I Can't Make No Promises˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

7

We ended up at this outdoor Italian pizza place because the spot we originally wanted to go to was closed. It was a nice enough place, with string lights hanging above and the smell of fresh dough and tomato sauce in the air.

Gemma and Riley sat next to each other across the table, and Alex and I took seats opposite them. They were laughing, chatting about a funny video they saw, but I couldn't focus on the conversation. I took a bite of my pizza-it was delicious, with just the right amount of cheese and a perfectly crispy crust-but I could barely taste it.

I couldn't stop thinking about Marissa and the way I had snapped at her. I replayed the scene in my head over and over, feeling the weight of my words settle in my stomach like a stone. I knew she could be a lot to handle sometimes, but she didn't deserve me yelling at her like that. I kept telling myself that she'd pushed me to it, but the guilt was still there, gnawing at me.

I glanced down at my phone, fighting the urge to text her and apologize. It wasn't even about who was right or wrong anymore. I just hated feeling like this, like I'd let her down, like I'd hurt her. But I couldn't text her now, not with everyone here. I couldn't show any of them how much this was bothering me. So, I shoved my phone back in my pocket and tried to focus on the conversation around me.

But I wasn't really listening. I wasn't really present. All I could think about was Marissa, and the guilt that was making it hard to breathe, making it hard to enjoy any of this. Even though I was here, sitting with my friends, eating pizza and pretending to have fun, my mind was somewhere else entirely.

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It's been three weeks since the argument with Marissa, and I'm finally starting to let go of that guilt. It's hard, though, with her silence hanging over me. The last thing she texted was, "How about you call me when you fix your attitude," but I never responded. It's not that I've stopped thinking about her, but I've been busy trying to move on.

Riley and Gemma have become a big part of my life. Even after we wrapped up our project, we've been inseparable. Riley and I hang out after her dance rehearsals, grabbing food or heading to the park for picnics. It's been a blast, and it's weird to think how close we've gotten in such a short time.

Gemma and Alex are always around too. It's kind of adorable how Alex flirts with Gemma, though he's subtle about it. I can tell he's got a crush on her, even if he's trying to play it cool. Riley keeps teasing Gemma about it, saying she thinks Gemma might have feelings for Alex. Gemma's always asking Riley for advice on whether to text him or not, which is kind of cute but also a bit confusing.

As for me, I've gotten to know Riley and Gemma better, and they're pretty great. Sure, Riley still gets into fights with students and teachers, but she's chill with me and Alex. It's a nice change from the tension with Zaylen.

Speaking of Zaylen, he's still in the picture with Riley. They fight constantly, which gets on my nerves because he's such a jerk. But no matter how many times they argue, they don't break up, and it drives me crazy.

I was sitting in the corner near the gym, a quiet spot where students hung out during lunch. My back rested against the cool brick wall, and I absentmindedly scrolled through my phone, waiting for Riley to finish her dance rehearsal. Alex had gone to the bathroom, leaving me alone.

As I scrolled, I heard laughter nearby. I glanced up to see Zaylen and two of his friends heading towards the dance room. They were peering through the window, obviously looking for Riley. I felt a spark of irritation but stayed quiet, watching them.