Lost In Love And Lattes

Chapter 6

It was 2:17 in the morning. I was lying in bed -on the cusp of sleep- when I heard the door slam.

Immediately I was once again 100% awake and now several more hours away from sleep, just lying in bed and listening to Miles Away by Maneli Jamal. It didn't matter though; he was home.

Sebastian had been missing all day. Obviously it wasn't like he had to tell me every part of his day, but it would have been nice to know that he was ok or that I should have called the cops. He hadn't told me anything though, and as 24 hours approached I was getting more and more worried at the prospect of him becoming legally a missing person. But now he's back.

"Where the fuck have you-" I started as I went to him, forgetting I was still in my short shorts and a sports bra.

He clamped his hand on my mouth. His face was too close and I winced at the strong smell of alcohol on his breath.

"Get off me you fucking prick!" I said, although with his hand still covering my mouth it sounded more like, "Bep og ne woo pufpimg piff!"

With his free hand he held a finger to his lips, "Shh, shh now."

I nodded, accepting his terms, and he let go of me. I breathed a sigh. My head tilted upwards towards his face. The urge to decipher his expression overcame me. He looked angry, shaken, conflicted, but most of all, exhausted. Well duh, it's like half two in the morning, most normal people would be exhausted right now.

Suddenly I was enveloped in a wall of muscles and leather. He was... hugging me? The fuck? It was a tight embrace. Too tight. I told him to stop, that he was hurting me, and the look on his face was indescribable. Something like twisted horror, worry, and regret. He took a step away from me. Then his face hardened so quickly I was terrified. What sane person could change emotions like that, so quickly and drastically?

He threw my 5"8 frame over his shoulder as if I weighed nothing.

He stormed to my room, threw me onto my bed, then, in a complete change of character, tucked me in and combed his hand through my hair.

"Goodnight, Avery."

As he walked out of the room, I was left in complete confusion.

***

This time, I was early to the psychology class I shared with Livi. The professor hadn't noted my tardiness to the first class, so luckily my first impression hadn't been tainted.

I sat down next to her, trying my hardest to fight back a blush when she grated me with the cutest smile. I really hope she's gay, or this could be torture. If there was a gay hand guide, then making sure if someone is gay or straight before you fully develop a crush on them would be the first rule. In red. Underlined and highlighted. Now that I had embraced my bisexuality there was no stopping the feelings that I just knew were beginning to surface.

We'd both gotten there before the professor, so we had time to chat before class started.

"Hey Ave! Did you do that recommended reading?" she asked.

"Yeah. Well, I started it, but I just have so much to do for my other classes. I really should not have majored in politics," I laugh.

"You're majoring in politics? That's so cool, my major is math. So much regret!"

"Math? Wh-what-why-how -WHY?! My opinion of you had just completely changed," I joked.

"What? I actually like math! Or at least I did before I took it to college level."

As we carried on talking, I couldn't help but admire her. Today she was wearing a sundress. It had white and cherry red stripes running down the skirt, and going horizontally on the top. It was incredible how she made something so simple look so good. You would have thought that the red would clash with her bright ginger hair, but if anything it complimented it, along with the bright red lip gloss she wore. Her colorful attire contrasted her pale skin, making her look almost like an ethereal being.

"Do you like Friends?" she asked.

"Well duh, I am human!"

"Which one's your favourite? I love Joey because he's so adorable and clueless, but Phoebe is just generally great and Chandler's hilarious. Monica is alright but a bit annoying and I really hate Ross. He's so obnoxious! It's like, who cares if the nanny is a guy, he's still qualified."

I smiled at how adorable she was as she ranted about what was apparently her favorite TV show.

"... and then Rachel is just so pretty! I know it's shallow for that to be the main thing I like about her, but have you seen her?! Honestly I think she was my first crush."

My ears pricked up at that. Rachel was her first crush? YES, SHE'S GAY! WOOP WOOP! I did a mental dance in celebration. I actually have a chance with her, as slim as it may be.

I gave her a small smile, and carried on talking about Friends. I really hope this goes well.

***

After the psych class ended I face timed the group, and we decided to meet at Lulu's Diner.

On the way I walked past Sebastian, who was on his motorbike, and waved at him. He looked to dead in the eye and glared. Tried as I might, I couldn't think of any reason why he would be mad at me. Whatever, it didn't matter right now. I was going to come out to the group and tell them about Livi!

I made a quick phone call to the diner to double check that my plan was in motion, and arrived shortly after.

My friends were at our usual booth, in the far corner by the window. That was good; they wouldn't see me until I wanted them to.

I went up to the counter to pick up the cupcakes I'd ordered. There were 8 of them, spelling 'Hi I'm Bi' with a picture of a bi flag on the 8th cupcake.

I walked over to the booth, put the cardboard box of cupcakes on the table facing the window, opened it dramatically, showing the message, and flung my coat open, revealing the bi flag I'd sewn into it while I was trying to get to sleep last night after the whole incident with Sebastian.

"You are what you eat!" I exclaimed, and took a huge bite out of the cupcake with the bi flag.

"Was this not common knowledge?" Alexis asked.

"Can I have a cupcake?" Georgie asked.

Everyone got a cupcake, and we all sat around chatting.

"Sooo who do you like? Is there a special person that you're seeing? Tell us!" Sam insisted.

"Well, there is this one girl. She's called Livi and she's in my psych class. She's so pretty, and she's got the most amazing ginger hair. It's so long and curly. Oh oh oh! I forgot the best part! She likes girls too! She mentioned having a crush on Rachel from Friends. I wanna ask her out but I don't know if she likes me."

"Of course she likes you, who doesn't!"

"When will we meet her?"

"Why didn't you tell me!"

The group dissolved into discussion about Livi, before nagging me for her full name so they could stalk her on social media and 'make sure she was good enough for me'.

A/n Sorry it's late! I didn't have WiFi yesterday 😕