Unbearable (Unexpected Sequel)|✔️

35- He knows. He KNOWS!

I didn't know what I expected at school the following Monday, but this wasn't it.

I was screwed.

When Ben turned weirdly distant at the party on Friday, I thought it was a temporary thing. Hell, I didn't even do anything wrong! We were just arguing like we normally did and BAM! He stopped talking to me.

Even though it didn't seem like that big of a deal at the time, it clearly was. The first sign was him not being at his usual spot, stalking Dean. I forgot to check the parking lot for his car earlier and didn't have time to now. So, I went to class with a calm heart. Surely it was just a mere coincidence. Maybe he was just running late.

The second, and more prominent, sign was during AP gov. Ben was here but he wasn't sitting in his usual spot next to me. He sat where he sat at the beginning of the year, far away from me.

I've dealt with this before. In fact, it felt like déjà vu. Back in junior year, when Dean started acting weird and ignored me, the same events played out. He stayed as far away as possible–and back then, he was pissed at me.

Sure it was for legitimate reasons (being all kissy and cuddly with him, and then saying I wasn't looking for a relationship) but I didn't know that at the time. All I knew was that he was acting like an ass.

Sometimes I forgot how similar the two were.

But then I thought maybe I was overthinking everything. Sure Ben and I shared some good moments, but that didn't mean we were friends. He said he didn't hate me, but that didn't mean he liked me.

This went on for the rest of the week. I hadn't even tried to approach Ben. I was still scared he'd lash out at me like the first time we met.

I had enough by Friday. My paranoia was seeping in and I needed to confirm my thoughts were dumb.

So when we were dismissed for lunch, I told Emma I had something to do. She warily nodded and let me go.

Speaking of, lunch was much better now. Dylan kept up his end of the bargain with Jaz and was no longer a douche to his teammates. In fact, he chose to sit at a different table so he wouldn't have to kick people out as we came. It was a little weird for their captain to not sit with them but whatever, it was highschool. He wasn't required to do it and they had plenty of bonding time at practices.

But the story between Emma and Will was completely different. Before, the table was filled with constant banter between the two. After being forced to talk out their problems, an awkwardness settled between them. I really couldn't tell if it was sexual tension or something else. All I knew is they both refused to look each other in the eye. Whatever happened in that closet would remain a mystery.

And that's why I was happy I got to skip lunch today.

I decided not to text Reece I was stopping by. The locker rooms were empty now anyway so he didn't have to look out for me.

When I approached his office my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. Reece was there, enjoying his lunch, but there were also two unexpected guests. Skylar and Dean were also there, laughing. Both sat on the floor with their legs straight in front of them. Their shoulders touched as they used the wall to support their upper half.

They looked comfortable together.

All three eyes snapped up to me and I wanted nothing more than to slowly crawl in a hole and die. I hadn't expected the two here, especially not Dean. And to see him so happy with his girlfriend stung more than I would've liked.

I didn't understand why the three hanging out hurt so much. I mean, of course they would! They were friends much longer than me. It only made sense for them.