You Belong With Me

Chapter 50 // The Last Day

I honestly can't believe it's been almost a year since I've last posted a chapter in You Belong With Me! So sorry for the wait. University has been quite the adjustment, but I'm still working on this book in my very minimal free time. We're so close to the end!! I've also begun slowly posting chapters for my new book, Beyond, so that has taken up a bit of time that You Belong With Me used to occupy. I hope to have chapter 51 posted within the next couple of weeks, minimum. Enjoy!
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The ride to school was nothing less than awkward, yet I was relieved, both because I didn't have to run to school, and most of all, that Logan wasn't with his dad.

"So, how have you been?" Logan's dad questioned in his low, gruff voice, sounding a little less sure of himself than usual.

"Uh, I've been...alright, I guess. Last day of school, so that should be exciting."

That's right, that should be exciting. Why can't it be? Why can't I just accept the situation and move on?

I heard a light sigh from the seat beside me.

"You know, Harper, I don't know- Logan, he...he's not doing well either, and it's not my place to intervene. I just wish I could help you both...you just don't seem to be all that happy - at least right now. Am I wrong about that?" he thought out, talking slowly.

His words didn't cause much comfort. Logan's not doing well, that I knew, and he wasn't wrong. But what he didn't understand was that Logan and I are acting the way we are because of different people, not each other - well not Logan towards me at least.

His words now began to sting as they sunk further in.

I slowly nodded my head, not wanting to lie to him, but it would have been alright if he'd missed the action.

"That's what it looked like...and that's totally okay! I mean, like I said, Logan's been acting miserable these past couple of days so you're not alone, you know?

"I- I don't know what your feelings are right now, but Logan filled me in a bit on what happened and...just so you know, Logan..." he suddenly stopped, letting out a sharp breath of air. "Oh, look at me, I said I wouldn't intervene, yet here I am."

I sat straighter in my seat, much more attentive now and curious as to what he was going to tell me. I found myself eager to get even a little snippet of Logan's feelings towards me now, grasping at straws, anything to help me understand what to do now with myself.

I noticed his hesitant side eye, aimed towards me, before he did a double take, his head turned more. He nodded slightly in some sort of understanding as he faced the wheel.

"He still wants you in his life. Whether you want to be in his is of course is up to you. I would prefer that you were, and obviously, Logan too, but...just so you're at least aware of that, if you weren't already. I hope that somewhat helps you," he finally finished, now focusing on the road ahead.

His words had left me in a shock of new, flooding thoughts and emotions throughout the rest of the ride, through the school halls, and into first period. This changed everything - at least if it was true. But why was Logan ignoring me, then? It just didn't all add up.

——

"I know it's the last day of school, meaning you'll probably take it easy in every class today, so I don't feel so bad about making you guys do work this period in preparation for next week's exams," my pre calculus teacher informed, before handing out large booklets, earning multiple groans in return.

Turns out, all of my other teachers had the same idea, repeating the same spiel every hour, yet somehow still being interrupted by next door classroom's movies spilling in through the poorly insulated walls.

I was thankful for the extra distraction, though. I couldn't imagine just sitting here for the next hour, watching a movie that I probably wouldn't like or had already seen, while my mind wanders into how or if I should approach Logan, or when I would even get the chance to see him again now that we don't have the excuse of school - not that he's even been present since it happened.

It was all just too complicated and there was too much I wasn't sure of, which is why I carried on the distractions as I walked to the cafeteria, focusing on people's voices among the crowd and the overflowing recycling bins of schoolwork, despite the exams next week.

Entering the cafeteria, my gaze locked onto our table, hoping Alex would be there already to talk about her latest read, when I caught a pair of light blue eyes instead, blonde hair sweeping to the right to just graze his eye.

His slight smile encouraged my approach, as I attempted evening out my breaths. I wasn't ready for this, but if not now, when? I needed to understand what was going on, whether it would hurt or not. I felt a knot form in my stomach as my steps narrowed, slightly slowing my approach in caution and hesitation before there was no more time to stall what was to come.

"Hey, Harper," he started, his voice a bit quieter than usual, and his overall presence lacking his usual unwavering confidence.

"Uh, hey."

The small smile I forced onto my face didn't go very far, as I shifted my weight, painfully aware of every move either of us made with hyperactive nerves.

Logan's eyebrows furrowed before glancing down at his Converse, never really making eye contact for more than a few seconds, not that I was really helping with that, considering I was avoiding eye contact as well. His hand reached up to sweep through his slightly disheveled, golden hair before finally really looking at me, his gaze only adding pressure.

"Harper-" Logan started before the clicking of heels approaching caught both of our attention.

"You two just love being together, don't you."