Hard Boy ✔️

45

- No Judgement; Niall Horan -

Aurora Holland

My eyes landed on Miles. He was sitting across from me, his light-colored eyes focused on the homework he's been working on for the past fifteen minutes.

The library's been deserted for the last two days, something the boy and I took advantage of. Last night was the homecoming football game, and although I wanted to go and watch the Jackson brothers throw a ball back and forth, I couldn't.

I've felt behind on my work lately, as more of my attention has gone to Carter. My grades were fine, but I know if I just blow off my homework every day then I'll eventually see them start to slip which is the last thing I'm needing right now.

They won, and the announcement was already all over social media and in the newspaper. Plus, I got a celebratory text from both the brothers, to which I sent back a text just as quickly congratulating them. They deserved it after all, as this win was something they needed against Arrowway.

Today it was empty because tonight was the homecoming dance. People were out getting manicures and pedicures, getting their hair and makeup professionally done. It wasn't anything I was interested in, and so I found myself coming to the same table I usually sat at when I attended the library.

To my luck, Miles was already here. We'd run into each other yesterday when we were the only two here, and decided we'd start studying together. It was nice to befriend someone who wasn't of the same social status as the Jackson brothers, someone who was more of a misfit a lot like Katherine and I.

We get along well, and he's accommodating when it comes to studies that are done a lot differently here than they were at Point Prep. He does his best to explain things I don't understand, and he doesn't make me feel stupid or slow when it comes to things I don't catch on to right away.

"I can feel your eyes on me," Miles spoke, causing my cheeks to grow red. I hadn't even realized I was staring, too caught up in my own thoughts.

"Sorry," I mumbled, looking back down at the textbook in front of me. I then looked back up, seeing he was still looking my way. It was as if he knew something was bothering me, and he just sent me a nod to encourage me to speak my mind. "I just-" Drumming my fingers along the book in front of me, I thought about what words to say next. "How do you know when your relationship status is official?"

Kind of random, but considering these thoughts are the main thoughts clouding my mind today, I can't help but bring it up. It's something I really want to know about, and since Miles has yet to make me feel stupid about anything, I don't think he'll be any different when it comes to... whatever's going on between Carter and me.

"What?" He asked, narrowing his eyes. "Rory... a-are you asking me for relationship advice?"

"Is that wrong?" I questioned in return, my brows bunching together in thought. "I just- sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I just don't think you realize I'm not the one you should be asking. This is about-"

"Carter, yeah." I muttered, "How do you know when it's official?"

"When one of you asks the other to be your boyfriend or girlfriend," He answered quickly. He dropped his homework sheet on the table in front of him, his attention solely on me. It's not as if he was getting much done on it anyway, seeming to be lost in his own thoughts before I interrupted.

"Hmm, okay." I frowned, "That answered that."

"He hasn't asked you, has he?" He asked, leaning back in his chair.