Beyond The Crash [HIATUS]

CHAPTER 38 | ["SIMILARITIES"]

Lilley relaxed back on a bench in the mini garden. She checked her phone for the time and saw it was passed four, almost five. She sat up straight as she tried stretching her arms and massaging her shoulders.

I'm seriously worn out. She sighed. And this is just tryouts?  
She repacked her hair in a ponytail and reached for her jacket when she paused upon seeing some of the baseball players pass by.

Her eyes followed them, looking for a particular blonde in the midst of them but sighed when she couldn't find him. As she turned to leave, though, she flinched upon seeing him next to her.

"How were tryouts?" He asked after he finished a bottle of water.

"Good...?" She shook her head. "Wha– how– how did you get here...?" She pointed at the group that was almost gone.

He stared at the group of baseball players that had passed and let out a short chuckle.
"I wasn't walking with them,"

"Oh, I thought– was I wrong?" She paused to ponder.

"No, you weren't. I am interested in joining,"
When she looked up at him, he just smiled his usual.
"Wanna head home, or do you have other plans?"

"Nope! Home," she gave a straight smile as they started walking.

"And your art project?" Nicky asked beside her.

"Oh, please don't remind me," she deadpanned a bit. "We have chosen a date, though, so hopefully this weekend, we'll be able to get it done,"

"That's... progress," he said slowly while she just chuckled.

"What about you?"

"We're done," he let out a breath.

"I'm jealous," she paused when a thought popped in and looked around them. "Where's Axel?"

Nicky paused and stared 'round as well. "He was literally behind me," he brought out his phone to call him.

As Lilley waited, passing this off as an Axel thing, she spotted Melvin by the gate talking to a girl. They looked a bit similar with the same dark hair, but she had silver eyes.

Where Nicky and her stood wasn't too far from them but at a distance enough for them not to notice her stare.
She watched as the girl said something that seemed to upset him. She brought out her hand, and he gave her his camera.

Right at that moment, William, his friends, Stella, and her friends passed by. And out of all of them, Lilley was sure Melvin's gaze was set on William.

Okay, but like why does he not like William? She pondered. Did he steal his girl or something? 
She nearly laughed at her silly thought but halted.

She turned to Nicky as he pocketed his phone.
"Axel's on his way," his lips curved downwards a bit as he saw a look he recognised.

"Random question," she started, and he recognised the tone. It was the same one she used when she asked who Jayden was.
"Did William ever date Iris?"

He blinked.
"I suppose so..." he gave her a questioning look. "Why do you ask?"

She shrugged. "Nothing,"
Her gaze went back to Melvin, who was now following his sister to a black car.
So, William dated the girl he liked, huh. She mused silently.

Nicky traced her stare, and a frown immediately replaced his features.
'First Jayden, now Melvin?' His smile returned when she turned back to him.

"Are you friends with Melvin?" He asked, though his voice came out cautious.

"Uh... no... I don't think we're friends," she tilted her head a bit. "Why?"