An Endless Serenade

Chapter Twenty-Two

"Um... did I miss something here?"

I looked up at Aspen, who was holding her lunch tray and staring at me like I had three heads. None too subtly, she nodded toward Olivia, who was sitting next to me at our lunch table. "We're friends now," I informed her.

"Acquaintances," Olivia corrected.

I forced a smile at Aspen. "It's a long story, don't ask."

"But... what about all those things she did?" Aspen demanded, taking a seat across from me, turning narrowed eyes to the blonde on my left.

"Just the moves of a jealous jackass," I responded offhandedly.

Olivia shot me a brief glare, but it didn't have much power behind it. "I apologized."

"You did. Doesn't mean I forgive you yet," I said simply. "You got Elliot beat up."

Her face flushed red in embarrassment. "I didn't tell them to do that... They went further than I expected. I didn't mean—"

"Don't explain to me, explain to Elliot," I interjected.

She shrunk a little in his seat. "What if he punches me?"

"Then you deserve it."

"You're a bitch."

"So are you."

Aspen, who was watching this little exchange with a blank expression, grew incredulous. "You guys have a dangerous friendship."

"Acquaintanceship," Olivia and I amended.

"Right... so what did you buy with the prize money?" Aspen questioned, turning her attention to me. "A new car?"

Olivia stiffened beside me. I shrugged casually. "Nah, my mom took it to put in a bank account for college."

"What? That sucks!"

"Whatever, it's fine," I responded, catching Olivia's eye. She sent me a grateful look.

"Huh. I have one more question."

I nodded. "Go ahead."

"What made you two become friends? You'd think Allie winning the competition would cause Olivia to hate you more," Aspen reasoned, not unreasonably.

"Paul," I explained with a grimace. "You know how he is."

Aspen laughed. "Attractive and persuasive?"

I grinned, but decided not to comment on it. Her response was pretty accurate. "Just pressuring."

"So basically, what I said."

Rolling my eyes, I turned back to my lunch and picked at my ham and cheese sub. "Where's Elliot?"

"Outside, like usual," Aspen responded, nodding toward the door. "Don't know why. It's freezing."

I glanced at the courtyard entrance and immediately made eye contact with Kyle. He smiled cautiously at me and I smiled back. Then his eyes went to Olivia, and widened comically.

"Crap," she muttered, ducking her head.

"What?" I asked.

Kyle was making his way over and Olivia didn't answer. "Hey Allie, Aspen, Olivia."

"Hi," Aspen and I chorused.

"Hello," Olivia responded in a quiet voice.

Kyle smiled warmly at her. "This is a surprise. You two sitting together."

"Life comes with surprising twists," I told him, shrugging. "Though it must be awkward for you two."

"Why?" he asked.