Picture Perfect (✔️)

Chapter 15

Emily

I didn't understand why I was even in this class to begin with. I've been in this academy forever and most of the people that started with me already left the school.

When the class was over, I escaped before my piano teacher could approach and ask me about my college application.

I called Bloom and asked where she was and she told me she was in the mall that was couple of stops away from my academy. I caught the bus and made my way to the mall.

The mall was crowded as it was a weekend. A lots of families was walking around with their children and I smiled a little. Bloom told me she was outside Nordstrom. I made my way to that store, but instead of Bloom I see Everett standing there and looking around.

Our eyes met and he walked towards me.

"Em." He looked a little cautious.

"Where's Bloom?" I asked.

"She's at H&M." He said. "Is something bothering you?" He looked at my face, trying to search for answers.

"I thought I made it clear we will meet in school." I said with a frown.

"Let's talk about it." He said.

I think I should let him know that we can't be more than friends. Making my mind, I nodded my head.

"I think we should go somewhere quiet." He suggested and I agreed.

We sat in his car and neither of us spoke anything.

"Everett." I started and when I looked at him, he was already looking at me. "Can we just stay as friends?"

I think he did not see that coming and his eyes widened a bit.

"What happened, Em?" He asked.

"I want us to stay as friends, Everett." I said.

"We can't stay as friends after yesterday, Em? What went wrong? What made you change your mind?" He was panicking now.

"I would like us to stay as friends."

"Give me a good reason why we can't be more than friends?" He asked.

"I don't feel the same. I like you, but as a friend."

He looked at me in disbelief. "I'm attracted to you and you're to me. How can we pretend to be friends when we are attracted to each other?"

"Did you approach me because you found me attractive?" I asked. "You didn't even know I existed before that. We went to the same school, had few classes, and you still didn't know me."

"I'm sorry. I must have been blind at that time for not noticing you, but Em...listen to me. I don't think I can be just friends with you." He sounded frustrated now.

Oh..

"I thought you wanted to be my friend." I said.

"Yes. I wanted to be your friend, but also I was hoping we could be much more than friends."

"I can't do that. I just want you to know. We can't be more than friends."

"Is that your final decision?" He asked.

"Yes." I said looking away from him.

"So you're saying, you like me as friend?"

"Yes." I said.

"So if I do this." He suddenly pulled me close to him and kissed me.

This kiss was full of emotion. He was gentle at the beginning, but then the kiss turned into urgent and harsh. His lip didn't leave mine and I felt him smile as he lifted me from the seat and soon I was on his lap.

His hand was on my waist, while mine wrapped around his neck. When realization hit me, I pulled away.

"No.." I said trying to move back to the passenger seat.

"You felt the spark too." He said as he stopped me from going back to the passenger seat.

"No." I denied harshly this time, and I made my way back to the passenger seat.

His jaw was tensed.

"So, if I date someone. You won't mind?" He asked.

"I won't mind." I said looking straight.

He give me a pained expression and was quiet for sometime.

"Okay." He said. "I just want you to know.... I'm sorry, I can't be just friends with you."

"That's fine." I said. "Thank you for everything, Everett and I mean it." As I opened the door of his car.

His pained expression will haunt me for a long time. I guess I don't deserve love after all.

I watch him drive away and the guilt in me stayed.

It's been two weeks, things were different now. My Dad have been avoiding me. Maybe he thinks that now that I know the reason of why he's upset with me most of the time. He's not hiding his emotions anymore.

Everett and I became strangers once again.

Bloom blamed herself for it, and I reassured her it was not her fault. We have been doing group studies a lot. I tried going home late because I don't want to upset my Dad. He said, he feel upset when he looks at me and I don't want him to feel that way.

I got an online job through Aaliyah. The pay is minimum wage and since it's online, it's perfect for me. I get paid hourly, so I try to work five-six hours on week days and on Saturday, I tried to work more than eight hours and Sunday, depending on my availability of Wifi outside.

I handle blog-posts of a small company. It's an easy job which needed only little knowledge of computer.

Everett was quick in moving on- rumour was going around that London and him are together. People said they hooked up at Evan's party two weeks back.

I was focused on school, my new job and music and I have applied to some colleges hoping for an optimistic answer.

I was stressed from assignments, tests, and home. At least, Bloom and Aaliyah was still talking to me. Evan comes and talk to me once in a while. We are not people who call ourself, best friends, but we are close friends.