My Lion. || BXB

chapter fifty-nine.

i was waiting outside my house, patiently, for cormac to show up. me and lio had texted a little last night, but it was just usual chatter. we didn't mention the argument or his brother. lionel was actually the one who said he couldn't walk with me today, since he had to go to the shops before school so he would've been late. this meant i didn't have to tell him about me meeting with cormac.

telling lionel about me 'kinda' forgiving cormac was something i was dreading. i knew he was going to call me a pushover, which i guess i sorta was..

i saw cormac walking up my street with his wired earphones in, so i stood up from the side of the pavement and started making my way towards him. he noticed i was close so he took out his music and turned his phone off.
"hey!" he said loudly and soon enough we were walking side by side.
"soooo... how are things?" cormac started, rather awkwardly. i side eyed him,
"things are fine." which probably only added to the awkwardness. "how's freddie, and the boys?"
"freddie's good! he has a boyfriend now, y'know."

i smiled at that, despite freddie and i not being friends anymore. "what's he like?" i asked, curiously.
"he's alright, i like him. they met at a football game isaac dragged freds too. from there they exchanged numbers and eventually... y'know." and i did know. that was so cute.
i awed, "that's good. i'm glad he's got someone. and uh, are you still with clare?"

cormac looked down, hiding his face quickly. maybe that was a bad thing to ask? oops...
"no we uh— she broke up with me."
well this got awkward, once again, "oh shit i'm sorry man. was there a reason?"
"she kinda..." he paused, "told me she loved me? and i didn't say it back and then she went all weird with me. few days later, she dumped me." cormac explained and i watched him lift his head up again and look ahead.
"she said she loves you? that's a bit quick, isn't it?" i commented.
he laughed at my bluntness, "that's what i said!" the boy agreed profusely. i smiled.

then cormac asked me the question i knew he wanted to ask me as soon as we met up,
"well what uh— what about you...?" he muttered awkwardly, not wanting to overstep any boundaries. but i didn't really care.
"me and lionel are still together." i said simply."
"oh! that's... good." he practically forced himself to say. i chuckled at his tone, i could tell he was trying to sound nice but it just felt strange talking about this with him.

thankfully, we then reached the school gates so our conversation died down.
"i'm gonna go see the boys..." cormac pointed to the friend group i was so familiar with. i spared them a glance but none of them had noticed the two of us yet.
"okay." i responded simply.
"do you..." cormac stopped, but then something inside him clearly said 'fuck it' because he asked me anyway. "do you wanna come?"
"uhh..." i looked at the boys again, but this time was different. nick was staring at me. but it wasn't a mean stare, it was just a stare. his lip was quivering and he was clearly contemplating smiling or not. i looked away before he got the chance.

"i'm good." i responded to cormac, "bye."
"oh okay, bye." cormac smiled to me, and i nodded to him before walking away and into the school.

i truly have no interest in being one of them anymore. they left me when i was at my most vulnerable, what sort of friends do that? cormac was nice then, and i was nice back and it was all very nice but... maybe the friendship is something that's meant to be left in the past.

anyway, i have more important things to be thinking about. like the fact my boyfriend is upset over his brother. i know he wants me to stay out of it, but how can i?

thinking of lionel, i wanted to speak to him before i had to go to tutor. i pulled out my phone and looked for his contact. then i called it. the phone rung and when i noticed he picked up i pressed it against my ear.

"hi." i greeted him,
"hello, huntley."
"where are you?"
"ehh, i'm on my way but i've only just left the shop so i'll be late for sure."
i nodded, even though he couldn't see. "oh, alright. good thing i didn't wait then."
he laughed, "true."
"can i come see you at break?" i asked, but then the bell rung. he probably heard it over the phone.

loads of students then flooded the halls and i walked backwards against the wall so i was out of the way as much as possible.
"of course, you know where i'll be." he said pleasantly. "now go to tutor, love. no need for us both to be late."
i smiled to myself, "i miss you, though."
"and you'll see me soon. now go on! i'm hanging up, huntley."
"ugh, fine! bye, lionel." i whispered into the phone, and then he hung up. then i smiled all the way to tutor.