It's Complicated

26. Some Messy Business

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Ruby3117. Thanks for being my biggest fan and greatest source of inspiration. Love ya! <3

26. Some Messy Business

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, freaking out once again at the thought of walking into school. Two things were completely clear in my mind. I knew I owed Allen a huge explanation after what happened yesterday and I knew Drew and I were over. I didn't want to hurt him, but I knew that my feelings were growing stronger from Allen and I didn't want to end up hurting Drew even more later.

Here were the major problems with telling Allen I like him:

1. Riya - enough said

2. The Valentine's Dance is this weekend - breaking up with Drew right now would be juvenile. Plus, Prom was coming up. (Our prom is in the beginning of April because our school is weird like that... don't ask.)

3. Breaking up with Drew in the first place

4. Being able to trust Allen, aka the reformed player?

So I was kind of in an awkward positition. I had to talk to Riya still, I had to break it off with Drew slowly and gently, and three, I didn't know whether or not I could completely trust Allen yet.

I parked and stepped out of my car, taking a deep breath in. I had to sneak in so neither Allen nor Drew would see me. Then, I would find Riya, drag her to the bathroom, and talk things out. Good plan.

I forced some confidence into myself and soon enough I was smiling and nodding to myself. My plan was flawless.

All of a sudden, Allen walked out of the school and I almost screamed due to the mini heart attack I had just received. I ducked behind a random bush, my heart thumping loudly.

"Mariela?" Allen called out, squinting into the sun.

No, no, no. I was NOT ready for this. I crouched down even lower, praying that he wouldn't find me. I spied on him through the bush and I had to admire him for a second. I couldn't believe I'd never noticed how hot he was. I mean, I always knew he was attractive. Which living, breathing girl wouldn't be able to see that? But this right here? This wasn't even fair to all of humanity. This was a little too good to be true.

His blonde hair was like perfection - it was messy and all over the place in a sexy way. His eyes were by far his best feature, though. They were so intense and passionate. Even as he squinted into the sun, whipping his head in different directions, I had to admit - he looked like a male model. He loosened his tie and sighed (damn!) before turning to walk back in the building.

Darn it. Now I can't go through the main entrance. I racked my mind, trying to remember if there was another way to get in the school. I brightened at the thought that one of the fence bars was broken. I could just slip through and he'd never know I was here.

I ran around to the other side of the school and squeezed my way through the badly twisted bar. I had a feeling someone had done this on purpose just to sneak out of school. My bet was on Mark.

I silently but quickly crept through the back door and ran up to the girls' homeroom class. I saw Riya already sitting in the classroom, looking beyond bored. She picked up her iPod and was about to change the song when I stepped in front of her.

"Oh, hey, Mariela," she said with a polite smile, sticking one of her earphones in an ear.

"Hello, Riya. Would you, uh, go the restroom with me, please?" The nerves were making me talk all formally. I never spoke formally!

Riya hesitated but took her headphones out and turned off the music. "Sure," she said.

I sighed in relief and walked to the bathroom with her. There was an awkward silence between us, more awkward than any other silence we'd ever shared. It was even more awkward than after our huge fight.