catching feelings | paxton hall yoshida |

ten.

word count: 976
tw: idk cringe?
*****

Georgia and Trent walked down the hall together after lunch towards their next classes, which happened to be across the hall from each other.

"Luke was mad flirting with you today."

Georgia blushed. "I don't know where it came from, honestly. I had barely spoken to him before that pool day at your house." She fidgeted with the adjustment strap of her backpack. "You guys are friends though, right? Is he a good guy?"

Trent pursed his lips, and tilted his head in thought. "I don't know him that well. We're tight though. He seems cool." His eyes lit up. "Oh! I think he had a girlfriend last year though for hella long - like six months. He got dumped at the end of the year though."

Georgia tried to subtly push, "Oh I wonder what happened."

"Yeah I'm not sure, but he was a party animal this last summer after that."

She rose her eyebrows, but was suddenly distracted by a loud SMACK.

Her jaw dropped as she rushed forward to aid Ben Gross, who had just been slapped in the face hard by Trent. "Oh my God!"

"What the hell?" Ben said, confusion and shock written across his face.

Georgia held his face gently in her hands and analyzed the growing red mark. "Trent, why did you hit him?"

Trent looked at Ben's face confused, "Oh no, my bad," he said. "I thought there was a roach on your face, man. 'Cause there's mad roaches in this school." Georgia looked closer at Ben's face to see an angry-looking zit. "But it's just like a huge zit."

Ben shrugged Georgia's hands away, "Yeah, it's cool."

"You should get that looked at," Trent advised. "I heard that if a zit gets too big, it can, like, leak into your brain and kill you."

Georgia's brows pinched together at his words. "Is that true?"

"Yeah, dude," he told her.

Ben was clearly upset. "Yeah, sure. I'll do that."

Trent nodded. "Alright. I guess it's good that I slapped you, so I can give you this helpful info."

"Sure. Thank you," Ben told him flatly.

Georgia tried to offer him a soft smile and rested her hand on his arm, "I really don't think it's that bad," she tried to tell him. He gave her a look of disbelief. "No, really! I didn't even notice until it was pointed out."

Ben finally smiled softly at her and muttered a soft, "Thanks."

As she and Trent walked away, Trent suddenly spun around, and commented on a Clippers game that Ben attended. She expected him to be excited about having sat courtside, but he just seemed more bummed.

It broke her heart to see him that way.

***

The end of the school day was Georgia's favorite part. When she was able to just space out and practice on the piano in her little corner of the room for an hour.

"Reminder, everyone," Mr. Renley announced. "Our Fall recital is next month, please make sure you're working on your group and solo pieces."

Georgia felt her stomach flutter with both nervous and excited butterflies. She would be closing out the night. The song she had chosen was quite complicated, but she almost had it down. Just had to keep practicing the fast-paced climax of it.

"Georgia, can I speak with you for a moment, please?" Mr. Renley called. She nodded and headed over to his desk, taking a seat in the chair beside it. "I listened to the song you selected last night."

"Oh you did?" She smiled. "Did you like it?"

"It was very beautiful," he admitted. "It's a very challenging song."

"I know," she agreed. "But I believe I can do it. I should have the rest of it down in two weeks max, I promise."

He sighed, "Okay, only if you're sure. You know, there's no shame in selecting an easier piece."

"I know," she told him. "I just really love this song and I've always wanted to learn it."

He nodded. "Alright. If you need anything, let me know. You are more than welcome to practice here during lunch or before school."

She grinned, "Thank you!"

"Of course," he chuckled and dismissed her.

***

Georgia walked through the door with Thomas sprinting past her to the kitchen to find a snack. She sat down on the couch and sat back into the cushions. She closed her eyes for a moment before she felt a soft buzz from her back pocket.

Luke 👀:
Hey

She smiled at her phone.

Georgia:
hi (:

Luke 👀:
Wyd?

His response was almost immediate.

Georgia:
just got home, nothing exciting yet lol
hby?

Luke 👀:
Chillin
Heard Trent slapped some kid today?

Georgia:
omg yeah
he thought he had a bug on his face
he meant well lol
i felt so bad for that guy he hit though

Luke 👀:
Lmaooo
Trent's a funny guy

Georgia:
he is ((: i'm glad i met him

Luke 👀:
What about me?

Georgia's brows furrowed in confusion at the question.

Georgia:
what about you?

Luke 👀:
Yeah
Are you glad you met me?

The question made her feel odd.

Georgia:
yes lol

Luke 👀:
I'm glad I met you to

She fought the cringe at the incorrect use of 'to'.

Georgia:
that's good lol

She cringed at herself. She didn't know how to respond to that.

Luke 👀:
Do you wanna hang at lunch tomorrow?

Georgia took longer to respond this time.

What exactly does his text mean? He has to mean alone right? Luke always eats with the Hot Pocket.

But if he meant alone, was it as friends? Perhaps he just wants to get to know her better on a friend level. Or was he interested in her? Did she even want him to be interested? He is really cute, she thought. And nice.

What's the worst that can happen?

Georgia:
sure

*****
i have SO many ideas for this story that i'm so excited to get to!

ily 🥹