One Step Closer (Sequel to OSAAT)

Chapter Seventeen.

"Yeah, Dad..." I said in the phone, rolling my eyes. "Dad, I have class, alright?"

"Well, sweetie, this is something we need to talk about." he said.

"No, it's not. I honestly don't have to talk to you about anything." I said and hung up the phone.

"You okay?" Ricky asked me and I nodded.

"Yeah, my dad decided to pop back into my life over the summer. Which I didn't need." I said and sighed.

"Whatever happened with him, anyway?" Ricky asked me and I looked at him.

"Uh... it doesn't matter." I said, not wanting to talk anymore.

"Sorry for bringing it up." Ricky said and I shook my head.

"My mom died, which you already now, and then he left my brother and I... he became an alcholic, and I thought that was pretty fucking stupid. You know, considering his wife died getting hit by a drunk driver." I said and looked outside.

"I'm sorry." Ricky said and I looked at him. I shook my head and sniffled.

"Don't be. It's all pretty stupid." I said and he smiled a little at me. He leaned over and kissed my head.

"How about after class we go back to your dorm and practice?" he asked me and I nodded.

"Sounds good." I said and smiled.

-

Ali's POV

After my morning class, I decided to go to a small café that was on campus. I was debating whether or not to text Niall and ask how he was, but I realized that might be a bad idea. As I walked into the café, I heard a sigh. I looked to my left and saw Jack. Inside I was so happy to see him, but I couldn't show him that.

"Uh, I'm just gonna go." Jack said, trying to squeeze past me. I grabbed his arm, and he looked down at me. "Yeah?"

"Can't we just talk? You know like friends?" I asked him and he sighed.

"I guess." he said and put his things back on the table. "Do you want what you usually get?"

"Yeah." I said and he nodded. He walked away from the table and walked to the front counter. He ordered both of our drinks, and I could tell he was slightly flirting with the girl that was currently working at the desk. My ears felt hot, so I looked away from them. I put my backpack on the ground and pulled one of my notebooks out of it. I bit my lip and looked over my shoulder. Jack handed her a piece of paper, and my heart sank. The girl laughed and Jack smiled.

"You suck at drawing." The girl says and he gasps, fake hurt.

Was he doing this on purpose?

She handed him our coffees and waved to him. He turned around and met my stare. I turned around quickly, hoping he might actually think he was seeing things. I quickly start writing a grocery list and he sets my coffee next to my notebook. I look up at him, but he isn't looking at me. I sigh and he sits down.

"Who was that?" I asked him, still staring at him.

"Hopefully my soon-to-be girlfriend." he said and my heart sunk even deeper into my chest. "She's Katharine... we have Engl-" His eyes meet mine, and he just stares into them. "English together." he finishes what he was saying and looks back at his notebook. I cover my face and breathe in deeply. "You know, that's what it felt like when you left me for Niall."

"Excuse me?" I asked him, uncovering my face. He looked at me, but only looked back down. "Look, I didn't want to l-"

"We're here as friends. We aren't discussing this." he said and I gulped a little.