𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 |𝟏𝟖+|

5. ticking time bomb

Lennons pov

I was this close to running home, locking the doors and crying into a tub of Ben and Jerrys chocolate fudge brownie that we keep in the freezer for emergencies.

If I had one more reminder of why I hate Brooks freakin Denver today, I will for sure explode into a million little pieces.

"Uh oh. I know that look. Guessing you've already heard?" I threw myself down on a plastic cafeteria chair, frown evident on my face as I began pouting at my two best friends on the other side of the table.

"If we're talking about he who must not be named being an unwanted boomerang that just keeps fucking showing up and forcing himself back into my life within twenty four fucking hours then you will be absolutely right." I sighed before continuing my rant. "I've heard and I've heard too much out of his stupid mouth to be able to function with anymore crap, so please, if there is anything else I should know, save it till I've recovered. Please, I'm begging you." I exhaled a deep breath before gently banging my head against the table, Connie reaching over and catching me mid thump whilst Aspen giggled at my antics.

"Do you wanna talk about it Lenny?" I picked myself up, fanning my watery eyes before laughing.

"I'm just so confused you know? Like, what the hell is going on right now?" I've said it before and I'll say it again. If I don't laugh I'll cry. A heck of a lot.

"I know Lenn, there's not much we can say but remind you that we're here for you." I cupped Connie's outstretched hand in appreciation whilst Aspen added her part. "Yeah, and if you decide you wanna perform a candlelit ritual with a Brooks shaped voodoo doll in the centre of a salt circle, we'll be right there next to you."

We all shared a look before bursting out into real, much needed laughter, temporarily distracting me from the stupid events of this morning.

But nothing good lasts forever.

I was halfway through pulling my lunch out its bag when boyish yelling flooded the entrance of the lunch hall. "Oh no, no, no, no, no. Just, no." Vaughn, Drew, Tucker and their friend Kaito appeared, laughing and joking as I mumbled incoherent words to myself.

I groaned, pulling the hood of my hoodie up before dropping my head to the table once more, only this time not bothering to pick it up.

The girls chuckled, and right on cue, the guys must've arrived as there was a whole load of movement from the chairs at our table. That and the harsh prodding I was now feeling on my back. "She passed out or something?" I heard Drew ask as the prodding got more aggressive.

"She was just starting to chill out before you four walked in." Aspen teased as I smiled under my hood. But then one particularly hard poke to my side had me sitting up and ready to beat up the asshole responsible.

I looked up and found Drew smirking right back at me. Wow, big shocker. "Get off me and leave me alone you idiot." I flipped him off whilst he stood beside me, fist bumping Kaito who was sat on my left.

My brother had sat next to Aspen, currently busying himself with her lips whilst my gaze trailed to a tense looking Constance and Tucker. What the hell is going on between them two? Connie shot me a look that told me to leave it, and whilst I respected her wishes, my attention was also torn away by the fact I was now being lifted up and sat back down on Drew's lap.

"Drew, what the fuck? Get off me." I smacked his chest as he laughed, wrapping his hands around my waist as I whined at my brother to look at me.

When he ignored me for the third time, I stole a piece of Aspens sandwiches lettuce and threw it at his face. "What, you brat?" He had the audacity to bitch as I sulked like a child.