(𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑)

I lay on Katelyn's bed along with Tabitha while Katelyn sits on the floor doing a puzzle. I was practically brided to help but I would rather write the Declaration of Independence ten times over than sit and do a puzzle.

Nevertheless, it's not even a baby one with at most fifty pieces, it's the small one that someone could choke on.

"What does an orgasm even feel like?" Tabitha questions, which completely makes me disregard my thoughts.

"Have you never had one?" Kate questions, scooting close to the bed, her legs crossed in front of her like a child at play.

"I don't know the difference between the two," she replies and they both turn towards me.

"Have you ever had one?"

My eyes drift between the two girls, "I don't know," I mutter.

"Me neither," Kate responds.

"Wait you're telling me, Chase didn't give you one?" Tabitha asks, her left brow perfectly arched as confusion makes itself clear on her face.

"Chase doesn't know how to please anyone but himself," she retorts, running her hand through her hair.

"Some girl told me, her toes curled," Tabitha jokes causing all of us to laugh.

She nudges me slightly, causing me to jolt to the side, "What, I'm serious," she mutters.

"Tell us when your toes curl," I tease causing her to roll her eyes playfully.

"How would I even know?" she asks and I shrug.

"It'd be different I guess," Kate says, chiming into the conversation.

"Toe curl and everything," I joke, just before a pillow hits me in the face.

"You are unbelievable," I retort.

── ·✩· ──

"Hey Brunette," I hear Joshua's voice through the air causing me to come to a halt.

I turn to face him, watching as he jogs lightly towards me.

"Can I uh, talk to you again for a moment?" He asks.

I nod slightly and he holds my arms before pulling me to the side. His brows are sweaty and so are his palms, he was nervous.

"What's wrong?" I inquire, gathering his undivided attention.

He scratches the back of his neck, "I just wanted to tell you that-"

"God I cannot wait to have a burrito," Chase interrupts Josh, as he slides his arm swiftly across his shoulder.

"Chase we're in the middle of something," he says shrugging Chase's arm off.

Chase looks between the both of us, brows furrowing before looking at Joshua.

"You two are down at the old Hammer town huh?" He retorts.

I roll my eyes in annoyance, "Can you get any more stupid?" I ask rhetorically. "I'll talk to you later, Joshua,"

He nods with a saddened expression and I try on my heels to walk towards the cafeteria. I hadn't eaten in here ever. The most I've spent in here is probably five minutes at most.

To collect food and get the hell out, I hate cafeterias, mainly because it's the spot I was bullied the most.

The incredibly toned and skinny girls were always so rude. After a while, I became one myself, but none of it was real. And I regret being mean to so many people.

If I could take it all back, I honestly would.

"Ollie,"

"Tristy," I retort, turning towards the curly-headed boy. His hair is a beautiful mess, he's wearing his usual hoodie with some jeans, with his chain around his head and his rings around his fingers,

"Did you get lunch yet?" I inquire.

He shakes his head, "I was waiting for you actually,"

"But you know I can't exactly get it myself,"

He crosses his arms across his chest, "Well today you're trying,"

"I'm sorry, didn't know I was having a personal psychiatrist when I accepted your proposal," I tell him and he rolls his eyes playfully.

"I wouldn't tell you to do this if I didn't think you were ready,"

"And if I'm not?" I question, "I could make a complete fool out of myself, stammering on words that I had revised in my head ten times over,"

"If you mess up you mess up, I'm right here with you, am I not?" He asks with a small smile on his face.

"Fine,"

We both walk towards the line, it wasn't long so I definitely didn't have time to think about what I wanted or exactly how I would say it.

"Stop thinking about it," he mutters.

I look up towards him, "Easy for you to say, all you have to do is stand there and look pretty, and then your order is there,"

"Did you just call me pretty?" He questions, clearly only listening when I said pretty.

"No, I said all you have to do is stand there and look pretty,"

"So I'm not pretty?" He asks.

"Shut up," I mutter, he laughs softly from behind me and without noticing I'm at the top of the line.

The cold air hits me from the empty spot in front of me and I take a step forward towards the lady who's been placed at the counter.

"What'd you like to order today?"

I glance up at the small board with the meal of the day, the words are scribbled in white chalk but it's not too hard to read.

"I'll have the uh, chicken alfredo with a small lemonade," I tell her. Glancing back at Tristan he has a smile on his face.

Brighter than his usual one, this one actually shows his dimples.

'Good job,' he mouths to me.

── ·✩· ──

Tabitha and I sit in complete silence as we try to complete our assignments, it's a week before school closes and the class we have is the date of final submission.

Tabitha's on my bed while I sit at my desk, I take a sip off my hot chocolate, the weather's getting way colder than usual, maybe it's one of the times I'll actually snow.

I flip my page before letting out a loud groan, Tahitha chuckles and I hear shuffling coming from my bed.

"What page are you on?" She inquires as I place the pen down and spin around to face her.

"Ninety, you?"

"Eighty-two," she mutters, scouting off of my bed. "I'm taking a break,"

"You only read two pages, where are you going?" I ask.

She walks over to the door, "To raid your kitchen duh,"

I roll my eyes playfully then I follow her down to the stairs and soon into the kitchen area.

Placing my hands on the counter, I pull my body up and slip my butt onto the cold surface.

"Do you guys have any more Takis?" She questions, welcoming her into the pantry without waiting for an answer.

"Top shelf," I tell her but she's already halfway out the door with two bags of Takis.

She tosses one to me which I catch then open the bag allowing the spicy scent to release into the air.

"I have one question that's been itching me," I mutter, placing one of the rolled goods into my mouth, the heat makes my tongue tingle slightly before I chew softly.

"What's that?" She questions, struggling to open the bag and I notice it's also upside down.

"Why'd you even sleep with Mr Clarke?" I ask. The bags tips open, sending all of the Takis flying into the air before hitting the ground in unison.

My eyes widen slightly and my lips part with a shocked expression visible on my face. "Sensitive question?" I ask.

I slide myself off the counter, as she chuckles nervously, "It's not actually," she mutters.

The robot vacuum that my parents bought a couple of weeks ago runs itself over the Takis, probably destroying itself in the process.

"We met at a club," she remarks, her eyes wandering everywhere else but on me.

I notice the fidget with the wrapper just before she throws it away. I don't pray to ask any more questions, people like to be private, so do I.

But I can't help but want to know more, she's the first real friend I've actually had, and I know absolutely nothing about her other than she slept with our English teacher and she has a younger brother.

I don't know where she lives, what her parents are like or even what her favourite food is. She's basically a stranger, maybe even my therapist.

"Tabitha,"

"Hm?" She murmurs, her right brow raised as she turns towards me.

"What's your little brother like?" I ask.

A small smile forms on her face as she tucks a strand of her brown hair behind her ear.

"He's really sweet, gentle and kind, I taught him to be that way, but I also taught him how to throw a punch," she remarks. "Why?"

I shake my head slightly with a smile, "Just wondering,"

── ·✩· ──

𝗼𝗼. ⁞ 𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐒!

Hey guys, that concludes chapter thirty-six, I really do hope that you liked this chapter, sorry for the late upload again. Chapter thirty-seven coming soon.

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