,' I mumbled, turning around to grab it.

'Oh and,' he continued. 'Our English teacher just came up to me to say that I'm grouped with you, Quackity and Sapnap for the assignment. I have detention the rest of the week, so maybe we can sit in the library during the breaks? Or we can go to someone's place.'

'Mhm,' I whispered, hiding my red face.

'Yeah, that sounds good, dude!' Quackity answered. 'Do we all have to read the same book?'

'I don't think so,' Clay replied. 'I think we need at least two different books to do the assignment about. I can maybe read the same one as George and you and Sap can choose another.'

'Are you uh- sure?' I stuttered. 'It's uh- maybe not completely your taste in books.'

'I read the description, I like it,' Clay smiled.

'You uh- like it? It's uh- you know...' I tried, but I gave up.

'I think it'd be pretty interesting to read about. He sat down next to me. 'Do you want to hang out after school so we can read together?'

I looked at Quackity. We were going to hang out after school.

'Oh, don't worry!' Quackity said with a grin. 'I'll come tomorrow.'

'Were you going to hang out?' Clay asked. 'I'm sorry! I'm not going to interrupt that. I can come another day.'

'No, it's fine. The assignment is more important and it would be useful if you read together.'

Clay nodded. 'Just let me know what you want,' he smiled as he looked up at me.

I had a bright red face and breathed out quietly.

'Are you okay?' Quackity asked Clay as he looked at Sapnap with a sad look.

He shrugged. 'I'm mad at them so I don't really want to sit with my friends right now.'

'I get that, you can sit with us,' Quackity replied understandingly.

Clay smiled and reached out to his bag to grab his lunchbox. 'Ugh, I'm not hungry at all.'

'Why did you drink so much?' Quackity asked.

He shrugged. 'I didn't want to,' he mumbled. 'It's just stupid. We always dare each other to do shit and I felt kind of peer pressured to drink too. I stopped as the first one and was the most drunk out of everyone.'

Quackity nodded slowly. 'We both don't drink so I don't really know how it works,' he admitted.

'I usually don't drink either,' Clay sighed. 'I don't like drinking that much. I've been drunk like four times and every time was because I felt forced.'

'You know you can just say no if you don't want it, right? It might be hard, but you're so much stronger when you say no than when you act cool and just drink with them,' Quackity stated.

Clay sighed. 'I know, but- never mind,' I mumbled as he looked at his hands.

'Is something else up?'

'Uh- no...' he obviously lied. 'Anyway.'

He grabbed his slice of bread and slowly took a bite as he leaned back. I hadn't talked anymore since I was so anxious with him being close to me. I seemed paralysed again, it felt like I couldn't talk anymore because of the nerves.

'Oh, George. Can you let me know when I can come over to read the book?'

I looked at Quackity and he mouthed what I had to say.

'T-today,' I whispered.

'Okay! I do have an hour detention so can you write down your address? I'm really bad with roads so it might take me a while to get there.'

'I can uh- wait?' I questioned.

'Really? That would be great, but you don't have to obviously,' he smiled.

'It's fine,' I mumbled. 'I really have to use the bathroom.'

I quickly stood up since I was way too anxious and couldn't act normal around him anymore. He was so sweet to me and it was driving me insane. I missed him even more and the friendship we had in the past. Why did everything have to be ruined?

I was about to cry when I heard someone knock on the door.

'It's Quackity. I know you're not just on the toilet, I think you're overwhelmed so I want to talk to you.'

I unlocked the door slowly and walked out, having Quackity wrap his arm around my shoulder. 'What's up?'

I stared at my hands and felt my eyes fill with tears as I looked up at him. 'I'm really insecure that I'm making a fool of myself. I'm acting like an idiot, I'm talking like a dumbass.'

'Hey, don't say that. You're not acting like an idiot at all. I think he just thinks you're shy and that's totally fine.'

I wiped a tear away and sighed. 'I really miss him, but I don't think he even sees me as a friend.'

'Give it time, maybe he you can just start from the beginning and go back to best friends like usual. To be honest, he's acting really sweet to you, he most likely recognised you,' Quackity giggled.

I rolled my eyes. 'He can also just be friendly.'

'But he would have never forgotten about you, idiot. You were friends for years.'

'What the hell do I do today with him? I have no idea how to behave normally around that guy without you around.'

'You just grab the book, go to your room and sit down on your bed together while reading it to him,' Quackity smiled.

'What if I get uncomfortable talking to him?' I asked.

'Ask him to read further.'

I sighed deeply. 'I guess. I'm really nervous, but fine.'

'It's going to be okay. If you panic, go to the bathroom and call or text me. I'll give you a pep talk.'

I smiled and gave him a short hug. 'Thanks.'

'No problem, I'm here for you.'

1066 words