"𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?"
"𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡?"
Alina Lewis and Teddy Parker have unresolved issues from the past summer.
This lingering problem stems from a misunderstanding, causing both to hold grud...
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Catalina drops the subject and says, "We went ahead and ordered for you guys, the waitress came." She smiles warmly.
"Aw, thank you," I say, directing my gratitude towards both Catalina and Virginia. We engage in light-hearted conversation, and soon enough, the food arrives. As we start eating, I notice Virginia delicately picking at her chicken tenders. She takes a napkin and carefully wraps it around the pieces, soaking up the excess oil. It reminds me of the other day at the dining hall when she barely touched her sandwich, only taking a few small bites. I decide not to bring it up and focus on my own meal.
Dixi suddenly breaks the comfortable silence, "So, are you guys up for a party this weekend?" It's Thursday evening, and I'm definitely in the mood for some college excitement.
"Hell yeah!" I exclaim, giggling at the thought of the upcoming fun.
"I've never been to a party," Catalina admits shyly, her voice barely above a whisper. We all turn to her, curiosity evident in our expressions.
"We'll take care of you," I assure her with a confident smile. "It'll be a blast."
"Totally," Virginia chimes in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. We all nod in agreement, and Catalina's face lights up with a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation.
"The party's at the basketball house," Dixi announces, her eyes sparkling with excitement. My heart drops into my stomach. Teddy's on the basketball team. I don't want to see him. Just thinking of him makes my blood boil and my chest tighten with frustration.
"Teddy's on the basketball team," I mutter to Dixi, trying to keep my voice steady.
"That's great! We'll make you look so good that he'll see what he's missing," Dixi winks at me, her confidence infectious. I can't help but feel a small smile tug at my lips.
"Teddy Parker?" Virginia's eyes widen as she connects the dots. I furrow my brows; I never knew Teddy's last name.
"The one on the basketball team?" Virginia looks at me, her gaze intense.
"Oh yeah," I say, munching on a fry to distract myself from the swirling emotions.
Dixi quickly closes Catalina's mouth with her hand, and we all burst into laughter, the tension easing a bit.
"So, like, you all know him?" I ask, feeling a mix of curiosity and dread.
Virginia nods. "Yeah, he's like the new big thing, set to go to the NBA."
"Oh wow," I say softly, my mind racing. The thought of seeing Teddy again stirs up a storm of emotions—anger, hurt, and a tiny flicker of something I don't want to admit.
As if on cue, Lena saunters over to our table, her palms hitting the surface with a force that makes our drinks quiver. "Well, look who stumbled in," she jeers, her smirk widening. Her green eyes, heavily lined with eyeliner, sparkle with mischief, and her glossy lips twist into a mocking grin. I roll my eyes, feeling a surge of irritation.
"Virgin Mary, Dicky, and what's-her-face," she says, her gaze finally locking onto me. "And you."
I meet her stare, my blood boiling. "You think you're so hilarious, don't you?" I shoot back, my voice laced with sarcasm.
She laughs, a sound that grates on my nerves. "Of course I am. I just love stirring the pot."
Dixi, agitated, speaks up. "You can leave now, Lena."
Lena's smirk grows even wider. "Looks like you've already swapped out your two friends. Such a shame."
"I said fucking leave before I make you," Dixi says, standing up with a determined look in her eyes. Lena, clearly intimidated, scoffs and begins to walk off, but not before leaning in close to my ear. Her breath is hot against my skin as she whispers, "Just so you know, Teddy's great in bed."
I smirk, unbothered by her attempt to rile me up. "Yeah?" I say, my voice dripping with indifference. "I don't give a flying fuck." My eyes lock onto hers, showing her that her words have no power over me. She glares for a moment before finally turning away, leaving me standing tall and unshaken.
Dixi sits back down, still fuming from her encounter with Lena. I turn to Virginia with a curious look. "You know Lena?" I ask her.
"Yeah," she says, her voice softening as she looks down at her hands. "She went to my high school. Always made fun of me for being a virgin." Her shoulders slump a bit, and I can see the hurt in her eyes, memories of past taunts resurfacing. Dixi clenches her fists, clearly still angry on Virginia's behalf, the tension in the air palpable.
Catalina looks at Virginia with empathy in her eyes before gently taking her hand. "If it makes you feel better, I'm still a virgin too," she says softly, her voice filled with sincerity. There's a gentle innocence about her, a purity that seems almost too delicate for this harsh world.
Virginia looks back at Catalina as she speaks. "She also called me 'what's-her-face,'" Catalina says, giggling softly. The sound of her laughter is infectious, and soon Virginia joins in, her previous sadness momentarily forgotten. Dixi and I exchange a knowing look, both relieved to see Virginia smiling again. The room feels a bit lighter, the shared moment of humor easing the tension.
I sip on my Dr Pepper, savoring the last bit of sweetness as we all finish our meals, ready to leave the cozy diner. The first light of dawn begins to peek over the horizon, casting a soft glow through the windows. We share warm hugs and heartfelt goodbyes as we step out into the early morning air. Dixi mentions she'll drop Catalina off at her dorm before meeting me back at ours. Despite the serene morning, my mind is clouded with thoughts of how Kimberly and Summer could abandon our friendship to spend time with someone as ugly-hearted as Lena. But then again, the backstabbers aren't any better, and the sting of their betrayal still lingers.
᯾
Dixi walks into the room as I'm meticulously applying my skincare products. She sets her things on the bed with a soft thud and joins me at the sink, brushing her teeth with a familiar rhythm. As she finishes, she catches my eye through the mirror. Her long blonde hair cascades over her shoulder, and her brown t-shirt and jeans envelop her hourglass figure perfectly. She smiles at me, her dimples making a charming appearance.
Lately, I've been feeling incredibly insecure, constantly comparing every little detail about myself to others. I can't help but notice how effortlessly beautiful and confident Dixi seems. I return her smile, albeit a bit hesitantly, and finish up my skincare routine before making my way to my bed.
Dixi changes into her comfortable pajamas and sits on her bed, looking over at me with a reassuring gaze. "I swear it'll get better. We've got a good group of girls," she says, referring to our friends Virginia and Catalina. Her words are like a soothing balm to my troubled mind. I smile and nod, feeling a flicker of hope and reassurance. Dixi leans back on her bed, and before long, she's fast asleep, her breathing even and peaceful. I lie down too, feeling a bit more at ease, and let the promise of better days ahead lull me into a restful sleep.
𓆞 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆟 𓆝 sorry this chapter was short lol, i'm thinking about a teddy POV soon. ❤︎︎
