Chew ✔

•6•

Cira Castello

I'm kissing my Mama on the cheek and grabbing a granola bar- when I hear loud beeps from outside.

"Love you, Bella." My mom says, handing me a thermos filled with Lavender Tea. Little things like these are what makes my mom so perfect.

"Love you too Mama," I yell back, as I exit our house. My dog Pippa, barks madly, desperately attempting to follow me outside. Poor Pippa, I hate leaving her behind every day- Unfortunately I learned my lesson attempting to smuggle her to school in sixth grade.

"Hey girlie!" Anna says rolling down her car window. Lyla's already in the car, scrolling through her Instagram feed.

"Good morning!" I say happily, Lyla groans, and leans into her seat.

"How the fuck are you guys so awake- at this hour of the morning!"

Anna and I laugh, and I quickly sync up my phone to Anna's radio. Immediately Adele's voice fills every corner of Anna's small car, and I burst out singing along to 'Hello'.

"I hate you," Lyla says rubbing her eyes. " I miss caffeine."

"Nope," I shake my head. "Remember Lyla- we're drinking tea to support Anna."

"I know- my Halmeoni (grandmother) was ecstatic when she found out. Let's just say it doesn't take long to get tired of green tea." Lyla groans, sipping out of her thermos sadly.

"Aww, you guys are the best." Anna gushes.

"So... Anna." I start slowly, but Anna holds her hand up.

"I swear Cira- I love you- but if you bring up filing a police report again, I'm gonna go crazy."

"Come on Anna- you could get whoever sent that video around arrested. You know it's illegal to distribute pornography of a minor, especially without consent."

"Stop Cira. You're giving me a migraine."

Ever since the party, things have been a little rough. Just like Will had predicted, the video of Anna at the party had reached almost everyone by Monday, and now Anna had received the title of the school slut.

"The whole schools seen my boobs. No matter what I do, it won't change that. Besides my parents would be so ashamed." Anna mumbles shaking her head. "Can we just change the subject."

"Fine. What do you want to talk about?"

"Will broke up with Amanda yesterday."

My jaw hangs open. "What?"

"Supposedly they got into a huge fight on Monday over that video, and he ended things three days later."

"Woah," I say numbly, biting my lip nervously. This changes things.

"So now's your time to grab him and go."

I laugh slowly. "Funny."

"What? Come on Cira, your gorgeous." Lyla says Anna shakes her with agreement.

"But you know the kind of girls Will goes for. Athletic, blond, skinny." I sigh. "Plus I don't even like him."

"Stop Cira. You know he's into you, and please kindly point out which guy doesn't drool over your curves."

I smile blushing. I don't what I would do without these girls.

...

"Hey."

I close my locker and come face to face with- Will. He's grinning, and I can't help but swoon over his gorgeous blue eyes, that seem to swirl in colors like a kaleidoscope.

"Oh- Hey," I say breathlessly.

"So what are your plans for this wonderful weekend," Will says comically.

It's the end of the day, and Anna's probably waiting to drive me home, so I can watch Netflix with Pippa for like ten hours, until I stumble out of my dark abyss that is my room, to eat dinner. For some reason, I'm not sure I wanna say that out loud though.

"Nothing- I'm guessing you have a million parties to attend."

"Nope, no parties," Will says proudly, leaning against the lockers. "Detoxing from them."

"That sounds really healthy." I laugh. We lock eyes, and I feel myself begin to turn red.

"Do want to come over tonight? We can practice some cooking? Dad's making his famous pasta carbonara, we can help." I spit out. I'm not sure exactly why. Did I just ask him out on a date? To meet my parents? I start to blush again.

I see Will grin happily- which means me inviting him over to cook wasn't weird.

"I would love too." He says. "Text me the details okay?"

He smiles, then waves goodbye, and walks over to his friends.

My hearts blooms inside my chest.