Road to Evergreen | #Wattys2016

f o r t y - f i v e

Songs for this chapter:

In my veins- Andrew Belle
Hold back the river- James Bay

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"So.." Spencer wiggles his eyebrows as he gives me the sassy look. "How was it?" he winks. I weakly slap his shoulder, "nothing happened in the way you think it did." I scowl at him, giving him a warning glare to keep his mouth shut. "Sureeee," he teases. I roll my eyes as we walk toward the cafeteria.

Adam drove me home afterwards, saying he had some work to finish. I could see how deeply he wanted to stay with me, in our little bubble we created, that we awe not to leave. But he said he will see me tomorrow at university, so I relaxed a little. So far, I couldn't catch a glimpse of him. He didn't even attend the creative writing class. I texted him a few times, checking in but he didn't reply. I let him be, eventually he will show up.

"Did you hear me?" Spencer asks.

"Yes and I totally agree," I reply. I have no clue what he said but this usually works.

"So you agree that I should pierce my nipple?" he arches an eyebrow. My eyes widen, "umm.. I- Maybe. I mean if you want-"

He breaks into laughter as he takes in my reaction, "I'm messing with you," he shakes his head, amused. "I asked you how it went with Megan?"

"I don't even have words to describe it," I honestly reply. In class, I sat in our usual spot but when she eyed me while entering the class, she literally jolted as far away as she can sit. My heart died a little. It's frustrating to not be able to do anything, feeling useless. And in the mean time, you start losing the people you love. We didn't even fight, so God knows what Jeremy planted in her innocent mind.

"If she is truly your best friend, she will come to her senses eventually," he says as he grabs two trays for us and hands one to me while we stand in line. "I just hope it won't be too late then," I sigh in defeat. Spencer notices my change of emotion as he nudges me, "well, you still have me." I smile back.

By the time we make it toward the cash register, I look down to my tray to find random things placed. I'm not even hungry but it's a distraction I need. "So you like to eat cookies with cream cheese?" Spencer's nose crinkles as he looks at my tray. I sigh and hand the money, ignoring his remark.

We find a table at the right back, where people who enter won't be able to see you but you can see them. After a while, Riley joins us and we engage into a conversation about vegans and vegetarians. On the debate team, there's Riley against Spencer and I feel like I'm the referee who doesn't pick a side. "I mean.. we have been eating meat for centuries, why the sudden change of heart?" I hear Spencer ask Riley as they go on with their argument. I'm distracted as I spot Jeremy and Megan make their way into the cafeteria, hands interlocked. They sit at a table across the room where a couple, of who I assume to be Jeremy's friends, are seated. Megan's back is faced to me but Jeremy is in clear eye sight. His eyes meet mine and his smirk stretches, while his eyes close into slits. He leans closer and plants a kiss on Megan's lips. I look away.

"What's wrong?" Riley asks. I cover my face with my palms, trying to reduce the headache that's coming. I rub my eyes and shake my head in defeat. "This can't be right," my voice comes out exhausted. "Speaking of what can't be right," Spencer says while he forms a heart with his hands, "lover boy, 9 o'clock." Adam is making his way toward the table and my heart flutter out of its place. He looks tired, bags under his eyes and his hair in an appealing mess. He definitely has the look of I try too hard to look like I don't try too hard.

"Behave," I hiss to Spencer and he raises his hands in defeat. I sigh and turn to greet Adam but instead he's standing half way across the room with Jeremy. I gulp down.