Billionaire's Childhood Love

LVII. Independence

Hailey's POV:

Josh smiles, "Hay Bug. Do you want to sit together?"

I return his smile, "No." His smile drops. "I'm actually sitting together with-" My eyes roamed around, and immediately when Ricardo came close enough, I grabbed him. "Ricardo. We agreed to sit together on the way back."

Josh's lip twerks slightly. "When did you guys decide that?"

"When you were busy making out with Jasmine."

Josh exhaled, "Hailey. That-"

I tugged Ricardo, "Come on. Let's go before all the good seats are taken." I pull him towards the bus. I stopped and turned towards Josh. "I wouldn't want to take your girlfriend's seat." And with that, I left.

With a deep huff, I flopped down, and Ricardo sat beside me.

"Mind letting go?" He asks.

I looked down at our tangled arms and released them. "Sorry."

He adjusted in his seat. "No need. I mean, if I liked a girl and I caught her making out with another guy in front of me. I'd be pissed too."

I ground my molars. "I'm not pissed!" My voice was a lot louder than I intended, startling the people beside us. "And I don't care."

Ricardo nods, "Not pissed at all."

I folded my arms, "Good. You know."

When Josh passed me, I turned my head.

"Wow," Ricardo said. "He's actually sitting with her."

I peek back to see Josh sitting beside Ahmend. He looked up, and I sat back down. "You lied."

"Well, at least you're not the only liar here."

He pulls out a book and reads it. Ricardo may seem like a tough guy, but all he does is study, work out, and read. The only fight I've ever seen him in was with Josh. Other than that, I don't ever see him do anything else.

Soon, the bus left the mountain and headed back to school.

I scratch my nose to feel the buzz on my phone for the hundredth time. I ignored it. I know I should listen to Josh's explanation because if he does have a girlfriend, he would tell me. Even if he doesn't like me, I'm still his best friend. But I want to be mad for a little while.

If we talk now, I may blow things out of proportion.

During the time of boredom, words accidentally slip from my lips. "Why are you so boring?" I gasp at my question. I didn't know where that came from.

Ricardo looked up from the third book he read. He's either a fast reader, or he's faking it to ignore me. My body shuttered from his stares. "I'm...boring?"

I shook my head. "N-No."

"You called me...boring."

"N-N-No." Please, don't kill me.

He exhales and returns to his book. "Good."

"Good?"

"I want to be boring."

"Oh," I replied. "Why?"

He exhales, "Mamma wants me to become a boring man."

That's some goal his mamma has. I chuckle anxiously, "Like an average salaried 9-5 office worker with a wife and two kids. Maybe, one dog and a picket white fence?" I joked.

His lip twerks upward slightly, "Yeah. That would be her ideal life goal for me."

Somehow, the air feels lighter. "That's some high goal. My parents only want me to graduate from high school." Which seems impossible at this school.