How Pizza Saved My Love Life

6."Go to your little boyfriend, Aubrey"

So it's Monday and I'm hyperventilating.

I didn't know it would be this nerve wrecking for me. I meant to make this nerve wrecking for him.

I am sitting in last period, Satan himself sitting two seats in front of me. If he hadn't been such an ass in freshman year, then both of us wouldn't have been in this situation. I want to call it off and tell him that I will keep his secret but I want to stand my ground. I don't want to look like a whimp. I considered calling him and telling him that it's all good and we don't have to do this yesterday but I kept convincing myself that this was my period talking.

"Alright class, you are dismissed." Mrs. Andrews says when the bell rings. Usually the sound of the ringing would make me feel satisfied and relieved. But today was something else. It was like the bells of dooms day were crying.

"You coming or what?" Jordan says ever so lightly so that only I would hear.

I glare at him for a bit but gather my things and follow him after he is almost 5 feet ahead of me just so nobody would get suspicious.

"Hey, Aub." Joe joins me in my way out.

Shit.

I didn't think about Joe. What will he do when he thinks Jay likes me? Joe is really protective of me and I think he will be pretty mad knowing that Jordan, the guy that put me through hell, has a crush on me.

"Hey, Joe." I greet him, distracted by keeping track of where Jordan is.

"Looking for something?" He looks through the crowds with me for what I might be looking for.

"What? Oh, no nothing."

"Okay then. You need a ride, babe?" He asks me but I'm still distracted by Jay standing with his friends and what he might be telling them right now.

"Uhm, no thanks. I'll walk. Listen I have to go okay?" I give him a quick hug but he catches my arm before I can escape.

"Why are you avoiding me like that?" He suddenly questions me and I feel a wave of anxiety flood through me.

"What? I didn't mean to make you feel like that, Joe I'm sorry." I hold his arm gently.

"Whatever." He pushes my arm away.

"No. Joe wait. I'm trying to apologize."

"I just don't get what have I done wrong. All I do is care for you and you treat me like I'm shit." He says with pure anger in his eyes.

"I–"

"Dude, she's right there just ask her!" I hear One of Jay's friends hollering.

"Just do it, you pussy!" Another jock pushes him towards me.

"What the hell is going on?" Joe asks but the question isn't directed to anyone.

"No what the hell." Jay says and turns his head aways from me but all his friends force him to be facing me.

"Bet that prude will turn him down." I hear some asshole say.

"Do it! Do it! Do it!" Everyone hollers and my face is literally a tomato right now.

"Alright fine! Aubrey...umm, would you like to uh..hang out sometime?" Jordan says and my heart drops. Everyone is looking at me expectantly and then there is Joe who looks like he's about to murder somebody at the moment. The pressure is too much and I can't seem to say anything.

Whispers flew around and I hear things like "she wouldn't say yes" and "she's in a relationship with her pillow" and more and more.

"Sure."

I surprise everyone by the simple word and there was a long silence before everybody starts congratulating Jordan and giving him high-fives.

"So that's what was going on? You liked him all this time and didn't tell me? Why didn't you tell me? Is it because you got the feeling that I li–"

"Joe that was not what was going on I swear. I just said yes because...because I was under pressure and everyone was looking at me and–"

"What was going on then?!" He yells and my heart shatters. "What was it? Give me a good reason why you haven't been returning my calls, ignoring me, and kicking me out of your house." He grills me and I am speechless. I didn't realize that hurt him that much.

I stand in front of him, dumbfounded by his speech. I am truly out of words. I open and close my mouth like a fish but I'm not saying anything. I can't tell him about what was going on the past couple of days because me and Jordan had a deal. I can't tell Joe about Jordan's secret.

"That's what I thought. Go to your little boyfriend, Aubrey."

"Joe, wait." I say but he doesn't listen and gets in his car. He drives faster than ever when he heads out of the school's parking lot, leaving me with a million thoughts fighting their way in my mind.

"You were supposed to say no!" Jordan's voice makes me jump slightly.

"What?" I ask, confused. I feel exhausted and vulnerable. Tears are already gathering at the corners of my eyes but I try my best to hold them in.

"You weren't supposed to say yes when I asked you to hang out." He says, his tone a bit lower when he takes in my appearance. My eyes are probably bloodshot now.

"I'm sorry, I panicked and I'm not used to that much attention on me I just couldn't...I couldn't–"

"Why are you crying?" He cuts me off quickly.

Ugh shit, I'm crying now?

"I-I'm not. I'm allergic to spring." I lie.

"Come on, I'll give you a ride home." He offers, catching me off guard.

"You don't have to do that I can walk." I decline politely.

"I can't let my crush walk home now can I? And she's allergic to spring weather too what kind of douche would I be?." He chuckles and I join him easily. I didn't realize that a tear had made its way onto my cheek before it slid into the corner of my mouth. I feel embarrassed that he's seeing me in this state. I don't like showing my sensitive side to anyone, but, to be completely honest, it doesn't feel awkward right now. He's cheering me up in a way that I never thought he would.

It doesn't feel awkward. It just feels..different.

"Wow you must be really allergic to these pollen grains." He jokes and I laugh loudly at that. He uses his thumb to wipe my cheek and I blush at his action. "There was a lash on there." He says, half-smiling.

"Where's your car then?" I change the subject instead of thanking him or whatever.

"Come on." He leads the way and I follow behind, shyly kicking the small stones on the ground on the way to the vehicle.

"Can I put on some music?" I ask when we're both inside the car.

"Sure. You better have a good taste, though," he smirks and I roll my eyes playfully.

"Taylor Swift or Little Mix?" I mock but he doesn't get it and looks at me in fear.

"I can make you walk you know?" He gives me 'the bitch stare'.

"I'm joking. How do you feel about One Direction?"

"Alright. Out of my car." He says and I laugh so hard at his reaction.

"I was joking again. Jeez why so serious?" I say, grinning goofily and I catch him smile a little.

I put on 'Sweater Weather' by The Neighborhood and lean my head back. He doesn't protest on the song and drives in silence all the way. Looking out the window, I get lost in my own thoughts. I need to talk to Joe and come up with a decent speech to apologize. I really didn't know he would be this pissed about my behavior and I genuinely never meant to hurt him. And then there is the situation with Jordan. This did not go as planned at all. He was supposed to tell them and not ask me to hang out or whatever. I wasn't supposed to say yes in front of all these people. Jordan driving me home was not supposed to happen. Me crying wasn't supposed to happen.

Nothing was falling into place.

Nothing.