10 Days before Valentine’s Day.

I’m determined to get this done before the end of class. I carefully painted neat strokes on the painting that I was working on. My eyebrows furrowed in concentration while I blocked out everything, especially the music that was blasting through the radio.

“You shouldn’t be with him,” Dylan interrupted.

I sighed, dropping the paintbrush on the desk and turned to him. “And why is that, huh? Is it even any of your business?” I asked rhetorically, “No, it isn’t. So just leave it.”

I stood up and walked over to the sink to wash the paint off of my hands. Dylan followed me and grabbed my shoulders, turning me around.

He met my cold gaze without blinking, “It’s none of my business, you’re right. I’m just trying to help.”

“Help?” I scoffed, grabbing paper towels to dry my hands. “You’re trying to help? How, by trying to break us up? I hate to break it to you but, that’s not helping. That’s sabotage.” I said with my voice dripping with sarcasm.

He shook his head, “trust me, I’m trying to help.”

I rolled my eyes at him, “Tell you what, just do me a favour and take your ‘help’ somewhere else. I don’t need your ‘help’ and I certainly don’t want you telling me who I should and shouldn’t be with!” I spat at him.

He shook his head, “Why won’t you listen to me?” he asked.

I shrugged, “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because you’ve been telling me that I was ‘making a mistake’ all week! And it’s starting to get really really annoying.”

“Well, because you are,” he said simply.

“No, I’m not. You can’t even explain to me properly as to why ‘I’m making a mistake’.” I scoffed, crossing my arms across my chest.

“I’ve been trying, you just won’t listen.” He argued.

“I’m listening now, so come on, enlighten me.” I said coldly, gritting my teeth.

“He’s using you.” He said.

“He’s using me, huh? That’s it? And how do you know?” I questioned, tilting my head slightly and narrowing my eyes at him.

“I just do, alright?” Dylan replied.

“Yeah, okay. He’s ‘using me’, just like you’re trying to ‘help’ and that you’re ‘just friends’ with, I don’t know, half of the cheerleading squad?” I said sarcastically using air quotes to put emphasise my words.

Dylan’s jaw tightened, “We’re just friends.” He answered bitterly. “And fine, if you don’t want to listen, then...fine.”

“Fine.” I shrugged and grabbed my things off the desk.

***   ***   ***   ***  ***

I took a deep breath and sighed, tightly griping on my bag strap as I pushed through the sea of students. Emma spotted me walking down the hallway on my way to the cafeteria and she hurried towards me.

She bumped my hip causing me to stumble and playfully punch her on the arm. “So how’s Javery?” she asked cheerfully.

“Good.” I answered, smilingly. “How’...” I paused, “Aaremma?” I asked unsure of the new name combination.

Emma rolled her eyes, “Fine but I think we need to work on that nickname.” She teased.

“Yeah, I’m not good at coming up with ship names, that’s your area of expertise.”

“Mhmm. Is Jason eating lunch with us?”

“Uh...no. He had some stuff to finish doing. Something for extra credit, I think.”

“Oh, okay. Aaron is still sitting with us, ‘cause you know, unlike your boyfriend he doesn’t disappear to go do nerdy, extra credit stuff.” She mocked.

“Shut up, at least my boyfriend doesn’t smell of sweat after football training.” I retorted.

“As if he doesn’t smell of sweat after running! And Jason doesn’t even play football, you fool!” Emma pointed out.

“Whatever.” I dismissed as she laughed loudly.

“What’s so funny?” Aaron walked over bringing our lunch trays and sliding an arm around Emma.

“Avery was being stupid.” Emma answered, smirking at me and pecked Aaron on the lips, to which my initial reaction was to roll my eyes and stick my fingers in my mouth and make a gagging sound, earning a glare from her.

I winked at her mockingly, “I was not!” I exclaimed, batting my eyelashes innocently, and took my lunch tray from Aaron, muttering a thank you.

“If you say so,” she said in a sing-song voice.

Aaron just shook his head at our babbling. “Where’s Jason?”

“Extra credit classes,” I answered robotically and he nodded.

“No Dylan today?” Emma asked Aaron who shook his head.

“He said he had to go talk to someone.” Aaron replied, shrugging and sat down onto our usual table.

“It’s just us three then,” I spoke to no one because Aaron and Emma were already in their own little world and was completely oblivious to everything.

I slowly ate my fries in silence, observing my surroundings. I chewed slowly as I watched a group of students holding a banner and one of them climbing a ladder to hang it on the ceiling for all to see.

“Emma,” I attempted to get her attention but failed, “Emma!” I said a bit louder. Nothing. “Emma!” I half-shouted.

She turned to me, “What?!” she exclaimed.

“Look,” I pointed towards the banner and she craned her neck around to look at what I was pointing at.

“Come fly with me. Cupid’s Soiree.” She read out. “That sounds kind of boring but we’ll go anyway.” She says.

“Who said that you were going?” Aaron asked teasingly.

“I did,” she answered, raising her eyebrows at him.

“I haven’t asked you to go with me yet.” He pointed out.

“But you will,” she replied sounding sure of herself and patted Aaron on the head. “Aves, you should go.” Emma suggested excitedly.

“Maybe,” I answered, shrugging my shoulders.

“Come on, Aves! You have to go!” She tried to persuade me. “Here’s an idea, we’ll double date! Doesn’t that sound fun?!”

I winced slightly at the thought of Emma taking me shopping again. That was painful ad pure utter torture.

“I’m for it,” Aaron added and waited for me to change my mind while Emma gave me her classic puppy dog eyes that she would make when she wanted something.

“Fine, yes. But, only if Jason wants to go.” I agreed and Emma nodded and clapped eagerly in delight.

“Of course he’s going to want to go! Why wouldn’t he?” she asked rhetorically.

“I don’t know, he’s busy with extra classes and everything. He might not be able to go.” I explained.

“He’s going; I’ll drag his sorry butt to that dance if I had to.” Emma grinned.

“Please, you won’t do that, you’re afraid of breaking a nail!” I chuckled and she glared at me, sticking her tongue out.

“Aaron will drag his sorry butt for me,” she answered smugly.

“And why would I do that?” Aaron asked smirking at Emma.

“’Cause...I said so and I’m adorable?” she responded with a grin and I laughed at her so she kicked my leg under the table.

“Ow!”

“Blonde girl, who I can’t remember the name of!” she called out, gesturing for a blonde haired girl to come towards us.

“Gina, my name is Gina.” The girl said when she reached our table.

“I want to reserve six tickets for that, Cupid Soiree thing.” Emma said with a wide smile. Aaron and I exchanged confused glances while Emma payed the girl –Gina- for the tickets.

“Why six tickets?” I asked, confused.

“Yeah, I thought it was just you, me, Avery and Jason.” Aaron added, furrowing his eyebrows.

“Yeah but Dylan is probably going to come, too and we all know he’s not turning up on his own. We can triple date instead, triple the fun!” Emma squealed excitedly.

“Alright, fine by me.” Aaron replied and returned to eating.

“Great,” I said trying to smile widely and sound enthusiastic.

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{Unedited}

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