Pressure [hs au]

13 - Conciliation

Word count: 3687

a/n: I don't know why this took me so long to write, but I apologize. Enjoy!

Classes were going well. 

It was early November now, so it was getting close to freezing outside, I wouldn't be surprised if it snowed some more. 

We had something like a midterm almost, except it wasn't midterms, but regardless we didn't get the results until the break was over. To say I was anxious was an understatement. Part of me knew I did good, but another part was thinking I completely failed.  

For the first week of break, I mostly hung out around the museum. Being a student meant free entry for me, so I definitely took advantage of that. I had to have filled up at least three of my sketch books while I was there. 

The second week I decided to fly home. It was quite a bit of money, but Valerie had already left for Green Bay a few days before I decided to, and I couldn't ask Jason. We hadn't spoken in nearly two and a half months. 

It was now the final week of break, and I was back in my apartment, drawing. I had met with Xander several times: sometimes so he could pose, and other times just to talk over a cup of tea. He really was a great friend. 

The first time he came over to pose, Valerie barged in, instantly smitten with him. I was almost embarrassed of how hard she tried to get his attention, but whether she realized it or not, Xander tried equally as hard to hold hers. 

They were both just too stubborn to do anything about it. 

I tried to drop hints for both of them, but they were both convinced that the other did not like them whatsoever. I invited Xander back to Wisconsin with me last week, so he could meet my family and so I could try to set him and Valerie up there. 

Plus, when working at the bakery, he doesn't really get a break, so I thought this trip would be nice. 

I wished he could have brought Abbidah with him, but she was deathly afraid of flying and didn't care to come to Wisconsin too much. 

Thinking back to that trip with him makes me want to laugh out loud, almost.

My family absolutely adored Xander, my younger siblings especially took a liking towards him. My Mom asked me a lot about Jason and why I hadn't brought him over. 

I lied and just said something about how he was really busy. It had been nearly three months since we broke up. 

Two months and twenty one days later, and I still hadn't told my family. I don't even know if Jason told his family.  

I don't know why I hadn't told them, I just didn't. Valerie thought that was stupid of me, but agreed not to say a word until I did first. 

But I didn't. 

I got back on the plane to Chicago without saying a word about Jason and I's no longer existent relationship. It would just cause problems and that house is chaotic enough as it is. 

But back to present time, I was just back at my place now. I had only four days left of break, and I didn't know how to spend them. I was just mindlessly drawing someone right now. I wasn't really paying attention, just drawing whatever features subconsciously came to mind.

I had only ran into Jason a few times since our breakup at school, but he never said a word to me. He just walked past like I was a stranger whom he hadn't known his whole life, which I guess was fine. 

Except for the fact that we grew up together. 

Valerie still talked to him. We had a really long talk one night at her place about everything, finally. It felt good it get it all off my chest, but that didn't make it any less uncomfortable.