106 - The chapter with the bouts crying

Rose

My heart was pounding hard in my chest and silent tears were streaming down my face. Those little bouts of crying had been constant since everything happened, and as much as I pretended to everyone that I was fine and had gotten over it, I knew I wasn't.

It had been four days since I had spoken to Christian, even though he had tried his best to explain himself, and even my friends assured me that I should listen to him, I didn't feel ready for it.

I cringed inside the cabin as I heard the door to the bathroom where I had been hiding for the last few minutes open. I hoped that whoever had come in there would just leave soon, but that didn't happen.

" Rose, we saw you come in. " Sky knocked on the closed cabin door, making me sigh.

" I have a stomach ache," I replied in an attempt to get rid of her.

" Rose, stop lying. We're expecting you for lunch. Chris told you that you can rest assured that he won't show up at the cafeteria," Cam added, to my surprise.

I wiped away my tears and got up to open the door, finding my friends waiting for me outside.

" Why isn't he coming? " I frowned.

" Probably because you've been avoiding being in the same environment as him " Sky stared at me " he said you joined the group before him, so it won't get in your way.”

My heart squeezed even harder at that possibility. He couldn't be serious.

" He's trying to manipulate me,” I said back, going to the sink to wash my face, “he's not going to do that.”

" You're so stubborn! What does it cost to at least hear what happened? His explanation is very plausible," Sky complained.

" I'm listening,” I crossed my arms, glaring at her.

Cam seemed about to start narrating the story, and I had to admit that I was dying to know, no matter how much I said I wasn't.

" NO! If you really want to know, you'll have to talk to him!". " Sky interfered.

" I doubt he's really going to stay away from everyone, especially with the party tonight." I took a deep breath, getting tired of this subject.

If they really want me to go with them to lunch, then they'll have to change the record a bit, because I don't want to hear any more about this!

" I don't want to hear another word about it," I warned, "If you mention his or her name... I'm leaving.”

They both agreed to my terms, and soon we were out of the cafeteria bathroom, heading to the table where Theo and Liam were waiting. My friends gave me a worried look and I hated it, but I tried to play it cool as I enjoyed their company, dragging myself to class after our break time was over. I felt stupid for missing Christian so much after everything he'd done, but I couldn't help it.

In the evening, Sky, Cam and I got ready together to go out. Theo would take the girl to the movies while I would accompany Sky and Liam to a party at one of the bars in town, where the two of them would finally publicly admit that they were together.

" Are you excited? " I asked Camille, who looked like she was about to pass out from anxiety.

She was dressed in a red sweater and a mid-thigh skirt, tights and ankle boots.

" I think I'm going to throw up,” she took a deep breath as Sky pinned her hair up so that her tattoo was visible.

" You're not going to throw up. It's Theo! You've already gone out with him, you've already kissed him. The only difference is that we won't be together this time " I reassured her.

" But what if he wants to…”

" If he wants what? " Sky frowned, pulling away, smiling as she approved of the ponytail in the girl's hair.

" You know..." Her face took on a bright shade of red, making me widen my eyes as I realized what she was implying.

Sky and I exchanged an amused glance before we started laughing at the girl's fear.

" Look, I just…”

" Cam, you don't have to worry about that! It's the first time you're going out, of course he won't try anything." I reassured her.

" And if he does, you let me know and I'll hit him," Sky assured, making me laugh.

"I just don't have much experience with these things, I don't know what's normal and what's not," she admitted.

"It would be a real surprise if you did," I teased her, "There's no instruction manual for what will or won't work. You just have to feel good.”

"Yeah, the first time Liam interacted with me, he got slapped for asking me to take a shower with him," Sky said, receiving a surprised look in return.

"And on my first date with Chris, I tried to run him over with Brigitte and then made him pick out my first tattoo," I smiled at the memory, but my smile died as I realized what I was talking about.

My heart felt small at the mention of Christian's name. I just wanted to disappear at that moment as a hole seemed to be ripped in my chest.

"Rose, you should try talking to him. I’m serious,” Cam tried to approach.

" I don't know what you're talking about. Let's go, we better not be late," I decided to change the subject.

The two exchanged a tired look, but complied with my wish.