• Before We Met •

3

I had been looking for Max since first period yet there was no sign of him. He wasn't picking up his phone and he wasn't responding my texts. Panic was starting to set in. He didn't mention anything yesterday about not coming to school and I couldn't help but worry that something must have happened to him.

We met last year in Spanish class, and although we had been attending the same school for years, neither of us had ever made an effort to talk to eachother. Based on his simple, "Hey, wanna grab coffee after class?"speech, I figured that the boy didn't like clichès and I was all down for it, but I, deciding I wanted to stay solo and not have a guy screw me over, declined and told him that my dog needed my attention 24/7.

We became close friends after that conversation though. I didn't like dating guys that I didn't know. I mean the only reason why a stranger would ask you out is because he thought you were "cute" or he just wanted to be the next dracula and suck all the blood out of my body. Either way wasn't good enough of a reason for me to date a stranger. So after him asking me out 2 months after, I agreed, and things just escalated from there.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when my phone vibrated and saw that I had 1 message.

The only guy in my contacts 😎:

Hey A, I don't think I'm gonna come to school today. I have a major headache. I'll see you after school. Love you ❤

I sighed loudly as I read the text and replied a quick 'okay, i'll see you later, feel better'.

School already sucked enough, why did the universe have to take away Max too? Is this 'Torture Aspen to become a Millionaire' day? Because if it is, the players sure know how to play their cards.

I stared at the word 'love you' on the screen for a while, feeling a pang of guilt as I still couldn't bring myself to say the three words to Max yet, until I heard whispers coming from around me.

I looked towards the direction where all the students were pointing at, to see a gorgeous, tall, curly haired guy slamming his locker shut almost in annoyance and stomping away to his class.

Wow. Homeboy got some issues.

I figured he was the new guy that people have been talking about. Some people are saying he transferred from England but with all the rumors going on, I'm not sure if I should believe them since knowing me, I'd probabbly say something that turned out to be false and make him angrier than he already seems. I'd most probably end up with a dent in my face.

I saw Sophie walking down the hallway and went to catch up with her. "Hey, did you see the new guy?" I asked.

"Yeah, he seems like someone you shouldn't mess with." Sophie said while looking above my shoulder as if she's looking at something. I turned around just in time to see the new guy grabbing Bradley by the shirt against the lockers.

"Hm, at least Bradley can shut up now. This guy looks like he can throw him all the way to Canada with just one punch." I said with amusement as I watched Bradley whimper under the new guy's hands.

"His name is Sam. Sam Bailey. He transferred here from some school in England but no one knows why. He's hella cute but I guess you already knew that since you're still staring at him and looking like a complete creep." She emphasized on the last part.

My head snapped towards her and away from Sam who had glanced at me. "I'm in a relationship you know. A happy one at that." I argued as I crossed my arms.

"Speaking of. Have you said it yet?" asked Sophie wearily.

I looked down at my fumbling hands. "No.. I just don't want to say it when I'm not even sure what it's even supposed to feel like." I admitted.

"What do you mean?" Sophie asked in confusion. "Well, Max is amazing and all but he's my first serious boyfriend and he's also the first guy that has ever said he loves me. I don't want to disappoint him by keeping him hanging but I also don't want to say that I love him when I don't even know what my feelings are towards him."

"I get it. It's your first serious relationship and you want to be careful with it. But just know, don't be scared to admit it. He seems genuinely in love with you so I doubt that he'll treat you with anything but respect." She said with an understanding smile.

"Okay Wise Woman of Words, I'll catch you later and thank you." I chuckled lightly at the deep turn this conversation had taken. She always knew the right words to say and set my perspective straight. So with her words in mind, I went off to my next class.

××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××