A life of fears// byler

8. mixed signals

but i watch your eyes as she walks by...
—heather, conan gray

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Will stood up, leaving Max speechless. The expression on Will's face was so empty, almost like he went numb. Max noticed this.

He walked past the couple in the booth, Max standing up and following him. Will didn't even bother to look at them.

He felt Mike watching him and Max as they walked past them and heard how he stopped talking and stopped paying attention to what Jane was saying, but she still kept talking to him.

Like talking to a brick wall.

"And then the dog saved him! like a true hero, don't you think?" Jane continues.

Silence. only faint music from the parlor's radio could be heard.

Since you've gone I've been lost without a trace
I dream at night, I can only see your face...

Mike was lost in his own thoughts, looking at his best friend walk by. He didn't even notice that he was accompanied by Max until they were out of the parlor.

"Mike?" Jane tries to grab his attention.

Mike was still lost in thought.

"MIKE."Jane raises her voice and almost slams her hand on the table. Mike practically jumped out of his seat.

"Uh, yeah totally!" Mike mutters out, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

Jane looks to where Mike was looking. Then she realizes.

"Is that...?" she starts.

"No! you know, i was actually thinking how that boy and that girl look so much like them. hahah, don't you agree?" Mike says nervously.

"Mike, i didn't mention their names."
Jane says, catching on.

"Yeah, uh, you know..." Mike says, looking down.

"I could recognize that fiery red hair anywhere." Jane says while standing up, attempting to catch up to Will and Max.
She drags Mike by his hand.

Mike follows her lead for a little bit but stops when they are out of the parlor. Jane lets go of his hand and stops aswell.

"What's going on? come on, we're going to lose them!" Jane tells him.

"I just," Mike starts.

"You just what? what's going on with you Mike? don't you wanna say hi to your friends?"
Jane exclaims.

"No, it's not," He tries to explain.

"Then what?" She says with frustration, looking into his eyes, hoping to find some sort of answer.

"Jane, just let me explain."

"There's nothing to explain." She replies while taking a step forward, directly facing him.

Mike opens his mouth, trying to say something, just something, but nothing came out.

"You've been so different these past few weeks. Why are you so difficult? You're giving me mixed signals all the time and it's just to confusing," Jane tells him.

Mike looks at her yet again.
"I'm sorry. You just wouldn't understand."
He says.

It was like every emotion drained from Jane's face.

"Yeah you're right. I wouldn't." She says sternly and walks away, completely ignoring Mike calling after her. Max and Will were out of sight. They were most likely out of the mall by now, so Jane took a U-turn to the exit of the mall.

She stepped out of the mall and observed her surroundings. No Max or Will in sight.

October 9th, 2020

Word count~ 566

A/N

Wow long time no see. this story was flopping soo bad but suddenly it got 300 reads in a week? i dont understand :,)

-Arla