I'm In Love With Stacy's Boyfriend

Chapter 6 - Chemistry or whatever

"Mason!" Stacy calls my name and it breaks me out of my trance.

I turn around to face them. "Hm?"

"Back me up here! He's in the wrong right?"

Confused I look over to Devon, he looks embarrassed and just as surprised to see me as I am to see him.

"What? Uh yeah... he's wrong... what is he wrong about?"

"Ugh did you hear any of what was just said?" Stacy rolls her eyes.

"Uh... yes?... No."

"Okay so basically, Devon is here because I told him we were going to the movies because that was the original plan right? And so he checked on Life360 and saw that we were at Dave & Busters instead. He got nervous that I was lying to him so he texted me but I didn't respond because I've had my phone on silent this whole time so I could focus on you. And since I didn't respond he thought I was CHEATING ON HIM!!! Can you believe that?? Cheating on him!?"

She turns to Devon now "Why don't you trust me??" she shouts "We just happened to change plans at the last minute and I didn't think it was that big of deal that I needed to tell you my exact whereabouts every single second of the fucking day! But your crazy ass drove all the way here, which is almost an hour from your place might I add, because you thought I was cheating on you?? You're psycho!"

"I'm sorry that I was worried?? Listen, babe please..." Devon starts

"No! I'm not gonna fucking listen!" She cuts him off "You're crazy! You've been acting really weird this past week and this is just the cherry on top huh? I just wanted to have a nice, fun day with my best friend and here you are shit on my parade! What the fuck were you thinking?? Oh wait, I know what you were thinking, you were thinking that I was cheating on you??" She's screaming now and people are starting to take notice.

I'm starting to get a little embarrassed, so I want to step in but it doesn't feel like my place. Against my better judgement, I step up and place a hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay, let's just take a step back so you can gather your thoughts. Do you want something to drink?" I try and gently pull her away.

She takes a deep breath and turns around to look at me. I see tears in her eyes, a little piece of my heart breaks. We make eye contact and the tears begin to fall as her already frustrated expression contorts into one full of pain. I pull her in for a hug as she breaks down in my arms. I look over at Devon, he has a worried expression on his face. I can tell he's uncomfortable. I just give him a dirty look as I walk Stacy over to a table to sit at. I order her a water, and I help dry her tears with a napkin. I sit with her and calm her down until her drink arrives. I look towards Devon and half expect to see him gone, but low and behold he's standing right where he was with an unreadable expression on his face. We make eye contact and he freezes. He pulls out and phones and starts typing. I get a notification on my phone. devonnn_smith just texted me.

I debate whether or not I should open it. I've been doing so well. Am I really willing to throw out all my progress? Seeing him already set me back enough, I don't think opening it will matter. I just won't look at the previous messages, just the most recent. Reluctantly I open the message using my hand to block out everything except what he just sent me. 

Devon: can we talk?

Fuck. I thought it might be something like that. I close out my phone and tell Stacy I'll be right back. I get up and walk over the Devon who grabs my arm and pulls me off to the side out of Stacy's sight.

"Hey what the!" I shout.

"Shhhh!" He hushes me and places a finger to my lips making me blush.

Oh god, please let me get out of this alive. I push his finger away from my face and shake his hand off my arm.

"So do you have something to say or do you just want to try and make me cry too?" I ask sarcastically.

"Why have you been ignoring me?"

The question shocks me. "W-what?"

"You've been avoiding me at school, not answering my messages or calls. Did I do something wrong?"

I stare at him blankly, mind racing, this is the last thing I expected him to say.

"Is that why you came here? Were you lying to Stacy?" 

"What? No! I really was worried she might be cheating... I'm just a little overprotective and I've been hurt in the past so it's hard to get out of my usual ways. The possibility of you being here was just an added bonus." he says.

"Oh. Okay then." I reply avoiding answering his original question.

"So? What did I do?"

Oh crap. What do I say? Do I lie? Do I just not answer him at all? What am I supposed to do, just out right say "I've been ignoring you because I've had a huge crush on you for a really long time and I was holding onto hope that we might get together but I recently came to my senses and realized that I didn't want my feelings for you no matter how strong they are to mess up my friendship with Stacy."? Like what?

"Mason. Are you going to answer me or are you gonna just keep staring off into the distance?"

"Oh... right... uh... well I just realized that you and I being friends or whatever wasn't going to work out..." I say weakly.

"Why not? I thought we had something... chemistry or whatever..."

What.