Paint Me - S.M

18. He's My Lover

10 November 2016, Thursday

Shawn and his friends sat on the seats a row above ours. He was calmly munching on my, I repeat, my caramel and salt popcorn as I crossed my arms and glared at him. He just smiled cheekily and shoved another handful into his mouth, a playful twinkle in his eyes.

Fine then. He could be like that.

I huffed and turned away from him, focussing on the rink where our teams were getting ready to face off. Nathaniel kept glancing back at Malia, typical of him. I chuckled at his antics but sent a fiery glance his way. It was as if to say get-your-head-in-the-game and yes, I was embarrassingly proud it worked because he really did twist his focus round.

Malia sighed dreamily, still looking in his direction. Then, she tugged on my arm as she stood up. I was confused but followed her nonetheless.

We walked into a rather deserted corner near the ladies restroom.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" I belted out the second she dropped her hold on my wrist. Her face looked troubled but it did not seem to be a terrible kind of disaster, just a occasional bump in life type of trouble.

"Do you know what love feels like?"

Taken aback was I by her question. Uhm? What? Who? When? Why? Where? How?

I stepped closer to my friend as some giggling Sophomores walked passed us.

"What do you mean?" I asked once I was sure they were out of earshot. Malia smiled sheepishly.

"I think I'm in love with Nat."

My grin stretched from ear to ear. This was the best thing ever! Malia was finally admitting her love for Nat. Ship. Ship. Ship.

Malia frowned. "Haley! I need your help! I-I don't know how to deal with it!" She whined helplessly. "Stop laughing at me! I'm being very serious right now." By some miraculous Grace of God, I finally reined my giggles in. Truth to be told, I had no clue how to respond. I am 110% sure Nat loves her to the moon and back, they were almost too perfect a couple. On occasion, I hated how perfect they were but it was a great thing to have my best friend in a very healthy relationship. Sure, they fought but it was never over small, unimportant things (unlike me).

"Earth to Haley! Haley Michelle! Haley Michelle Evans, Haley-"

"Yes, yes! I hear you." I rubbed my temples. Malia also had a rather loud voice, I think all of my friends did.

"You weren't even mentally on the same planet as me two seconds ago," she pointed out smugly.

Okay, okay. I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant.

"I think I'm going to tell him on Homecoming night," Malia whispered as we shuffled back to our seats, the loudspeakers screeching to life as the commentator announced that the game would be beginning soon.

A smile lit up my face, I yanked the shorter girl into a tight embrace. "I'll be standing on the bleachers cheering so bad for you guys. I'm so proud of you."

Maybe my eyes watered. Maybe.

I'm glad my friend had sorted out her feelings, she seemed contented with her decision. In fact, I seemed more excited than her for the big reveal.

But I also had my work cut out for me.

I just had mine to sift through now.
...
"Babe, are you mad at me?"

Poke to tummy.

Shawn received silence.

"Haley, don't be like this."