Bittersweet

Chapter 9

"Oh we can sit here." Said the familiar voice.

Caleb.

"Yeah." Answered a couple of voices.

"Ana, it's him and his groupie." Whispered Jayden across the table, rolling his eyes in the process.

I felt my body go rigid and my face was surely enough flushed. I felt them walking towards us. Their voices got closer and closer....  

"Hey Caleb." Said Adam. They were close to each other. Friends since they were in diapers.

Caleb looks towards us and gives me a cheeky smile while making his way towards our table. Adam gets out of his seat and bro shakes with Caleb. I just noticed what did Jay mean by groupie. He was here with four other girls, two whom I certainly know go to our school, but two I have never seen before. And obviously, he has his four wing-men with him. Gosh! Isn't one enough?!

"Aye, I see... getting the guys there... huh Anastasia?" He smirks. I smile back and shake my head no. 

Ugh! My full name. Again?! Stupid Butterflies.

"Nice to see you too Caleb." I say sarcastically, mustering my best fake smile to hide my embarrassment. I stood next to Owen, in clear view of Caleb.

"Hi Caleb." And to my rescue, Sophia and Diala show up.

"Ladies." He said cheekily. I rolled my eyes. 

While his groupie ignored us and sat down on a table far away from us, Caleb was talking to the guys. The waitress finally came back with our change. I noticed Caleb glancing towards me a couple of times during his conversation. 

Diala, Sophia, and I took our part of the change and left the rest for the guys. I decided, then, to take advantage of his glances. I nudged Owen's hand and he shut his eyes and opened them, and mouthed me an 'ok'.

"Okay then. It was nice talking to you bro." Said Adam doing that bro thingy again.

"You too, bro. Say Hi to your brother for me." Caleb answered back with an award winning smile.

"Okay bye." Said Jay.

"Bye Caleb." Said Owen giving him his best fake smile while taking my hand in his. Caleb looked down at the contact and a flash of confusion flashed across his face.

"Bye." I said with a genuine smile. I tried not to burst into laughter as I watched Caleb's eyes widen in realization. 

"Yea..." He shook his head a bit, running a hand through his hair.

I'm so weak.

"Bye." He said back in a confused tone. I smiled back to him and waved as I turned around, with Owen's hand still wrapped in mine, and made my way towards the exit with Jayden, Adam, Sophia, and Diala trailing behind.

I could feel his eyes burning holes in my back but chose to ignore it.

Once we were a good distance away from P.F Changs, I pulled away from Owen.

"Oh my god! Did you see the look on his face?!" Owen yelled frantically.

We all started laughing while Adam and Jay try imitating Caleb in his earlier situation.

"Ana, you murdered him." Jay said with a genuine smile.

"He is such a jerk." Sophia chuckled.

"I agree. Asshole." Diala laughed her ass off.

"Dude, he's gonna plan a revenge that will tear you apart." Adam said to me with such a panic, it radiated off him.

"Let him dare." Jay and Owen said at the same time and laugh.

"An, he's a bitch!" Sophie so loud I think he heard it.

"Okay, what happened, happened," I paused looking around on them, "But that was totally worth it." I smile.

"Yeaaaahhhh!!" They all screamed.

After that, we all headed our separate ways and went home. I was kind of at peace because I finally opened up to someone about my 'crush'. Yes, it may be five people only, but now I can talk to someone about it. I can fully trust them to keep the secret.

I wouldn't say it is a secret. More of a like 'if anyone knows this he will and would stop talking to me' situation.

Honestly, I don't find Caleb as 'Boyfriend Material', he's more of a like 'Use & Dump" kind of person. I don't imagine dating him, or being labeled as 'Caleb's Girlfriend'. That only exists in the dumpster of my mind. It is a long gone idea. It was never an idea to begin with. I don't fantisize about us dating, or going on a date, or him even holding my hand. I just find him attractive, no other feelings. In my defence, almost the whole school thinks he's hot and handsome.

If it weren't for his prominent jawline, green eyes, and flawless hair, he would have been a regular guy. His complection was fine, but exchange his special features with normal ones and he wouldn't be so special. Caleb is basic. Let me rephrase that. He is a basic asshole.

What? Better than fuckboy. It feels weird to use that word.

I reached home and studied then went to the gym. I told coach Rick about this and he said 'It was the right decision to make.' 

I hope so.

2 weeks later...

The past two weeks have been hectic. Our daily tests and examinations started and it was no fun, let me tell you. With 26,498 exams all stuffed into one day, it was like a doorway to hell. But this has been a routine for years.

After my encounter with Caleb, I didn't hear from him nor did we talk to each other. It wasn't weird since he would disapear once the bell rings. And I didn't make the effort to see him either. Which was fitting since I would turn into a ball of nerves.

But now was not the time to think about him. Today I'm starting free-style dance lessons. Yes, I'm aware that I mentioned that before, but I never took actual lessons.

I was excepted in the academy and best part about that is that Gizelle is with me. She has been in these dance lessons for a year now, and I was absolutely ecstatic to finally start there with her.

It was more of a stress reliefer than ballet. But less than the gym. Nobody can beat the gym.

Gizelle and I decided to grab some Starbucks after we were done. I told Gizelle and Destiny about my crush a couple of days ago. They weren't that happy to say the least, but they supported my decisions and that was very important to me. I love them both endlessly.

We walked into Starbucks and my senses were immediately taken over by the amazing smell of the one and only, Pumpkin Spice Latte. September was coming to an end and October was on its way which meant this traditional drink had to be brought out.

We ordered sat down, waiting for our drinks to be done.

"Two Skinny Pumkin Spice Lattes with whipped cream and extra carmel for Kendall and Kylie?" Said the baristra while we laughed and took our drinks from her.

"Thank you." We both said and she smiled so wide at us it made me absolutely happy. We turned around and got our tissues, sugar, straws and Wifi passwords.

Just then, had I thought twice about this.

(March 6-9)