Ava's POV:
I sip on my soda as Mina fumble around the school.
She slammed her head against the lockers.
I had to pull her by the hood to make sure she doesn't hit any more lockers.
She tripped on the stairs.
I slap a bandage on her knee.
She threw up in the bathroom toilet.
I held up her hair.
This is not how I plan on spending my week - correction weeks.
Mina somehow made every excuse in the book to avoid talking to Trevon about her moving to a different town.
Then, its Friday night.
"Yeah. Of course." Mina laughs robotically at something Trevon said. When she pulled the door open, she somehow hit her stomach.
"You okay?" Trevon asks.
I sip on the hot chocolate.
Mina smile, "Nothing I can't handle, Tiger."
Well, for me, I can't handle that nickname.
I got in the back of the car with Mina. Eli, Trevon, Mina, and I decided to watch a movie. I glanced at Mina who fidget with her sweaty fingers. We talked earlier at the house and I decided that tonight will be the night she would tell him. Yes, I decided that. If I let her decide when then he'll only know when he watches her pack and moves away.
When we got to the movie, Eli and Trevon went to the gaming section since there's a bit of time left before the movie starts.
I stare at the duo laughing and slapping each other in front of me. "You look like you're about to pass out," I said.
Mina smiles, "Is it obvious?"
"It's obvious that Trevon knows something is going on." Everyone does, but they choose not to question it.
Mina bit her lower lip, "I tried," she said. "But, whenever I look at him. My heart feels like its about to break." Mina blinks several times to hold back the tears. She looks at me, "I love Trevon."
I stop sipping on the soda and stare at her. "What?" I must be hearing wrong.
Mina swallows, "I love Trevon."
I place the cup down, "Mina-"
"I know what you're going to say. How I'm still young and I don't know what love is. I had the talk with my dad." I cannot believe she told her dad that she loves her boyfriend. She fidgets in her seat, "But, God, Av. I don't know how to explain it."
Then, don't.
She turns toward me, "Whenever I see your brother." She places a hand on her chest, "My heart-"
I place a palm in the air, "Stop." I couldn't listen to it any further. "I understand. No need for any explanation."
She smile softly, kicking her legs back and forth. "And I'm afraid that with this distance. He'll forget about me and find someone better."
If I didn't put the cup down, it would've been all over the floor. I cannot believe what I'm hearing. "You're serious."
"Trevon is your brother so you don't see it." Mina exhale softly, "But your brother is sweet, loving, and he respect me. Whatever decision I decide to make, he's so supportive and when I'm about to make a stupid decision. He's always there to stop me. Always there to hol-"
"Enough," I said. "I understand." It feels weird listening to this - makes me have goosebumps.
Her hair falls in front of her face. I noticed how there's are darker bags, not as much as the past, but it's still present. She must be losing sleep over this.
"Ready?" Trevon asks.
"Yeah," I respond.
Trevon and Mina held hands while they walk in front of Eli and me.
Eli lean his head close and sip the soda in my hand, "Something bothering you, pretty lady?"
"Yeah."
"What is it?"
"It's bothering me that you're drinking my soda."
Eli grinned and hang his arm around my shoulder. Trevon looks at us, but he didn't retaliate. Eli pulls me closer to his chest, "You can eat my popcorn."
I didn't respond, rather continue biting the straw then sip some more soda.
When Trevon and Mina enter the dark theater I lower the drink. Eli turn us into a corner and lower himself until his lips met my straw again. Instead of drinking it right away, he bit the straw like I did and sip it.
"What do you think you're doing?" I ask.
One after another people passed us. I'm glad that the theater is dark or else they may see my expression.
His mouth was still on the straw, "I'm settling."
"You're a pervert," I said.
Eli grin only widen before he took another sip. He smacks his lips, "Best soda I've ever taste."
I elbow his stomach and wedge myself between the small opening. Eli follow me from behind, but this time, his arm wasn't around me. I won't allow it after what he did.
When we got there, I sat beside Mina and Eli took the seat next to me. This wasn't the seating arrangement I had in mind. Mina cuddle close to Trevon and the lights drop. My eyes went towards the armrest that wasn't properly position down.
My eyes fix towards the screen, and cautiously I grab the armrest. Before I could pull it down, Eli yawn and spread his legs. I glared at him, only to receive a devious smirk in return.
I exhale softly and push my right leg to move his leg. Instead of motioning over, he retaliated. He spread his leg further apart until it went towards my seat. The lights in the theater were dimmed but I could still see his playful expression.
I chew on the straw the whole time to the point that it broke apart into sharp blades.
One scene pass after another, and the saltiness of the popcorn fell inside my mouth. As long as I focus on the movie, I can ignore the heat beside me.
"Ya know," Eli whisper. "I wonder if they eat like that at home." My eyes flicker towards the group in front of us. The group threw food into their mouths but somehow miss the target.
I snicker, "Yeah. I bet they do," I whisper. "I wonder what it'll be like to be around when they eat spaghet-" I stop talking when I realized our proximity. I clear my throat and lean back into my seat.
My body flinches when I felt his hand scrap against mine.
My eyes flicker toward Trevon whose eyes happen to meet mine.
Immediately, he look away.
No. That's not what an older brother is supposed to do.
Eli lean away and steadily, I felt his fingers wrap around my own. Without control I stood up and all three set of eyes went towards me. I held the strap of my purse, "I need to use the restroom." I walk over Eli's leg and made my way towards the restroom.
Inside the restroom, I pat the oil from my face and set a bit of powder. I exhale softly, before washing my hands. "Calm down. Calm down. Calm down." I look at the reflection to see a red face; much redder then the blush I applied.
I wipe my hands and wave it all over my face. "Why are you acting like this? It's not like this is a date. It's just like any other night."
Once I got the anxiety down, I made my way out of the bathroom only to see Eli. He looks up and smile before he came forward, "Should I leave?"
My brows furrow, "Why should you?"
"So, you won't have to use the bathroom excuse throughout the movie."
He noticed.
"Eli." I exhale heavily, "We need to talk."
He nods, "There's a cafe next door."
The cafe weren't as crowded as the movie theater, almost abandoned. Underneath the overcast sky, it fight against the drizzle. When Eli set the two cup of tea down, the rain turn into snow. The interior of the cafe was warm and I took off my coat.
Eli twirl the cup around his fingers, "Don't you have something to tell me?"
We should make the converstation short before Trevon and Mina get suspicious.
No.
They're probably suspicious the moment Eli used the same excuse as I did.
"Eli. I-"
"I'm making things difficult, aren't I?"
I look up from the steam to see his smile.
"May I go first?"
I nod.
Eli sip the cup before he settle it down. "I want to thank you."
"Thank me? For what?"
"For allowing me to like you," he said. Eli took another sip and exhale softly, "I like you," Eli said. "I like you so much that I don't know what to do Ava." He forces his eyes to look at me, "And I would appreciate it if you would stop dragging me along."
My mouth pursed but slightly open and loose. My eyes are fixed and I couldn't hear anything else except the heartbeats. I blink, refocuses. "Eli-"
His hand pressed firmly against the cup, and the content inside shakes. "And if you're not doing it on purpose. If it's all in my head and everything between us is a delusion on my part. I apologize for what I said."
It got heavier to breathe, "Eli."
"I need one answer," he said. He closes his eyes, but open it again after a deep breath. "Do you...or do you not like me."
"Don't do this Eli."
"Do you...or do you not. I only need one answer Ava Makee. It's a yes or a no."
"Elijah Wood. Don't push me."
Eli curls his fingers deeper into the hot cup; to the extent that it colored red. "Well...I'm done being pushed."