Around in a Circle

Chapter 14

Leah Cranston

"Chloe." I say, and Chloe looks up at me. She had been avoiding me and not making much conversation with me and I purposely didn't bring anything up until we were alone, which was when we were in Tokyo, Japan, unpacking our things, because the boys had decided to go for a walk.

Oh, and about me and Austin? I don't really know. We didn't really talk much because.... I was kinda avoiding him. It's just.... I really didn't know what to think or what to say. Austin didn't purposefully walk up to me as demanded to talk when things were confusing to him. I think he was trying to give me some space to think, which is much appreciated.

"Yeah?"

"Sit here." I say, gesturing to her bed and she comes over and sits down. I sit on my own bed, which was facing hers. "Chloe..... what's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean." I look at her. "Austin."

"Yeah."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"What's going on?" I furrow my eyebrows.

"I.... I knew he liked you. Before we even started travelling."

"Then why did you even invite him to come?"

"Because......." she stares at the ground, kicking it lightly. "I don't know.... He asked if you were coming and I said yes and he said that he would come. I... I didn't really tell you this but me and him did talk quite a lot before we actually started travelling. He probably thought of us as really good friends. But I could tell that he didn't like me." She pauses, glancing up at me for a second. "All he talked about was you."

"Why didn't you tell me? I didn't even know!"

"I don't know, he wanted to surprise you? I don't know." Chloe shrugs.

"Is that why you guys talked so much privately?"

"Yeah. He asked me for.... Tips."

"Wait. He doesn't know you like him?"

"No. Why would he?"

"Uh......" I trail off. Austin definitely did tell me that he found out that Chloe liked him. Did he make that up? Had he noticed she liked him? "I don't know." I decide to keep it to myself.

"Yeah. I'm sorry for not telling you." She pauses. "Do you like him?"

"I dunno, Chloe. I really don't know. He just told me out of the blue and I just.... Never really thought much about it before."

"Oh. Right." She pauses, sighing quietly. "Please don't lead him on."

"Of course not! Why would I do that?"

"I know you wouldn't." She gives me a small smile. I smile back.

***

"Pleaseeee." Maddox begs me and I cross my arms.

"I can't be bothered though! Besides, why would I have to go all the way to the sushi shop, which, I might add, is a twenty minute walk when I'm all comfy right here? You offered to bet who was gonna go get the sushi! And I won. Me going wasn't part of the deal!"

"Leah, you have to go because you know you love me." He winks at me and I roll my eyes.

"Just go get me my sushi!"

"No! You have to come with me!"

"Why?"

"Because you love me."