(Friday)8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡbltLPeggyr 維尼
"WHY GRANDMA, WHAT big ears you have? All the better to hear you, my dear. Why grandma, what big eyes you have? All the better to see you, my dear. Why grandma, what big mouth you have? All that better to--"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuGv3JKt3B 維尼
"Shut the fuck up, Hugo!" I snap.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKNPdZc3Vq 維尼
I receive no reply from him, and take it as a kind blessing from god. Our substitute teacher told me to collect some dictionaries from the library for our practise test—one I didn't know we about—and Hugo opted to tag along instead of arranging the classroom into test conditions with the others.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbkzWPrXqW 維尼
Currently, I'm waiting for Miss Carter to bring back the dictionaries. As for Hugo, he's brought it upon himself to read some fairytales from the stacked trolley near us. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgOcs7Sd9x 維尼
"Are you going to Chad's party this Saturday?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbTQb7c9DS 維尼
I glance at Hugo, who's ditched the books and has his phone out instead. "He's throwing a party?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12plQ5YQ5l 維尼
He pauses, looking up at me. "Yes?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtS8uljmlv 維尼
I nod with pursed lips. I'm not annoyed that he didn't invite me; we both despise each other's guts. It's the idea that Lilly didn't bother telling me, and if my instincts are correct, Lucian is clueless about it too. But then again, we’re not talking, so...8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡO44xnouKNR 維尼
"So, are you going?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRpRTgBmou 維尼
I shrug. "I don't know. Most likely not."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡg70iYSbgPw 維尼
Hugo frowns. "Why not? Isn't he like, dating your bestie or something?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tgW6q5eng 維尼
I snort, amused. "No one says 'bestie' anymore Hugo."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡseNKT6pl6g 維尼
He rolls his eyes, but I catch the faint blush colouring his checks. "Whatever. So are you going?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCUx4KeR3R 維尼
I sigh, crossing my arms and leaning back against the wall. "Why are you so persistent about it?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOSX308JdE 維尼
He shrugs, and for a split second, he reminds me of a six-year-old: cute and annoying. "Curious is all." 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡtX2fm6EdQv 維尼
I hum in reply, not believing a word about his so called 'curiousity'. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOAL055P1s 維尼
"I'm serious!" He proclaims, wide eyes looking at me innocently. But I catch the mischief, and the tilt of his lips, so I shake my head at him. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8TT6x2T2e 維尼
"You can't fool me, Axel." I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling. Hugo can be—is—a pest, but there are moments like these, where he somehow manages to make me smile, even if he doesn't mean it. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDJlTKQzS9 維尼
But he's still a pest.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuj6DKQU1x 維尼
"I know, Carr," he drawls back, almost cheekily. And this time, I can't stop the smile from appearing.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjCbtWyILV 維尼
"SO, HOW'D YOU go?" Hugo asks me the second we leave the classroom. I shrug, nervously tugging at the hem of my shirt. Personally, when it comes to essay writing, I always manage to stuff up, whether it be with understanding the prompt, to finding related examples, to managing my time effectively, or all the above.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡkf4y13RR7g 維尼
"It's only a practise test, Vallyhills, you have plenty of time to improve."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1qQJKN6Rm 維尼
Sigh. "I know, Hugo." 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIFTctOyVk 維尼
I push past a couple of students lingering near my locker and pull out my keys to unlock it. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdUzpFD7EL 維尼
"Then what's wrong?" he asks, leaning on the locker next to mine.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡli9Zip94oc 維尼
I shake my head, and pick up my psychology textbook for next class. "Nothing's wrong. I'm just tired."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGfxpbMg8S 維尼
I close and lock my locker door, ignoring his searching gaze. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62bvbEI57e 維尼
"Are you sure?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2lEze6X4f 維尼
“Yup.”8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡya2e1AdR9Z 維尼
Shoving my book in my bag, I glance at Hugo, only to see him staring back at me with narrowed eyes. "What?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡV67NsZF9ty 維尼
He shrugs. "Wanna get something to eat?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PoILaPnA2 維尼
I start making my way to the cafeteria. "No."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYq0d1DXAv 維尼
"Why not?" 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡd80uECD3HE 維尼
"I'm not hungry." 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡMY8uT5oBrP 維尼
Hugo continues to pester me until we reach the cafeteria doors. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡW27zyiDHSs 維尼
"For the last time, no, Hugo," I say, annoyed at his persistency.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5X14stVCkC 維尼
"Awe Vallyhills, maybe next time. You can stop begging now," he cooes at me, holding the door open. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxAQ7Kt64d 維尼
My face scrunches up in confusion. "What?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCBwWxYPh7 維尼
He tilts his head towards the cafeteria. "Are you coming?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQiGWG67au 維尼
I blink at him, a frown still present on my beautiful face, but comply. As we walk towards our separate tables, I glance back, only to spot a group of young girls dreamily staring and giggling at Hugo. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWpdEYVdsD 維尼
Oh my god. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡolenL8EDYs 維尼
I narrow my eyes at the Hugo’s big head, who currently has his hand stuffed in the pocket of his school pants, searching for—presumably—money. As if sensing my glare, he turns to me and pauses. "What?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmMhSBiiVQ 維尼
I purse my lips, looking back at the young girls before focusing my attention on him again. He seems to catch my drift, because not only does he smile and wave at the giggling year elevens, but also has the audacity laugh at my annoyed expression. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡCk1vW4YskS 維尼
"No need to turn green, Vellary," he states.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFe3Dj1vEa 維尼
I gasp. “I’m not jeal—”8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡL113SH89zW 維尼
"Don't worry though," he cuts in, patting me on the head. "You're the only girl for me." He casts me a wide, mischievous smile before stalking off to his friends.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡPM9lraZlgM 維尼
I stare at his retreating back, eye twitching and cheeks burning, before making my way to my table with my head down.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5VaL87BHd 維尼
I've known Hugo since year seven. The day he arrived, all the young girls were hysteric about the boy with "beautiful hair". Although, I beg to differ, when he walked into PE class that day, his hair was anything but. It looked like a bushy mop.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡc41ucH63Mh 維尼
"Care to tell us why you're blushing like a mad woman?" 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYaRUy2pCi 維尼
I look up at the sound of Lily’s voice. She and Lucien are sitting on the same table. But why?8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6B9dYnzL7n 維尼
I give Lucien a confused look, taking a seat next to him. I wonder if they made up, or if she's planning n making up with me.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡchgKOKM3S3 維尼
“Are you talking to us now?” I ask Lily.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡDljoalirvg 維尼
She looks at Lucien, who looks at me with a small smile. Looks like a grimace to me though.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5P7jwbOl1 維尼
“Lily said that she and Chad aren’t dating,” says Lucien. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvEPCSp9g2 維尼
My eyebrows raise at that. “Really, why?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKiJ56gYCo 維尼
“I told him we all needed to work things out first. And that he needs to apologise to you guys,” says Lily. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoE0Q162kc 維尼
“And what did he say?” I ask. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvKvTUpMh0 維尼
She smiles. “He said he’ll do it.”8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡNW4XQrgQpP 維尼
I nod. “So where is he?”8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40O9IpN5lD 維尼
”Huh?” 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGYWNYB8Ys 維尼
“Where is he? Isn’t he meant to be apologising?”8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJRGnTUlcr 維尼
“That’s the thing, Vel,” says Lucien. “He’s invited us to a party this Saturday. Apparently he’s going to apologise there.”8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmdkNj4v4e 維尼
I rest my cheek against the palm of my hand. “Really?”8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ds7MFj7Ky 維尼
He shrugs, and we turn to Lily, who shrugs. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7oefXocN9 維尼
“He’s really sorry,” she says. “He feels bad about everything he’s done.” 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYhtMRTBnD 維尼
“I would’ve preferred to hear that from him, actually,” I say.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Bwx46itAa 維尼
”That’s what I said,” says Lucien. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6p0BDv4Pf 維尼
”You both will. At the party.”8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2FQZ85CIk 維尼
I glance at Lucien. “Are you going?”8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbagWi2TJR 維尼
He shrugs. “I don’t know. I gotta think it over.”8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0B6sGjPew 維尼
I nod.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHXN37bJSi 維尼
”I don’t want to lose you guys,” says Lily. “You’re more like siblings than friends, to me.”8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpoiSA8Zno 維尼
”You should’ve thought of that before choosing that ginger over us," says Lucien.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsxq7pqCxD 維尼
"I didn't choose him over you. I just--"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhwx5V1mki 維尼
"Then what do you call what you did during lunch the other day?" I ask. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3ST7Ha1DZ 維尼
She looks away, but I still catch her guilty gaze and the large bags under her eyes. Her hair, which is usually straightened and tied in a low bun, is thrown up in a messy ponytail. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1HRZ07wDY 維尼
"I was caught of guard. With what you guys were saying and what he'd told me. I just needed to get away from it all. I was really--"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡJifNcDidV6 維尼
"Confused?" says Lucien.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡJljhZ8ltbV 維尼
She nods. "But that's still not an excuse. I shouldn't have put you guys in that position."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZClZoeaUP 維尼
"Damn right, you shouldn't have," I say. "We're you're best friends. You shouldn't choose him over us. If he was a good person, sure, that's understandable, but he's a bully!"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡc46Ks9YhNW 維尼
"I know." She lowers head. "I didn't mean to. I just--"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ytzznOtDM 維尼
"And the way you let him talk shit to Lucien too." The more I remember what happened, the higher my irritation soars. "You cared more about him calling you 'girlfriend' than the way he talked to Lucien."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LdxFwT1rz 維尼
It seems her actions affected me more than I let on...8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbgkjxunLK 維尼
"I'm sorry."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡTR6dQL9Y5P 維尼
Her eyes are teary, and Lucien, who's been quiet most of the time, says, "Vel, I think that's enough. She's about to cry--"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6JrmU1bde 維尼
"You were gonna cry that day too, but she did jack-shit, Lucien."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSKyGAC9Xd 維尼
He looks away.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYbiMmehUG 維尼
I tune back to Lily. “What’d I tell you? Didn’t I tell you think it through? If I don’t matter—”8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡswNA8hqhSZ 維尼
"You do matter, Vel!" she says.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zIYWu8FZL 維尼
"Okay, put it this way then: if Chad didn't purposely push me down the stairs, that's fine, but you can't make us forget all the shit he's done to Lucien and go on to choose him over us, right in front of us!"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDMWnojDLV 維尼
And...that's when she bursts into tears. Do I feel bad? Yes. Do I regret what I said? No. Because if our positions were swapped, I wouldn't even do what she did, neither would Lucien. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8zdPVuGT6 維尼
"I'm sorry." She sniffs. "I didn't mean for all of this to happen, I swear." 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPf9kllyDH 維尼
Lucien pats her on the shoulder, and I shake my head, turning away. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1c422YeY7f 維尼
"I guess I got overwhelmed with the fact that he liked me."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdKMIRjOO2 維尼
"When did you even have the time to like him?" I ask. It doesn't make any sense. Although, she was the only one who Chad never picked on. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡvw4Ffl0xSG 維尼
"We work at the same cafe."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSU3cNbe8q 維尼
My head snaps towards her. Lucien seems just as surprised. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaASqhm3Cv 維尼
"Since when?" he asks.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡHL1rC13jtH 維尼
"Since last Christmas." 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfJ2rydZnu 維尼
I sigh. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQCHomHQJw 維尼
"I wanted to tell you guys, honestly! But, I was scared of how you'd react."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9vhsKUblM 維尼
"I wish you told us. Better than finding it out this way," says Lucien. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLrmhtCRjX 維尼
"I agree. If you told us from the very starts, we would've at least been a little understanding," I add.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gUZi6TGN6 維尼
She nods, big, fat tears still streaming down her face. Despite my annoyance, my heart still hurts. I don't like seeing her cry nor do I like seeing Lucien cry. I absolutely hate it when we fight, especially over someone as low as Chad. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡryRijlVOcF 維尼
"Here, have this." Lucien hands her a small packet of tissues, and Lily thanks him. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrNqxo08nw 維尼
"I'm sorry," she says, wiping her tear away. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcI8RQRbDn 維尼
Lucien and I glance at each other.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcBcbwY6ei 維尼
"I can't say we forgive what you did," states Lucien, "but we can work towards that, right, Vel?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MCb5C4Tl3 維尼
My eyes jump from him to lily and then back to him. I nod. He's not wrong.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡITYHUJv0cB 維尼
"Starting with going to Chad's party," he adds.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡerMxaDEImg 維尼
Wait, what?8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHEPSqebfa 維尼
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