Chapter 69 CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

Chapter 69 CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE
 EVA’S POV

I didn’t stop walking until I was far enough from the locker room and certain Josh wouldn’t come after me.

Only then did I stop, sink in a deep breath and then head straight to the cafeteria.

As much as I wanted to be alone, I knew it was probably best I hung out with Lily and Ryan. Maybe that way I’d be able to quieten the voices in my head and escape my thoughts even if it was just for a little while.

I didn’t want to argue with Josh. I couldn’t even believe we’d had our first argument barely a week after getting together. But he was been too biased and before I could explain things to him properly, I lost it.

And to make it all worse, Indianna just had to appear right at that moment.

I trusted him. At least, enough to know there was truly nothing going on between him and Indianna anymore. But that didn’t make it hurt any less. Especially after I knew how far they’d gone in the past.

It didn’t make much sense. If they were never really a couple then why did they do so many couple-like things? They could have kissed a couple of times due to games but sex? How many times did that happen? Did that mean he didn’t mind sleeping with random people? If that was the case then—

“No,” I shook my head, hoping the thoughts would fly right out of it. “Stop, Eva.”

Just like majority of the hockey guys, Peter had a reputation of being a player. He had never been discreet and I knew how incapable of being in a serious relationship with one girl he was. But despite being best friends, Josh was never like that. He was popular but never got rumours like that going around.

“Because everyone believed he was being loyal to Indianna.”

“Are you talking to yourself?”

“Huh?”

I raised my head to meet Ryan and Lily staring at me, confirming I’d indeed been talking to myself. I immediately grabbed the bottle of soda in front of me, took a sip and let out an awkward chuckle.

“What? No, I wasn’t,” I took another sip. “I was just— remembering something.”

“How about you remember to check your phone,” Lily glanced at my phone on the table. “It has been vibrating and ringing.”

“Shit, really?” I quickly dropped the bottle and picked up my phone. Before I could take the call, it disconnected, a missed call alongside an unread message notification from Aaron appearing.

Aaron: Hey.

Aaron: Do you have time?

Aaron: Wanna meet up?

I stared at the message, rubbing my forehead before typing back. Of all the times he could have chosen to text.

Eva: I’m sorry I have exams.

His response came in almost immediately.

Aaron: I know. I meant after your exams.

Aaron: Later today?

I stared at the new messages for a little longer, a sigh escaping my lips. I didn’t want to meet up after school. Not because I didn’t want to talk to him but because it suddenly felt wrong. The timing felt off and I just couldn’t trust myself to utter the right words around him.

Eva: Can we meet some other time?

Eva: I have to study later today with Lily.

Immediately I sent the message, I flipped the phone over so I wouldn’t see his response the moment he replied. I sighed again as I drew my gaze from it, only to meet Lily staring at me.

“Who was that?”

“Aaron,” I replied easily.

“What did he want?”

“To meet up,” I grabbed my bottle and began toying with it. “But I can’t. we have to study.”

“Um, no, we don’t,” she raised her brows. “Why are you avoiding him?”

“I’m not.”

“You guys aren’t official yet?”

“No, we are not,” I wasn’t prepared for her array of questions. “Gee, we’re just friends.”

The table immediately fell silent and I could tell Lily and Ryan were exchanging glances.

“Why?” Ryan spoke up this time. “Why aren’t you official yet? You don’t like him?”

No, because I have a boyfriend.

“Can we not talk about this right now?” I pressed my lips together, watching their reactions before I continued. “I’m trying to focus on not failing this semester.”

“Sure,” Ryan said and immediately, my phone vibrated against the table. “Focus.”

I rolled my eyes at him as I reached for the phone, mentally preparing myself for Aaron’s response. But to my surprise, it wasn’t a text from him.

But one from Josh.

Josh: Can we meet after school?

Josh: In the parking lot?

I couldn’t say no to him. Not even when I felt Lily and Ryan staring daggers at me as I typed out my response.

So, immediately school was over, I rushed over to the parking lot. I wasn’t sure what exactly I was expecting or how I wanted things to go. But as dozens of students flooded the place, I knew I was hoping Josh would appear in front of me as quickly as possible.

If I was in luck, quicker than anyone else.

But apparently, I’d ran out of luck for the day as Peter suddenly showed up in front of me, twirling his car keys in his hand.

“Eva, what are you doing here? Were you waiting for me?”

My lips parted but no words came out. I just wanted to vanish into thin air. After all, how could I tell him the person I was actually waiting for was Josh?

“No practice this week,” he swung his arm around my shoulders before I could find my words. “So we get to go home like normal students.”

“You’re in luck. I’m going home right now so come on, let’s go together.”

“What? I— Peter I— you don’t have to—”

He paid no attention to me, opening the car and practically shoving me inside. All I could do was stammer with my words and look out of the window, hoping Josh or anyone else would miraculously show up and stop him.

But he didn’t. No one did. Leaving me with no choice but to just watch the people in the parking lot become fewer and fewer until they were all completely out of my sight.