Summer Before Her (Completed)

22- Are You Okay?

Novak's POV

I woke up groaning, this has been one of the worst hangover ever, surprisingly I remembered the events of last night clear as day.

Whisky does not make me blackout drunk, I should stick to Jagermeister— I noted. The sole purpose of my drinking being to fall asleep on a dead note, to wake up blank and if it couldn't achieve that, I was poisoning my liver for nothing.

As I made my way to school riding in the wind, I recalled the conversation I had with Kirsten yesterday and mentally cursed myself for asking her to come over, hoping she didn't get the wrong idea, She wasn't a booty call kind of girl, she was just so much and nothing at all.

Lost in a daze, I parked, strode through the hallways and was about to enter biology when Natalie grabbed my arm, tugging it.

"Novakkkk, I need to talk to you" she hissed.

I looked at her petite form, trying best to yank me out of the flowing crowd and decided to follow her.

"Yeah?" I inquired.

"What did you do to Kirsten?" She hissed, glowering at me.

"Nothing, we just had a conversation" I recounted.

"She isn't here, her phone is switched off"

Oh.

"Whatever you did, you are going to pay for it, fucker" she hissed, now almost gritting her teeth.

Oh.

But nothing happened. Why would she be mad at that? She obviously wouldn't be.

Oh, maybe she thought I asked her to come over as a booty call or something of that sort. Lord, what did I do again?
My drunk mouth always gets me in trouble.

The sense of easiness from the morning completely washed away, now replaced by a gut sinking dread.

I dragged my feet to my desk, settling into and setting my gaze on to the football field.

The pencil held between my index and middle finger being subconsciously rolled around like a cigarette, my body physically craving its relief.

"Mr. Bennani, something on your mind?" questioned Mr.Cyr, walking up to me.

"I am okay" I uttered without thinking.

"How's the project coming along?"

"Kirsten's absent" I rebutted, not having an answer.

"She seems to be having a hard time, try to be there for her" Mr.Cyr consoled, this probably has to do with grades, I reasoned out to myself.

He then walked back to the front of the class, talking, questioning, and quizzing us.

**

I walked into the cafeteria, hoping Kirsten was just late for class and had hopefully shown up.

The designated table was empty and desolate. I walked up to it, making myself comfortable, patiently waiting for them to show up.

She had to be here, I really needed to ask what had I done. Not knowing how I hurt her was torturous, I doubted my memory. I hoped and prayed I didn't say something crass.

A few minutes later Talia walked up alone, still glowering at me.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Waiting for Kirsten" I responded with equal curtness.

"I told you she isn't here, thanks to whatever the fuck you did" she haughtily spoke.

"I didn't do anything, we had one appropriate and pleasant conversation, Can you please get hold of her? It's driving me insane" I snapped, losing my cool.

"Woaahhh, calm down Mistah. I will go over to her place after school."

"Can I come?" I asked, a little too eagerly.

"I mean I might have to apologise and we also have to work on the project together" I reasoned out, trying to cover up my earlier displayed eagerness.

"Sure," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

After silently eating, I left the cafeteria with a skip in my step.

**

The last of the bells for the day rang the sound of it as sweet and mellifluous to my ears like that of a singing nightingale.

I strapped on my helmet and reparked my motorcycle in Kirsten's usual spot, next to it sat Natalie's humongous G wagon. How did a little girl handle all of this?— I wondered.

"I can handle all of that and men," she remarked, sauntering in.

Did I wonder that out loud?

She settled in, rolled down the window and backing out of parking space, called out "Follow me"

We were soon playing a game of follow me through the streets of Bravermen wells, to park in front of a  mansion.

Oh wow, was she loaded?

We walked through the long stretch of her driveway where her lone beetle sat, basking in the sun.
The perfect trimmed hedges and rose bushes surrounded the periphery of the property. Ah, This was a sweet place.

Natalie walked ahead and stood at the gate. It was mostly glass framed by wood, the rich did like their doors fragile, eh?

Once again she buzzed the doorbell, only this time to hear a thudding of feet in response.

Behind the closed gate, Kirsten asked: "Who is it?"

"It's me, Talia and Novak"

She slowly opened the gate and was enveloped into a hug by Natalie.
I stood there awkwardly looking at the roof, the door trimming and the interior that was visible.

When she broke free of the hug, her lower lip was trembling as she said "Hey Novak"

I looked at, slightly concerned by the slight tremble in her lips, the marring sadness on her face and blurted out "Are you okay?"

"yes, I am okay," she said, meeting my eyes. It felt like she was trying to make herself believe it more than me.

"Where's my hug?" I asked playfully, suggestively wiggling my eyes.

She hesitated momentarily, before wrapping her arms me.

A few moments later, which felt like a few seconds, she pulled away, almost reluctantly.

At this point, Talia asked, "Why didn't show up at school today?"

"wasn't feeling like it," she said dismissively, her eyes cast to the floor.

Why did this bother me so much? She wasn't feeling right and I was dying to find out why.

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End of chapter 22.

After the heavy last chapter, I felt like I needed to update again today.

Q: Do you think Kirsten will tell them about Fred?

Until tomorrow
Elle