Denial [ n.s] EDITING

Chapter 67 - Taunting Past

Chapter sixty seven.
Lea.

Day 170.
Third day of 2016.

New Years was a blast. The six of us; Zachary, Hannah, Elijah, Gabriella, Ashton, and I went on a night out, as expected.

Another thing that you could've expected was us being hammered by the end of the night. Before the numerous drinks though, we were in a crowd of New Yorkers, watching the ball drop from afar (since it was a huge ball anyway, words I'd never expect myself saying) We counted down along with the thousands of people stood in Times Square.

"5.. 4.. 3.. 2.. 1! Happy New Year!"

I turned to my left and saw Z and Hannah, whispering to each other before pressing their lips against one another. My eyes then drifted to Elijah and Gabby, doing the same thing.

Before I knew it, Ashton looked at me, eyebrows raised, and pressed his soft lips against mine. It felt so rushed and sudden, yet the world seemed to stop; the New York air filled with peace and quiet.

Eventually, our lips pull away as everyone starts to cheer. He was a couple inches taller than me, yet tall enough to hover over me. I tilt my head, looking at him.

"Thanks for rescuing me from the wrath of not having someone to kiss," I say, amid the chaos.

"Someone had to," he grinned.

Day 172.

All six of us had spent yesterday getting quality downtime after our late, late night on New Years. Which meant, me not encountering Ashton and Hannah sleeping in all day.

"You've been quiet since Friday, it's rather 'off-putting'" says Hannah, out of the blue, "where's the poop, Lea?" I laugh at her Lily Aldrin reference.

"Don't freak out," she nods, "uh, Ashton kind of kissed me on Friday, like at when the clock hit midnight, and when you were with Z,"

She has a sly grin, "so, what's the problem then?"

"I've never thought about Ashton like that! I mean, I haven't even known him long enough to think about him in any way. Hannah, Zachary introduced him to us a week ago!"

"As you may have assumed by now, I've met Ashton several times already. He's a great guy, Lea. Coming from me, that's outta be something," she chuckles, "his face isn't half bad either. Have you seen those eyes of his? Swoon!" She holds her hands in the air.

"I'll just call Zachary, and you know," I pretend to use my phone, "then again if you two argue about this, I'll be the one to solve it so," I place my phone back on the bed.

"I swear this wasn't Z or my set up okay, he's just genuinely into you. I mean, he has asked if you have a boyfriend or a special someone in your life," she states.

"And you said....?" I question, genuinely scared for my social life.

"I said the only relationship in your life currently, is the one you have with your laptop and bag of hot Cheetos," she says, completely calm.

She doesn't even give me a moment to freak out, instead she just says, "give him a chance, Lea. I'm not pushing but you'll never move on if you don't start giving out those chances of yours,"

I suppose I have been a little stingy with my feelings.

Day 280.

It was already the second week of April and I couldn't comprehend the fact that we've been here for about six months now. Time genuinely was passing by in a blink of an eye.

I mean, I'd expect it too since our days mostly contain staying up late to finish some sort of assignment that was due the same week. To be fair, we were doing pretty well with classes.

It was noon and I'd already finished the one class I had that day. Unlucky for me, everyone else had classes which meant I'd have to be the lone-wolf and hunt for myself. Hunt for some coffee, that is.

I text the one person who could've spent time with me and walk to the cafe that's just two blocks from campus. To my delight, I see Ashton there, sat with his laptop and a half eaten croissant on the table.

"I'm glad you texted me, I've been here for hours and I could use the company," he smiles, when I walk towards him.

"Well, you know those drama majors, they've got full classes today," we both laugh as I take a seat opposite him.

He offers to order me a coffee and their cheesecake that's to die for, as I scroll through my phone, while carelessly digging through my bag in attempts to find my charger.

Surprisingly, my phone beeps; a notification. I knew it couldn't be a text since four out of the five friends I had were at classes, and the fifth, well, he was getting me coffee.

"Nathaniel's 23rd year on Earth !! "

It was a birthday-reminder from calendars, that was automatically set for 10a.m. Suddenly, my chest feels heavy and my stomach turns to knots.

"There ya go," Ashton says, placing the coffee and cake on the table before sitting down, "hey, what's wrong?" His voice turns to concern.

As close as I'd gotten to Ashton, I couldn't open up to him about this. It's been six months and still, the only person that knows is Hannah. Mainly because she actually knew him; the thought of saying his name scared me.

I couldn't tell Ashton about the guy; the guy that kept me from moving on, and actually being Ashton's girlfriend. I'm beyond grateful that Ashton didn't press more, when I rejected him, instead we grew a friendship. I just really wished to have moved on by now.

I wish last year would stop taunting me, every single day.

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a/n: woop woop another update. writing like this is so easy lmao idk if they're as good though, soz!

by ashton i mean ashton moio (from twisted/ insidious chapter three??) not the band member but you're free to imagine him as whoever :)))

i'm assuming dis book is gonna end at like chapter 72? then there'll be the epilogue which i'm most excited for, you'll see why :}

anywho enjoy stay cool don't do drugs bai

x.s ♡

holy macarooney guys i just realized the first chapter aka THIS STORY was published exactly two years ago aw my feels lmao it proves how shit i am at updating