Paint Me - S.M

8. It's Always Last Summer

29 October 2016, Saturday

"YES! YES! YES!"

"OH MY GOD!"

"WE DID IT!"

"TIME TO SHOP!"

Variations of celebratory words were exchanged the second Juniors flooded out of the classroom and into the halls.

We just finished our last paper.

Biology.

Its safe to say I aced it, I didn't burn the midnight oil for nothing. I could've burnt the science block to the ground during my theory but I didn't and I was pretty proud of myself.

"Shh!" An irritated teacher hissed at us. "The Seniors are still having exams! Be more mindful!"

We paid her little attention but soon, it felt like the crowds and noise was suffocating me. I dashed out of there, only to crash into a hard chest.

"Oomph!"

"Woah! Haley!"

Tyler.

"Hey Tyler," I said brightly, glancing at my best friend's boyfriend. He smiled, which was rare, but I guess he's known me for so long.

"Hi small fry," he teased and I groaned. I met Tyler when he was a whopping 6'0 in Freshman year when I was 5'4. Suri was around 5'6 but hah! guess who caught up to her. I think I grew a little, Jordanne was 5'8 and my shoulder was slightly above hers when we were barefoot. Poor Malia was stuck at 5'6. #SmolBeanLife

"Shush Tyler, your girlfriend isn't much taller than me," I retorted back, scoffing.

Tyler ruffled my hair, he was like my older brother.

"Anyways, all the best for your paper! How are you and Suri?"

I wanted to ask about the whole 'no kids' thing but clamped my mouth shut. Suri would tell me when she wanted to, there was no need to dig from Tyler.

Tyler's gaze fell to the ground, he sighed. "Actually, I was going to ask you to help me," he said, desperation leaking into his voice.

I furrowed my brow. Maybe Shawn and I weren't the only couple facing relationship problems but what could possibly be wrong with Tyler and Suri? Suri just said they were doing really well and even discussing a future together.

"Okay, what do you need me to do?" I sucked in a deep breath waiting for his answer.

The boy worked his jaw but it seemed he couldn't come up with an answer, he ran a hand through his dark hair, it was almost the same colour as Shawn's.

Oh my god no, don't think about Shawn.

All my texts and calls had gone unanswered or to voicemail. I stalked his Instagram and Twitter and it seemed he was active, telling his fans about finals and how he was graduating soon. I didn't need a reminder that he was going to graduate so soon and would go to college while I was stuck in high school. I hadn't seen him at all during these past few days but maybe I had been rushing around from class to class and my head buried in notes for the next test. The last time I saw him was with Mikayla at Maki!.

I missed Shawn.

Tyler grabbed my hand and led us away from the main area of the park where students were still milling about, he took us to a quieter corner under one of the large oak trees. He knew about the blog. Or he just hated people prying on his life.

"So?" I asked, "Tyler, if you want me to help, I need to know what's wrong. Suri said you guys were fine."

"Fine? Fine? Hell no, Haley, we're far away from 'fine'," Tyler mustered out through gritted teeth, he let out an agitated growl and placed his elbows on the picnic table I was sitting on.