old application

36. Perspective .36

"Who are you texting?"

You noticed a girl attempting to read over your shoulder.

"Oh, my goodness! Is that Find Your Flock?" The girl giggled. "If you need friends that badly, I'll volunteer."

You were tempted to take her up on the offer. Even someone like her would be preferable to--

"She doesn't need any more friends."

You almost scoffed out loud. Figures.

The girl whipped around to see Andy. Andy, who looked just about ready to gut her, rip out her intestines and blend them into a smoothie.

"Fuck off."

The girl retreated without another word.

You felt dread well up in your chest with each step that Andy took toward you. You could see in her eyes that she wasn't just pissed about the girl. No doubt, she had found out about how you...'went behind her back.'

"So, you got that app after all, huh?"

Yep.

"I was bored." You averted your eyes, as one tends to do when faced with a fuming predator.

You could feel her gaze boring into the side of your face, but you forced yourself not to meet it with your own. "Hm. Anyways, what are you doing after school today?"

You held back the sigh of relief that wanted to escape you. "Raging over Candy Crush."

"You're awfully busy." Andy smiled lightheartedly, but you weren't fooled. There was no way that she was just going to drop the conversation.

Andy Seline didn't just 'drop things'.

"I tend to be."

Andy snickered. "Well, if you can make any time for it, I've been wanting to check out the new café that opened near your house."

There it was. You could see it in her eyes. You either spent time with her, or she pushed the subject.

You had a feeling that she was hoping you'd reject her,

so you didn't.

"Okay."

"Great! We can walk home together then!" Andy beamed at you, but you didn't miss the disappointment that briefly flashed across her expression.

You nodded in agreement, then went back to your phone.

Thank fuck, she left you alone for the rest of the lunch period.

___

"Darling, what's wrong?" Andy cooed, concern coloring her tone, from across the dinner table. Key muffled a laugh in her hand.

You rolled your eyes at both of them.

Nothing was wrong.

That's what you would continue to tell yourself until you believed it. It's not like you'd even cared about the FYF group chat, to begin with.

It was only ever a way to pass time. Nothing more.

The only reason that you were this bent out of shape over it was that the group chat had been...normal. It was a constant. It was something that existed in the same way before and after Tessa's death.

That was the only reason.

You would get over it.

Your 'friends' were only ever a means to an end.

They were just assholes who played a practical joke on you.

A very unfunny, creepy, and downright ominous practical joke.

Haha. Good one, guys.

You sighed, pushing the food on your plate into an inedible lump and staring at it aimlessly.

"N/n, I feel like something's wrong. You can talk about it with me if you want." Andy smiled reassuringly at you.

"I'm good, thanks."

Key grinned at Andy goadingly. "I'll bet you Dolly's just waiting to talk with me about it. We've gotten real close over the last couple of days."

Andy's cheeks flared red with anger, and she glanced between you and Key, landing on you questioningly.

You shrugged at her.

You wanted to get Andy upset, but not at the cost of your bodyguard's life. Key was already toeing the line as it was, and you were honestly surprised that she was still alive.

You couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with what Key had whispered in Andy's ear a few days ago.

Blackmail?

If it was something that could keep even Andy in check, you wouldn't be opposed to getting your hands on it.

Just something more to think about when you were supposed to be falling asleep, you supposed.

___

You sighed as you made your way to your next class, Algebra, with Andy in tow.

You jolted when you felt a warm hand slip into your own, and you glanced back to see Andy's smiling face.

"Let's walk to class holding hands!"

You shrugged in acceptance. Did you really have a choice?

The hand that had wrapped around your own felt more like a leash than a gesture of affection, but you doubted that any passerby would think anything of it.

This was normal behavior between friends after all, right?