Asher slaps my hand as I try to pick another fry from his tray while waiting for my food.
“Aria. Eat your own food.”
“I don’t have food yet,” I winned.
He angles his head toward me with the fakest sympathetic smile. “Tragic.”
I smack his shoulder, pouting.
“Thank you.” I look over to see Maya collecting our food and she passed mine to me.
Maya leans closer. “Asher, did you know Chloe tried to bully Aria again?”
“Maya,” I groan. “I already dealt with her.”
“What did she do?” Asher asks, ignoring me.
“She called Aria a fake and a hmm hmm…”
“Shut it already” I spat, shutting my palm over her mouth. “I already dealt with her, it’s no big deal.”
“What the heck girl?” I shrieked. She chuckled as I remove my palm from her mouth, “why did you lick my palm?”
“You’re sick.” I groaned, wiping my palm against my top. “So do you think there will be snakes at Silverwood?”
“Not really,” I look up in surprise as Nolan spat. “Silverwood’s nice.”
“You’ve been there?”
He nods once. “A few years ago.”
“What’s it like?” Maya asks.
“It is your typical… nature settings?” He hesitates a bit. “But it is peaceful with a big and beautiful lake, cool breeze. you’d love it.” His voice softens a little while describing it, and I find myself watching him closely.
“Who is it!” Maya groaned as her phone ping with a message notification.
“It’s Jamal” she look at me, “he said you’re not replying to his texts.”
“My phone is in my locker, I’ll text him back later. Why isn’t he at school today though?” I ask, sipping Asher’s drink.
“He did not mention why, but he wants you both to meet at his studio.” She shrugged.
“That means he’s around, he just didn’t attend classes.”
“I’m sorry but is there anything going on between you and Jamal?” Tony asked, looking at me
“Pfffi” I laugh, “there’s absolutely nothing going on between us. We’re just friends.”
Asher crosses his arms. “Good. Keep it that way.”
“I don’t think he feels that way.” He mumbled
“Thank you! I’ve been telling her that, she’s clueless.” Maya snorted.
“Aria!” She gasps as I flick a fry at her forehead.
“You deserved worse,” I mutter.
“His feelings are none of her business, can we talk about something else?” Asher frowned
“Tell him that I’ll be there.” I say to Maya
“You’re not meeting him.” Asher sighed angrily.
I frown. “Asher, relax. It’s just Jamal. We’re probably going to talk about some of his new ideas or—”
“Or what?” He hissed. “Maya, tell him she’s not coming.”
I lean back. “Says who?”
“Says me.”
“You’re being dramatic.” I rolled my eyes.
Asher continues, totally unfazed. “I don’t trust Jamal.”
“You don’t trust anyone,” I shot back.
“That’s because I know boys.” He points at himself. “I am a boy. I know exactly what he wants.”
“He’s right.” Nolan whisper
“Nolan!” I scream.
“What? He is,” he shrugs.
I stare at Maya for backup but she just smiles and shrugged,” whatever your brother said.” She shrugged.
Traitor.
I squint at Asher. “I can handle myself.”
“Not the point.”
“Then what is the point?”
see only you in his studio and not with Maya?”
“Asher, you’re being weird. Jamal is harmless.” I groan.
“No guy is harmless,” he mutters.
Tony raises a hand. “Except me.”
“Shut it?” Maya hissed at him.
He lowers his hand. “Okay maybe not.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Fine, tell him I won’t be coming.”
“Okay darling,” Maya said, now typing on her phone.
“I’m taking you somewhere after school,” Ashler smiled, ruffling my hair.
“Where?” I rolled my eyes, swatting his hand away.
“You’ll see.”
“I am not interested.”
“It will be fun.”
“I don’t like surprises.”
“Too bad.”
I cross my arms. “I’m not going if you don’t tell me-”
He leans in, raising a brow. “Aria.”
Even Nolan cracks a small smile. “Just listen to him.”
I whip my head toward him. “YOU TOO?!”
“I mean…” He shrugs. “Jamal is kinda… intense.”
Tony nods. “Very intense.”.
Asher adds, “Suspiciously intense.”
My jaw dropped as I stared at all three of them.
“Fine.” I groaned.
Asher smiled, patting my head. “Eat your lunch.”
Chapter 79
I push his hand away. “Don’t pat me!”
Tony laughs. “You’re adorable when you’re angry.”
The bell rings, and we all stand
- up.
65 vouchers.
The hallway is loud as everyone scatters toward their next classes, but I’m still fuming mostly because these three idiots ganged up on me.
“You can newest him together with Maya.” Asher nudges my shoulder before heading off to his own class.
*****
“Permission slips,” Mrs Hopkins announces, holding a stack of paper. “Bring them back signed tomorrow. No signature, no trip to Silverwood.” She continues making the entire room erupt.
I blink down at the paper.
‘SILVERWOOD NATURE RETREAT – Three–Day Senior Preparatory Excursion.
“Cool,” I whisper, tracing the bold letters with my finger.
“Cool?” Maya scoffs beside me. “There’s no reason for this”
“It’s to know their thoughts on if they want us to go.” I shrugged
“I know that Tiny,” She flipped her hair.
*****
I head to my locker alone. Maya had to rush home due to a call she got. I toss both mine and Maya’s books inside my locker, grab my bag, and pick up my phone.
“There are 9 missed calls and messages from Jamal. His last message reads; “Hey, Maya said you’re won’t be coming. Is everything good?”
I stare at the screen for a moment, chewing my bottom lip before typing back.
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Sorry. Maybe another time.”
AD
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
