Until They Met

Chapter 20|Acquaintance

*TRIGGER WARNING*

🔱 ALEISHA'S POV 🔱

"What?"

I don't know who said it first, Noah or I. We both look at each other with confusion and shock plastered on our faces. We turn to Hadley simultaneously, to see her still standing there, with a bright smile. Noah opens his mouth, closes it, opens it once more, stutters and then finally speaks.

"Wha-what? You want me as your date? Why?" Is Noah's dumb question.

"Because, dummy! I like you! That, and you're super cute." Is Hadley's dumber response.

"Bu-but,"

"Please please please, say yes." Hadley pleads while pouting.

Noah runs a hand through his curly hair before shooting me an apologetic smile.

"I can't," He begins, and Hadley's face drops as mine contorts with confusion. "I'm already taking Aleisha to the dance."

"What?"

This time I know who said it first, between Hadley and I. It was me. I jerk my head to face Hadley, who looks like she is about to either punch something or burst into tears. Maybe both.

I open my mouth and begin to explain to Hadley that I'm not going to the dance with Noah but, before I can, Noah places an arm on my shoulder; my gaze turns towards him. Once I'm facing him, he stares into my eyes, his expression begging me to just play along.

I turn around to face Hadley once again. I shake Noah's arm off my shoulder and instead take his hand in mine. I put on the fakest smile and and begin to talk, "Yes, Noah is taking me to the dance. He asked me out right after I told him that he made me pass my biology quiz. I'm really sorry Hadley. We didn't mean for this to happen."

Hadley's gaze fixates on mine and Noah's intertwined hands before looking up at us, her eyes glossy. "It's cool." She mutters before walking away.

I pull my hand out of Noah's and then stare at him, waiting for him to explain. He looks at me, guilty and not knowing where to begin and what to say. He turns to look in the direction Hadley had walked away, and then looks at me again.

"See, I didn't mean to be an asshole. I know Hadley likes me, she's given me enough of hints. But I don't, and I won't. I thought rejecting her proposal will giver her a chance to get over her feelings for me. If I had said yes, I would've have led her on. And that would have made me even more of asshole than I am now. You don't have to come to dance with me. You can call in sick or something and stay at home. Or I can stay at home since that's what I do all the time. I just panicked and said I was taking you. Shit, you probably don't even want to go with me. Somebody probably already aske-."

I stop him mid rant by putting my hand over his mouth. He looks at me, flushed and confused.

"I'm on the event committee, so I have to be there anyway. Might as well make it worthwhile by going with someone."

He smiled and then surprisingly held my hand for the second time today while we walked to the cafeteria.

***

I walk into the school gym, my sneakers squeaking against the shiny linoleum flooring. The sound of a ball repeatedly hitting the floor resounds through the almost empty gym, with the exception of two people.

The ball comes to a gradual halt near my foot and I grab it and look up. Dae looks at me expectedly and I grin before dribbling it and dodging around her. I run to the basket and am about to shoot when Dae tackles me, snatches the ball from my hands and shoots it straight through the hoop.

"So, why'd you come?"

"Can't I just casually visit my best friend?"

"I know you, Aly. Now what's up?"

I gulp nervously, taking a seat next to her on the bleachers. "I'm going to the dance with Noah."

"Dance as in the Winter Formal and Noah as in tutor-Noah?" She inquires, arching an eyebrow.

I nod hesitantly.

"Wow. How'd that happen?"

I go into the details of the happenings of today morning. She listens attentively as I ramble on. I take short breaths in between, before continuing. At the end, I find myself gasping as I await her response. She looks at me and then let's out a long breath.

"Okay, again, wow. Are you sure you didn't just narrate the plot line of one of those cringey soap operas that your mum watches?"

I chuckle and playfully slap her arm.

"I wish. Unfortunately, no."

"Well I really don't see a problem here other than yours and Hadley's friendship going down the drain." Dae muses.

I shrug and smile sheepishly, "We didn't have much of a friendship to begin with anyway. She was your friend and I just had to go along with it."

Dae's eyes cloud up with guilt. "I'm sorry, I really should have talked about her to you before bringing her over to our table."

I don't say anything in response, instead I reach over and crush her into a hug. I can feel her squirm and struggle against my hold, but soon enough, she stops and I feel her smile against my shoulder.

***

I trudge up the stairs of my house, feeling utterly exhausted for some unknown reason. I plop down onto my bed and groan. I run the events of today through my head and grimace as I count all the awkward moments I've had through the day. I sit up straight and grab the photo frame that is on my desk. I blow off the layer of dust from it before gazing at it with a fond smile.

It's a picture of me and my brother, Aiden. We're standing in front of a treehouse, his arms around me and his eyes scrunched up as this photo was taken mid-laugh. I can still hear his laugh and feel the way he securely wrapped his arms around my shoulder. Goosebumps arise on my hand as the memories are cut short by a wave of sad thoughts. I bring my hands up to my head, trying to stop my thoughts from invading the happy bubble I've created inside my head but my attempts are futile. Almost immediately, tears spring up at the corner of my eyes and soon enough, flow down freely.

My body shakes as I walk to my bathroom and take a seat on the floor near the sink. I open one of the cabinets and pull out a bag. My hands tremble as I unzip it and take out a tool I haven't used in a long time.

A blade.

"It's my fault, I deserve this." I tell myself before I am once again acquainted with the familiar and comforting feeling of cool metal against my skin.

~~~

Heyyy. OkAy, I'm sorry that that ending was too dark. But since it's the 20th chapter I decided to give you guys more of the whole plot. I'm sorry for anyone who was triggered.

Hope you enjoyed.

For those who of you who are confused as to who the frick Julie Ann Pickett is, it's me. It's me going under a pen-name for reasons of my own. This chapter was extremely hard to write had I hope you all will understand that the last paragraph had to be done.

Comment and Vote.

Byeeee.