screen. ➳ Joey Armstrong

➳ nine

I closed my eyes and tried to ignore him, pretending that I didn't see him. Ugh, of all times why did he have to show up now? And why did he look so damn pissed? Does he not like Aiden?

"Uh... are you okay?" I looked up at Aiden's worried expression as we both realized that I wasn't kissing back.

"Yeah, I'm sorry it's just that... this is... very sudden and, you know..." I trailed off.

"No, no, I get it. It's okay, I shouldn't have done that I-" I felt so bad looking at him being so worried and a little bit sad, so I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him a reassuring smile.

"Let's just go a bit slower, okay?"

"Okay." He nodded and smiled, wrapping his arms around my torso. "Do you want me to take you home? My car is just a few blocks away." He offered, looking into my eyes.

"No, it's fine! I brought my car too." I politely declined, pulling away from the hug.

"Alright. I'll see you soon then, text me when you get home." He smiled that beautiful smile of his and I nodded.

"See ya, Troy."

"Bye bye, Gabriella."

I walked back to my car, hands tucked in my tiny pockets as I reflected on what just happened. I looked around for Joey but he wasn't there anymore, was I seeing things? Had my many sleepless nights of binge watching shows finally driven me mad?

I sighed as I got in my car, my phone lit up and Joey's name came up.

Joey bean: where are you?

I frowned, didn't he just see me?

Me: On my way home from the park, why?

Read at 6:48 p.m.

Alright then Joey, that wasn't weird at all. I drove home and went to sleep as soon as I got there, trying my best to avoid thinking of all this mess and the massive headache these two boys gave me.

The next day I woke up around 11 A.M. with a bunch of missed calls and a few texts, six of the calls were from Harper and two from Jakob at about 9 A.M., one from Aiden an hour earlier and two from... Joey at 3:34 A.M?

Okay, seriously what the hell is up with him? He almost never called me before, and now he's all I've been seeing in my phone history? I decided to call him and confront him about it, but of course he didn't pick up. I sighed in frustration, what could he possibly want from me?

I decided to call Harper back and, unlike Joey, she answered after the first ring.

"Look who decided to give us some vital signs!" She practically yelled.

"Harper... I'm not in the mood." I huffed, rubbing the sleep off my eyes.

"Did something happen yesterday?"

"Something... everything happened yesterday. Can you come over please?" I whined, hiding under my covers.

"Sure, I was actually on my way. I'll be there in like ten."

I sighed once again and got up to take a quick shower, throwing on some comfortable leggings and the biggest sweater I could find. I heard the doorbell and went downstairs, greeting my best friend in the best way I could.

"You look terrible." She said casually as she flopped herself on my couch. "I don't mean that you look ugly bc that sweaters pretty cute, but you're giving me that I don't want to live today vibe."

"I feel terrible." I sat down next to her.

"I'm guessing the date didn't go well?"

"It's not that it didn't go well... actually it went perfect. Too perfect. He bought us pizza and we listened to cool music and we were having such a great time... and then he kissed me, and I swear I was so into it. But..." I trailed off.