𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐚 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 | 𝚉𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚗

8

Chapter 8

"Wait, wait, wait, but you have to tell us what happened back there," Jordan nudged me as he munched on his burrito. His eyes staring at me intently for my answer.

Anna moved her steak around with her fork as she looked at me eagerly as well. You could tell she was still thinking about last night.

I roll my eyes and sigh, "Nothing happened, he just came to talk. I don't know. He mainly came by to hang out with my brother as usual," I shrug, scrolling through Instagram pictures from last night. Mentally chuckling at Jennifer's selfie of her pouting with her messy hair in the background. I decided to like it just for the hell of it.

I lower my phone still in my hands and rest it in my lap, stabbing a piece of steak with some rice, beans, and corn before plopping it in my mouth. The taste was so mesmerizing. If I could have Chipotle for the rest of my life, I would.

"Are you sure? It looked like something else from the way you both practically ran out the door together," Sofia pressed while taking a sip from her soda cup.

"He was waiting for Corbyn," I roll my eyes.

I didn't want to tell them anything about what Zach said, until I was able to process that this whole thing was actually happening. Nothing extreme or exciting was going on, except for Zach telling me he likes me, but other than that, nothing was worth telling Jordan and Sofia. At least not yet.

I look back at my phone, munching on my meal as I refresh my news feed and new pictures filled in. Jennifer had posted a new picture... with Connor.

"Connor was there last night?" I ask out loud, my eyes wide. My blood already boiling.

"Yeah he was the one who brought the bud last night," Sofia stated.

Anna scrunched her nose at the memory of the smell of the bud light beer, "As much as I'm tempted to try it, I can't stand the smell."

"Wimp," Jordan mutters, stuffing carnitas in his mouth to play innocence, but Anna just rolled her eyes, refusing to fight back on Jordan's insult.

I groan, unable to take my eyes off the picture. Connor's arms wrapped around Jennifer's waist, his chin resting on her shoulder with a cheese smile on his face. I take in a sharp breath.

"I thought you were over him?" Sofia asks, noticing my reaction towards the picture.

"I am," I bite back a little too defensively.

"Really? You're staring at that picture like your life depends on it, so that says otherwise.

"Remind me again why you're still hung up on him?" Anna asks cluelessly.

Before I could reply, Jordan beats me to it, "Because he was her first."

My eyes widen in horror. I felt like he said it a little too loud, and despite the lack of nosy people and the attention barely drawn to us, I still felt embarrassed to talk about it.

Connor was my boyfriend in sophomore year for a short period of time. He was super sweet and everything I could ever ask for in a guy. I was completely drawn to him.

No one knew about our relationship except for Jordan and Sofia. Connor told me it was best to keep our relationship hidden, because his father didn't want him to lose focus on his football career. And me being naive and vulnerable at the time, I agreed to it.

I gave him everything but within a week after, I caught Connor cheating with a freshman. I confronted him about it, but instead of fighting back, he simply shrugged and told me how "terrible" I was "in bed anyway". I cried for weeks and continuously lied to my parents how I was just stressing over finals.

Connor already graduated last year, but that doesn't stop him from attending high school parties, especially Jennifer's.

I lock my phone and rest it back onto my lap.

Anna gives me a sympathetic smile before speaking, "Don't worry about him, you'll find someone worth your time one day."

"Or worth getting into your pants."

Sofia and Anna both shoot a glare at Jordan who only shrugs and sips away at his drink. I shake my head, knowing he's only trying to make me feel better.

Although his version of trying isn't as helpful.

It's an attempt, my subconscious defends.

My phone suddenly vibrated in my hands, a notification popping up at the top of the screen from an unknown number. I pull the tab down and read the new message.

Unknown
ashley?

Unknown
it's zach

-

so i'm gonna be going on vacation and i'm not gonna be back until early august, but i'll try and write chapters and post them when i get back.

next chapter there's going to be more of zach and ashley i promise. and i'll just tell you now so you can expect it, the chapter where corbyn finds out is going to be somewhere from chapter 15-20 if everything goes as i planned.

other than that, hows the story going so far?

- tessa