Signed /Dream Team/

69

I quickly change into something more comfortable and touch up my face by putting some concealer under my eyes. I'd say I look like a panda, but pandas are way too cute and don't deserve that slander.

When I went to the park, Nick was already there. I felt relieved seeing him. My trust issues were so bad that for a moment I thought the call was a setup, and George was going to be here instead of Nick. And when I realized that I'm delusional, I felt so bad about not telling him that I was leaving and he had to find out himself.

"Hii!" Nick walks up to me with a smile, arms spreading before we even reach each other.

"Hello!" I giggle at the way his eyes disappear when he smiles, finding it beyond adorable.

I embrace him warmly, wrapping my arms around his neck in a welcoming hug.

"Wow, you smell amazing," my sniffing intensifies purposefully to make him uncomfortable, but then I remember that it's impossible to make him uncomfortable.

"Wow, you're surprised," in a playful manner, he swiftly pulls away from the hug, eliciting a lighthearted reaction.

"You always smell good," I roll my eyes in defeat, "but exceptionally better today."

"It's Dior, baby," he sounds so full of himself, "I'm kinda hungry. Wanna go eat something?"

It's almost like he's reading my mind.

Talking about everything yet nothing, we wrapped up our meal and opted to head out for a coffee. And the real talk began at the coffee shop.

"So why didn't you tell me you're leaving," Nick sips his coffee, grabbing the mug with both hands as an attempt to warm up his fingers. I could tell they were cold from the bluish tint on his skin.

"I thought you'd tell George," my answer was as honest as it could get.

"I wouldn't if you told me you don't want him to know," he shrugs, "but I get what you're saying."

I nod, sipping my coffee and wondering if I should ask the question that's on my mind or keep it to myself.

Curiosity forces me to ask it.

"Does George know I'm leaving?"

"He thinks you left already," Nick's words confuse me, but I realize that he looks confused himself, "Clay told him you left, I thought you asked for it so I didn't question it."

Just what is going on in Clay's head, I don't understand.

"No.. I didn't." I think Nick already guessed that, "Did Clay tell him where I went?"

Nick shakes his head, "He said he doesn't know."

Interesting.

"Did he tell you where I'm going?" It felt like I was trying to get to the bottom of a bottomless pit.

"No?" Nick knits his brows, "Hold up, he knows?"

"Yes, he does," maybe he was just trying to protect my privacy, and I'm looking too much into it, calling him suspicious.

"Is it a secret?"

"No, but maybe he thought it is," I don't know what else to think, "well, I don't want George to know cause it's none of his business, but I don't get why he didn't tell you."

"I see," Nick raises a brow, "so where are you going?"

"Florida."

As soon as the word leaves my mouth, Nick's jaw hangs open. He puts the coffee mug on the table and leans back into the chair in surprise.

"Are you for real? Where in Florida?" He asks again, mouth still parted.

"Orlando?" I'm so confused. First Clay's reaction and now his.

"No shot- you're kidding."

Will I ever know what is going on in my own life?

"What?" Maybe there's something unbelievable about going to Orlando and I'm unaware of it.

"Dude, we're literally flying to Orlando in 3 days."

My hand freezes on the hot mug. There's no way in hell Clay didn't know where they were going when they already have the tickets. Why the fuck was he hiding it from me?

"When did you decide that? That you're gonna move to Orlando? Was it today?" I try to clarify, so that the nonexistent chance of them making that decision after Clay and I met up today disappears.

"No, not today.. I think like a week ago?"

Just why. Even though it was weird how he lied to George and hid so many things from Nick for no reason at all, I could still justify that by saying he wasn't sure if I wanted them to know and tried to protect my privacy.

But what was the point of hiding things from me? The only reason I can think of is that he doesn't want to see me ever again, so he had to lie to get rid of me.

Then why was he telling me to keep in touch or whatever?

Is it his turn to play games like his beloved friend now?

Nick was almost finished with his coffee and kept talking and talking about how we could still meet up and hang out, but I couldn't pay attention to any of his words. I kept mixing my untouched coffee, eyes fixated on Nick's face with a blank stare as I nodded every now and then to the words he was saying.

"Hey, does Clay know you came to see me?" I interrupt whatever he was saying.

"He went to the gym before I called you, I don't think he knows."

That's actually really good.

"What about George?"

"Dude, George doesn't even know you're here," he laughs. Yeah, I'll admit that it was a stupid question to ask.

I chew on my lip, tasting the cherry lipgloss for a while and then trying to stop cause eating it is a bad habit.

I'm still thinking about what I should do. I have an idea, but the outcome of it is highly dependent on Nick.

"Can you do something for me?" I lean forward.

I almost change my mind when I see him briefly look at my cleavage and then only back at my face. I can't even lean forward in peace.

"Yeah, what is it?" And he acts like he didn't just stare at my chest. But whatever, if that's what he needs to agree to what I'm gonna say, then let it be.

"Don't tell them any of this. Don't tell Clay we met up, don't tell him you know that I'm going to Florida and don't tell him I know that you're coming to Florida," I speak slowly, making sure to emphasize every point I make, "can you do that for me?"

Nick blinks blankly, "I mean, I get the George part, but why Clay?" He asks.

"I asked Clay twice if he knew where you guys were gonna go, and he said he didn't know. He didn't tell me."

Nick looks as lost as I imagined he would. He sighs, rubbing his chin and shaking his head, "Bro thinks he can gatekeep you from us."

Is that what it is?

"I won't tell anyone anything, don't worry. I promise."