Love, Romance And A Boy (bxb)

Part Three - Part One

Part Three - Part One

•••

As soon as I see my best friend, Jason, leaning against my burgundy locker, a grin spreads across my face. We've known each other forever, and his familiar presence is like a breath of fresh air.

"Hey!" he exclaims, wrapping his arms around my neck in a tight hug. I catch a whiff of his signature grape-scented cologne — it feels like home. "It's so good to see you! Long time no fucking see, man!"

We pull apart, and I take a step back to take him in. "Yeah, man," I reply, noting the neat fade of his haircut, the waves on top, and his light brown skin glowing with health. "You look amazing. That trip to your grandmother's really did you well!"

Jason scoffs, rolling his bright brown eyes at me, a smile tugging at his lips. "Oh, so you're saying I wasn't handsome before?"

I laugh. "You were never handsome, bro," I joke, nudging his shoulder playfully.

He shoves me lightly. "Don't start with me," he warns, still smiling as he adjusts the strap of his black backpack over his shoulder. There's a new light in his eyes, something different.

There's something he's not telling me, but I know better than to push. He'll open up when he's ready. I spin my locker combination and give it a firm bang. It pops open with a creak.

As I reach for my science book, a familiar blue note flutters out. Jason catches it before it hits the ground. "Your hair looks really good today," he reads aloud, eyebrows raised.

"Okay, seriously," he says, waving the note around. "Who the hell is this? Someone's been sending you these notes every day. It's so unfair you have a secret admirer while I'm stuck with Jenny the Jelly."

The image of Jason trying to dodge Jenny makes me chuckle. I take the note from his fingers and toss it into my locker, where the rest are stashed, before slamming it shut.

Jenny has had a crush on Jason since the beginning of the year. After he accidentally dropped his jelly sandwich on her, the nickname "Jenny the Jelly" went viral, and she hasn't left him alone since. It's hilarious, and I love how uncomfortable it makes him.

I laugh as we start walking down the crowded hallway, Jason trailing behind. "Jenny's not so bad. She's got a nice body," I say, weaving through a throng of students. Glancing back, I catch his deadpan stare and shrug. "Come on, she's a pretty girl."

Jason bumps his shoulder against mine. "Bro, you know who I like," he says with a sigh. "But she's totally off-limits."

True. Jason is head over heels for my sister. He'd do anything for her, even jump off a bridge if she asked. It's kind of pathetic, but also endearing.

I don't have a problem with my best friend crushing on my sister. It's not my place to dictate his feelings. I just want him to be happy.

But, unfortunately for Jason, my sister is taken.

"One day, bro," I say, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Just don't hurt yourself in the process, okay?"

"Can't we just drop out and become famous or something?" he asks, sighing loudly. "I'm so over this bullshit. Blue Monday's always here to save the day!" Sarcasm drips from his words.

I laugh at how true that feels. I just hope I can get through the day without running into Scott. A glance at my timetable tells me I'm not so lucky. My first class is with him.

•••

Later in the day, I sit under the old oak tree, immersed in a book of poetry, savoring the crisp taste of an apple. The tranquility of the moment is broken when a shadow falls over me.

"You're blocking the sun," I state plainly, not bothering to look up. "Please move or be moved."

I take another bite of my apple, but the figure doesn't budge. Irritation flares up inside me, and I prepare to give the intruder a piece of my mind. When I finally look up, my eyes widen in shock.

The apple slips from my hand and tumbles onto the grass. Standing before me, grinning far too widely, is a familiar blonde boy with piercing blue eyes.

"Hello, Zayn," Elliot, my ex-boyfriend, greets me with unsettling enthusiasm. "It's been a while. How have you been?"

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. "What?" I blurt out before I can stop myself. "You walked out of my life, and now you're back? What is this?"

Elliot's grin falters. "I thought you'd be happier to see me," he admits, his voice softening. "I know I was a douche, and I'm sorry. I'm here to make things right."

"You should have fixed it when you had the chance," I snap, closing my poetry book with a decisive thud. "You ran away like a father who went to buy milk."

Elliot winces at my words but doesn't back down. "I deserve that. I was scared and stupid. But I've had time to think, and I want to make amends. Can we talk?"

"What's there to talk about, Elliot?" I ask, my frustration evident. "You broke my trust. Do you think you can just waltz back into my life and everything will be fine?"

He runs a hand through his hair, his expression genuinely remorseful. "I know it's not that simple. I don't expect you to forgive me right away. But can we at least try to start over? As friends, maybe?"

I stare at him for a long moment, torn between my lingering anger and the undeniable pull of our shared history. "Friends?" I echo, testing the word. "That's a big ask."

"I know," he says quietly. "But I'm willing to do whatever it takes to prove I'm not the same person who hurt you."

I sigh, feeling the weight of his words. The urge to roll my eyes is strong, but instead, I gather my belongings and leave him standing there, just as he once left me.

•••

A/N:

do you think Zayn did the right thing?