𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 (EDITING)

𝟐𝟖

avery

The atmosphere around the lunch table grew heavy, weighed down by the unspoken tension. My mind raced, trying to mask the turmoil I felt inside. I hadn't meant to cause a scene, i hadn't meant to kiss Emerson.

Amalia's probing gaze bore into me, her eyes demanding an explanation I wasn't ready to give. The fork in her hand paused mid-air, a silent challenge waiting for my response.

"Avery? What's wrong?" Amalia's voice cut through the uneasy silence, her concern tinged with a hint of annoyance. The subtle clinking of utensils against plates seemed deafening as everyone's attention turned towards me. Emerson's gaze, laden with a mixture of confusion and apprehension, tugged at my conscience.

I cleared my throat, struggling to find the right words to dispel the mounting discomfort. "Nothing's wrong," I managed, but the hollow sound of my voice betrayed me. Andrew, always the observant one, interjected, his tone loaded with accusation. "You've been oddly quiet today. Haven't teased Emerson even once, which is quite unlike you," he remarked, the implication hanging heavy in the air.

Defensive, I bristled at the insinuation. "Is that all you think of me? That I exist just to pick on Emerson?" I shot back, my voice tinged with frustration.

Jasmine's laughter grated on my nerves, adding to the palpable tension. "Come on, Avery, we all know how you are. It's not just harmless teasing," she remarked, her words stoking the already smoldering embers of conflict.

Emerson's discomfort was palpable, her nervous gestures betraying the unease she felt amid our verbal sparring. Her eyes briefly met mine before darting away, a silent plea for the tension to dissolve.

"Maybe because I just don't care," I retorted, a defensive edge creeping into my voice. Emerson's raised eyebrows betrayed her surprise as she finally spoke after what seemed like an eternity. "You don't care?" Her voice held a mix of disbelief and a hint of hurt.

I knew exactly what she was implying, and before I could clarify, Andrew interjected, his tone incredulous, "It's a lie? You care about—" He paused, and before he could continue, Kacey's whispered remark cut through the conversation. "I think she's tweaking," she said, her words causing a ripple of muffled laughter among some of our friends.

Frustration boiled inside me as I tried to express myself, "Can you just hear me out?" I pleaded, but Willow's interruption redirected my attention, her words dripping with a sense of warning. "If I were you, I'd be concerned," she addressed Emerson, who responded with a hesitant hum, fixing her gaze on me. "You don't care?" Her question was soft, tinged with a trace of vulnerability.

I bit the inside of my cheek, wrestling with conflicting emotions, before meeting her gaze. "Sorry to break the moment, but I genuinely think I'm missing a piece here," Andrew announced, breaking the intense exchange.

I turned my gaze to him, a mix of frustration and exasperation in my eyes. "You're not the only one," I retorted, my sarcasm not lost on anyone. Jasmine interjected, sensing the tension between us. "Did you guys have another argument?" she asked, gesturing between me and Emerson.

"Did she spill coffee on you again?" Willow chimed in, her words hinting at past incidents. Emerson shook her head, trying to diffuse the situation. "No, why would I do that? Plus, the first time, it was an accident," she clarified, her voice tinged with defensiveness.

"And! What happens in the storage room? Stays in the storage room!" Emerson's voice carried a mix of frustration and disappointment as she gathered her things abruptly and left the table, her determined steps not faltering even once to look back.