Stella Martins had always been so sure about what she wants in life... until she met Chase Johnson. What If... she started to fall for him? What If... he's always showing her signs that he likes her more than she thinks? What If... he actually felt...
It was almost 8:30 A.M. Rue and I parted ways and went to our classes. I stopped over at the comfort room to fix myself; I still look tired and sleepy though. A bunch of cheerleaders came in and passed by, I heard them talking about Chase and Jessica's breakup. They saw me, so I just looked down, tried to hide my face and walked out of the room before anything else happens. Almost everyone at the hallway kept looking at me like I murdered someone.. well, not practically someone, but someone's relationship I suppose. I didn't mind the people and just went on. I finally reached my locker when I noticed someone stood behind me.
"Ahem, ahem." The random guy cleared his throat. I thought that maybe it was Chase but I just ignored him and went on looking for my English textbook.
"Hey Martins, you okay?"
Josh! It was Josh. I turned around and hugged him tight. I felt him become tense for a while, but he just shrugged it off.
"Okay? I guess that answers my question." I pulled away and tried to put up a smile.
"Hmm, I may not know you that much yet, but that smile won't fool me Stella."
"Everybody around here seemed to hate me more now because of what happened." I pouted.
"Well, except for me and Rue and Chase."
"Yaaay." I said in a monotone.
"More than one is many, Stella. Cheer up! And besides, they don't hate you because of what happened. They even love you because of it, I mean, not everybody here likes Jessica, not even me. I mean, she's okay and all but she's well, a bitch, as what Rue would've said if she were here. They're even thankful that Chase is finally single, again." Josh smiled.
"Well, that doesn't make me feel any better. I mean, it's like my turn to be hated now that she's out of his life." I said, and then let out a heavy sigh, like it was my last.
"Hmmm.. You wanna go get some coffee and stay at some place we know?" He smiled. And before I could answer, he was already me pulling me away from my locker and off to the direction of the University's gate.
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Josh and I skipped class and stayed at Coffeelandia. As Josh was still taking his order, I took a long sip of my hot coffee-based frappe and closed my eyes, hoping that when I open them, everything would be back to the way it was, but sadly, they haven't. I let out a big sigh again.
"And I'm thinking that you're currently wishing that everything that happened was just a dream."
"Josh, are you secretly a mind reader?" I looked up at him as he was putting his coffee and cookies on the table.
"Hmm, let's just say that I have a gift for reading people and analyzing situations." He smiled and sat down on a chair in front of me. I said nothing and started on munching some of my cookies.
"And right now, I'm guessing you're going to tell me something. And that 'something' was supposed to be said yesterday but Rue interrupted." He looked at me straight in the eye. I just noticed that Josh has a pair of green eyes, they're very attractive and at the same time, quite intimidating to look at.
"Stella?" Josh snapped.
"Oh, uhh, you have nice eyes."
"Ha! Nice try. Thank you Stella, but really, this is serious. What's up with you and Chase?"
"..."
"You like him don't you?"
I didn't say anything. I just took a sip of my coffee, placed my cup on the table and looked down at my hands. Josh held one of them.
"Stella.."
"I... I don't know. I didn't mean to.. He's just.."
"Stella, it's okay. You don't have to explain. We all know how charming and friendly Chase is. He's my best friend Stella. We know him enough to understand why he broke up with Jessica." He half-smiled at me.
"But.. they've been together for 2 years."
"For all I know, their relationship is not that built yet. I mean, they don't have enough time for each other, or Jessica doesn't have time for him anymore because she's always busy and stuff. And since the both of you became friends, we saw him happy again. He likes being around you Stella, the same way with Rue and I."
"Like I said, I do like him, but I don't want to fall for him more, the guy whom almost every other girl in this university falls for. I don't want things to be awkward around us. I just want things to be normal again - he and Jessica are back together and me as his friend."
"Normal in a way that would end up hurting you again and again?" Josh asked.
"I don't care. I'll get by and move on. So long as he's happy, then I am happy, and I want to see him happy."
"You know what Stella? I don't think you'd always have to sacrifice your happiness for the sake of others. You should think of yourself as well. And you know what else?"
"Yeah?" I looked up at him.
"All of this seems too familiar for me. Hmm, let's just say that the first time I met this girl here, I talked to her and she was the one who kept me company while I was undergoing through something. And now, it's my turn to comfort her. I'm thankful though, that she didn't smack me because I took her book for her without asking first. Haha! How time flies so fast. Would you look at that?" Josh smiled at me.
I smiled back at him.
"Awww, now that's the Stella I know. Come here you!" Josh grinned and gave me a tight hug, and then he started to mess up my hair like I was a little girl.
"There you go, much better!" He smiled.
"Thank you Josh. I owe you one. Oh and please don't tell him or anyone." I smiled back.
"Sure. Skipping class with you is so worth it."
"As they say, nothing beats the company of a good friend, good food and good coffee." I smiled, and this time it was real.
