Miles Away (A Squad Fanfiction)

Chapter 5

Ariel and Ben were already lounging on the couch with two air mattresses in front of them. Jeremy, George and I headed over to join them.

Assuming the mattresses were for me to lie on, I slopped onto one lazily, Lucy hopping on and sprawling out on it beside me.

"Lucy! I still need to sleep on that tonight!" Ariel protested, his face flustered. I scratched the puppy behind her ears. She whacked her tail against the mattress in response and I grinned. "I don't think she understood you, Ariel." I told the YouTuber. He grumbled some more but didn't offer any other comments.

"So, graduated from high school, huh?" Jeremy nodded at me. "That's old news Jeremy. It's been a year." I reminded him, chuckling.

"An amazing year, I bet. Without school and everything..." Ben smiled wistfully.

I opened my mouth to answer Ben but George beat me to it. "Why are we talking about school?" He demanded

"I thought we were going to talk about how she kept her Lambo." George said.

"I got the first three months for free. The dude who rented the garage for me told me that some dude paid my rent." I shrugged. "I would say thank you to the guy, but then I don't know who they are. Unless..." I paused, my gaze sweeping over them, searching. "It's one of you boys." I finished.

"It wasn't us." Ben reassured me. "I can barely save enough money to get myself a new phone." I snickered at his snide remark. "I guess you're right."

"Well it was someone, and I'm seriously thankful to the guy. Huh... I wonder how they knew I was renting a garage without my family's support though..." I trailed off.

George's POV:

As Lexi turned to chat with Ben, Ariel was already half asleep, but I couldn't help but sneak a glance at him, a smirk playing about on my lips.

I lied to Lexi.

When she was asleep last night, Ariel didn't sleep, but I knew he wouldn't want her to know.

He had sat around the house, sometimes on the couch, then he would be in the kitchen, sneaking up some snacks, when he thought no one was looking.

I walked in on Ariel after he had carried Lexi up to his room without his notice because he was busy tucking her into his bed. He hovered above her for a moment, staring at her peaceful form.

I watched him carefully as he hesitated, knowing that what he wanted to do was probably not going to be appreciated by Lexi.

Of course, I knew Lexi would probably be freaked out yet overjoyed, if Ariel went through with his thoughts.

I could see the look in her eyes, the passion and the longing. How her eyes widened in panic every time Ariel appeared in the FaceTime and how she blushed lightly every time her gaze swept across him, even if it was for a millisecond.

And then there was Ariel's odd behaviour, especially since he knew about Lexi's move. How he mentioned Lexi almost every time we were alone. How he kept casting glances at the 19 year-old since her arrival.

How he secretly paid for her garage for the first few months, hoping that no one in the house would know. How he, almost forcefully, made me swear that I won't tell her, when I confronted him about it.

They acted as if there was nothing between them, but they were my best friends. I notice things about them. How could they possibly think that I won't know about their attraction towards each other?

Ariel sighed softly. Instead of lowering himself to kiss her forehead, he raised his hand to brush away the hair covering her face, then stood up and smoothed down his shirt.

Then, I knocked on the door and Ariel shifted his attention to the door. "Oh, hey George." He motioned for me to enter.

I placed Lexi's duffel bags down beside Ariel's bed orderly and carefully, knowing full well that they're both neat freaks. "Thanks, dude." He clapped me on the back. "Pulling an all-nighter?" I asked him, gesturing to his desk covered with notes. "Don't let her know." I chuckled when Ariel nodded. "She tried to kill me on FaceTime last time I told her that." I laughed. "Oh I remember that time." Ariel chortled. "She threatened you. She was so pissed." Ariel reminded.

I grinned. "Ahh, the memories." "So nostalgic." Ariel nudged me. "You're getting old, bro." "I'm very young, thanks." I pretended to be offended.

Then, Ariel looked at Lexi. "I'll watch her." He murmured, almost to himself. I smiled at Ariel sympathetically, remembering the nights he spent wide awake, editing the videos he had recorded, just to get just enough money to help Lexi out with her garage rental.

He really did care for her a lot.

I patted his back. "I'll be downstairs if you need anything."

I closed the door gently, making my way down to my office.

- - ❁ - -

2 weeks later

Lexi's POV:

I was sitting under the shade in my black bikini with Ben and Ariel.

George, Jeremy and David were in the pool with Lucy while Bogdan and Justin were in the hot tub.

I turned to Ariel. "Hey, uh, Ariel?"

He blinked against the sunlight before turning to look at me. "Yeh?"

I fidgeted. "I was wondering if you're really going to sleep on that air mattress forever." I muttered, heat rising to my cheeks as I bit my lip. Why would you ever ask such a dumb question? I mentally yelled at myself.

"Hmm... Yes, I suppose. Why?" He asked me. "Well, I was guilty about taking up your room and was wondering if you wanted to uhh... sleep with me. On the floor, if you don't mind. Because the temperature in the living room is terrible." I explained.

He looked doubtful. "That's, if you want to." I added hastily.

"You don't mind?" Ariel asked, a half smile on his face. "Because I would love to have my room back."

"But she's a girl." Ben protested from beside me.

"What do you mean by 'she's a girl'?" A frowning face asked us.