the last of our lives

Chapter 6: Times Square

When I got home the night before, Moriah was already asleep. She was probably totally exhausted, because I came back at the latest at 8:30. So this morning, consequentially, she's grilling me about my date.

"Oh my god. He actually said that? Oakleigh he totally likes you!" She says. 

"Probably, seeing as how he took me on a date," I say confidently. But I still have a flicker of doubt. I just don't want to set myself up into a position where I can easily be hurt.

"You HAVE to wear his hoodie today." Moriah grabs my hands and looks into my eyes seriously. "That way everyone knows he's yours and girls like Kaelyn can't take him away."

"Of course I will!" I say. "What do you think I'm new to all of this? Because if so, you're totally right." I remember something. "Oh yeah... how are things going with Ben Li?" I sing the name.

Moriah yelps. "I totally forgot to tell you something super big that happened yesterday!"

I jump. "What?! What is it?"

"He kissed me!" She screams.

"Oh my god! What?! HOW did you not tell me about that! When? Where? Was it good?" I scream back.

She sighs dreamily. "It was SO GOOD. He was SUCH a good kisser. Like he didn't use much tongue or anything. And he was such a gentleman! It was when you were on the lake with Avery, he asked me to take a mini walk with him so I did and then he told me he liked me and I was like 'I like you too' and then he was like 'Is it okay if I kiss you?' and then he did! And then I came back right when you and Avery fell in the lake."

"Oh my god!" Me and Moriah jump up and down in that way that best friends do when they're excited. "I'm so happy for you Moriah!"

I sit down after a minute. "I thought Avery was going to kiss me, but he didn't."

"Aw." She sits down. "Are you upset about it?"

I shrug. "I think I'm okay with it. I really want to kiss him, but I had such a good time with him I didn't care that much."

We go downstairs and meet at the bottom. Emilio, Ben and Avery are there. As well as Kaelyn. Kaelyn is busy flirting with Avery, and to my dismay, he's paying attention to her.

But as soon as he sees me he calls me over. "Hey Oakleigh. Kaelyn was just telling me about the good and bad teachers at school."

I nod. "Oh yeah. We definitely have a mix of both."

Kaelyn laughs. "And good and bad kids at school too." I feel like she gives me a pointed look but I couldn't really be sure.

 I ignore her comment. "Worst teacher is Mr. Gretcher. He teaches PE. He's so hard core."

Kaelyn does that face that she probably perfected in eighth grade. "Yeah I agree. He's such a perv." 

I grimace. "I wouldn't go that far, but he's definitely not the best." 

"Who's your favorite teacher?" Avery interjects. 

"Ms. Ross." Kaelyn says. "She let me check my Instagram one time. She is SOOO chill."

I shrug. "Yeah I like her too she's pretty cool. I personally like Mr. Heritzon better. He taught me a lot in English sophomore year. "

Kaelyn wrinkles her nose. "I don't like him. He gave me detention for calling this girl a whore."

Avery looks visibly confused. 

"Well. At least it was for a good reason and not because you were late to class or something." I say. 

"I guess." Kaelyn checks her nails. "C'mon Avery. Let's see if we can be in a group together." She takes Avery's hand and leads him towards where Mrs. Turner is. 

I sigh. Although Avery might like me, Kaelyn is not giving up so easily and she definitely has advantages.

I go over to where Emilio and Ben and Quinn stand. They're both complaining. 

"Hey guys. What are you talking about?" 

Ben groans. "Kaelyn."

"What about?" I ask. "I have a lot of opinion where that topic concerns." 

"She's ALWAYS flirting with Avery. It's nauseating to watch." Emilio groans. 

"Tell me about it." Quinn says. "And you guys don't even room with her. She's literally always griping about something. Like you know what she was saying yesterday? She was on the phone with her friend for like, three hours. She was like 'This guy Avery at my school is SO HOT. Like damn those dimples. But this bitch Oakleigh keeps trying to steal him away. She's so desperate.'"

I seethe. "Ugh! I haven't even done anything to her!" 

"We have a story though." Ben says. 

"Oh yeah. You have to hear this one." Emilio nods. 

"So this morning, our doorbell rings and I was like 'Who the fuck is ringing our doorbel? It's six in the morning.' So I got up and Kaelyn is at the door all dressed and ready to go and she's like 'Is Avery here?' And I'm like 'No he's asleep.' and she dead ass goes 'Can you wake him up?' Like bruh no. I'm not going to wake up your crush at six in the morning so you can talk to him." Ben says. 

I laugh. "I can't believe she did that!"

He holds up a hand. "Oh that's not all. Then she literally blows right past me into the room and goes 'Avery! Do you want to go to Times Square together today?' And Avery looks literally so tired but he just got up anyway. I don't know why he's so nice to her."

"Probably cause she's hot." Emilio says. 

I look down stewing with jealousy. Avery probably liked Kaelyn and that's why he's being so nice to her. 

"Do you guys want to be in a group together today for Times Square?" Quinn asks. "We could ask Moriah to join." 

I call Moriah over, who's busy talking to Tana Larson, one of her friends outside of our group. She comes over with Tana. 

"Do you want to be in a group together?" Quinn asks them. "I think we might have to many people though."

"Moriah and I are thinking of doing some shopping while we're in Times square. How about we separate on who wants to do that and who wants to do other stuff." Tana smiles

"I would totally shop." I say. "I'll come with you guys."

Emilio shakes his head. "I bought a lot yesterday actually." 

Ben Li waves his hand. "Not my thing. Quinn?" 

Quinn shakes his head too. "I'm okay. I mainly just want to walk around and get food."