She Will Be Loved

Chapter 19: Ice Cream and Iron Man

I was walking to my next class when I almost trip because I didn't see the rolling skateboard towards me. Gladly I didn't trip because Liam caught me by the arm.

"Are you alright?" He ask me, staring straight in my eyes as he holds me. I immediately felt awkward and fixed my posture.

"Yeah." I simply answered.

"I am so sorry. My friend kicked it before I could even hop on it." The guy said now holding his skateboard.

"Didn't you know that it's not allowed to skate on the hallway?" Liam said annoyed as he reprimanded the guy.

"It's fine." I told him.

"I'm sorry." The guy quickly walked away.

"Why'd you let him off the hook easily? He should be called to the principal's office." He said still couldn't believe I let the guy off.

"It was an accident, it wasn't just his fault. If only I was paying attention to where I was walking." I said to him.

"But-"

"I said it's fine." I repeated now with a bit of annoyance showing off my tone.

"Be honest, are you still mad about Friday night? I told you I was sorry that I forgot." He ask me with intense gaze. It has been days since that grand reveal and my heart being crashed to a thousand pieces. I try to tell myself so many times that It'll be okay but I still feel pain everytime I see him.

"No, we already talked about it." I said and continued to walk to my next class.

"But why do I feel something has changed?" I got a bit guilty about what he just said. "I feel like you changed."

I tried to compose myself and plastered a smile before facing him. "What are you talking about? It's probably just in your head." The bell rings, giving me the excuse to leave and let the conversation end. "I still have class. Bye." I walked away from him the way I wanted my feelings to just leave and never comeback.

***

I'm glancing at the window while he reads his script. He slumps his body onto the couch beside me after reading his last line.

"Thank God we are finished." He takes his glass of strawberry juice and sip on it. "I hope i'll remember everything tomorrow on stage."

"You will." I gave him a small smile.

"Are you-"

I know he'll ask me if I was okay, so I didn't make him finish his sentence. "Just like what you said, we are already done with you practicing your lines. So, I think you don't have to come every afternoon anymore."

"Are you trying to make me leave?" He ask with furrowed brows.

"It's not that. What I meant was, you can have your time again and that you can spent it however you want not just go read lines with me." I explain. Spent time with someone you actually wanna spend time with, I thought to myself.

"I somehow got used to hanging out at your house after class, eating bread jam and delicious food prepared by your dad." He lean back to the couch staring at his drink. "But if that's what you want. It's alright with me."

"I just think that there are things that you couldn't do because you have to come by everytime after going to the club practice." I told him.

"Like what? Hangout with Lucas?" He chuckles. "I'm so tired of seeing that guys face every single time."

"Well, maybe a girlfriend or someone else." I pointed out.

"No." He shook his head. "I don't have neither of them."

"What a liar." I mumble to myself.

"Did you say something?" He ask.

"No." I shook my head.

"I thought I heard you say something." He furrowed his brow trying to figure what he heard.

***

Dad made dinner and as per usual Liam stayed to join us. I told dad I wasn't hungry but he wouldn't let me skip especially with Liam joining us for dinner.

"I'm home!" Jacob taking his bag and coat off, placing it on the couch. "I can smell spaghetti with meatballs." He headed straight in his seat.

"Aren't you going to help set the table?" I ask him annoyed. He pouted and got up to take some glasses to the table.

"What's wrong with her?" I heard Jacob ask Liam, which only shrugged his shoulder. I didn't bother to comment or anything else.

We are finally eating dinner, they are talking about something that I don't really bother to engage in.

"Remember the time we went to the lake and had picnic. Ellie wanted to go swimming right after she got off the car but her Mom wouldn't let her because there's no one to oversee her." Dad was the one telling the story.

"But just like the typical hard headed Ellie, she jump in to the water when no one was looking." Collin continued. "Mom was so mad that Ellie was grounded for a week."

"That's really Ellie." Liam laughs from hearing the story.

"There's this other time, when-"

"I want to be excused." I said standing up abruptly not wanting to hear another story. I really just wasn't in the mood. I took my glass and plate and put it in the sink.

"Are you okay?" Dad was the one who ask. "Are you going down with a flu?"

"No, maybe I'm just tired." I shook my head and headed straight to my room.

I wasn't sleepy yet so I tried to finish the book I was meaning to finish last month. I even received a text from Liam saying he already left. I didn't reply to his text and left it on read.

A knock was heard before Dad and Jacob entered my room. "We got you something." Dad said holding a tub of ice cream and Jacob with 3 spoons.

"I'm sorry but I'm not in the mood to eat anything else." I told them.

"But this is ice cream and your favorite flavor." Jacob says, while dad shows me the ice cream. "Come on, eat it with us."

I look at the two still standing by my doorframe, they're looking at me with puppy dog eyes. I sighed and close the book I was reading. "Fine."

"Yes!" The both said. They sat next to me in my bed.

"Do you want to binge watch Iron Man while eating?" Jacob ask as he held my laptop in his hands.

"Is that really a question?" I raise a brow at him.

"Nope." He shook his head opening my laptop.

"So, are you going to tell us now why you're upset?" Dad went in with the serious question.

"I'm not upset." Taking a spoonful of ice cream and shove it into my mouth.

"You know you can tell us anything, right? Things that upsets you or made you feel bad." He says looking at me with concern.

"I know, but I'm really not upset." I lied. "I'm just tired from school."

"Are you sure?" He ask.

"Yes." I nodded.

"Okay, it's starting. Guys be quiet." Jacob taking the ice cream with his eyes not even leaving the screen. That's how big of a fan of Ironman he is. Dad and I just looked at each other and join him to watch.

These two are the only men that will never break my heart and I am so lucky to have them.