It's Not You, It's Me (Book Two) #Wattys2018

I'm not hungry

Theo left me at my house just before my dad arrived, he was tired and I didn't really want to talk about the night I just had, so we both went to bed, exhausted.

I slept until about 12PM and when I woke up dad was still sleeping.

I go downstairs and make dad some lunch, or dinner, depends on what time he wakes up. I left it in the fridge.

I put on my black skinny jeans and a simple black shirt, then I throw my pink romper over it and put on a thick black choker around my neck.

I leave a note for my father and then head out to lunch with Gus and Ace.

~

We are at a diner, and I am definitely over-dressed here. But it's like they say: You can never be overdressed. Also, I prefer this than being under-dressed.

Thinking this I remember that time when I went to Elliot's gallery opening dressed in a along shiny dress, while everyone else had jeans on. I smile, that was a great night.

"So Theo made you get used to going to only fancy restaurants, I'm guessing?" Gus says, appearing from behind me and sitting across from me in the booth I choose.

"Ha-ha. Really funny." I tell him, insinuating he's not right, but he is. Theo only takes me to the best restaurants in town, and out of town, so I guess I got used to "dressing up" for lunch.

He smiles cynically and calls on the waitress, whose name I find out is Biatrice. Turns out Gus and Ace come here a lot.

Gus orders water and I order orange juice, he orders fries and I order a cheeseburger. I remember the times where we only ate the same meals. Yeah, times have changed.

"Ace isn't coming, by the way." He says.

I frown. "Oh, no. Why?"

Gus seems agitated. "It's just that he's busy. You know, something came up."

"Okay..."

He looks around. "Look I have to tell you something."

"What is it? Is something wrong?"

"No. Well, no. Nothing's wrong. It's just that— well..."

"Spill, already."

"I'm in love with Elliot."

"WHAT?!?" I shout. Gus looks around embarrassed, and I look too, with my eyes opened wide in dispair, and basically everyone is staring at me. I guess that was louder than I intended it to be, but, still, WHAT?!?!

The waitress comes to us, looking a bit frightened, and lays our order on the table, in front of us.

"I'm sorry about that." Gus tells her, his eyes barely open as a consequence of his awkward smile. She just raises her eyebrows and turns around. He turns to me, mad. "Can you not??"

"When the fuck did this happen?" I whisper in a very hostile way.

He shrugs, "We have been hanging out, that's all."

I point at him, mad. "No, no, no! Don't you shrug at me!"

"I wasn't shrugging at you!"