𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗗. a true story

⁀➷ 4- CONFUSION

MONDAY — 3 / 13 / 23

"Sooo, how was it?" Maddie asked right before 1st period started.

"Oh you know, we just hung out at the mall."

Jenna gave me a confused look. "I thought you were going to watch a movie?"

"Yeah, but there wasn't anything good playing, so we just went around the mall doing stuff, you know?"

"Anything else?" Maddie asked, raising her eyebrows expectantly.

"Nope. Sorry Mads, but there was nothing else."

"So he didn't even officially ask you to be his girlfriend?" Jen questioned.

I shook my head. "See, that's the thing that gets me. Why hasn't he asked yet?"

"Told you he's a wimp," Madelyn tsked.

Jenna laughed. "Hey, let's give him a chance- he did ask her out, right?"

"Barely!" Maddie retorted.

I sighed. "He'll ask soon, right?"

---

THURSDAY — 3 / 30 / 23

(note that it's been 3 weeks)

"I just don't get it, Ree," I mumbled. "We've gone out four times already, and he still hasn't asked me."

"Come on Mel, he's just a stupid boy."

"That's definitely something, coming from you," I joked half heartedly.

"Hey, I'm- wait, are you crying?"

"N-no," I lied, wiping my tears away.

Reese sighed and set down his Nintendo. "Come here."

I climbed onto the couch and he hugged me tightly.

"It's okay, Mel. He's just an idiot."

I laughed sheepishly. "The idiot might as well be me. Why the hell am I crying over a guy I met less than a month ago?"

"I mean you cried about Ian too, who was even worse-"

I thwacked his shoulder slightly.

"Yeah, okay okay, I know. You're just a really emotional person, blah blah."

We sat there in silence for another minute.

"What if he's really just playing me?" I sniffed quietly.

"That... that's nonsense, why would he do that?"

I lifted my head from Reese's shoulder and looked directly into his eyes.

"You hesitated."

"What?"

"You hesitated," I repeated. "What are you keeping from me? Does this have to do with the thing you wouldn't tell me on the bus the other day? Don't even bother trying to deny it."

My best friend groaned. "You know me too well," he grumbled. "Fine. It's just... being on the team and all, I heard people say things about Lucas Jones."

"Like... what?" I asked uneasily, not sure if I really wanted to know.

"Well, that he's a... charmer," Reese replied carefully, trying to find the nicest way to phrase it. "You already know he pulls a ton of girls with that face. I'm not gonna deny it. But my teammates have told me that he sometimes... um, uses it to his advantage."

My face fell, understanding what he meant.

"So... he's a player?"

"Well, yeah, that's what I heard. I didn't want to tell you because... because maybe they were wrong. Lucas really seemed into you and you guys were so great together. I'm not sure if it's true or not though, you know how bad rumors can be once they've surfaced."

I wiped the last of my tears away and sat up straight. "Okay. That's that. I don't care-"

"Mel, don't be like that," Reese argued. "I'm just telling you what I've heard. From what I've seen, I think Lucas is just a shy guy that doesn't open up too easily. Think about it. Has he ever told you anything deep and personal?"

"Well... no."

"Exactly. It just takes some time for him."

But still, I was doubtful. "How do you know for sure?"

Reese smiled softly. "I just know. Trust me on this, Mel. Have I ever let you down?"

"You really want me to answer that?"

"You know what I mean- I'm not talking about California. But that's beside the point. Just give it a while, and I'm sure he'll realize how goddamn amazing you are and be begging for you to be his girlfriend.

I sighed, not 100% sure. "Okay..."

this is such a filler chapter but i'll update real soon 🤡

-emmie