Just Friends

Chapter Twenty-Nine

He laughs at me. A loud and genuine laugh as I tell him about my horrifying encounter on Snapchat while I was in class yesterday.

"Honestly, I don't understand why anyone feels it's appropriate to send anything like that!" I say, trying to keep a serious face.

Just a week ago, Ellie had convinced me to download Snapchat. Telling me; "You now have a fully functioning phone that's not a million years old! Join the rest of us in the twenty-first century!" She had insisted until finally, I gave in.

It wasn't until a few days later that I realised just how much of a mistake it was. Ellie posts constantly and worse, I was almost just as hooked. Almost.

I had my friends from university on there, and everyone seems to have the most random usernames, so, when I received a friend request from a name I didn't recognise, I didn't think much of it.

For two days they didn't send anything. When I finally received an alert to tell me they had, I was in class, trying, yet failing to pay attention to the lecturer at the front of the room.

For the fifth time that morning, I opened the app, select the new video message and Immediately flushed. I instantly closed the app, but not before seeing the anonymous mans hand, wrapped around something I truly didn't want to see. Thrusting his hand up and down in quick movements and grunting loudly to himself. I was disgusted and could only hope that nobody else in the room heard the horrifying scene I had just witnessed.

It's safe to say that, shortly after that I blocked him and was a lot more cautious of who I was friends with. I contemplated uninstalling the app altogether, but somehow Ellie managed to convince me that it wouldn't happen again and that I needed to keep it.

I was mortified, and Braden couldn't help but laugh at my suffering.

"It was awful!" I demand loudly over his laughter.

"I'm sure it was!" He just about manages to choke out between bursts.

"It's not funny!" I insist, trying to contain my own amusement.

"No," He says, forcing his face to look more serious. "Not at all."

I nudge him a little, and he falls dramatically onto my bed.

We had spent most nights out together for the past four weeks, and the next morning was usually spent like this or recovering from our hangovers. After going to parties or on general nights out, Braden often accompanied me back home, staying the night. The rest of the week I assume he's hanging out with the football team or at practice. I really wouldn't know. Despite all the time together, I don't know who he is when he's not around me.

I look at the man in front of me, an amused smile pulling at my lips.

Whenever I asked about going back to his after a night out, he usually just tells me that he prefers my place. To be honest, it doesn't bother me all that much; I can only imagine the chaos that ensues with living with 6 of his teammates.

"What?" He says, looking at me a little uncomfortable. I didn't realise I was staring until he pinches my toe, shaking my foot a little and bringing me back to planet earth.

"Ugh," I delay for time. "I'm starving. You want some food?"

"I can't," Braden says, his tone a little more serious now. "I said I would meet the guys at Strawberry fields."

During the day, Strawberry fields is a lot more relaxed; Offering a limited menu of food and cheap coffee. They would usually open the upstairs and people would go to play pool and eat. It was a popular place for a lot of students, especially the loud sports teams after training.