(𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐈𝐄𝐒)

I walked down the halls, my shoes tapping against the concrete floors as I see a familiar face.

"Joshua," I say with a smile, we hadn't talked in a few weeks if so much.

"Hey," he mutters, his normal mood of joy completely gone leaving no trace of existence.

"What have you been up to?" I question.

"Nothing, really just going through it with my parents," he says, a tight-lipped smile pulling on the ends of his lips.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear, what's going on?" I query. I only really know that Joshua's parents argue, and sometimes get physical which is one of the many reasons he left home.

"They're getting a divorce, so I'm kinda in the middle of that," his voice cracks and it scatters my heart.

Without saying a word, I pull him into a small hug, he takes a second but his arms wrap around my waist and he places his head into my neck.

"You can call me if you ever need someone to talk to," I mutter and he nods.

I gently rub the back of his head before we pull apart.

"I should probably get going to class, but I'll see you later," he tells me. I nod slightly before he gives me a small smile. He turns around and continues to walk towards his class.

"You and Joshua seem close," Chase retorts causing me to turn towards him.

"He's going through tough times, I'm being a friend," I tell him and he rolls his eyes before taking a deep breath.

"I just wanna say I'm sorry,"

"I'm sorry, but I don't really care," I retort.

His eyes widened a bit before returning to their normal dull expression. "I never meant to cheat," he mutters rubbing the back of his neck.

"I think I'm good being able to feel better about myself, instead of constantly worrying if I'm not good enough," I say.

"I actually can't believe you're trying this again,"

He clenches his jaw slightly before letting it go. His eyes soften and he remains silent for the first time in his life.

"The relationship might have been a great thing for you, but it was nothing but stress for me,"

"But if you'll excuse me, I have to get to class," I say as I push past him before walking up the stairs.

God, I'm almost late.

── ·✩· ──

My altercation with Chase was definitely going to make talking to him a lot harder but Tristan wasn't worried about me talking to him anymore, so technically if I didn't want to, I didn't have to. I'm not one to forgive him especially since I've spent a whole year, crying myself to sleep while he stays out at parties, fucking everything that has a hole.

"Ollie,"

"Hm?" I murmur looking over at Tristan. I hate to admit it but I've gotten so used to him calling me Ollie that I'm not even offended by it.

"You okay, you seem tense," he mutters, I shake my head before giving him a small smile.

"I'm okay," I tell him and he nods.

He brushes his hand against mine before holding it gently, he intertwines our fingers and brushes his thumb against the back of my hand.

A smile pulls on my lips but it quickly disappears as Mr Clarke calls upon me.

We hadn't really been talking about work since the Winter Holiday was coming soon so I wasn't too nervous about him calling on me.

"What book have you read that was, particularly interesting?" He questions, leaning against his desk with his arms crossed.

"I haven't had that much time to read, since school started so I'm not exactly sure how I should answer that," I tell him.

"Fair enough," he retorts before calling on Tabitha.

Her body stiffens and she shifts a bit in her seat as if she's uncomfortable. He glares at her and something about his expression is different, his eyes seem a bit hurt, but she clears her throat and answers the question.

No. fucking. way.

── ·✩· ──

"You slept with him?" I exclaim as she flops onto my bed, I hadn't shut up about the way he was glaring at her in class.

And she had just blurted it out.

"Okay, I knew him beforehand, I didn't know he'd be my fucking professor as well," she tells me, running her hand through her hair.

"What about Kate?" I query.

"I told him it was off since school started back, but we might have done stuff in the classrooms, but I met Kate afterwards and I'm all Kate now," she tells me.

"So how does he feel about you ending things?" I question.

"He's not too happy, but it's my choice, he'll have to accept that," she expresses.

"Yeah, I know what you mean,"

"I'm gonna get changed for the jog, you can change in the bathroom if you want," I tell her as I walk into the closet where I usually dress.

I skim through my clothes before grabbing shorts with a cropped sports top. I change out of my clothes before putting on a fresh outfit.

I brush my hair back, pulling it into a high ponytail before wrapping the band around it.

I take a look at myself in the mirror, I smile for once I smile at myself, I'm happy with where my body is, and I don't feel as though I'm only skin and bones.

I definitely feel healthier and I look that way as well. I was eating okay-I wouldn't say healthy but the point was that I was eating.

I quickly slip my bike socks on, and then I push my feet on my favourite workout shoes,  since my whole outfit was in black, my shoes were as well.

I grab my water bottle and sit on my bed as I patiently wait for Tabitha. I grab my phone and text, Tristan. He probably won't reply he's been busy recently.

Tristy :)

But I like orange juice better

That's because you're weird

Apple juice is superior

I chuckle at our old messages from our separate classes. I tap on the typing bar and send a new message.

I don't expect a reply right away so I place my phone into my bag just as Tabitha walks in.

"If I was Tristan, you would not be gping on a run dressed like God carved you to perfection," she speaks causing me to roll my eyes before quickly realizing I hadn't told her.

"One, Tristan can fight," I tell her causing her to laugh at my quick remarks.

"And two, he is carved to perfection, so maybe I should learn how to fight," I joke causing her to raise a brow.

"Why would you need to fight?" she questions.

"Tristan only ever looks at you with those sparks in his eyes and if he looks at anyone else it's a blank and dull expression as if he's bored," she remarks.

I don't know why but that statement made me happier than it should have. "I used to get those dull expressions once," I tell her and she shakes her head.

"No you did not, even when you guys weren't friend he looked at you differently from what I could see, he might have liked you way earlier," she mutters.

"Or you're just seeing things," I tell her as we walk out of my room.

"Or maybe you're blind," she retorts

"Yeah right," I say.

"Wanna jog to your house, I don't mind coming back alone," I say, looking over my shoulder to look towards her.

I wasn't exactly sure where she lived but I was curious that's mainly why I asked. I did want to more about her but she wasn't making it very easy, and I wasn't one to push boundaries.

She's a good friend and I'd like to keep it that way.

Her expression is almost as though she's afraid, but it's only for a slight second before she gives me a small smile and shakes her head.

"I'd rather stay here and freshen up before heading home," she says.

"Sure, no problem,"

── ·✩· ──

𝗼𝗼. ⁞ 𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐒 !

Hey guys, that concludes chapter thirty-three,, I really do hope that you liked this chapter. I appreciate all the support on this book and I can't wait for you guys to see what I have in store. Chapter thirty-four coming soon.

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