Aubrey POV
Dan and I sit at our regular table and pretend nothing happened even though I have so many questions swirling in my head about what the hell happened in the corridor.
My phone buzzes and I check it briefly to see a message from Ian. I roll my eyes and open it to see him asking me to go to the library. There is no way I'm talking to him now, I am staying by Dan's side and making sure he is ok before I go and deal with Ian.
I know I will have to get his side of the story but Dan is being more quiet than usual and I can tell the situation with Ian shook him more than he wants to admit.
"Hey Aubs, you need a lift home today?" Spencer asks, almost like he is reading my mind. There is no way I'm going to Ian's today.
"Oh yes please! Thanks Spence" I say looking up from my phone and giving him a small smile.
"Of course princess" Spencer says then turning to resume his conversation with Jay.
Rachel shoots me a suggestive look and I tilt my head in confusion. She laughs and then takes a bite out of her burger.
As I'm talking to the guys I feel my phone going crazy with messages. I look at my homescreen and see they are all from Ian. Get the hint mate I ain't going to the library with you.
While the guys talk I find my eyes drifting from them and staring off into space as I overthink. I don't know how long I am zoned out before Riley starts waving at me from across the cafeteria. What why? Oh shit I've been staring at her, well zoned out looking in her direction. My cheeks instantly blush and I give her a small wave back. She rolls her eyes I see a small smile on her face.
My attention is drawn back to the table when Jay says "Yo Dan you said you were gonna help me with the Calculus homework."
"Dude you can't just get him to do your homework for you!" Spencer scolds
"What dude he said he could help!" Jay says defensively.
"Yeah I did" Dan speaks up, looking to Jay.
Jay gives Dan a smile and then starts to stand up "Let's go to one of the classrooms" He picks up his bag and Dan gets up too. "Alright bye gang!" Jay says and Dan rolls his eyes. We all laugh as they walk away.
"Well I got to go the library" Rachel says standing up.
"Oh actually I need to go too" Spencer says.
"Oh Aubs why don't you come too?" Rachel asks.
Knowing what is waiting in the library I almost choke on my water and say "Uh no I've still got my chips to eat, you guys go I'll be fine."
"You sure Aubs?" Spencer asks.
"Yesss go already!!" I laugh.
Before I know it I am sitting alone in the cafeteria. I try to drone out the sounds of everyone talking. Just as I start daydreaming I am interrupted by.
"You know if you take a picture it will last longer right?" a familiar voice says condescendingly snapping me out of my thoughts.
I turn my attention to Riley who is now sat in front of me smirking. I obviously have a confused expression on my face as she chuckles and says. "Or you should really work on being subtle when you stare at someone"
Realising she is referring to the earlier incident where I drifted off while staring at her. I cough on my chips and say "Ohh sorry yeah I drifted off for a bit!" whilst laughing awkwardly.
"Surreee" she says. "Now give me your phone"
"Wait why?" I ask confused at her bluntness.
"So I can put my number in it obviously?" she scoffs and reaching for my phone sitting on the table. Damn she is assertive.
"Passcode." she asks, well more like demands.
"It's my birthday" I blurt.
"Well honey I don't know that... yet" she says leaving a pause for me to answer but then having to prompt me to tell her. Oh well I don't have anything to hide on my phone anyway.
"one, eight, zero, five" I respond. [i'm australian so date before month lol]
She nods and then after a few moments of silence she hands me my phone. I get happy that now I'll have another friend.
"Let's go to English then." Riley says standing up. I look at her, obviously with a stunned expression. "Well are you coming or what?"
"Oh yup" I say standing up, she makes me feel so frazzled.
Great. English. Ian should be there, thank goodness I will walk in with Riley who I feel like definitely could give Ian a run for his money if he started getting assertive with me.
English class starts and Ian and still nowhere to be found. Lucky.
Halfway through English I decide I should text Ian and tell him that something has come up so I can't do tonight as his house. Truth be told nothing has come up, I just don't want to see him, and I feel shitty if I just don't show up.
When I open my phone I see all the messages from Ian.
Ian: Library now.
Ian: Aubrey! Fucking respond.
Ian: Aubrey I see that you fucking saw the text.
Ian: I swear to fucking god Aubrey get your ass to the library now.
Ian: I thought I warned you about not responding.
Ian: I don't like waiting Aubrey.
There are another five messages with a lot of swearing so I decide to skip as I've gotten the general jist. I'm in trouble blah blah.
Me: hey, sorry something has come up and I won't be able to come over to your house tonight. sorry about this.
I quickly shut off my phone and refocus on the class. Well, I try to focus on class.
"Psst... Carter" I hear Riley whisper, trying to get my attention.
I turn to her and whisper "Yeah?"
"What's wrong?" she asks and I see a glimpse of genuine care on her face.
"Hmmm, oh nothing." I lie.
"Liar" she scoffs.
My eyes widen and I look at her stuck for words. "You like icecream?" she asks.
I can't help but smile widely in excitement. "Hell yeah I like icecream"
She chuckles at my response. "Ok, I'll take you to an ice cream parlour after school." she states.
"Oh seriously? Yes please" I smile.
"Seriously" she says smirking at me, to which I laugh. I pull out my phone to text Spencer that I won't need a lift, when I already see a text from him.
Spence: I'm so sorry princess, but I won't be able to take you home today. My mum needs me to go straight to pick up my sister and her friends from school to take to ballet.
I repsond.
Me: don't worry, it's all good. good luck with the little drama queens!
Spencer replies almost instantly.
Spence: See if you can ask Rachel for a lift ok?
Me: riley actually offered to take me to go get ice cream!
Spence: I think you made a typo, you meant Rachel instead of Riley.
Me: noooo, riley wants to take me to go get ice cream after school.
Spence: No fucking way!!!!!
Spence: Call me as soon as you get back from the ice cream parlour.
Me: Hahahahahh will do!
Dan POV
I can't believe Jay gave me those flowers. I'm mad but also flattered. When he gave me the flowers in the empty corridor I just froze. I am sure there was a blush on my cheeks as I just stared at him then at the flowers then at him again.
We both feel the connection, but we are just both too damn scared. Well, apparently not Jay with his display today.
It's the first time since summer break we have acknowledged what happened during summer. That day during the summer break we spent together was so incredible. He found me at the library and then insisted we spend the day together. Of course it started out plutonic.
But then we chatted and chatted in this little cafe, and before we knew it we were being kicked out because the cafe was closing. Never in my life have I had a conversation that long.
We found this little secluded safe haven in the park and kept talking. It was surreal. Like our two souls were intertwining, coming home, finally feeling at peace and it was with each other.
The night ended perfectly with a kiss. A deep passionate fucking awe inspiring kiss.
We both aren't out, and after that day we haven't talked since. Jay ignored my messages all summer after that and I only saw him when we would hang out as a group. It hurt.
But now he seems to be trying again. And I can't deny the connection and pull I feel to him.
He knows I have a soft spot for roses, and when he gave them to me he said that it is international give flowers to a special someone day. That made me laugh as obviously it's made up. When I laughed I saw his face light up, and I know he feels the connection too.
But then reality hit and the bell went off and students started piling into the corridor and he left, he disappeared into the crowd like he was never there. I was left standing with a heart full of hope. But hope is a dangerous thing.
I'm a coward. But also I need to protect Jay. So when they asked who the flowers were for I lied and said the first name that came to my head. Aubrey.
Usually I find new people annoying as it just means more people to feign interest in conversing with. But she actually brought a smile to my face and her lightness was contagious. I know she knows, or at least suspects something between Jay and I. But she is so caring about it, and doesn't bring it up. Which I am grateful.
But that makes me feel more like shit when I realise Ian, the guy who seems weirdly obsessed with Aubrey, overhears and then proceeds to lose his shit. I feel bad thinking what he might say to Aubrey, but it looks like Aubrey wants nothing to do with him.
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just thought i would add a Dan POV to explain some more things. i'm not planning on making his POV a regular though.
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