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the longer ashtray pretended we weren't dating, and ignored me. the more annoyed with myself and everyone around me i was.
to me, i didn't do shit. but to him? i had fucked up. and the worst part is, i didn't even know what he was talking about.
all i knew was, i hated it. i hated how we were acting like we used to, like we hate each other. because i actually don't hate him at all.
i walked to my locker, alone. anna and hazel were in the bathroom and i said i didn't want to go with them, mainly because i wanted to be alone.
which thinking back now, i should've went.
i felt someone stand next to me, and i turned to see one of mckays brothers, one of the twins.. i didn't know which.
"hey." he greeted, a small smirk on his face.
"uh.. hi?" i raised my eyebrows, closing my locker.
"im troy." he put his hand out for me to shake.
"malani." i glanced at his hand, but didn't shake it.
"i know." he chuckled, confusing me. and i guess he noticed my confusing, "the party?.. we talked?"
my head tilted a little, "hazels party?"
he nodded, taking a step closer, which only made me take a step away. "we did?" i asked.
"yeah, you looked good.. at the party." he answered, and my eyes widened.. him. it was him! the one that texted me.. holy shit, 'whoever was texting you'
i heard someone scoff, and i looked to the side of troy to see ashtray standing there. "ash.."
he shook his head, turning around and walking away, but i quickly followed, pushing past troy. "wait. jesus christ, will you stop?"
i grabbed his arm, but he immediately ripped it away from me, catching me off guard. "fuck off."
i watched him walk down the hall, people turning to look at us. "who was that?" troy stood next to me again.
"my boyfriend." i rolled my eyes, walking away from him and to the bathrooms.
does thismeanwe'rebreaking up? did he want to break up with me?
i walked into the bathroom, i felt stupid for wanting to cry, we're just having an argument... right?
i walked in one of the stalls, quickly closing and locking the door. i didn't cheat on him. there's no way i did.. i wouldn't.
"mal?" i heard, and my head immediately raised.
"anna." i stood up, walking out of the stall.
she raised her eyebrows, watching em walk out. "did i cheat on ashtray at the party?" i asked.
her eyebrows furrowed, before she sighed. "troy."
my eyes widened, "i did?!?"
she quickly shook her head, "no! i told him to you have a boyfriend.. why?"
i sighed in relief, "troy came up to me talking about the party and ashtray heard."
"oh.. shit." she sighed again, pulling me into a hug. "did y'all break up?" she whispered into the hug, and i felt my eyes start to water.
"no.. i don't think so?" i pulled away, blinking back the tears.
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after school, i didnt go home. i didn't want to. so i told hazel i'd help her clean up her house from yesterday, and that's what we were doing right now.
there was silence between us, low music playing as we both picked up the cups laid around her house.
after a little while, we had finished and we plopped down on the couch. i let out a sigh, just before my phone rung. i picked it up quickly, hoping it was ashtray. but it was an unknown number. jesus christ.
i got up, walking over to hazels bathroom and answered it. "hello?"
"malani." my eyebrows furrowed when it wasn't troys voice, like i had excepted.
"who is this?" i asked, sitting on the counter.
there was a short silence, before the person sighed. "your mom- alexis."
my heart dropped, and i raised my head from the wall. "how'd you get my number?"
i heard her laugh a little, "it's been the same number for years.. marie gave it to me, a long time ago."
my body tensed, she had my number for a long time and didn't call or even text?
"i guess i was just too scared to call you.. before. but uh, i wanted to check on you. how are you?" the words that left her mouth made her sound like an actual mother to me.
"i'm fine, and busy. i'll.. talk to you sometime." and hung up, setting my phone on the counter next to me before letting out a breathe.
why does she just show up at the worst times?
i grabbed my phone, getting off the counter and going back to hazel. "hey, hazel?"
she turned to me, her eyebrows raised as a way of saying 'what?'
"do you have any alcohol left?" i asked.
her eyes squinted, before she smiled and got up, walking to her kitchen. after a minute she came back, a bottle in her hand.
"wanna have some fun?" she waved the bottle around, making me smile and roll my eyes.
