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chapter thirty five, FOR JUST A FEW HOURS
"You have a girlfriend" John B's voice sounded almost in awe and Elaine don't know why she didn't correct him. But that was a lie. She did know, the lingering knowledge that this was all too much for her fuelled the misunderstanding she could lie along with.
Laney bit back her awkward laugh. She felt the tension between the three and rolled her shoulders, the feeling of Madison's hand connecting with hers.
"Elle!" Pope's voice boomed from the Chateau, the boy waving her over.
"coming!" She shouted back, looking between John B and Madison quickly before walking towards the door. Unsure how she felt leaving the two alone.
"is that Madison outside?" Sarah asked from the window as Laney walked up the steps.
"yeah, lover girl over here" Kiara joked, nodding her head over to Laney. She held back the way she wanted to disagree.
"holy shit" Sarah let out looking over to her with wide eyes.
"it's new" Was all Laney managed to say, a lie, a big fat lie because Madison was not her girlfriend and she was not lover girl because she didn't want a relationship, she wanted a hookup. A hookup that she couldn't even be in the presence of sober, but that would make her sound like a bad person. Which, she knew she was.
Laney leaned over, watching Madison and John B through the window now. The two looked timid and stiff as they talked to each other.
"are we going to have to deal with the possessive ex and new girlfriend?" JJ's whispered, his words making her roll her eyes.
"Me and John B never dated, he's not technically my ex" She avoided correcting the other part of his question. JJ scoffed at her comment before walking back to grab the cooler.
"Elle, can you help me with the lights?" Pope asked, his words pulling the girl from the window.
"yeah" She couldn't tell if he was asking to purposely get her away from the group now forming outside with John B and Madison or if he genuinely needed help but she was thankful for the distraction, even if it only took a few seconds.
Laney hadn't realized how nervous she was to be near John B again. At first, she was so overwhelmed with how excited she was that he was alive and okay but now it was feeling like guilt and it was crawling up her throat to suffocate her.
She hadn't handled her feelings before jumping into bed with Madison and clearly, it was confusing her too. Laney was trying not to let herself feel annoyed that Madison was under the impression that they were dating.
"thanks" Pope let out as he passed Elaine the box of string lights.
"no problem" The girl's voice was quiet, soft as if it would break any second.
