No Filter

Chapter VII (7)

Our food is ordered and set in front of us. I moan a little, smelling the savoriness of the dish. "This looks...decent," Sophia puts on an impressed smile, but I can see her distaste to the dish. I didn't care though. I've done the same thing to her with all of the fancy dishes she has made me try.

"It's delicious," I said, but she looks hesitant.

I pick up my sandwich and demonstrate to her how to eat it and enjoy it. And she nods her head, feeling more confident. She picks up her cutting knife and fork and slices a piece of the sandwich. She consumes the same portion in her mouth and wipes her lips afterward. I smile, waiting for her to respond. As she chews, her face shows the different tastes she was experiencing.

"So?" I question.

After she swallows, she takes a sip of her water and wipes her lips once more. "It's...decent," she answers.

I sulk a little, disappointed. Maybe if she had Ally, she would enjoy it better. The first time I tried Waffle House was when Ally suggested it for a hangout. The way she described the flavors and each dish made me more excited to eat it. And she was right when I did.

I hear a chuckle escape Ally's lips, and I dart my eyes on her. She observed us and sealed her lips together. I give her testy eyes, wondering what was funny. Our stare was short-lived. She shifts her eyes away and focus on the textbook in front of her.

"Okay, so Mrs. Deo wants us to memorize the first ten elements. Can you name them?"

Troy nods his head and speaks, "Okay, Hydrogen, Helium..."

I look at Ally and see the fascination in her eyes. The way she was staring at him. I want her to look at me the same way.

Why do I keep doing this? Liam, she's your friend. You don't grow feelings for your friend. I should stop and really stop.

I close my eyes and wonder the perfection Ally is. She is a great friend, and I can't mess that up, but at the same time, I want her. Or I want her to share the same feelings. I don't know if we'll last that long. And that's one of the many reasons why I can't go for her. She's exclusive: hands off.

"Liam, I'm done," Sophia says. "Take me home now. It's getting late."

"Wait," I said. "Let me finish first."

"Take it to go," she suggested. And I nod my head.

I call for a nearby waiter and asked for a to-go box. Once they hand me it, we stand up, and I walk up to Ally and Troy's table. "See you guys tomorrow," I said.

"See you," Ally smiles.

Troy ignored my question and clears his throat, grabbing Ally's attention. "Ally, can we study every Thursday here?" Troy asks.

I crease my brows, wondering what Ally's response was. She took a while to respond, but in the end, she answers, "We can."

I clench my teeth and see him smiling in my face. I sent him a glare. Ally opened her mouth to speak to me, but my presence was pulled away. Sophia pulled me out of the building without a word. Ally lowered her eyes, seeming a little distraught.

We enter my car and put on our seatbelt. I turn on the car and drive on the road. I glance at Sophia a couple of times, acknowledging her silence. "Is there something wrong?" I question.

Sophia asks, "Do you have feelings for Ally?"

The heat hits my face, and my heart pounded in my chest. "Um, what makes you say that?" I question.

"You kept staring at her," she answers as if it was obvious. "I know she is your friend, and I know you probably shouldn't fall in love with your best friend. But...if you do have feelings for her, then why are you still with me? I know I'm cute and everything, but trust me, being in the middle of a love triangle is not my kind of thing. It's either her or me. And I hope you don't choose the wrong one."

"Woah, woah, woah," I slowed down, keeping my hands on the steering and my eyes focus on the road. "I never said that I had feelings for her. I'm just protective. She is hanging out with a new guy, and he's untrustworthy."

"Right," she said sarcastically. "Liam, I'm sorry if I had to break it to you, but I think you're just making shit up and you want to avoid the truth."

"I'm serious," I answer.

"Fine," she says, clapping her hands together. "But don't let me find out that you are." She crosses her arms, irritated.

I turn on the radio to cover up the silence. Pop songs came on, and for the first time, she didn't complain. Rather, she seems to have ignored it. I tap my fingers on the steering to rhythm of the beat.

After I drop her off, I park my car in my driveway. I exit and lock the car. I walk to the front porch and slowly tiptoe inside. My goal was to not be seen, and I also would have met it if my dad hadn't caught me down the staircase. "Liam James Payne," he calls out.

I stopped and spin around to see him in the kitchen. He sat down, facing me, with his fingers locking with the mug handle.

"Yes, Dad?" I held my hands behind my back and smile slightly to lessen the tension.

"Where have you been?" He asks.

"I decided to take Sophia out to eat," I answer.

"Doesn't she have food at her house? I'm starting to get concerned with this relationship you have with her. Why exactly did you take her out?"

"Dad, I have my reasons that I can't tell you," I answer. "You just have to trust me on this."

"Your mother already talked to you, so I suggest you listen to her before I tell you the same thing: Quit slacking off. You've been awol the entire summer without even a consent. Listen, I am not blaming your girlfriend, but ever since you begin dating her, you stopped everything. You stopped listening. You stopped hanging out with your friends. What's going on? Has she made that much of an impact on you?"

I shake my head. "No. I'm sorry. I just haven't been focused lately. And I will fix it soon. I promise," I said.

"Are you certain?" He questions, and I nod my head.

I proceeded upstairs and lock myself in the room for the remainder of the day. All because of this feeling I shouldn't be feeling. I wish it would go away. I know I am handling it the wrong way, but I don't know how to resolve it. I swept Sophia into this mess and push Ally away, hoping that maybe these feelings will go away. But it seems unlikely right now.

I should stop messing with Sophia. The more I do, the more she will start to feel something, and it's wrong. It was wrong for me to even date her when I like someone else.

And I want tell Ally. I need to tell her, and if she doesn't feel the same, then I will understand completely. But if she does, then something could happen. But she's my friend... I have to do something tomorrow before this gets out of my hands.

So, how are you enjoying the story so far? I'm curious.