AFTER THE PACKING IS FINISHED, BRI WATCHES HOW THE TWO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER. The light touches and protective hands don't fly over her head as it does her best friend's and she notices the gleam of love in the Englishman's eyes. What made Angelica so blind to something so obvious? Being the bestest friend ever, she fakes a phone call with her boyfriend, speaking loud enough for the both of them to hear.

"Oh you're coming over!" she said with an exasperated sigh, giving her one year 9 drama class some time to shine. "But I was just about to bring Ange over because shit hit the fan with her." she said, blue eyes glancing over to see that Herbie and Angelica had stopped talking to listen in on the conversation going on. "Well, if you're there then you need to help me tidy up because my house is a literal pig sty." she exaggerated. Brianna's house was anything but a pig-sty, she absolutely hated having one thing out of place so that line might've been a bit of a slip up. "Okay, yeah, okay. Mhmm, I'll see you soon. Yes, I'm going to tell her now. Mmk, bye." she fake hangs up before sliding her phone into her back pocket, turning to face the pair who quickly tries to act like they're busying themselves with something else. 

Bri grabs a bag and stands near them, helping them load it into her boot. "I'm so sorry, Ange. Mac is over at mine and I really do need to clean before you come over." She tries her best to feign despair as she grabs her friends hand, rubbing them in hers. "Herbie, is it alright if you drop her off later? I'll text and give the thumbs up." the NRL player only smiles with a small nod. "Of course, I mean... that's nothing much. As long as Ange says yes." the two look at the girl in the middle of the trio, awaiting her answer. The brunette does nothing but slowly nod, taking back pack she'd thrown into the trunk to take with her. "Is it alright if my stuff stay there though?" Brianna instantly clasps her hands together excitedly, closing the boot whilst answering her question. "Yes, girl, of course! I'll take it while I go there but I have to leave now. Mmk, see you guys, bye!" rushing to the drivers side, she beeps as she pulls out of her best friend's driveway, waving at the couple still standing there.

 Herbie's lips purse into a thin line. Angelica's best friend sure was as clear as water but he was grateful that she'd allowed him to spend some more time with her. He looks down at Ange to see she's on her phone, texting that bastard yet again. Even just seeing his name on a screen makes his knuckles turn white in anger. How dare he text her after everything he'd put her through in just a single day? "Hey, what do you say we go for a little drive?" he says, to both interrupt and distract her from that poor excuse of a boyfriend she had. "Hmm?" she hums in response, green eyes meeting his blue ones in a second. "Let's go for a drive just to get rid of the chills and everything that's been going on." Ange thinks about it, turning her phone on silent before a cheery smile spreads across her face. "Yeah sure. Let's just go."

Much to Ange's surprise, Herbie's first stop was a tucked away ice cream parlour that was run by a little man in the corner. "What flavour do you want?" he asks, taking off his seatbelt and opening the car door to order. "Ummm, what do they have?" she asks, eyes never leaving the shop as she fixes her hair. Just how long had she been sleeping for? "Anything you could imagine." Herbie tells her with a smile, leaning forward to grab his wallet from the glove box. "I'll get chocolate fudge then please. How much is it?" she asks as she hurriedly tries to grab her credit card from her phone case that won't budge, seemingly glued shut. "Don't worry about it. My treat." Herbie says with a light chuckle and a wink before closing the door. 

As the 6'3" male approaches the stand, the little man turns around and instantly a big smile spreads across his face. "Herbie!" the shop owner says with a cheer, pulling him over the counter into a genuine hug, patting his sturdy back. "Hey, Ryder. How've ya been?" the athlete asks when they finally pull away. "Been good. Business is booming so that's nice." the two have a little bit of banter throughout their conversation, laughing their heads off like a bunch of maniacs. "Who's the lady you brought with you?" the silver haired male asks curiously as he scoops their ice creams into a waffle cone, light blue eyes peering at Herbie's vehicle. "Is that the lady you've told me about?" the brunette shyed away at the question, blush creeping up his neck and burning through his ears. 

Ryder chuckles in response, clicking his tongue knowingly as he hands the youngster his desserts. "Aaah, I knew it. She's as beautiful as you described her to be." the wrinkles on his cheek turn into a smile as he places his palms downwards on to the shop's counter and Herbie returns the gesture. "She is, isn't she?" The brunette glances over at his car to see Ange on her phone, screen illuminating her charming features. "Well, don't let her get away then!" the elder says with a frown, having heard enough of Herbie's rants that usually went on till closing time. You could say he was more familiar with this 'Angelica' than you thought he was. The broad male laughs again, shaking his head. "Don't worry, Ry, I won't." the wise old man waves him off, waving sweetly at Ange who confusedly waved back, a hesitant smile on her lips. 

She had to admit, seeing Herbie interact with an elder like that did make her see him in a different sort of light. He was far more attractive now and she didn't know whether that was a good thing or not. "Is he your friend?" she asked as they both buckled their seatbelts, Herbie beeping the horn before pulling on to the main road. "Yeah, in a way. He's more like a Papa than a friend, you know?" she nodded as she ate her ice cream. This was a new side to him she was seeing. Of course, he was always a good person to be around and he interacted with people just fine but that's the most she's seen him smile and laugh in a singular conversation. It made her thirst for the unknown grow and her heart had a small drop when he so much as glanced over at her. "Is the ice cream alright?" he asks in between licks, driving the car with one hand whilst the other holds his confectionary. "It's probably the best I've had in ages. Thanks, Herbs." she says with unfeigned intention, already eating at the second scoop. "Not a problem."

@angemas0nnn posted on ig story :

Faster than she expected, their little hang out had come to and end, Bri's thumbs up text already came in an hour and a bit back. As they pull up to her best friend's house, she twiddles with her thumbs. Herbie parks the car up before looking over at the girl in his passenger's seat, more than saddened to see her have to leave his side again. Over the span of their hangout he'd learnt that Ange was taking a break from work just to recollect herself. She'd clarified it would only be 2 weeks considering she wasn't going to be getting any money throughout the time she took off but time away was still time away and Herbie was still having a bit of trouble accepting that. Hence the reason why he purposely went over time with this little noon out with her.

"Thanks heaps for dropping me off, Herbie. I know gas isn't cheap so I already sent you $70 to make up for the car ride." Herbie visually cringes at her words, shaking his head as he tries to pull out his phone. "Nah, Ange, I offered. It's not like you forced me to take you there." it's Angelica's turn to shake her head now, popping open the car door to make her dramatic escape. "I also sent an extra $20 for you to spend at the Caxton, tell the boys I say hi." winking, Ange dashes towards the door while simultaneously waving at the male who sits shell shocked in his car. A couple of minutes pass before he can finally move, opening his phone to text the group chat. 

brissy boys 🐴
koton1staggs , pats.c , reynaur ,
marinatedeine + 20 other

REECEDAGOAT
it's just a question!
would you rather play for
the tigers or the rabbitohs?
koton1staggs , prettyboyjords +9 more reacted 🤦🏻‍♂️

PRETTYBOYJORDS
fuck the rabbits
pats.c reacted 💗

BLAKEMOZER
tigers obv

MARINATEDEINE
let's kick blaze out
delouisehawktuah , benjimarsh.k , reynaur + 15 more reacted 👍🏻

HERBSTERRR
are you guys still at the caxton?

KOBETHERINGTON
well look what the cat dragged in
blakemozer reacted 😂

REYNAUR
yeah we are
you finally coming?

HERBSTERRR
yeah might

PRETTYBOYJORDS
how's ange? 🤣
reecedagoat , koton1staggs , pats.c + 10 more reacted 🤣

HERBSTERRR
wow really funny 😐

KOBETHERINGTON
don't be a buzz kill ya simp

REECEDAGOAT
guys leave him alone
let him be with his pookie 😍😘😌🎀💅🏻

PATS.C 
shut up reece
reecedagoat reacted 🥺

HERBSTERRR
i'll see you guys soon 👍🏻
reynaur , koton1staggs , pats.c + 14 more reacted 👍🏻

KOTON1STAGGS
see you soon brother 🫡

⊹ 𓈒 ۫ 𝗿𝙚𝗻 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝙚𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝙚𝘀 ─ 📝
update? 🙅🏻‍♀️
rewriting the chapter? 👍🏻
i like this one way better

don't forget to comment & vote

۪ 𝅄 ꒰ 𝐢𝟎𝟖𝐫𝐞𝐧 ── ☆