You All Over Me [BxB]

Thirty-Two

"This, my dear friends, is an intervention," Theodore declares coolly, his legs crossed and his chin raised. "I wasn't sure if Jake and I should be doing this, but based on your faces, it seems like the first day of class isn't working out."

The group huddles in the library's most remote corner, towering shelves enclosing them like a fortress. It's been their chosen hideout since Denise's infamous party.

Austin wholeheartedly disagrees. He feels like he's grasping at the straws, and he's not fine with that. This is Stella. He can't lose her.

He's about to argue when Theodore rebuts, "It's anything but fine." Theodore has adopted a laid-back yet serious tone. "And the fact that you're avoiding eye contact, Stella, is a pretty big hint."

"I've been trying to apologize, but Stella keeps on running away," Austin murmurs, indignant.

"Wha—?"

Theodore holds up a finger to Stella.

"Shush, shush," Jacob says. "Unless you really don't want to talk?"

Stella deflates with a heavy breath. Austin's heart clenches, an icy stab of dread prickling on his skin. How does he make things right?

"Okay, Austin. Let's begin with... Why are you trying to apologize? What are you apologizing for?"

He hunches in shame. "Because I... I hurt her. I didn't realize that she liked me... and I had a girlfriend."

"Had?" Theodore reiterates, cocking his head to one side. He's encouraging a response from Stella.

Stella pinches her lips together.

"You don't have to apologize for dating Lindsey," she replies. I was rooting for you."

"Then why did you get mad at me?"

"Because you were so dumb," she seethes, turning to Jacob and Theodore for support. "Did you guys know I liked him?"

The two give small, measured nods.

"Did I mention this to you before?"

They shake their heads.

"But to be fair, this is Austin. You should've told him explicitly," Jacob interjects.

Austin takes no offense. He can be blind to things that most people see. He's lived most of his life winging it. Getting by. But now, he's seeing the error of his ways.

"Alright, my bad." Stella snorts. "But let's not forget, he was about as clueless as they come, given he didn't even consider the girlfriend situation."

Austin gapes, his jaw working left and right. That night at the cabin had been so stressful that the mere reminder makes him physically sick. "I... That's..."

"Yeah. Stella's right about that part," Theodore says, exhaling through his nose. "It was uncomfortable to watch."

Jacob lets out a chastising tsk, draping an arm over Theodore's shoulder. "I have never felt secondhand embarrassment in my entire life. Please don't do any of that again."

Austin flinches, then lowers his head. "Sorry."

A brief silence blankets them. Austin's knees shake beneath the table as he casts occasional glances at Stella.

"Okay, uh..." Theodore dissolves the hush. "So let's get down to the bottom of this... What actually happened with Lindsey?"

Austin smooths down his shirt and winces. "She broke up with me at the cabin. Said I was young. And confused."