Under the New York Sky | ✔️

•C h a p t e r T h i r t y - T w o•

Chemistry passed quickly with a boring lesson as well, though it was somewhat interesting to see Austin glaring at the back of Aden's head every time I turned around. Aden, of course was oblivious, not that I expected him to notice anyway, he's a guy after all.

Aden held my hand under the table for most of the class, which I would have loved more if it didn't distract me from the lesson so much. I gripped it tightly, hoping that somehow it would distract him from worrying about his dad.

Five minutes before the bell, Mr. Carter dismissed us from the lesson — which was unusual since he was one of those that talked until the very end.

"Coach has ordered an emergency soccer meeting," Aden sighed as we stood up from the table. "He's probably pissed since half of us missed the last two practices for the trip."

"Oh," my face fell when it hit me that he would be absent for lunch. "Well, I'll see you in gym class."

I didn't want to seem like the clingy girlfriend who couldn't separate from her partner. But in my defence, we were still in the honeymoon phase since we'd been together less than a week.

"Yeah, in like half an hour," he grinned at my disappointed expression. He leaned forward, pressing a light kiss onto my lips. "See you soon, Clumsy. I gotta go." He pulled away and I watched as he slipped out the classroom door.

The bell sounded for lunch just as my stomach grumbled and I headed to the cafeteria. I rolled my eyes at the large crowds of people standing and chatting as if they hadn't seen their friends an hour ago.

Seriously, move to the side when you talk.

Like always, I had a lunch packed since fries and chicken fingers got repetitive after a while. I decided to take a pit stop at the bathroom so that I wouldn't be awkwardly sitting at the table by myself while Josie went to get her lunch.

I walked in, just as a bunch of girls brushed past me out of the bathroom, all whispering and giggling at something. None of them even realized that they'd almost bulldozed over someone.

Rolling my eyes, I weaved around them expertly and turned into a bathroom stall, attempting to shut the door behind me when an arm stuck out and pulled it back open.

I almost groaned. What can a girl do to take a piss, there's other stalls available. My irritation only deepened when I saw who was on the other side of that door.

Ava stood on the other side. Her make up and hair was perfect like usual, this time done in two French braids that swung back and forth like a pendulum as she moved. She had plastered on her face what would've been a kind smile, if it reached her eyes.

I blinked at her, "Can I help you?"

"Oh I just wanted to tell you what a cute couple you and Aden are," she continued to smile as if she were on a toothpaste commercial.

Lies, definitely lies. I found myself thinking since I vividly remembered the scowl she held on her face this morning as Aden and I walked into the school.

"Thank you, that's nice of you to say," I choked out, pursing my lips as I tried to close the stall door again. I couldn't remember the last time I'd faked something so hard.

Wait, never mind I faked my way through physics and math all the time, god knew how I managed to pass those classes.

Ava reached out, pushing it back open, simultaneously taking another step closer towards me. The flimsy door slammed against the stall.

"It's just I'm surprised he's actually exclusive with you," she leaned against the side of the wall — as if it weren't tight enough already — tilting her head to the side. "I mean like come on, he's Aden. He's never done relationships before, just a bunch of flings. I just don't want you to get hurt like all the other girls before you."

"Other girls?" I raised an eyebrow. This is getting interesting.

Her eyes lit up, as if she was glad I had probed for more information. "Yeah, like there's so many before you. Like Mckenna—"

"And you, perhaps?" I cut her off.

She scoffed, "No, of course not. I would never..."

"Hmm thought so, have a nice day, Ava," I smiled at her, shutting the door to the stall — yet again. She didn't stop me this time, only scoffing as the door closed.

I heard a soft sigh from the other side of the door, her sneakers were still visible from under it. "Look, I've liked Aden for as long as I can remember. I guess... if he really does like you... well... then I hope he'll be happy. I hope everything goes well."

I couldn't see her expression, but it seemed genuine enough. I watched as her feet disappeared from under the door, the sound of her footsteps fading away as she left the bathroom.

I huffed, unlocking the door and stepping out again.

So much for taking a piss. I thought as I left the washroom. Ava, thankfully was nowhere to be seen as I walked out and I scurried down to the cafeteria to avoid any other distractions.

I frowned to myself, silently wondering if there was truth to what Ava said. I was way too new to this school to know for sure if Aden had many flings with other girls, though I did remember Josie saying on my first day that Aden had never been in a relationship — which was true to Ava's word.

Maybe, I was giving her to much credit. The green eyed monster just creeped out on her when she saw Aden and I together. She'd had a crush on him for years — way before I'd even moved here. I'd be mad too if my crush ended up with another girl. However, I admit I wouldn't have cornered anyone in the washroom.

I tried to push away my thoughts, but in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but wonder if Ava was somewhat right. If I was just a fling to Aden and nothing more.

If anything, Aden didn't need me around. He had enough problems to deal with on his own, with his dad and he most definitely did not need my baggage on his shoulders too.

Okay now you're just being an idiot, he still liked you and asked you out after he found out about mom.

That thought soothed my spiralling brain. Though, one question bugged me more than I'd like to admit: who was McKenna, and who was she to Aden?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hope you all liked this chapter! Do vote and comments if you did!!

This chapter was a bit short, but at the same time it needed to happen. I try not to have any filler chapters just because they make me angry sometimes.

Sooooo McKenna? It's pretty obvious who she was to Aden right?

~SweetnessInTheSalt