The Art of Stealing Hearts (On Hold)

10. The one with deodorant fights

~|Chapter Ten|~
•The one with deodorant fights•

"Tyler, what are you doing here?"

We were still seated at McD's, and I had the satisfaction of an extremely tasty burger along with Tyler's red face to enjoy. Tyler had opened his mouth, probably to snort or come up with some stupid reply to my insult, but he had been interrupted by his on-off girlfriend.

"Kelly," Aaron sang, "it's great to see you."

Kelly ignored Aaron, her gaze pivoting to me instead. She hadn't seen Tyler trying to kiss me, had she? Or was she going to threaten me because she thought I was his new flame?

"Kelly? You okay?" Tyler touched her arm. He almost looked worried. Huh, I don't think I'd ever seen that emotion on his stony face before.

"I'm fine." Kelly snapped out of her daze. "Guys, can I borrow Ty for a minute?"

"Of course," Aaron said, sharing a quick look with me. We watched as Kelly led Tyler away.

"Looks like trouble in paradise," Levi commented. "So, Joey, you going to watch the game?"

"The game?"

At my blank expression, he elaborated. "Yeah, Tyler's game. It got postponed, remember? It's this Thursday."

"Um, I don't know. It's Tyler's game. What will I do there?"

Aaron chuckled. "The same thing the rest of us do? Cheer him on."

"I'll try."

"Oh come on, Joey, try coming out of your shell a little, would you?" Levi prodded.

"Who's coming out of whose shell?" Kelly returned with Tyler next to her side. I scanned both their faces, but as far as I could tell, I couldn't see anything wrong. Kelly didn't look mad or upset, and Tyler had his standard face on.

"Nothing," Aaron muttered quietly. "So Kelly, you going to come to cheer on Tyler?" He changed the subject.

"Of course," Kelly's face brightened immediately. "My shouts are going to be the loudest you hear." She looked at her watch. "Well, I gotta go now guys. It was nice meeting you all."

"What was that about?" Aaron asked Tyler as soon as Kelly disappeared. "Everything okay between you guys?"

Maybe I was being paranoid, but I think a big part of the reason why Tyler didn't answer was because I was sitting with them. "I'll be back in a minute."

I stood up and made my way to the ladies. Unintentionally, my hand pulled out my phone from my pocket and before I knew it, I had dialled Linc's number.

It had become a sort of reflex action for me. Calling Linc whenever I felt lonely, or when I was missing Ava. He had become the best friend I lost.

"Anna? You there?"

His voice made me realise that he had actually picked up the phone. "Yeah, I'm there." I shook my head to clear the daze. "What's up, Linc?"

"M'okay. You're missing her, aren't you?" He asked, catching up to my mood. "What happened? What reminded you of her this time?"

"It's stupid, really. I was with Tyler, Aaron and Levi, and Aaron asked Tyler what was going on with his girlfriend and Tyler couldn't say anything because I was there."

"Oh," by the tone of his voice I could tell that he understood. "You guys were always like that. You never told her how you actually felt till the two of you were alone. And vice versa." He said. "Your conversations were secrets that I still haven't managed to decipher. It's okay, Anna. You'll get through this."