MELROSE

CHAPTER 8

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I hadn't talked to Chris for three days straight.

We avoided each other in the halls, neither of us had lunch at our usual table, I was avoiding the squad as a whole and every little thing made me angry.

So in my time of crisis, the last person on earth I thought I'd see was my ex.

But he was here. I was looking at him, he was looking at me, neither of us moving, just staring at each other, the shock evident on both our faces. Deciding the dramatic moment of silence was getting old, I spoke first.

"Maximilian fucking Chester."

"Aurelia friggin' Brester." He said in an acquired Australian accent.

I cringed. "I hate when you say my full name."

He grinned. "So do I. Guess we're even now."

I stared at the entire ice cream shop we were standing in. "Ironic isn't it? This was the last place we hung out together."

That fancy accent again. "It is, indeed, but a small world."

Fuck. I missed this boy.

And I intended to tell him that in the most warmly of ways.

So I punched him. "You're a fucking asshole. When did you return to US? Why didn't you call me?"

"Honey who's she?" I heard a voice say. If anything it sounded a lot like Samantha's.

And wait, honey?

A girl with pink and purple dyed hair emerged from nowhere, scanned me, labelled me a threat and automatically glared. Ah, the joys of being beautiful.

"That's why. This is my girlfriend Jermaine." She smiled smugly. "Jermaine this is Aura." Her smile dropped at my name. Had he told her about me?

She stretched out a hand. "Hey. Nice to meet you."

I totally ignored her and turned to Max. Sorry I'm in bitch mode. Related to the fact that I'm not on speaking terms with the people I love.

"How's Australia? And your brother?"

She blinked and let her hand down, her mouth closing and opening like a fish. It would have made a pretty hilarious video.

"It's great. He's fine too. He said and I quote if you run into Aura and you don't say hi to her for me I will kill you." He replied not caring that I had declined his companion's handshake.

Maybe he expected it. After all, you can't completely change in a two years.

"Max! She just ignored me and you're acting like it didn't happen!"

He dragged a hand down his face and in that fancy Australian accent said, "What do you want me to do Jermy? Beat her up?"

"You don't ... Fine. I'm sick of this. I'll go order now. Blueberry and cotton candy in a wafer cone and strawberry ice for my honey pie."

I cringed.

He cringed.

She didn't fucking notice.

"I'll be back honey pie. Try not to miss me too much." She pinched his cheek lightly.

Kill me. Just kill me.

"His favorite's chocolate."

"What?"

"Max hates anything pink. He loves anything made from cocoa so chocolate is good for him. Plus, he's fucking allergic to strawberry."