Irish Oxytocin

Low-Life | 13

                           ❁ Chapter 13 ❁

Today, I woke up on a mission.
I've been missing too much school because of everything going on, and finals are creeping up on us super fast. I wasn't going to let Nolan Gallagher or Kaylen Miller effectively ruin my future, even though I didn't know what I wanted to do.
I've been quietly working on the project at home. It's hard to write about the greatness of a good friendship when I feel as if I've been distant from my group, and when I feel like everything's falling apart with Nolan. I don't think I've even spoken to Shawn or Aaliyah in days.

This morning, I woke up super early so I could catch a ride with Daniel and Ella. Last night, Daniel stayed up with me to watch a movie in the den while I worked on my essay. He decided he would make dinner instead of ordering, so it was just that more meaningful. He made a sweet rosée sauce knowing that creamy pasta sauces were my favourite.
We were all in the car with the windows rolled down. No music this time, and I gave El' the front seat to be with Daniel. The weather was starting to get really nice in L.A. since we were fairly approaching the month of May.
I was sipping on my traditional morning Starbucks when Ella turned to face me from the front. Sunglasses were rested at the top of her head, holding her hair back.

"You ready for this morning?" She asked. I took another quick sip of my drink.
"Uhh, why?" I wondered.
"I'm sure Kaylen's already spurred around the school what happened on their date last night,' she scoffed. She didn't dare to say his name.
"Wow, yes. I'm very excited for the details, El'. I was actually just praying that the sex was bomb and worth it," I joked.
Daniel let out a quiet laugh. Ella smiled before rolling her eyes and sitting back down properly.

Just then, my phone beeped. I brought the straw of my drink to my mouth as I picked up my phone. It was a notification that Nolan posted on his Instagram story. I thought, why not stalk a bit?
I clicked on the notification and it brought me to his Instagram page. I clicked on his story, and it revealed itself. It was a picture of the sunset, from last night I assumed. I scoffed at the cliché date setting of them watching the sunset together. Then, I noticed it.
There were pink petals and leaves hidden in the corner of the image. I almost didn't see it until it hit me.
Oh god. No he didn't.

"Shut the fuck up!" I shouted.
"Uhh...Cora, we didn't-"

Daniel's voice trailed off as he pulled into the parking lot. I didn't wait for him to park before jumping out. I was fuming with anger. I stomped over to the school entrance. There he was, with our friends. Luckily, Kaylen wasn't anywhere to be found. Yet, there were a lot of people around,

"Are you fucking serious?" I thundered, running up to him.
"Cora?" Nolan trembled.

I could hear Daniel's car door slam from behind me as I fumed towards the school. I shoved my phone in his face.

"What am I looking at?" He questioned.
I took a screenshot of his story and zoomed in on the Cherry Blossom Flower.

"I show you a place that means a lot to me, and you bring a girl you know I hate to hook up with? You're such a dick!" I roared.
Nolan licked his lips and sighed.
"We're going somewhere else to talk about this,' he stated.
"What the fuck, absolutely not!" I objected.
"Don't care,' he argued.

He quickly wrapped his arms around the lowest part of my waist before picking me up. He swung me over his shoulder as he started walking back into the parking lot. I kicked and swung my arms like crazy, but he didn't budge.

"The tension between them is thick," I heard Chase declare as we disappeared into the cars.

He walked all the way across the parking lot. He lifted me off of him and sat me on the sidewalk.
"You're a prick," I huffed for the third time.
He just rolled his eyes.
"How could you do this shit to me, Nolan," I rasped.
"My God, quit it with the potty mouth," he growled as he sat down next to me.

"We didn't hook up,' he attempted to reassure me.
"Sure," I sneered.
"I'm serious, Cora. And we didn't sleep together at the party either," he reassured again.

I didn't say anything. Truth is, it did make me feel better knowing he didn't feel up the girl I hate most in my safe place. But, I was still so angry. That was my special place that I showed him. How could he bring her there?

"It's my place, man," I snapped.
"Cora, I didn't think it would upset you."

I scoffed a bit.

"You really don't care, do you?" I whispered.

I was facing him now. My arms were crossed. His arms were rested over his knees.

"I never said that," he defended.
"Yeah, okay. So I'm just your "low-life" best friend, right Gallagher?"

He gave me an unsure look.
"What? What do you mean?" He wondered.
"Nothing. Never mind," I hummed.

Nolan was quiet for a moment before he laughed.

"Oh, I get it," he laughed again.
"What?" I snapped.
"This is jealousy, right? That's why you're fucking crazy over this. You're jealous, aren't you Cora?"

I paused for a minute as I stared at him in disbelief.

"I'm sorry?" I laughed to myself.
"You're so jealous!" He teased.
"Of her! Please!" I scoffed, standing up.

"No, dumbass. Of us. You have feelings for me," he continued teasing.

What the hell was going on? How cocky can someone be to even say that!?
He stood up to match me. He got really close with our bodies only inches apart. The anger was brewing in my body.

"You're delusional," I joked. "If only you knew."

This conversation was over. I should've left the minute he put me down. I turned around from him and started walking back to the school.

"I felt it too, Cora!" He screamed.

I knew what he meant, and I definitely heard it.
But, I didn't dare to turn around. He turned this conversation on me like a stupid, arrogant, narcissistic piece of crap! You know what? Maybe I was jealous. I wasn't even sure. That's the thing about jealousy; it's your heart's way of telling you that envy for what you desire is a very very, very powerful thing.
I've never been in this position before. I didn't know what I felt.

I approached the school quickly, knowing he was probably trailing behind me. I quickly walked up the front steps and entered the building.
The school was basically dead. I assumed everyone had already made their way to the first period, even though I didn't hear the bell. I remembered that I forgot my bag in Daniel's car, so I'll just have to manage until the first break after the second period.
I was walking to math when I noticed my favourite short, ginger walking in the hallway. All her books were in her hands.

"Aaliyah!" I called out.

She turned around with one swift movement and smiled when she saw me.

"Hey, Cor'. What do you have?" She exclaimed.
"Math, you?" I questioned, running up to her.

Aaliyah was relatively short. She was a very petite woman, so I often felt like I was towering over her. Most days, she wore these black wedges that brought her closer to Jamie, Ella. and I's height.
Today, she wasn't. She was wearing white sneakers that honestly looked very cute with her outfit.

"Same here. Let's go together," she offered.

I nodded as we walked together to the first period.

It was little moments like this that made me realize why we were all so close. No matter the distance, we all still loved each other. Aaliyah was the calmest friend I had, and she was pretty shy. The only girl that I knew who saw the good in everything. I think that's why Shawn likes her so much.
She told me about what she and Shawn have been up to. I listened, very eager to rekindle the friendship.

"Hey, Cora?" She paused.
"Yes?"
"I love you, okay? Remember that."

I smiled. It felt like my heart was beaming with happiness. She had no idea how much I needed to hear that.

"I love you too, Liyah."