"Are you sure it's okay?" I asked. This was not the reaction I was expecting.
"Yes, it's fine" he replied. "It was my fault. I should have just left you alone instead of pressing for information"
His fault? No way. It was entirely my fault. Austin always blames himself for things.
"It's my fault. End of discussion" I said.
I waved to Maisie and told her to come back. I didn't want to get into an argument with Austin about whose fault it was.
Once Maisie came back and sat down with us, Austin got up.
"I'm going to leave now. Bye!" He waved at us while walking away.
Maisie turned to me.
"So, how'd it go?" she asked.
"Fine" I replied. "And where's Jacob?"
I looked around and didn't see him anywhere.
"He went home" Maisie replied.
"So tell me..." I said. "How did you convince Jacob to get back with you"
Maisie laughed nervously. "I didn't"
"What?" I was extremely confused. Had Jacob asked to get back with her? That makes no sense; he was the one who wanted to break up in the first place.
"We're not actually together again. I just said that so you would come to the park with me" she explained.
I narrowed my eyes at her. "So you lied...?"
Maisie nodded. "At least you finally got to apologize to Austin. Did he tell you about his girlfriend?"
"His girlfriend?" I asked. Did she mean Amanda? Were they actually dating?
"Yeah. That Amanda girl you don't like. Apparently they're dating" she said.
"How lovely" I said sarcastically.
So they actually are dating. I'm surprised Austin didn't refuse to talk to me because of all the lies Amanda must have told him about me.
I smiled. "Well, good for him"
"Huh" Maisie said. "I didn't think you would be happy about that"
I continued fake smiling. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Never mind" Maisie said, looking away.
My mind was filled with questions. Did Maisie know something? Did she figure out I was fake smiling? Has she been talking to Austin a lot? What did she hear from Amanda? The questions were endless. If only I could ask them.
I see a figure approaching us, waving. As they get closer, I figure out who it is. Hoshi. Another friend from elementary school. She goes to the same school as Key (another friend).
"HOSHI!" I screamed. "Long time no see!"
As she walked closer, I examined her outfit.
"It's literally summer. This isn't the season to wear a hoodie and sweatpants"
"I can wear it if I want to" she replied.
"Suit yourself. I said.
"Why are you still in your uniform?" she asked.
"I never went home to change. Anyway, how have you been?" I asked.
"Pretty good. School sucks, though" she replied.
"Any new friends?" I asked.
"Gosh, you sound like a mom. And no. I have Key"
I rolled my eyes. "I'm just asking a question"
"Wait" Maisie said. I almost forgot she was even there. "You go to the same school as Jacob, right?"
Hoshi rolled her eyes. None of us really liked Jacob. We always made fun of him.
"Yeah, he goes to our school. But he's in some nerd program, so it's not like I ever see him"
"It isn't a nerd program!" Maisie protested. "It just means he's smarter than you"
"Does it look like I care?" She asked.
"Okay, stop arguing, people" I said, standing between them. "How about some boba?"
Both of them perked up when I said that.
"Sienna's paying" they both said.
"Fine, I'll pay. Let's go now before it gets too late"
—————————————————————————————————————————————————
While walking, I had to listen to Maisie and Hoshi argue. To sum it up, Hoshi was making fun of Jacob and Maisie didn't like that so she made fun of Key.
"Okay, we're here. Stop arguing like children"
We walked inside and ran to the table we always take. Over the summer, Maisie, Hailey, Niki, Luna, Hoshi, Key and I went for boba way too many times. We've claimed a specific table now.
"I'll go order" I said. "What do you guys want?"
"Milk tea with pudding and boba pearls" Hoshi said.
"Strawberry milk tea with boba pearls" Maisie said.
I went to order.
"Make sure mine is 50% sugar and less ice!" Hoshi yelled.
I gave her a thumbs up.
I was busy looking at the menu when I didn't realize it was my turn to order.
"Hey Sienna. What are you getting today?" the cashier asked.
"How do you know my-"
"Calm down, it's me, Jae"
I turned and looked at him. "Jae! Sorry, I didn't realize it was you" I laughed nervously.
He smiled. "Don't worry about it. So, how many drinks"
"Can I get a regular milk tea with pearls and pudding? Less ice and 50% sugar for that. And also a strawberry milk tea with pearls?"
He puts the order in. "Just those two? Anything else?"
"Nope that everything" I stopped. "Wait, that's only two?"
He nodded.
I sighed. I forgot to order myself one. "I'll have a-"
"Taro milk tea with pearls and less ice?" He asked.
"Yeah" I replied. I forgot that I came here so frequently that he basically knows my order.
"Is that everything?"
"Yes" I replied.
"Here, I'll give you a discount" Jae said. "30% off"
Is that even legal?
Once I paid, I returned to my seat.
As I sat down, Maisie was smiling at me.
"We saw that whole thing" she said.
"What?" I asked. "I literally ordered you boba!"
"Sienna, don't be oblivious. He OBVIOUSLY likes you" Hoshi said.
I rolled my eyes. "Not a chance"
"Watch, I'll prove it" Maisie said.
"How?" I asked.
"He gave you a discount, right? I'll go and order a waffle or something. He won't give me a discount, I assure you" she explained.
"Go ahead" I replied. There was no way she wasn't going to get a discount. Jae seems like the person who would give discounts to anyone he knows, so Maisie will for sure get one, right?
I watched as Maisie went and ordered a regular ice cream waffle. I studied her every move, with Hoshi watching Jae.
"That'll be $10.16" Jae said.
I did some mental math. An ice cream waffle was $8.99. Add tax, which is 13%, would be...
$10.16
Maisie didn't get a discount.
