It All Leads Back to You

Chapter 8 - Leah

Perfectly Wrong

Dani's been here for a month now. The girls are starting to come around and hang around her more. We've only exchanged a few words and I want us to talk, but I want us to talk alone. I want us to talk over everything that's happened between us, but she's been rather busy lately.

By rather busy, I mean taking Laura out on fuck dates. At least...that's what Lia and I are thinking.

Laura's sitting across from me on the bus. We're heading off to Manchester for our game, but we're waiting on a few people to get here. Dani and Katie being among the few. Laura and I are playing Uno while we wait for some of the team. Lia's next to me and there's an empty seat next to my young friend across from me.

"Is everyone excited for today!?" Beth shouted suddenly.

"Jesus, Beth. Can you be any louder?" I laughed.

"I can be, actually." She sat across the aisle.

"Where's Viv?"

"She left her glasses in the car. Laura, where's your lover?" Beth sang in a sing-songy voice.

"Firstly, we've only been out like twice."

"And second? Oh, there's my golden girl. Find your spectacles, Vivianne?" Beth joked, causing us all to laugh with her.

"Shut up, Bethany. I have blackmail. What are you all chatting about?"

"Laura and Dani." Lia said.

"She was telling us why she's late." Beth added. "Finish now."

"Well, like I told them, we've only been out twice. And second, she and Katie went to get coffee, so they're behind."

"Do you think she'll want to make it official?" Gio entered the conversation.

"Uno." I interrupted.

"Damn." She laughed. "Um, I don't know. I like her a lot, but I have what Leah said sitting in the back of my mind."

"In my opinion, I think Dan's trying to change." Beth said.

"But if it doesn't feel right, don't feel like you have to go out with her." Wally said.

"But she's trying to do better." Beth bit.

"I think she's still an immature—"

"That's enough!" Kim stood up. "Dani's our teammate and we shouldn't be criticizing her behind her back. Do better."

"Yes, Kim."

"Sorry, Kimmy."

"I win." I laid down my last card.

The tension seemed to be in the air, but I'd call it good tension. More people joined in on our game of Uno. We were having some fun while waiting on Dani and Katie. I could recall Dani being this slow. She was always the girl that had the attitude of, 'If I'm important enough, they can wait an extra five minutes.' And she applied that everywhere.

Including game days.

"We're here!" A thick, Irish accent boomed. "Don't leave!"

"We're so sorry!" We all turned to the front of the bus. A crazy look played on her face. "We—Katie over slept!"

"No I didn't! You overslept." The two made their way towards us. "We're here now though."