The Distance Between Us

Chapter 16: The Most Romantic Emojis

Chapter 16: The Most Romantic Emojis

"Do you think you can pick me up from school at five?" I asked my brother as he drove us to school.

"Because you got detention?" he responded.

"How'd you know?" I questioned. I was going to say that I was staying after to make up work or something.

"Because Axel told us in the group chat," he retorted and I wanted to scoff. Great friend, am I right? "Speaking of which, he'll be giving you a ride home because I'm not driving home only to sit for a half hour before leaving again."

"Dylan," I spoke in a tone of desperation. "You have to. Come on, please."

"Why should I? You need to talk to him so he can leave me alone," my brother responded. "Since you yelled at him yesterday, he's been telling me to tell you to text him back and to answer the phone. It's annoying and I'm going to throw my shoe at him if he doesn't stop."

"Maybe he shouldn't have kissed me," I muttered with crossed arms. Now he's making me feel bad for ignoring him.

"You kissed him, too," Dylan replied.

"That's different. I like him and he knows that. Why would he even kiss me to begin with?" I retorted as I stared out the window.

"You're asking the wrong person," he answered. "Can we not talk about this? I really don't want to think about my little sister kissing my friends." He was my friend first, I wanted to respond but I didn't.

"Dylan," I whined. "You really can't just pick me up? You can't stay in the area? You can't just walk around the supermarket or something?"

"No," he replied. "And don't try asking anyone for a ride because I told them all to say no."

"Dylan!" I whined again.

"Dylan," he mocked me. "And if your stupid little boyfriend texts me one more time telling me to deliver a message to you, I'm going to hit both of you with my shoes."

+++

Chemistry was the most awkward class I'd ever endured. It literally consisted of me and Axel reading our textbooks and avoiding the group work at all costs. I know he wanted to say something to me because I felt him staring at me. I avoided it, which is something I've become good at. He was saving it for the car ride, I assume, because he was practically chewing on his lip to keep from speaking.

The rest of the day went okay. I was able to talk to my friends without them teasing me about Axel. Thankfully Oliver told them to tone it down because of Sam. Speaking of the redhead, Spanish wasn't as awkward and I was able to talk to him and even get a few geniune laughs in. As I was leaving the language room, I had to ask Isaac for directions to the detention room.

"Why'd you ask me?" the boisterous twin asked with a hand on his hip.

"Because I know you've been there before," I told him. Many times.

He stared at me a minute before shrugging. "Well, it's true." Telling his twin he'll meet him at the car he led me towards the classroom.

"So...Axel, huh?" he questioned.

I glanced at him before looking the other way. "What about him?" I asked. Does he know I like Axel? Did Axel tell them? Or Holden? Or Dylan? Who am I kidding? He probably put two and two together; we kissed for Pete's sake.

"You two kissed," he shrugged and I nodded.

"I was there," I told him.

"So was I," Isaac replied. "That was your first kiss?"