Survive 2

Chapter Thirty

Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

November 21, 2022.

Madison Stone's Point Of View.

Andrey and I say goodbye to the rest of the staff as we left the mall and split up, since they are going to their respective homes and we are going back to school to pick up my car.

We go by walking, since the school is only a few minutes away from where we are.

"Didn't you and David drive to school today, do you?" I ask as we cross the street and he denies it.

"David slept in my house last night and my mom dropped us off at school today."

"Oh, yeah.."

"You wish we had forgotten our cars too?" He mocks laughing.

"No, I just thought it was weird that you guys weren't driving."

"Got it," he says and runs his hand through his hair. "What did you and Bryan talk about?" And it was taking a while.

"It was nothing about you, you can rest assured," I try to end the conversation on that subject before it even begins and he looks at me seriously.

"Mad..."

"Why do you want to know?! It was no big deal." Bullshit. It was a lot, but right now, he doesn't need to know that.

"Because I like you and I care about you. Who can guarantee me that he didn't say something that hurt you?"

"He didn't say anything that hurt me. What really hurt me is that I, even though I didn't mean to, am making him suffer."

"He told you that?" And I deny it.

"He doesn't even have to. I can see by the look in his eyes. He never stopped liking me."

"But that's no excuse to steal a kiss from you," he speaks angrily and I agree.

"I know that. I didn't like that he stole a kiss from me, but I can't be angry with him," I say and he stares at me.

"Did you feel anything when he kissed you?" He doesn't even make a point of hiding his worried tone as he asks me this question.

"I was in shock, because I wasn't expecting that to happen. And after we talked, I was sad for him, because obviously it hurts to see who you like with someone else or to know that they don't like you the same way you like them."

"Exactly. It hurts to see someone you like with someone else."

And only when he says this do I understand his side, that I see that he must have been upset at that moment, which I don't take away his reason, because I would have been the same way or even worse.

"Are you saying that in relation to what happened at the party?"

"Yes."

"I am sorry if I hurt you at that moment, but it was not something I did on purpose, that's why I went after you, to explain what had happened."

"And I'm sorry I talked to you like that. It's just that when I stopped at the door you were already with your mouth glued to his, so I thought you wanted that."

"Fine, but next time, try to listen to what I have to say first, because one time you may say things that really hurt me, and apologizing later won't undo the emotional damage you've caused me."

"Did I hurt you?" He stops walking, causing me to stop as well and face him.

"No, no. It was just advice, which we should both take."

"If I hurt you, I'm sorry. It's because it may seem silly, but even though the two of us don't have anything at the moment, when I saw you kissing him, I felt that everything that happened between us had come to an end."

"What?"

"You had told me that you weren't ready to have a relationship for now, so seeing you with him, it was like you just weren't ready for me, like what you told me was just an excuse not to be with me," and I deny it.

"But it wasn't. Everything I told you was and is true, Andrey," I say in the most serious tone I can so that he is sure of what I have told him.

"What I told you is also true, that's why I was that way. I just want to be with you. If not you, then I don't want anyone. I don't even like to think about the possibility that one day you won't like me anymore," he looks at me in a desperate way and I smile.

"I assure you that the only person who can change the way I feel about you is yourself."

"I will take that as good news," he gives a smile.

"Maybe," I smile back. "Now let's walk fast so we can get to school soon," and he agrees, so we start walking again.

"I wonder if anyone else has seen and shared what we post?" Andrey comments and I get curious.

"I don't know. Let's see."

I take my cell phone out of my pocket and Andrey does the same. I get on Instagram and press on my stories, seeing that some people from our school have already seen it and that some even liked what I reposted.

"There are some people from our school who have started following the account," Andrey shows through his cell phone and I see that the account already has 27 followers.

It may not seem like much, but for an account that was created a short time ago and only had 8 followers, that's a lot. And besides, if all these other 19 people protest with us tomorrow, it will be of great help.

"That's good. Let's see if anyone of these people reposted as well," I say and he agrees, going into the profile of each of the new followers.

When we go into the profiles we see that 10 of the 19 have private accounts, and since neither Andrey nor I follow them, we couldn't see if they have reposted or not, but of the other nine, five have did.

"That kind of confirms their presence, right?"

"I guess so."

We arrive at the school and I unlock my car as soon as I see it where I had left it earlier.

"It really is a nice car," Andrey compliments and I smile as we pull up beside it.

"Thanks," I say and get into the vehicle, turning it on to get out, but when I see Andrey walking backwards pulling away, I open the front passenger door mirror and stare at him. "What are you waiting to get in?"

"I'm waiting to be invited in," and I laugh not really believing it.

"Come in Andrey. I will drop you off at your home," I invite him in a wry tone.

"Are you really inviting me or are you just making fun of me?" he replies in the same tone.

"Just get in, kid," I say laughing and he finally does, taking a seat on the bench beside me, so we leave the parking lot.