Bittersweet (Jenna Ortega)

chapter twenty.

Jenna's POV

FRIDAY

"Move it pussies! My dead grandmother moves faster than all of you combined!" Coach hustles us, jabbing her fingers at any teammates lagging behind. I jog alongside Sadie and Lydia, hearing the exaggerated intakes of breaths behind us coming from Liv.

"Are you mad that Robin told the whole school what happened between you and Maise?" Sadie asks.

"It was bound to circle around. I won't hold it against her. There's no need for the drama."

"So you finally admitted to liking her?"

"It came out like word vomit if I'm being honest. I dove in with no planning and everything just sort of.. fell into place. Only issue is," I look ahead to see her leading the line as expected for captain. "She's the one avoiding me after she made sure I wouldn't do the same."

"Never pegged her for a hypocrite." Sadie says, following my gaze. "It has been full on with the finals approaching though. Can't imagine the stress she's under."

"That doesn't excuse her behaviour, Sadie." Lydia states in a more passive aggressive tone. "You got pretty hot and heavy with her a few days ago and now she's acting like you don't even exist. You should confront her."

"I say wait," Sadie counters. "Give some time for her to process everything, and perhaps it will benefit you too. You jumped from rivalries to.. well a situationship if you could call it that."

"Or deal with it realistically and ask her why she's being a dick."

Sadie, the angel on my shoulder and Lydia, the devil. Who would I side with?

"I'll be back. If it doesn't go well, Lydia's buying me ice cream and we're watching mean girls."

Sadie squeezes my shoulder reassuringly. "Good luck."

I jog over to Maise, falling into pace beside her. She doesn't even glance at me. That alone makes my stomach churn.

Could she be uncomfortable because of what happened in her bedroom?

"Hey."

"Hey." She mumbles back, a sour tone she would use when we argued.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine, Ortega."

"Ouch. So we're back to last name basis?"

"I don't know what you expect me to say."

"The truth on why you've been avoiding me for three days would be a good start."

"I haven't been avoiding you."

"Oh, so turning around in the hallways and not showing up to classes is your way of..?"

She suddenly halts and I have to keep myself from stumbling to stop with her.

"I think we're moving too fast," she admits, running a hand through her sweaty hair. "The day after we confessed, we almost had sex. It's confusing enough trying to comprehend these feelings that continue to grow. I'm just.. scared and I don't want to ruin anything by moving faster than my brain can keep up."

Okay, well that's a relief.

"You're right, we should set a slow pace. Issac's birthday is coming up and he wants to celebrate early. My uncle is out of town tomorrow. Do you want to come over and see a glimpse into the home life I hide away from the world?"

"You trust me enough? Couple months ago when I brought up studying at your house, you looked at me like I was insane."

I reach for her hand and she lets me hold it. "I trust you, and my siblings have been dying to meet you. They say I talk about you too much."