I haven't failed, I've just found ten thousand ways that won't work - Thomas Edison.
Grayson's POV
Immediately her lips touched mine, the world quit making sense. All the hurt, insecurities and pain I've felt within these few days just fled out of the window. I've missed this, it's been so damn long.
I'm so glad that she finally patched things up between us. I'm shocked all this hassle we've been through is because of Anne. I guess it's a female instinct or so, I guess or the protective side of her. Who would have thought she'd have a possessive side to her? Never would I have imagined, she's always been Ms-I-don't-like-trouble kind of person, but I guess desperate times calls for desperate measure, doesn't it? Of course, it does. I can boldly say feelings mutual on my part. Because there are times I've wanted to tell ogling guys to seriously back off her. That possessive side of me that's hidden deep down somewhere sometimes literally feels like exposing its head just to warn guys off my girl, wants to rub it in their faces that she's mine, all mine, but then I never do. From time to time, she keeps telling me of that new male friend she acquired during that party- I get jealous every single time yet keep the bitter taste in mouth, swallowing it most times.
"My new friend....." She says as we swing our entwined hands, heading for class, "the one I met at the party." Not again, that dude?!! See! I told ya! Talking about him again, she's literally so intrigued of this male friend.
"Yeah?" I scrunch my face up a little but not long enough for her to notice.
"His name's Devi, ive told you countless times. He asked me to..." Her voice starts to drop "get ice cream with him today, after school." Her voice was only above a whisper now. Her eyes flickers between mine, she bites her lips, "Should I go?"
Should she go? Tsk! Like I have the right to stop her.
I don't!!
Well, this isn't an everyday expectation and as much as I'd like to, I could never get angry. Maybe at him-definitely not zat her- Levi, or whatever his name is. Sure as heck leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I mean the guy is literally asking her out, that is, if I'm not mistaken. Or am I?
"An ice cream date, hmm..." I tease.
She shakes her head and literally snaps in defence, "It's not."
"It's not?" I raise a brow at her and she cowers a bit.
"I promise, he knows I have a boyfriend," She rushes out and my brows deepen even more. "I promise." She adds.
I sigh, after a long while.
"Should I g-go? I guess he's just trying to be friends with me?" her voice lowers.
How naïve!
Guys often never want to be friends unless they want something or there's just something intriguing about you that they're drawn to.
As much as I don't like, like literally don't like the idea of her and another guy, I cannot stop her from hanging out with him. She's my girlfriend, right, but then it's her life. I love her but that doesn't mean I should stop her from befriending other male friends, as much as I would love that.
"Don't stay too long with him, okay?"
She squeals, "Sure! Thanks for understanding," and pecks my cheek. A smile automatically dances on my lips. God, I'm so lucky to have her, and the glow in her eyes, I'd love to see it day after day after day, non-stop, forever.
We enter the class and I walk her to her seat. She lets go of my hand and sits.
"Good morning." I greet Cam and she lifts her eyes from her phone to meet mine.
"Heeeey! Gray." Her bubbly self drawls out. "Good morning. How was your night?"
"Great. And yours?"
"Well, not baaaaad. Not bad." She smiles and her gaze flickers from me to Ash and back to me and back to Ash and back to me again. "Mhmhmhh..." She wiggles her brows," ... I can see you guys have patched things up. That's great, at least we wouldn't have to deal with a sulking you," she raises a finger at Ashley "and a hurting you," and redirects her fingers to me, pouting.
I laugh and she sighs, "Finally I can breathe in peace." I swiftly glance at Ash to see her smiling yet trying to make a straight face, which she failed obviously.
I excuse myself and head for my seat. Immediately I sit, I perceive weird glances been thrown my way but I ignore it and take out my study book. Not long after, the teacher enters and the lesson for the day begins.
_ _ _
Finally class ends and I let out a tired sigh. It was break time and weirdly glances were thrown in my direction and not only that, in a particular direction too. I trail their gaze only to be met with Anne's form in her sitting space.
"Is it me or everyone's looking at me, do you know what's going on?" I ask Cole who was seated right beside me.
He shrugs as he shoved his books into his bag, but then halts mid-action as it seemed like something clicked in his memory, all of a sudden. He pauses as worry struck his features, "Wait, haven't you seen the photo?"
I knit my brows in confusion, "W-what photo?"
He quickly fishes out his phone from his pocket, eyes quickly scanning the screen, definitely in search for the 'so called' photo that's causing other students to throw weird glances my way. I wonder what this is all about. Finally finding whatever photo it was he was looking for, he lifts the phone and turn the screen towards me. Swiftly my gaze travels to the photo that stared me in the face.
"This?!! How did...?! Who...?" I was lost for words. It wasn't just any photo, Anne lips were practically glued to my cheek but in actual sense, it was just a peck she gave me on the cheek. I remember that day vividly, same day my Ash ignored me, same day I went home with Anne. All I mean is, yes, she pecked my cheek but then who the heck took this photo?
I so hope Ash hasn't come across this photo. The peripheral from which it was taken, I bet, it definitely is sending all sorts of wrong and weird information and ideas to the student population. I know, because I know how their mind works. The fact that they figured out the guy in the photo was me does all kinds of wonders to my belly. You've got to know me to know that's me in the photo. My God, Ashley, how would she take it, that is, if she's finally set her eyes on it.
She'd get the wrong signal again. Ugh! We just literally resolved an issue a few seconds ago, so why won't the universe just let it end there?
Why? Just, why?
What'd run through her mind when she sees it? Has she seen it? I know how her mind works, she'd believe the photo more, though she knows it's a harmless peck. Wait! Does she even know it's a harmless friendly peck? I hope she does.
Please understand Ash! Believe me! Don't get it all wrong! Pleeeeaase!
I swiftly glance in her direction, where she's seated. A deep frown is formed on her face as she carefully analyses whatever it was on Cam's phone. Heck! It'd be the photo, she's seen it.
It's the photo, isn't it?
Will she believe me or let this slide? I gulp as my throat feels dry and my stomach churns. I so hope she does, the former.
I promise, it was just a friendly peck and nothing else.
_ _
It's lunch time and she hasn't said anything yet, about the photo. It's not like I'm expecting her to. Okay so maybe I am, I want her to talk about it. It seems, she hasn't taken it the wrong way like I thought she would, right?!!! Or am I mistaken? I mean, she hasn't ignored me like she'd usually do when she sees something she doesn't like, and that's supposed to be a good sign. Right?! It means she's not angry or jealous or anything of sort, right?
She hasn't quite clearly looked me in the eye for more than a second, she's said a few things to me and even smiled. Responsive, I'd give her that.
"Ow..." Ashley holds her tummy and grimaces all of a sudden.
"What's wrong?" I ask in immediately in panic mode..
She shakes her head, "It's nothing, just a slight ache in my tummy but it's gone."
"Are you sure?"
"I am." She forces a smile.
Ashley's POV
I can't believe this. The photo I saw earlier this morning is just so....... Can't find the word. But it's all okay, all good. I'm not angry, not one bit. Pssst! Definitely not jealous! Tsk!
Who the heck am I kidding? I am definitely angry. Not at him, but at her. That w-i-t-... Oh no! I'm definitely not going to call her a witch.
Friends, they claim they are? NO wait, Ex-best friends? Rekindled friends?
I'm not going to ask him a thing about the photo. Maturity, I'll give him that, I bet that's what he wants. My gaze wanders and lands on Lucas who barely touched the food before him. His gaze kept flickering towards Cam, directly opposite him. I wonder why he isn't eating. I was about to ask him but the pain surges through my lower belly stops me.
"Ow," My hands goes to my stomach, and I grimace.
"What's wrong?" Gray asks, worry immediately taking over features.
"It's nothing, just a slight ache in my tummy but it's gone." I lie.
"Are you sure?" His sentence doesn't end when another pain surges through me again, instant cold sweat covering me.
*********
Hellooo, amazing people.
I wanna ask; How did you find my story?
Sorry for the delays.