Hermia

Mom opened her mouth to speak but then shut it.

"I'm sorry. " I quickly apologized, not staring at mom but Sally. She messed up again.

She blinked twice and then gave an apologetic smile in my direction. Anyway her date was a bad idea. And even her being here is one too now.

Mom cleared her throat, glared at me then smiled at Aaron. "Alright then. Thanks Aaron. Tell your dad I said—"

"He lives around here?" Sally interrupted glancing between mom and I. I look back at the subject, Aaron.

Please don't. Don't say a word. Was what my face read obviously as I quickly thought of an alibi.

"He's actually—" I answered but then someone cut in.

"A neighbour. " I took in a sharp breath. Damn it.

Mom.

I slowly look up to meet Sally's expected glare. Of course, this is not my first time lying to her but really I just don't want to get tagged with this nerd let alone her getting ideas and besides my mom is up to something and I don't trust Sally's ability to keep shut sometimes.

"You lied. Again. " she drawled out as if being cautious of her choice of words.

I dropped my hands into my shorts pocket. "Um. . . Sorry I just—"

"What the heck Hems? You do that always. You can't tell me things in your life, huh? I'm not a friend? "

I blow out a heave. "You're overreacting Sally. I can explain later, okay? Just let's go. " I pulled out my hands towards hers eager to pull her out with me but she stepped away.

"Nope. This is not your first. I bloody asked you! " she tilted her head and I knew right then I messed up.

Okay, Sally could be introverted but hot tempered too.

"Sally. . . "

"If you think I'm not good enough to be a friend you tell things to or let into your world then I see no point to being friends. You keep doing this but I always think, okay. It's just that you're closed off but you. . . " she paused and then turned away.

"Sorry if you had thought that. But—"

"Good night, " and with that,  she left me there watching as she left before I faced the ugly reality of  what was going on.

She's leaving me?

"Sally! " I called, chasing after her. She bolted towards her car while I grabbed my skate board by the door hoping to catch up with her fast pace.

"Sally wait. You haven't heard what I had to say! "

She paused and turned around right when she was inches away from her car. I also stopped in my tracks and let out a sigh.

"I didn't want you to know about what my mom—"

"She's using him right? You were hiding that?"

My eyes became from dull to ball size. "You know? How?"

She sighed pulling her hair back as the gash of wind hit her face. "I heard you. Your mom and. . . When you pulled her with you. But that's not the point. You lied to me and it hurts. " she stuttered with a creaking voice.

It dawned on me  how much my actions hurt her.

"Okay. I promise never to do that. Again. And  I'll tell you everything about my life, okay? I'll also agree to this blind date and see if Alex and I are compatible. Just anything but please don't go. "

She said nothing but gave a sardonic smile. "You are just saying this. You won't do any of it. And don't worry you don't have to force yourself to change anymore because I'm going. You will find the reason to change your bad attitude later on. No one can put up with you. "

"Because I'm a tomboy? " I snapped already at the edge.

She sighed grabbing hold of her door's handle.

"You don't want to admit you're bad the way you are. And you need help. You're not who you let people see you as and I know it. " she paused and I scoff. "This you is bad, Hems. Fine, being a tomboy is not bad but pushing people away and not leading your life? Bad. "

"Well, damn it. That's what I am and I'm not about to change that, you know? " I shrugged staring into her icy blue eyes. She rolled her eyes at me.

"Who says I'm not living my life on my own terms? And, you keep saying it's bad the way I am. But really it's you who is bad. You're opposite of me and that  is really annoying okay? Your existence suffocates me because you try to change me and I just literally hate it when you start telling me your life history. New laptop, new pods, what nail paints you love, assignments, dates with Jan. . . Oh, and your annoying banter with your bullies. What else? " I squint my eyes at her then chuckling.

"Ah, your new hairstyle, your parents. . . Just anything and it really, really annoys me okay?" I yelled out in anger.

Her face was turning redder by the seconds while I yelled into the eerily deserted street but I didn't care anymore. "Just go to hell for all I care! "

She nodded a few times and I catch the trails of tears running down her cheeks.

"Anyway, " she breathed in a shaky voice. "Should I cancel the date with Alex then?"

I looked away with an eye roll. "Oh please, that idiot you're patching me up with? "

The door to her car clicked open and the next thing I hear is her silent sobs before her car zoomed off.

I let out an exasperated sigh and groaned pulling at the roots of my hair.

"What the heck! " I yelled.

Tonight was just a bad one. Date cancelled. That didn't really matter anyway. Well, I never wanted to admit it but no one can really put up with my shit like Sally does. And I just lost a true friend.

From where I stood, I heard some noises and my head turned towards the direction until I spotted two teenage girls in black jackets giggling and chattering as they walked.

We were like that. Sally and I. It suddenly started to hurt that I said all that to Sally. Why did I do that?

For what felt like hours, I just stood there feeling regret and cussing out at myself.

Then, I realized she was gone. Forever. I packed my hair into a messy bun and stomped towards my house. Getting at the door, I threw my skate board at it and it landed a few feet away from me.

As soon as I opened the door, Aaron was already there holding it. My gaze held his for a seconds and the anger I was feeling started to melt away surprisingly. I felt a surge of anxiety in the pit of my stomach before looking away abruptly.

He caused this by showing up.

"Would you walk him home Hermia? I mean since your date is cancelled?" mom said from inside. Her voice sounded really near, probably she's still here.

I rolled my eyes heavenward  and imagined if I refused, she would nag at me in front of him not giving a shit about how embarrassed I would feel so why not just agree without scuffles?

"Yea, " I finally replied dipping my hands in my pockets again. It's so cold tonight, I made a mental note.

Never wear shorts to a date again.

What if I had been at the bar then back by now?  I would've been freezing right now.

I hadn't noticed when Aaron grabbed an overcoat from the stand and extended it towards me until he voiced out.

"Wear this. It's cold. "

I glance at him then back at the clothing. Well,  I'd wanted to outright say no thanks but I figured it's of no use being arrogant right now.

I snatched it, quickly pulling it on. "I owe you twice now. " I mumbled under my breath.

"It's fine. " he replied with a composed mannerism. Oh, I'm allergic to nice people.

"So. . .let's walk you home already. "

He nodded and I almost could not take my eyes off his face. The dimmed street lights kept flashing across those gorgeous features of his.

His hair was  tousled, fringes falling at the edges of his thick straight eyebrows. My eyes traced along his chiseled nose until I catch he was saying something before it landed on his heart shaped lips. I wasn't listening but just staring.

". . . So funny, right? "

I blink twice as realization dawned on me.

"Um? "

He stopped walking and paused to look at me properly. Those grey eyes staring into mine before I looked elsewhere. I don't quite like this new thing with this nerd.

 "Well, I was saying that Noah. . . " he continued  and I automatically raise my gaze to meet his again. However I didn't listen to the rest of what he was saying but was  just staring at my new obsession.

His lips.

And then I realized I've lost it. 

~~~

A! N: I literally missed you guys. Three days without an update had not been what I opted for but it turned out that way.

What's your thoughts on this chapter? Spam this with your lovely comments 😄

Anyone ever had a big fight with a bestie? I sure have always had 😂

On a side-note, y'all ready for the next chapter? 😜