The Friendzone Project

09 | Little Rendezvous

Paige

MILO STILL HAD a hold of my bag, he still has it over his shoulder.

My bag.

My bag is latching onto his broad shoulder. Oh, how I wish I could trade places with my bag. I'd be so willing just to be able to clutch on him.

For a 17 year old, he had broad shoulders and a strong posture. I've heard rumors that he'd often train with the marines over the summer together with his older brother.

The thought of Milo having another brother brings me into a world of daydream. Gosh, I wonder if they both share the same electric blue eyes, deep dimples and a heart swooning smile.

I was brought back to reality with Noelle snapping her fingers in front of me. "Paige? Are you there?"

"Oh," I muttered. "Let's all go inside, shall we?" I offered, gesturing to the front door of my house.

Both Milo and Kile nodded and went straight ahead to the door.

Noelle rolled her eyes. "You're so obvious, Paige." She muttered.

I smiled at Noelle before giving her a bear-crushing hug. "I missed you." I said, pulling out from the embrace. "Why have you been avoiding me?" I frowned at her.

Noelle gulped down and looked at the green grass beneath us. "I—I just thought that we shouldn't be friends anymore."

My brows creased down. "Why?" I confusingly asked. "Noelle, you should know that you are the best of friend I could ever have!"

"It's because...ever since you've started talking to Kenna again, it made me think that maybe you'll leave me because I'm just a nobody." Her voice quivered at the end of her sentence.

My eyes started to water, but I hold them firm not letting a single tear fall. "No, Noelle don't think like that..."

"I'm just a nobody and you're loved by everyone because you're a cheerleader—"

"I used to be one." I snapped. "I'm not a cheerleader anymore."

"—But it doesn't change the fact. You're someone and I'm no one. We shouldn't be friends anymore." Noelle said, taking a few steps away from me.

"You're only saying that because I hang out with my ex-teammates nowadays. Well, I'm not the one doing all the avoiding, now am I?" I said, agitated. "The only reason why I'm with them because you avoided me as if I was the plague so don't act as if you've done nothing wrong because you started this."

I looked at Noelle, her hazel eyes were brimming with tears. I blinked, then guilt started to consume me. I twisted the knife on Noelle's gut.

I've always known that Noelle was the fragile—sensitive person. She's self-conscious, has low self-esteem. And I made it worse.

Stupid. Stupid, Paige.