Boy Band Games: Why Don't We Edition ✓

Chapter Thirty-three

THE BREEZE WAS cold against my exposed pale skin as I walked through the empty halls of the hospital. Even with my light wash jeans and white off shoulder top, the air conditioner of the hospital still made me shiver. The pitter patter of my feet clad in white slides could be heard. My thoughts wandered to what my mother and I discussed earlier. The current situation I got myself in is actually very catastrophic. My best friend, and two band members of Why Don't We admitted into liking me. And as if things couldn't get worse, I'm still in the competition, even with my panic attacks.

I sighed inwardly, maybe it was about time that I made a decision about the "boys liking me" thing now. Otherwise, things could get worse.

"Charlotte Elora, hurry up." My mother scolded me from the nurse's cubicle, her hands on her hips while her face morphed into a scowl. She's been talking to the nurse about my hospital release for the past ten minutes.

I stuck my tongue out at her, "My head still hurts, Mom."

She rolled her brown eyes at me, "That's just a headache you got from reading books in the dark too much, the doctor said you were fine."

Mom called in a Doctor earlier and had me checked. Turns out my panic attacks were often caused by stress and too much coffee, but the Doctor said I should be fine now. I'm panic-attack free; I mean, not unless I get stressed out again, but I'm going to try and follow my Mom's advice and be happy.

"Finally, you took forever to get here. Sign these papers and you're free to go." My Mom shoved a small bundle of paperwork and a black G-tech pen to me.

I quickly signed the paperwork and gave the pen back to my Mom. "Can we leave now?"

She thanked the nurse and turned towards me, keys dangling from her hands, "Sure, do you want to drive the car?"

I grinned ear to ear, "Thought you'd never ask."

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I parked the yellow Lamborghini Gallardo outside the gates of the mansion and turned the ignition off. The fact that I knew that inside that mansion stood the people who are part of my catastrophic problems, made me want to turn the car back on again and drive home.

I turned towards my mom and handed her the keys, "You driving this home?"

She shook her head and her eyes looked behind me as she pointed outside the car, "No, Federigo is."

I looked up and made eye contact with my best friend who was standing by the gates, carrying a Nike duffle bag. He was in a pair of khakis and a plain white tee. He gave me a small wave and smiled. My heart instantly lept in anxiety. What do I do?

My mom took me from my anxious state and looked at me with an encouraging smile, "You can talk to him for a while. I'll see you when you get sent home."

I pursed my lips. I want to stay only until today. I just hope management hears my pleas.

She gave me a tight hug, and I pulled away, "I love you Mom."

"I love you too, Charlotte Elora. Now, go and follow my advice, okay?" She gave me a warm smile as I opened the car door and stepped out.

"I will." I agreed and closed the car door shut. I looked at the car window once more and saw her mouth "Goodluck" to me. I gave .my arms a reassuring squeeze. I can do this.

I started making my way to the gates with my head held down and stopped when I was a meter away from my best friend. I smelt his familiar scent of blueberries waft into my nose.

"Hey." I heard him say and I looked up to see his familiar emerald green eyes and his mop of curly brown hair.

"Where are the rest of the trio?" I bit my lip, trying to strike a conversation.

He scratched the back of his head, "They already went ahead. The shoot we had is done anyway. Also, they say hi and goodluck."

"Oh, um, yeah. Okay." I answered. We then fell into an awkward silence.

Do I start a conversation again? What do I do? I breathed in a sigh, here goes nothing.

"So about--" We both started and then laughed. Aw, look at his dimples.

"You go first." I offered, to which he shook his head no.

"No, you." He insisted, a trace of his dimples showing when he spoke.

I rolled my eyes at him, "Okay, no point in arguing anyway."

He looked at me with an expectant look on his face and I released a huge puff of breath.

"It was wrong of me to say that you can't like me like that. It was also very wrong for me to walk away that night. For those things, I apologize. I just.. You've been my best friend since we were kids, you're like a brother to me, Fed. I can't lose you because of... those kinds of feelings." I ranted, his eyes never leaving mine as I felt my palms sweat. I don't want to lose Federigo, he's my best friend. Having him as my best friend and brother is better than any kind of relationship.

I waited for a violent reaction, but it never came. Instead, I felt Federigo wrap his arms around me, and pull me in a tight warm hug. To say I was surprised was an understatement.

He then pulled away a bit and pursed his lips, his dimples deepening as he did so. He looked up at the sky and sighed.
"You don't have to apologize. It was my mistake. I shouldn't have pushed my feelings to the brim like that, what we have now is already very special. You won't lose me, Lotte. I'll always be here for you." He smiled at me, dimples in full show, and I smiled back as I let myself sink into his warm embrace. I missed this. All my anxiety faded away as the thought of having my best friend back warmed my heart.

"Federigo, enough hugging my daughter! It's time to go!" I heard my mother shout out and honk the car horn.

Federigo and I laughed at my Mom's childishness. Oh, Mom. What would I do without you?

"I guess it's time to go." He scratched his head and started to walk away. "Bye Lotte." Instantly, I missed his warmth.

"Wait!" I ran towards him and pulled him in for another hug, the feeling consumed me once more. He was my home, so were the rest of the ugly trio.

"I love you, Fed. You're the greatest friend in the world." I whispered in his ear.

"I love you too, Lotte." He whispered back.

Then I pulled away and did something that I have never done before. I kissed Federigo's cheek and watched him turn beet red. "Safe travels." I smiled.

"U-um. Yeah, thank you." He stuttered, his cheeks turning red while I heard my mom honk the car once again.

"No smooching!" Mom called out as Federigo stepped inside the driver's seat. I laughed at my Mom's statement and then watched as my best friend started the car and the two of them drove off.

When the yellow car was out of sight, I let out a huge puff of breath and faced the gates of the mansion. Well, I guess it's time to face the music.

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