Bittersweet

Chapter 8

That weekend, I decided to go shopping with the 'squad'. Most of them were busy, but nonetheless I still managed to go to the mall for my post-summer shopping spree.

"Ana come on!" yelled Sophia from the other fitting room.

"Ok!" I answered back. We were in the fitting rooms at Forever 21 and the guys were waiting for us to show them our outfits. I was trying on a pair of ripped skinny jeans and a cropped hoodie with embroidery. Were as she opted for a peach off-the-shoulder top and a leather mini skirt.

"Diala! Hurry up!" Sophia yelled once again. When finally Diala came out wearing jean overalls with a navy blue and white striped crop-top underneath.

We walked out of the fitting rooms to meet the boys on there iPhones. I clapped my hands when finally Owen, Adam, and Jayden lifted their heads off there phones and averted there attention to us.

Jayden gave us a once over and muttered a small 'nice', Owen gave us a thumbs up, and Adam said 'Yes!'. We giggled and went onto the next outfits.

We each walked out of Forever 21 with five bags in hand. The guys were not nagging so we headed to Topshop. We bought from there too. After that we all started whining about how hungry we were. P.F Changs was our first option and we all agreed to it. Once we sat down, Sophia instantly ordered.

"Three dynamite shrimps, one crispy honey chicken, and one mangolian beef. One white rice and one brown rice. Two plates of regular sushi, four cokes, and two water." muttered Sophia with her signature pearly white smile as the waiteress frantically scribbled our order onto her note-pad.

"Anything else?" We all shook our heads no, "Okay then, coming right up!" Answered the Asian waiteress cheerfully. We all smiled back and she nodded with a small smile.

Jayden and Sophia snikered when I glanced there way. I knew better than to ignore them.

"What?" I asked. They shook their head no and shrugged. Diala nudged my arm. I looked over at her.

"They know something we don't, let's get it out of them." Diala said with a mischievous grin playing on her lips. She probably is in on it too.

"Jay! Soph!" I yelled across the table. Adam put up his finger to his lips. After putting them down he mouthed me 'I got it'. I nodded back.

Owen looked up from his phone at me and gave me a sympathetic smile.

"Someone's panties are in a twist." said Owen and everyone around the table burst into laughter, at my expense.

"Guys, we are all sitting together. Whatever you have to say, say it to all of us." Adam said calmly.

Jay and Soph whispered among themselves and then looked up at me. What!?

"We have a hypothosisy." Sophia said with way too much excitement while raising her pointer finger in the air.

"Ugh! Soph it's called hypothesis." muttered Diala being the know-it-all she is.

"I know, just trying to be funny." She answered back with a fake pout.

"Whatever! Continue. I have a feeling it's about me. So spit." I said impatiently.

"It is!" Said Jayden smiling. Ugh! Why god?! I rolled my eyes dramatically, earning a chuckle from around the table.

"So, Anastasia......." she glanced around the table, then her eyes landed on me.

"We noticed a change in your... behaviour around school, specifically around.... this certain person. So we.. um... uh.... all of us actually..... think that.... uhmm." She pauses and looks around the table. They all nod. What the hell?!

To her rescue and my dread, the waiteress comes back with plates and our drinks. I bring my glass of water towards my lips and take a sip. Jay opens his mouth to talk.

"Basically what she's trying to say is that we think you like Caleb." Jayden finishes off her statement whilst smacking his hand on the table.

Huh?!

I spit back into my cup and looked up, mortified. My whole body tensed up and I prayed to God that the ground open up and swallow me.

How do they know? Heck! I don't even know myself. Was it that obvious? Omg! Did they tell him? I trust them not to. Or did they?! Why am I making a big deal out of this?

"Um..." I stutter, surely my cheeks were flaming red. I was incredibly embarrassed.

"An, we all care about you. Don't be shy if you actually do. It's just us." encouraged Adam. It was not helping. I trusted all of them like siblings, but this? I'm not really sure.

They all looked at me expectantly and blinked. Not a word from anyone.

"I think I do like him." I finally spit out after minutes of silence. The girls giggled and patted my hand. The guys just looked at me in surprise. They knew who he was. I guess they took me as a 'goody-goody'. Not my typical choice. 

Great! Just great!

"Fuck." I swore under my breath. All their eyes widened at the word. I don't usually swear way too much, only when I'm really angry or embarrassed and this situation was both.

"Ana, I respect you and your decisions." Diala smiled at me. I smiled back and relaxed a little.

"A, you know him better than all of us combined. You know the shit he was involved in, yet he is your choice?" said Owen trying to prove a point.

"Guys please. This is already weird enough for me. I've known him for years, it is too akward for me. He doesn't like me in that way and I know that very well. He is a player, and I'm not his type. He likes other girls. I've never dated anyone and this is the first time I actually genuinely like someone. It is hard for me. The feelings, the words, the talking, and all that shit. It truly is hard. I don't want to date him, anyone for that matter, beacuse I know once he gets tired of me, he will dispose me and I'm way too sensitive to handle a heartbreak. I don't know what to expect. Once again he is a player and he is out of my leauge, so am I for him." I finished my rant with a big sigh.

"I prefer the term fuckboy." scoffed Jayden. I gasped.

"I agree." said Adam. They all nodded. I looked at them all speechless and my jaw slack.

"Guys calm down. You murdered her hope." muttered Owen scrowling at them. He squeezed my hand in assurance and smiled at me.

"Sorry." they all said. I nodded and forced a smile. Moments later the food was served and it took a little of the attention off of me. Small 'Are you okay?' and 'I'm sorry' were muttered to me during the meal. Nonetheless, the food was amazing! Diala and Sophia went to the bathroom after paying there part. I stayed sitting with the guys.

We were waiting for the change when I saw Owen and Jayden's eyes widen in shock. They were sitting across me and my back was facing the entrance.

What?

"Speaking of the devil." muttered Jayden lowering his head. Adam nudged me.

"Don't look up." He said lowly. Owen nudged my knee from below the table. They all nodded to each other.

"Fuck, not today." said Owen running a hand though his hair. Jay's face was pale and Adam just froze in his place, with one hand on my shoulder and the other on his coke.

We spoke too soon.

(Febuary 27 - March 1)