Chapter Fourteen

Ace and I agree on a Carribean restaurant that is a couple of blocks away from the Scott's house. Once inside, we opt for dine in eating and we approach the counter.

"Good evening, sweetness," says an older Jamaican woman. "Just letting you know we're out of..."

She proceeds to list off at least seven items, and I laugh at the fact that Jamaican restaurants are always out of something. I assure her that it's fine and we place our orders. We're the only customers at the moment, so she tells us to grab a seat and that she'll bring our food to the table in a second.

Once seated, I pull out my phone for the first time all day. I reply to a text from Ariel saying that she and her mom will be home around 8. As I continue scrolling through my notifications, I spot a text that immediately makes me lock my phone.

"What's up?" asks Ace, noticing my movements.

He proceeds to place his phone in his pocket and lean back in his chair. I'm sitting with my back to the windows, but past me, the precious light of golden hour is shining. Ace squints, trying to meet my eyes through the sun that highlights his brown skin.

"Nothing, Ari just said that they'll be home by eight. I'll get her to drop me home when she's back," I dismiss. "So, what's Adrian planning to make tonight?"

"Honestly, I think he's just going to order pizza," he shrugs.

I mock glare at the boy across from me. "I love pizza, you know this."

Holding his hands up in defense, he argues, "I just wanted to spend time with you."

Not reading too deep into it, I ask, "Why?"

Before he can answer, the lady from the front comes with our orders. I smile gratefully and immediately start salivating. While I begin eating, he answers, "We hardly get to hang out anymore. You started university and forgot all about me."

He smirks before taking a bite of his chicken so I know that he's joking. "It goes both ways, you know. I can't drive, but you could have come up to see us."

"You're right, and you can't drive yet. Next year I'll be sure to come visit sometime,"

I shove a forkful of rice in my mouth to hide my grimace and mumble, "For sure."

Ace pauses eating to take a sip of his ginger beer. "When's the next lesson?"

My phone lights up with a text and I skim over it while replying, "I'm literally always free, so let me know what day works for you."

Chrissy: Come over later. We need to have a conversation.

Trying my hardest to keep a straight face, I quickly send, I'm busy, as Ace says, "I'll check my work schedule for next week and I'll text you."

"Mhm," I hum as another text comes in:

Chrissy: Then I'll pick you up tomorrow.

Once again replying that I'm busy, I put my phone on Do Not Disturb and shift my attention back to eating.

"So," Ace begins between chews, "how are things going with that guy?"

I take a long sip of my Sprite and shrug halfheartedly. "We're not talking anymore."

"Oh?" He raises an eyebrow suspiciously. "So that's not who you were just texting five seconds ago?"

Almost choking on my food, I quickly respond, "No."

"I see," Is all he says.

Time passes as we finish up our meals and just when I think I'm off the hook, he asks, "Something happened with you guys?"

I shake my head, not technically lying when I say, "Nah, nothing. I don't think he can just be friends and I don't see myself being with him."

Ace's lips twitch as if he's trying to suppress a smile, but he doesn't say more. I follow him to the trash can and then we step outside. It's a bit darker now, the sun having fallen behind some clouds.

We get into the car in silence, but I know he has something to say. I don't press him, simply because I don't feel like having whatever conversation I know he's about to bring up.

Finally, we arrive home and I allow him to unlock the front door. Not seeing Ariel's keys hung up on the rack, I walk into the living room. Alex and Adrian are occupying both couches while watching a movie. I look between the two before finding a seat on Adrian's stomach.

He lets out a loud, "Oof!" followed by, "Get off of me woman!"

I ease up and he moves to a seated position. Alex laughs and then shuffles over so Ace can sit next to him. "Oh, Ace, we talked to Don about the cabin. We're thinking some time in August."

They continue to discuss while Adrian turns to fill me in. "We're booking a cabin for a week at the end of summer. Same people as the camping trip unless people bail and we have to use our backups."

"You guys never tell me when you're planning things," I huff.

He rolls his eyes. "We never tell Ariel until it's already planned either and she never complains."

"Whatever, I'll definitely be there," I giggle.

"It'll probably end up being the week before or of your birthday, is that cool?" asks Alex from across the room.

I nod confidently. "It'll be a great end to the summer. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Wow," Ace wipes a fake tear from his eye, "she loves us, guys. She really loves us."

I throw a cushion at him before distracting myself with my phone until Ariel comes home. A bit after seven, the front door opens and I hear a voice saying, "I know, I miss you too, I'll come over later tonight."

Ariel soon appears at the living room entrance after blowing kisses into the phone.

"You two disgust me," I fake gag.

She runs over and hugs me, ignoring my comment. "Sorry I had to leave before you woke up."

"It's alright," I assure her. "What time are you seeing Justin?"

"I told him I'd be over after I drop you off, but I'm not in a rush," she answers as we get up to go to her room.

We settle on her bed and tell each other about our days.

"I'm glad you had fun," she smiles after I tell her how driving with Ace was.

A detail that I managed to push to the back of my mind surfaces as I go through my notifications. "Christian texted me."

"Saying what?"

"He wanted me to come over tonight so we could talk," I groan.

Ariel tucks a blonde curl (her latest hair colour obsession) behind her ear as she says, "I can drop you there on my way to Justin's."

"Hell no!" I spit out, not missing a beat.

"Come on, Maya," she says softly. "I think you should at least talk to him."

I don't even take a second to think over what she said before replying, "Nope."

"What better things do you have to do tonight?" she asks pointedly.

This time, I do ponder her question. "I think I'll have a movie night with my dad. I haven't really hung out with him in a while."

She smiles and nods before standing up. "Let's get going then."

*

"Don't go in there, you idiot!" whisper-yells my dad.

I laugh and agree. "If I was there, I would have been on the first plane to Japan by, like, yesterday."

We watch as the girl on the screen slowly stalks down the dark hallway. My dad passes me the popcorn, but a jumpscare happens, and I knock the bowl out of his hands.

"Oopsies," I squeak after recovering from my mini heart attack.

The ending credits roll up the screen and I get to work on cleaning up my mess. From the corner of my eye I see Mango running up to offer his help. My dad scoops him up to stop him from vacuuming up all of the butter coated treats. When the ground is clear, I throw myself back onto the couch to get my share of cuddles from my cat.

"So what's been going on with you lately, MyMy?" my dad asks, scratching between the furball's ears.

Without much thought, I say, "I told Christian and Ariel about Jonathan."

"That's good. You've been holding that in for a long time now," he smiles softly. "Ariel, I understand, but that Christian kid must be pretty close to you."

I rub my eyes and drag my hands down my face. "I don't want to talk to him anymore."

"Did he do something?" he asks sternly, sitting up straighter.

"Not really," I sigh and he relaxes back into the couch. "He did try to kiss me."

He gives me a look as if saying, "That's it?"

"I don't know, Dad," I almost yell out in frustration. I take a second before I continue, "He's cool, but I'd rather be just friends."

Nodding, he rubs my shoulder in a comforting manner. "Have you told him that?"

"Literally since the beginning,"

"Then that's not someone you need to be around," he says thoughtfully. "Only you know what's right for you."

I lean into his embrace and I thank the universe for blessing me with a parent like this.

"It just seems to me that he likes you a lot," he continues, "and judging from the fact that you told him about your brother, I think you may like him a tiny bit too."

I internally scream before saying, "I don't want to like him though."

He laughs, causing Mango to jump from his lap. "Sometimes we don't have a choice."

"That's messed up," I pout.

My dad gets up and I immediately feel cold. Oh, how I miss the days where I could pretend to be asleep so that he'd carry me to bed.

"Life's messed up. You know that better than anybody," he says sadly as he collects our garbage. "I do think you should talk to your mother though."

"I try talking to her!"

"Nuh-uh," he chides, "Not yelling at her, I mean actually having a civilized conversation with her."

I scoop up Mango as I get off of the couch. "You should try telling her that, I don't think she knows what civilized means."

"I will talk to her," he kisses my forehead as I pass him to get to the stairs. "Don't stress yourself over anyone or anything. Goodnight, My."

Smiling warmly, I reply, "I love you."

"I love you more," he professes before going to the kitchen.

As I lay in my dark room, I go over our conversation in my head. I shut my eyes tightly before grabbing my phone and typing out a message:

I don't think we should see each other anymore.

Sent.

Not even three seconds later, my phone buzzes.

Chrissy: Why are you making it sound like you're breaking up with me? We have the same friends, we're going to have to see each other Amaya.

I contemplate just blocking his number before I realize that it's true. At that moment, I decide that I just need to avoid him until the end of summer. If I tell the guys that I don't want Christian to come to the cabin, then they can bring one of the back up people like Adrian said. Sending my final reply, I place my phone to charge, before having another one of my restless nights.

______

A/N:

I actually had this done the day after I posted the last chapter (whenever that was, time isn't real anymore) but here you go! I'll probably start writing the next chapter because I know what I want to happen (hee hee), but I have no idea what should come next on the list ://