(𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒)

Although the group was back together the atmosphere was off. The group felt more like a makeshift group. It was definitely new with Tabitha and Kate being here.

Chase and Kate's bickering wasn't normal but expected. They always argue over the smallest things but Chase ends up shutting up in the end, which is unusual.

Joshua was forcing me to listen to how many scores he got at practice, which wasn't new either. At some point I had completely zoned out, I wasn't paying much attention to the conversation. I wonder if he notices.

Tristan, on the other hand, appears to be hurting. His expression is blank as usual, but you could see he's in pain. His hair looks messier than normal as if he had just gotten out of bed and was on his way to school. His blue eyes appear blazing crimson, and he attempts to disguise it with the hood of his hoodie, but if you look closely, you could see it.

"Brunette, are you even listening?' Joshua exclaims, raising his voice a bit which startles me from my train of thought.

Tristan raises his head for the first time to look at Joshua, "Don't do that,"

"Calm down, she's not your girlfriend anymore remember," Joshua jokes with a sly smirk.

Tristan's jaw clenches almost as if he's biting his tongue, "You know what don't worry," 

Grabbing his bag, he gets up from the bleachers in one swift movement, he dashes down the stairs skipping a few steps as he shakes his head.

"Tristan," I call but he doesn't budge as he disappears around the corner.

"What?" Josh asks.

I look at him and my brows furrow, "Can you not see he's going through something?" I ask.

"It's Tristan, he's always sulking," he mutters, I can't hide the complete disgust on my face when the words leave his mouth. I want to scream at him and tell him that's his best friend, how he should be a bit more worried but I don't.

"I'll go check on him," I say but he grabs my arm hard as I get up.

 "Sit down, he'll be fine,"

It takes every fibre in my bones to stay calm but suddenly Chase speaks.

"Josh, let her go," he says.

He holds my arm for a long moment then lets go before rolling his eyes, "Always fucking chasing him," he mutters under his breath.

I don't bother to reply, I rush down the bleachers and head in the way Tristan went. When I catch up to him, I see him turn into an empty classroom and I follow him inside.

"Trist-"

"I can't do this anymore, I can't do this Olivia," he says dropping his bag onto the floor as he paces back and forth.

"I have to deal with seeing my granddad in the hospital every day waiting for them to say something positive, and I feel like I'm empty when you're not around and when you are Josh is all over you," he pauses, coming to a halt. "Every day, I'm trying to keep my emotions hidden, I'm trying for Josh, I watch how close I stand to you, how I talk to you, how I look at you,"

"You literally drive me crazy, I hate that you have so much power over me, Olivia," 

He takes a few steps towards me, meeting me at the end of the room. "But I know you feel it too, the burn, the ache, the need,"

 I feel his breath against my lips, my breath becomes stuck in my throat and I can't bring myself to speak. The butterflies I've learnt so well to control resurface impetuously. But so differently this time; like they're on fire, butterflies with flames burning a passionate fire in the pit of my stomach but in the best way possible.

His attention is fixed on my eyes, and I strive not to look away. He leans in slightly but stops; his eyes linger on mine as if he's seeking an excuse to stop, a reason for me to not want this, but I don't give him any, I tiptoe to meet his lips and he sets lips on mine. 

Our lips move in sync gently, as I feel his hands on my waist pulling me close allowing me to share the flame burning inside me.

── ·✩· ──

Joshua sits on the couch as I slip off my shoes afterwards I join him on the other side. I don't want to be too close to him when I share what I have to say. I can also still feel the burn of Tristan's touch and I don't want Josh on my skin to think I'm flustered because of him.

"Why so far away?" He asks.

Since the incident with Josh, he's been different in the sense that I have to do what he says. He knows the shame lies inside both Tristan and me so he takes it as we owe him something. And while I might be wrong, I believe he is taking advantage of it.

"I wanted to talk to you about boundaries," I say.

"Go on,"

"I'm being kind to you, and it seems like you're abusing it," I explain.

"Abusing it how?" He asks switching over to sit next to me.

"I've tried to be a better friend, but it appears that all you see me as is a toy, something you should be able to have or play with whenever you want,"

He extends his arm behind the chair and rests his hand on my shoulder as he smiles, "I can't help but see you as a doll," he says.

I struggle not to cringe, "Josh, seriously," 

"What?" he asks.

"I'm trying to tell you something,"

"I'm listening," he says.

Before I can start speaking, he begins to lean in. "Josh stop," I tell him but he continues to come closer.

"I kissed Tristan today," I blurt out.

He quickly comes to a halt and his eyes open, he looks at me in astonishment, as he pulls his arm away from me and gets up.

"What the fuck is your problem?!" He exclaims.

"Am I the problem?" He asks. "You had no issue jumping from Chase to Tristan,"

"What?" I ask, getting up from the couch. "Are you serious right now?"

I was annoyed that my voice quivered when I would get angry or yell; I hadn't expected that from him. I'd said it to myself before, but I didn't think he truly believe it.

"You and Tristan are ao fucking bold," He says taking a step closer, "That asshole made me believe I never stood a chance,"

"Because you didn't and you still don't,"

In one swift movement, he turns around and throws his fist against the wall, and I quickly flinch from the impact. He drops his hand from the wall and I see the anger in his eyes. "You know how long I've been trying,"

"If this is your villain arc monologue you can skip it because I want you to leave," I say.

I was being mean but he had already punched the wall and I suddenly have no doubt he'd make me next. This wasn't the Josh I knew.

He turns to face me and I see the red tint covering his fist as he chuckles a soft and sarcastic laugh, "You think you're so fucking funny Olivia,"

"I knew it, the way you run to him when he has a problem!" he yells. "When I was dying where were you?"

I shake my head but the guilt surfaces in my chest, I know the truth yet I still say "That wasn't my fault,"

"You knew what I was going through!" he yells. "What does he have that I don't, I've been so patient with you, I've given you the time of day when that fucker didn't even want to look in your direction,"

"I get it, Josh I do but I told you already I don't see you that way," I tell him and he chuckles.

"No, no you don't get it, loving someone who doesn't love you," he scoffs, "But you will, because Tristan never loved Claire and he will never love you,"

My body reacts faster than my intellect, and my hand goes up to strike his cheek, when his head jerks to the left and he turns his gaze to look at me my heart stops.

The doorbell rings which grabs his attention, "Tell them to go away," he says.

"And why would I do that?" I inquire, I push past him, and he grabs my hand. I glance at him and tug my hand away from his grip. I walk over to the door and open it to see Tristan.

Before he can say anything his gaze lands on me and his brows knit together, "Are you alright?"

Josh comes up behind me, Unfuckingbelieveable"

"Josh was just leaving," I say, I stand to the side for him to walk out but he refuses to.

"Josh," Tristan says sternly. "What's going on," 

"You'll know soon enough," he says looking up at him. Tristan takes a deep breath as Josh pushes by him, slightly bumping into his shoulder on the way out.

── ·✩· ──

"You don't have to do this," I say.

I didn't tell Tristan anything much because I didn't want to talk about it, all his words were circling in my head and I didn't want to think about him.

Tristan decided that the best way to distract me from what had occurred was to bake me some brownies. I assumed he knew how to make them because his mother loved to bake so much; he'd have no option but to pick up a few skills.

"I want to,"

"At least let me help," I say.

When he looks at me, I can't help but giggle at his appearance; he was wearing an apron that was too small for him and had flour on his cheek.

"If you stop laughing, you can help," he says.

"Fine, fine," 

I grab another apron and head into the kitchen, "What should I do?" I ask.

"Just mix the batter," he says, gesturing towards the big bowl.

I take the wooden spoon and gently combine the ingredients; this was more difficult than he made it appear; my frail hands struggled with the thickness, and I heard him snicker behind me.

"It's not funny," I tell him.

I sense his presence behind me and he places his hands on mine, "Tilt the bowl so it's all down here and move your hand like this,"

He directs my hand with his own on what I should be doing, but I'm not paying attention to what he's saying; his lips are so near to my ear that I feel every breath he takes, which sends chills down my neck.

"Got that?" he asks, gazing down at me.

I look up at him, "Mhm,"

I didn't grasp a single thing he showed me, but I knew I didn't want him to take his gaze away from me.

He lays his thumb covered with flour on my chin and tilts my head up slightly while he leans down, his lips connect with mine; I instantly melt, my knees weaken and my breath becomes short when someone unexpectedly clears their throat

Tristan and I separate instantly to see my parents standing at the door.

── ·✩· ──

𝗼𝗼. ⁞ 𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐒!

Hey guys, that concludes chapter fifty-nine, I certainly do hope that you liked this chapter. Clearly, I'm forgetting my own word count but Chapter sixty is coming soon.

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