Monday
Ariella's pov
"Hey." Cesar walked over to me. "Nice hair." he complimented me.
"Thanks. Just got it done yesterday." i said as i ran my fingers through my hair. My natural hair color is a medium brown. I decided i wanted to spice things up. So i got some blonde highlights in my hair to lighten it up. Its something i've never done before but it looks great.
I noticed Leslie step out of Oscar's impala. Both of them looking in my direction.
I quickly look away and talk to Cesar about the race this weekend.
"Hey girl can we talk?" Leslie walked over to us. I could see the hickey on her neck. She has some fucking nerve.
"No." i said bluntly as i bumped her shoulder to walk past her. Cesar followed after me, leaving Leslie dumbfounded.
"To set the record straight, i had no idea they were talking until prom night." Cesar admitted.
"Its not your fault. She told me they were talking when we went prom dress shopping. I told her straight up that I wasn't cool with them talking and she still went ahead and did it."
Cesar's face dropped. "That bitch."
"Who's a bitch?" Andy joined the conversation.
"Tell you later." i said when i noticed Derek incoming.
"Hey Ariella." Derek smiled as he acknowledged Andy and Cesar. "Can we talk?" He asked and i just nodded.
I followed him a few feet away so we could talk in private.
"Did i do something to you on prom night?" he questioned as he scratched the back of his neck nervously.
I shook my head no.
"So why did you leave my house without telling me? I would've took you home if thats what you wanted." He frowned at the thought of me leaving.
"Im sorry it's just... i dont know I was just going through a lot mentally that night. I needed to clear my head. I meant to text you that night to let you know but I was just having a terrible night. Not anything that you did." I clarified.
"Was it because of Oscar?" He questioned.
"What?" i raised a brow.
"Yeah. Leslie called me that night crying that you hated her because you found out she was hooking up with Oscar behind your back."
Oh great. I hate when people bring others in our drama.
Derek did not need to know about this.
"You're not over your ex." he admitted for me.
"Not yet." i said sadly as I fidgeted with the rings on my fingers.
"I get it. I knew what I was getting into when you said you wanted to take things slow. I knew it had something to do with your ex."
"So you dont hate me?" i questioned him.
"I think i'd only hate you if we were dating. But i mean... we're just fuck buddies." he smirked at me.
"Okay good. So we're on the same page?" I laughed.
"Yeah. And if you need more help forgetting your ex you know how to find me." he winked at me before walking back to Cesar and Andy. Terry was also standing there with them.
I just smiled to myself before following him. We talked for a while about Terry sleeping with the prom queen.
Then the school bell rung for us as a 5 minute heads up we needed to get to our first period.
"Ariella. Can we please talk?" Leslie stepped in front of me.
"You're in my way." I glared at her.
"Just hear me out." She practically begged.
"Read the room, homegirl." Terry rolled his eyes at her.
"Next time you get in my way Im beating your ass." i said to her before walking away.
"You're disinvited to our hangout this weekend too if you didnt pick up on that." I heard Andy say to her. I could hear the guys walking behind me as they talked shit about how they never liked her. I couldnt help but smile.
Leslie may not have been loyal but Cesar, Andy and Derek are.
—
After school
The guys had a brilliant idea of going to the beach. I was 100% down. Terry was hyping up the idea of me taking sexy beach pictures with my new hair to make Oscar jealous.
I loved the way he was thinking.
"Okay readjust your arm. You look stupid." Terry instructed me as he held the phone up to take the 10,000th photo.
"What do you mean?" I questioned.
"Pose like this," Andy posed as if he was every girl instagrammer taking beach photos.
The guys looked at him in disbelief.
"Wow that kinda turned me on." Terry joked.You wanna get in that photo so Ariella can caption it beach babes?"
We all laughed as Andy shoved Terry into the sand. "Fuck off."
Now the guys were arguing with each other while Derek helped me with photos.
"Here lets take some selfies with the water in the back." I motioned for Derek to get in the pictures. Unfortunately the cute selfies we had also consisted of Terry and Andy tackling each other in the sand while Cesar tried to stop them.
"Im so posting these." i laughed.
"Here let me help you with the pictures." Derek took my phone.
"What should i do?" I questioned him.
"Just stand there and look hot." he smirked as he took the pictures.
"See. You're a natural." He showed me the ones he took.
"These are way better than the ones Terry took." i laughed.
"Excuse you." Terry overheard.
The rest of the day consisted of us trying to play football in the sand. Some random people
on the beach joined us as well. It was actually fun.
It might be the first time i actually forgot about he who shall not be named.
I also posted the beach pictures we took throughout the day. It was great to see myself look genuinely happy again.
It showed me that I didnt need a boyfriend to be this way.
-sweeteasaint
I peeped everyone's excitement for Terry so i put him in more.
author's note 2024: if ur reading just an fyi this book is currently getting edited. i didnt want to take it down and edit bc that would take a long fuckin time so im editing while its still up
so if ur reading chapters last this point and it makes no sense thats because im changing a bit of the plotline and making it better✨
you'll thank me later;)