Deja Vu (SatoGou)

Chapter 18

more deja vu for y'all <3

sorry if the gary flirting thing is annoying to people. I honestly just see him as joking, like he would flirt with anything that breathes but you would know when he was genuinely flirting yk? anyway he's not into goh i promise!! lmaoo

By Thursday, I realise I've been neglecting my friendships with Chloe and Dawn to spend all of my time with Ash. Normally, I don't think anyone would mind, but if I spend all of my time with Ash, suddenly back to the way we were, people will be suspicious. Or maybe that's just my paranoia. Either way, at break, I walk out separately from Ash, because he's hanging back, talking to Barry.

I wave at Dawn and Chloe, but I go over to Gary instead, who's standing with Drew and Misty. As soon as I get close, I hear them arguing. Drew's trying to mediate, but it's not working. Misty's wearing a cropped sweater and rolled up black mom jeans, and she's got her arms crossed over her chest. Her bright ginger hair is loose, falling just above her shoulders.

"What's up?" I say as I approach. Both Gary and Misty turn to me, their eyes burning, and I take a step back, smiling sheepishly. "Bad time?"

"Poor, sensitive Gary is upset that I insinuated his party will be pathetic," she says, rolling her eyes.

"He just wants you to come," I say, smiling. Her nostrils flare, like that comment has annoyed her even more, and she steals a furious glance at Gary, who is looking away now.

"I don't care if she comes. Honestly, I think it was nice of me to even invite her, since she always has that stinking attitude," he argues.

"I have an attitude? That's rich, Gary." She starts to walk away, flipping him off. He scowls after her, but doesn't stop her from leaving. She walks over to where Serena and Iris are standing, throwing her arms around, no doubt talking about Gary.

"Why do you actually invite her?" Drew asks incredulously. Gary seems genuinely furious. I had thought they were bantering, but now I'm not so sure. When he doesn't answer, Drew sighs. "I gotta go find May. Catch you later."

He walks off a second later, leaving me alone with Gary. I inch closer to him, nudging him gently, smiling. "Cheer up. She doesn't really think your party is gonna be pathetic. I bet you anything she shows up, too."

"Goh," he says, shaking his head. "You don't understand, brother. She's insufferable."

"She said the same about you, once," I laugh, remembering her telling me that at May's party, years ago. "I'll talk to her for you."

I spot Ash coming out of the doors, beside Barry. Barry waves goodbye, then races around the side of the building, probably to find Kenny. I watch Ash scan the crowd for me, but then Gary is speaking, and I look back at him.

"Don't try to wingman me," he scowls. "That's my job. Besides, I don't want Misty. She's not even human, she's the devil." He shakes his head. I wonder if he even believes his own words. I think the fact that Misty is a little difficult, and that she doesn't swoon over him like a lot of others, makes him want her more.

I laugh again. Gary's trying not to, but I can see him smirking. He crosses his arms, shaking his head. We start talking about something else, and I briefly look out across the schoolyard again, to see Ash sitting at one of the picnic benches with Dawn and Chloe.

"I'll keep an eye on him for you," Gary says suddenly. My eyes snap back to him.

"Oh, it's alright now. Really. We've talked it through," I ramble.

"Still, it's not right what he did to you. I love him, but I won't stand for people treating someone I care about like shit." Gary shakes his head, staring across at Ash, who looks back right on cue, staring back. I swallow hard, feeling a little tense. "I'm just saying, it won't be a repeat of last time."