Housemates

Perfect

Arianne

Almost 5 weeks later

We're three months away from graduating and the stress of it is just catching up to me. Just yesterday was my first day on the exchange, and now we have a semester left? Thats crazy.

The realization hit me hard—I hadn't even begun to apply for universities yet. The fear of falling behind sent shivers down my spine, an unsettling reminder of how much ground I had to cover.

Fortunately, the school devised a plan to ease our worries. They arranged a senior trip to New York, a chance for us to explore the universities there. The best part? The school was footing the bill. All we needed was a signed permission slip.

And I had that slip in my possession.

Placing it carefully on the principal's desk alongside the others, I glanced around the office. Not finding the principal there, I decided to leave, not wanting to waste any more time. It was lunchtime, and I headed to the bustling cafeteria, joining my friends at our usual spot. Lately, Chase and Aaron had been spending more time with our group, becoming one big friend group.

Speaking of Aaron and me, we're taking things slow, enjoying each moment together. We came up with a strategy—a pact, really. Whenever a potential argument loomed, we would step away from the conversation, allowing emotions to cool before finding common ground. It had been a game-changer, fostering open communication and understanding between us.

But there was still one hurdle we haven't tackled—telling Ella about our relationship. We struggled to find the right words, unsure of how she would react.

"Do you guys want to skip the rest of today?" Chase's voice broke the silence, interrupting my thoughts.

I was about to protest, but Tessa beat me to it. "I was actually thinking the same thing!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with mischief.

"Oh really?" Chase responded, arching an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Tessa confirmed, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

"Great minds think alike, I guess," Chase remarked, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.

I couldn't help but narrow my eyes at them. "That's literally not true; you guys make the worst decisions," I retorted, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

Laughter erupted around the table, the others wholeheartedly agreeing with my assessment. Tessa shot me an offended look. "I make great decisions," she insisted, her voice laced with mock indignation.

"Yeah, right. You're eating frozen pizza right now," Lana chimed in, pointing at the slice in Tessa's hand.

Tessa rolled her eyes, conceding defeat. We all knew she had a soft spot for questionable food choices.

I glanced at my wrist, checking the time on my watch.

12:34.

A groan escaped my lips. We still have three more hours of classes left.

"You know what?" I began, an idea forming in my mind. The others turned their attention to me, curious about my next move. "Let's go ice skating," I suggested.

"After school?" Amy queried, her eyebrows raised.

I shook my head, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. "No, let's skip," I declared boldly.

Tessa sends me a glare.

I pointed an accusing finger at her playfully. "See? You're a bad influence," I teased.