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BITTERSWEET
::  xxi. | summer days

The last day of summer was finally upon everyone. Mia and Cole were about to enter 10th grade while Daniel was going into his senior year. The three were hanging out at the pool but it was more like Mia and Cole do something together for like ten minutes then Daniel and Cole.

Cole didn't understand why Daniel and Mia hated each other. When she tried to ask them about it, they would just ask her to drop it. That obviously was a tell that they had history but she wasn't sure of what kind.

Daniel pulled his shirt off, then leaned back in the chair while placing his shirt on the table.

Daniel's eyes shifted towards Mia, "You think you can get us some slurpees?"

Cole looked between her friend and boyfriend, "Actually, why don't you get us some? Hm, babe?"

What was more worse than being there for Mia was hearing Cole call him babe. She wants to be a good friend, supportive, but it would be a lot different if her boyfriend were someone else because Daniel makes her skin crawl and vice versa.

Daniel hated that his girlfriend took Mia's side but because he's such a kind person, he did what was asked. He also realized that Cole didn't specify on us, meaning that he only needed to get him and Cole slurpees. Mia could get her own.

Daniel got up from his chair and walked over to his girlfriend. He leaned down and gently connected his lips with Cole's. He adores cole, but he also got off on pissing off mia.

He pulled away as he caressed her cheek, "I'll be right back."

Mia rolled her eyes as she plopped next to her best friend, "What do you see in him?"

Cole turned to Mia, "Do you really have to ask? Have you seen him?"

"He's a lucky guy."

Cole wasn't sure how to respond back to that. She wasn't sure if it was just a compliment because of how much of a nice person she is or was her best friend implying she was jealous— which Cole knew that couldn't be the case because Mia doesn't feel that way about her, at least to her knowledge.

As Cole's eyes wandered around the scenery in front of them, Daniel came back with slurpees in his hands. Guess how many? Two. One for him and one for Cole. That's how petty he was towards Mia.

"Cherry for you." He gave Cole her's, "And blueberry for me." He went back to his chair.

"Um babe—"

"She hates cherry." Mia intervened.

"Oh." His tone was dry. He hated how she knew practically everything about Cole and he didn't.

"No it's fine. Don't worry about it." Cole tried to play it off even though she really didn't want to drink it.

The three continued their time at the pool, Mia and Daniel ignoring each other as well as annoying. There was one moment when he pushed her in the pool when Cole wasn't looking, acting like she fell in by accident. Then there was the time Mia got everyone lunch and she put little bugs in Daniel's food. Luckily he noticed before eating.

The two could go at each other's throats for hours. You would think they had a crush on each other but it was the complete opposite.

One problem with that though, Cole was no longer thinking that. Now she though that they had secret feelings for one another because of how they kept acting.

• • •

Vanessa was just getting home from work when her phone was buzzing in her back pocket. As she was unlocking her front door, she pulled out her phone and answered the call. She put the phone to her ear and initiated conversation as she walked into her home where she found Miguel sleep on the couch.

"Jj, what's up?" Vanessa closed the door behind her then headed to the kitchen.

"You busy tonight?"

Vanessa thought for a second, "No, I don't think so. Why?"

"Me and Will are going to the movies. Want to join?" The agent's voice was quite chipper.

Vanessa sucked her teeth, "I don't think I can make it."

"You just said you weren't busy."

She quickly came up with a lie, "I forgot I have something to do."

"Oh." Jj's tone was quite hurt, "Maybe next time?"

"Maybe." Vanessa repeated then hung up the phone.

She never lied to jj before but she just couldn't be there when Will was. One, she hates feeling like the third wheel and two, watching someone you have feelings for be all cutesy with someone else sucked. She just wanted to spare her feelings, even though she knew it was probably hurting jj.

Vanessa being curious and wanting to make sure her daughter was safe, opened up her phone once again and texted Cole asking about her whereabouts considering it was getting dark.

After about a minute or two, Cole texted back and said she was at Daniel's and that she was going to spend the night. Vanessa thought about that for a minute before replying back with a stay safe and I love you.

• • •

Daniel had just gotten out the shower at his house. Cole was waiting downstairs in the kitchen, drinking a cup of water. Daniel dried himself off as he stepped out the shower. He then slipped his boxers on with some shorts over them. As he exited his bathroom, he tossed his wash cloth and towel on the bed, picking up his sweater on the way out his bedroom.

As he made his way down the stairs, he put the sweater on leaving it unzipped, revealing his chest.

"So uh, you spending the night?" Daniel walked over to the counter jumped up, sitting on it.

Cole nodded, "Yeah." She walked over to Daniel and stood in between his legs with her hands resting on his thighs, "I know you don't want to talk about it — never but I just have to ask."

He sighed, "Shoot."

"Do you have feelings for Mia? It's just today at the pool you two were so invested in bothering each other. It felt like one of those times where you hate each other so much to cover up how you really feel." She explained to her boyfriend.

He immediately protested, "You read it all wrong. I just don't like her. She's your best friend, I get it but she's annoying and I hate being around her."

Cole stepped back, "But we're supposed to get along with each other's friends. It's not like I can not not be around her."

He got off the counter, "And I don't expect you too. Listen, I don't like her and that's just how it is. I'm pretty sure there's one of my friends that you don't like even."

"I actually like all your friends." Cole continued, "There has to be something more you're not telling me. I know there is because everyone likes Mia — she just that type of person."

"Guess im the one percent that doesn't."

"Daniel, if you're lying to me about anything . . . I'm going to really hate you for that." She warned him.

"I swear."

"Then why don't I believe you?" Cole practically whispered.

Daniel looked to the floor, not denying or protesting that he's not lying. Just before he could attempt to save their relationship if that's where it was now, Cole was already out the door.

And the first place she thought to go to was of course Mia's house.

To be continued . .

a/n:
what do you think
Mia and Daniel's
secret is?