The next few days after the little incident at the dance studio were not the best and that's saying something considering how shitty my life has been lately. Max refused to talk to me or even acknowledge that I existed which basically confirmed that our “relationship” had ended.
It didn't take long for this to be exposed and I went from being the most popular girl in school to being the biggest loser in school. After all, Max and I had only been together for less than a month so that basically proved everyone's assumption that we wouldn't last.
No one knew the true story behind our breakup but they really didn't need to to start launching their attacks on me. Pranks, jokes, demeaning messages and notes... You name it. I got it all.
It was all mostly from girls that were punishing me for even daring to think that I was good enough to date Max.
All in all, I was handling it all pretty well until the most unexpected thing happened.
I
I stepped into the car and sank into the car seat, feeling it get wet underneath me. Almost instantly, I froze and slowly looked over at Derris whose eyes were on me. I knew why and it didn't give me a good feeling. "I'm sorry. I'll clean it up, I swear," I promised even though I had no idea how I was to clean spoilt milk off the car seat and get rid of the smell. However, Derris merely rolled his eyes at me and stated, "Don't mind that. Are you okay? Did Aria hurt you?" "Uh, nope. Just the milk," I replied. "Yeah. Sorry about her. I know she did it because of me," he mumbled as he slid the key in the ignition and started the car. I tried not to let my surprise show as I played with the hem of my skirt. I was back to wondering how this guy went from hating me to standing up for me in a matter of days. What brought about the change? Why was he doing this? "Why?" I found myself blurting out before I could help it. "Why what
I stepped out of the bathroom dressed in Derris' clothes which just like last time consisted of a black shirt and pants. Made me wonder what his closet looked like.The guy in question was seated on his bed out on his bed playing a soccer game on his PlayStation 5. Silently I sat beside him and watched him play. He didn't seem to take notice of me as he was engrossed in the game he was playing.When the final whistle was blown, he glanced at me and asked, "You play?""Nope. Never," I answered and shook my head."Well there's always a first time for everything," he said as he tossed me a second controller.I stared at the small device with all its buttons and controls, all of which were completely foreign to me and wondered what to do."Red, the game has started," Derris called causing me to look up at the game in question. I had no idea what I was doing and it showed. My dad watched soccer a few times so I had an idea what the game was about
[Derris' POV]Being unpredictable had always been a certain charm of mine, if you could call it that. Mood swings and change in temperament were just a few of the ways I shut people out. Didn't let them get too close.It was the same case with Allison. Whenever I sensed her getting close to the ‘real me’, I did what I always did and shut her out.If she was scared of me, then she wouldn't be brave enough to ask any questions. At least, that was my reasoning.But when Allison kissed me... let's just say I was not expecting that.Completely caught off guard, my eyes widened, my heartbeat quickened and I gripped my pants as she pushed her tongue into my mouth and deepened the kiss. It was an amateurish kiss but it was impossible not to get lost in the feel and taste of her mouth and lips.Then about two seconds later, she broke the kiss and looked down at her lap sheepishly. I could only blink silently at her.
[Allison's POV]"Janelle was Max's friend back when he lived in England. When he moved here, we became friends but he and Janelle continued to stay in touch. When we were about fourteen, Janelle came here to see him. Max was ecstatic and he confessed to me that he'd always had a crush on her and had plans to confess to her now that she was in the country. Then I slept with her.""Why?" I asked curiously."I don't know!" he groaned, running his hand through his hair. "It just kinda happened. One moment, we were watching a movie, the next, she was straddling and kissing me and things kinda went on from there.""How did Max find out then?""She told him. Apparently she thought we were an item and was excited about it but–""You had no intention of dating her. It was supposed to be a one time thing," I completely for him.He nodded. "Yup. Max was livid when Janelle told him and very cross with me but I was particularly moved. I stil
A little while after, we were both seated back at the kitchen island, each of us silently thinking. Derris' hug surprised me but then again, it wasn't the only surprising thing that had happened today. "So do you want to tell me what you meant by what you said?" I looked up from my clasped hands and locked eyes with him. "I don't know. Should I?" "You don't have to if you don't want to. No pressure. I haven't exactly given you any reason to trust me but after what you said, I just realized that I don't know you all too well and I do want that very much," he confessed, placing his hand on mine. "I want to know you too but it doesn't seem like that's what you want. It's like you don't trust me," I mumbled with my head bowed. "I do. At least I want to. It's just not that easy for me," he exhaled, letting his head fall back. "Do you trust me? I want a sincere, direct answer from you. Do you trust me?" A brief silence fo
"What about you?" Derris piped up out of the blue."What about me?" I asked back."Well what happened to you? What's your story?""Well it's not all that complicated. My family was perfect. Then my siblings died in a car crash, my mom ran away afterwards and my dad took to the bottle. We used to be close but not anymore. There, you have it," I concluded, sounding a lot more chirpy about it than I actually was. Derris saw through it though. "You don't have to fake being okay around me, you know? I actually showed you my vulnerable side. You don't have to be afraid to do the same.""You're probably right but compared to you, what I went through seems a lot more trivial," I confessed what I was feeling."But it's not, is it? It's not you had it easy though. You mentioned you lost your siblings. That must not have been easy for you.""It wasn't." I shook my head."Tell me about them," he asked. I looked up at him since I wasn't expecting
"Nellie, is a party seriously the best idea? You just got better!" I pointed out to Nellie who was excitedly going through her closet."Um, excuse you. This is the biggest party of the year. There's no way I'm missing it!" she yelled, pausing to stare at me like I was speaking garbage."Is that really the reason you want to go or is because Caleb is organizing it? Don't think I don't see through your excuses." I gave her an all knowing smile which she rolled her eyes at."Why are you so insistent on forcing something between Caleb and I? I told you that I don't see him like that. Plus he's a playboy. Totally not my type," she argued."Sounds to me like you're in denial," I sang to her cheerily. "Besides isn't that a trope from those YA books you always tell me to read? You're basically meant for each other.""You're delusional," Nellie sighed."And you're in...denial!" I sang again."Whatever. Now which do you think goes better with t
The silence that proceeded Max's question was deafening. I couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes so he wouldn't see the guilt I knew was visible on my face.My silence had pretty much answered the question already but I couldn't bring myself to tell him the actual truth. I already felt bad enough about what I'd done and confessing would only seal the end of I and Max's relationship.Still silent, I slowly slid down until I was seated on the floor. I didn't expect Max to sit beside me but eventually found him doing just that.My eyes were filled with unshed tears as I glanced at Max who had his brown eyes fixed on me."I'm sorry, Max. You have to believe that I never really meant to hurt you," I explained. "I don't expect your forgiveness but I truly am sorry.""It's okay," Max remarked."Really? But what I did to you —""Is a thing of the past," he cut in."But why? You deserved better after everything you've done for me