A Newfound Home - Adopted by Josh Dun

Thirty-nine

V I C T Ø R I A
I've been going out of my way these past couple of weeks to avoid Max and Mikayla.

Every morning, I'd slip in with the crowd and grab my stuff as quickly as possible, so that Max wouldn't see me, and I'd walk all around the cafeteria to avoid Max's table.

"Tori, why are we walking all the way around? It makes no sense." Ruby was walking with me to our table.

"It's good for us to walk." We set our trays down, muttering a hello to Allison. We all sat in silence until I noticed Tony and Ryan weren't sitting with us.

"Where are the others?" I asked Ethan. Without looking up, he pointed behind him and I looked in the direction, seeing Ryan and Tony standing by Max's table.

I saw Max look this way and start to get up, triggering my fight or flight. I got up and ran out of the cafeteria, escaping into the bathroom.

I held onto the sink as I took a deep breath and I heard the door behind me open. "Did you just run away from Max?" I heard Lily's voice.

"It's complicated." I looked up and turned around.

"Complicated? I've watched you avoid him for the past two weeks and he's noticed. Everyone has?" I was about to ask her how, but someone came in and interrupted our message.

We waited for the girl to leave, and Lily spoke first.

"I overheard Tony and Ryan talking with Max. He asked them why you were avoiding him, and they said they were gonna ask him the same thing. All three of them noticed you unfollowed Max."

Great.

"I unfollowed Max because I don't want his girlfriend slapping me again." She scoffed in disbelief.

"Girlfriend? He has a girlfriend?" I nodded, swallowing harshly. "Mikayla?" Lily guessed and when I didn't respond, she crossed her arms.

"That doesn't make any sense. She's not his type and everyone would know if he has a girlfriend since he posts all about his life."

Her point made sense. He had said absolutely nothing about their relationship.

"When was the last time he had a girlfriend?" I looked over at her again.

"Freshman year. He dated Piper Collins. They broke up in the middle of sophomore year and he hasn't dated since. Well, until now apparently."

Our conversation was interrupted by the bell, and I walked out to retrieve my books from my locker.

When I stepped out, I became face-to-face with Max, both of us staring at each other until I hurried down the hall, away from him.

♡

After school, I gathered my things and began walking home.

Ruby was going to come over after dance practice so we could continue on the duet. I was shown the whole thing but only remembered the beginning.

I heard a rock behind me and turned around to see Max following me. I looked forward and held onto my backpack.

"Don't you have a car?" I spoke up.

"My mom's using it. Can we please talk?" I ignored him and continued walking. "Tori. Tori! Tori, please!" He grabbed my wrist, stopping me and turning around.

Our faces were so close, that our noses were touching.

I shut my eyes tight, "Please let me go." I opened them and he took a step back, letting me go. I started walking again and he followed me.

"I just want to know what I did wrong!" I looked forward.

"It doesn't matter." He got in front of me, stopping me in my tracks.

"Then why won't you tell me?" His eyes were full of hurt. I took a deep breath and gathered my thoughts.

"Look, it really doesn't matter. Now, I need to get home." I brushed past him and hurried home before Ruby showed up.