Chapter 27

Aubrey:

"Grandma, I hate this uniform." I whined, descending down the staircase. My grandmother was in the kitchen making breakfast while I was getting ready for school. "Aw, sweetheart. I always thought you looked the cutest in your uniform. The little plaid skirt, the button up, and knee highs." My grandmother pinched my cheeks and pecked my forehead.

"Grandma, stop." I laughed, wiping off my forehead and sitting down to eat my breakfast. "So, are you and Mike really... you know, back together?" My grandmother asked, slowly. I was always honest with my grandmother. "No. He's upset about Alexis and said he'd tell everyone at school about it. I just can't deal with that type of thing right now."

My grandmother shook her head in disbelief. "That boy has a lot of nerve. It's blackmail. But if you're okay with it, I am too." She smiled and grabbed my now, empty plate from in front of me. As if on cue, a familiar horn honked outside and I immediately knew it was Mike. He drove an old, beat up, Toyota minivan.

I grabbed my tote bag and said goodbye to my grandmother.

"Good morning, babe," Mike sang as I hopped into the front seat of his minivan. Being in here again brought back old memories that I didn't care to look back on but I couldn't help it. Mike and I used to ditch our group of friends during lunch, just a few times out of the week, to sit in the back row of his car and make out. Thinking back, his pizza face being constantly rubbed across my cheeks and neck as we kissed definitely disgusted me now. I actually got a little nauseous.

"Morning." I greeted him, simply. Mike blasted The Beach Boys as we made our way to the campus. The music wasn't bad but I couldn't help but think about Alexis. She had such good taste in music. Nothing like what Mike listens to. She's more of an R&B, trap rap music lover and I missed her and her playlists so much.

"Everything okay?" Mike questioned as he pulled into the school's parking lot. I'd dazed off and started thinking about Alexis for so long that I hadn't realized we were at school so soon. "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's do this." I plastered on a fake smile and got out of the car.

Immediately, I was met by my group of old friends. There was a bunch of hugs and squealing. Heather, of course, didn't join in. Instead, she stood on the side with her arms crossed and a surprised look on her face. Instead of speaking to me, she yanked Mike by the arm and whispered something in his. "I don't know why you're upset. You knew what was going to happen." He snapped, pulling her arm off of him.

"Are you back for good, Aubs? Please say yes." One of my friends playfully begged. I nodded and pulled her into a big hug. But I was most excited to see Ashley. My best friend. I made sure I spoke to her every day while I lived in California So our friendship didn't miss a beat.

"Double A, back in action." Ashely cheered, intertwining our arms, about to pull me away from everyone else but Mike stopped her. "I'll meet you back here at my car for lunch, okay?" Mike kissed my cheek and winked at me. Ashley cleared her throat and dragged me away from Mike.

"So, obviously Mike has no idea what you're doing." Ashley giggled. "No idea." I confirmed. Ashley knew how much I loved Alexis and had no intentions of really being with Mike. "I hope he isn't expecting to tongue me down during lunch. I really don't plan on sucking faces with him anytime soon." I fake gagged. Ashley burst into laughter. "Well what are you going to do until the wedding? You still don't have a phone. Don't you think you should give her a head up before she sees you and Mike walking down the aisle together?" Ashley suggested.

Ashley was such a good friend. She lent me her cellphone and I logged into my Instagram account to message Alexis. It wasn't even two minutes before she responded with her cellphone number and I made my way to the bathroom to call her.

"I miss you so much." Alexis said slowly and sexily as soon as she accepted the call. "It feels so good to hear your voice." I was melting just from the sound of her voice over the phone. "Are you okay?" Alexis asked. "Yes, despite not being able to talk to you. My mom gave my grandmother strict instructions not to let me talk to you." I told her. "That sucks, babe." She sighed. "I know. I can't wait until the wedding so I can see you."

"About that..." Alexis began to trail off. "What's wrong?" I worriedly questioned her. "I got into contact with my mom, recently." She informed me. She said those words as if she couldn't believe what she had just said. "Wow. How did that go?" I inquired. "I told her everything that's been going on. Apparently, she's coming to get me." Alexis answered.

"Where to?" I wondered. I was happy for my girlfriend. Alexis deserved to get answers and have a relationship with her mother. Every teenage girl does. "I'm not sure. Look, I gotta go. Class is about to start. I love you, Aubrey. Forever." She spoke, passionately. "I love you more, Alexis. Always." I responded, breathlessly, making kissing noises into the phone before hanging up.

Was Alexis not going to be in the wedding? Was I going to have to wait to see her? Where did her mother live? Did she live anywhere near California?

I mentally smacked myself. My mistake was not telling Alexis about Mike. What if she found out somehow without me explaining the real situation to her.

When would I be able to speak to Alexis again?