hatred | miniminter

23

leaning against cal's kitchen counter, sipping on a bottle of cider, my focus completely remains on simon on the other side of the room. "eden, you alright?" will catches my attention.

"mhm." i shake my head, smiling up at him.

"are you sure?" mia furrows her eyebrows, glaring at me with narrowed eyes.

"yeah, of course." i sigh, but my mind appears to be elsewhere. simon and i haven't slept together in 5 days, which isn't that bad, but we have barely spoke or messaged. the whole 'wanting to get along' idea appears to be in the mud and i'm not quite sure what i have done or said that has pushed him to now no longer pay attention to me.

"come on." will gestures to everyone else, the three of us walking over. i seat myself on the sofa beside cal, my focus not once shifting from simon who seems to be avoiding any form of eye contact with me and i instantly regret coming. if it was me 3 months ago, i would have refused to turn up, knowing that simon would be here, but i thought it would be best to come - thinking simon and i could get along with everyone. but he chooses to ignore me.

"you okay?" cal nudges me with his elbow, i swiftly turn my head to look at him.

"yeah, why?" i furrow my eyebrows.

"dunno," he shrugs his shoulders, "just seem a bit off."

"i'm fine." i sigh, weakly smiling at him as i take a swig of my bottle. he wraps an arm around my shoulder, rubbing it lightly as i rest into his embrace. i notice simon glance at us for a brief moment, before turning his attention back to harry and ethan.

i would be lying if i said drinks were flowing because i find myself only on my third bottle of cider, the alcohol contents not even touching the sides and i remain slumped on the sofa. but at least cal keeps me company, knowing i don't seem to be acting like myself. but i can't bring myself to tell him the reason why. "i'm gonna go to the toilet." i pat freezy's thigh, placing my bottle down as i drag my feet to the bathroom. i let out a frustrated sigh as i slam the door behind me, gazing at my discouraged appearance in the mirror.

arriving back to the kitchen, i pour myself a few shots of sambuca, backing one after the other which sends a shiver through my body. taking in a deep breath, i walk back over to the sofa with my head facing down, grabbing my bottle before falling back into cal's arm again. everyone appears to be having a group conversation, so i don't really pay attention as i seem to have missed most of it and instead go on my phone.

"simon, brother!" cal exclaims, i slowly lift my head from my phone, gazing at the boy beside me then back at simon. "have you spoke to that lass you got with on monday night?" he lets out a high pitched laugh, all the boys now getting involved with the conversation as my heart drops to my stomach.

"oh yeah," harry chuckles, "forgot you got with someone when we went out for drinks."

"yeah," cal nudges me, i slowly turn my attention to him, "simon got with this pretty fit lass on monday night when we all went for drinks." my body begins to burn, gripping onto the bottle with such force it could break into pieces. 'monday night', the night of his birthday, the night i told him to go enjoy his night, the night after we most recently slept together. "did you take her back to yours?" cal shouts.

"no," simon shakes his head, "i didn't."

"oh, didn't you?" i glance up at simon, leaning forwards, pulling him a disgusted expression. he simply shakes his head, taking a sip of his drink, "i mean, who would want to sleep with simon, right?" i scoff, throwing myself back into cal's arm who sits chatting to will stood beside him.

"i reckon you could've slept with her." harry nudges simon's arm, my focus still remains on him as i try to ignore the lump forming in my throat. "but to be fair simon, i wouldn't wanna sleep with you."