SOLACE

thirteen

Today, after almost three weeks, I just remembered Henry's hoodie was still with me. He didn't even mention that I haven't returned it yet when we talked or meet at the hall.

He started to talk to me like before, I know I haven't fully explained to him about me and Kai, but I guess he trusts me enough already to not ask me about it anymore. I didn't want to lose a friend like him.

When I saw his hoodie in my closet, I was afraid to wash it because his scent was still there, but I still did because it would be rude to return it to him still dirty.

We didn't have classes together today. So, I waited for him to finish with his training while I was at the library reading again.

"Hey," I was interrupted from reading when I looked up to see Venice seated across me.

We don't talk anymore ever since Eli and I broke up. We've been awkward now because I'm avoiding any conversation with her, but here we are now.

"Uhm, do you need anything?" I asked her with my brow arched.

"Nothing, I just heard what happened with you and Eli at Mave's," She says as she looks at me sympathetically.

She could stop pretending, It's not convincing me and I don't trust her anymore. Not any of Eli's friends.

"He tells you everything, huh?" I scoffed as I smirked at her, I stood up from my seat and kept the book inside my tote bag.

"I know, he's a douche for what he did and I'm so-" She answers, if she could convince everyone then good for her, but not me. Did Eli ask her to do this?

"Save your fake apologies, Venice. You really didn't have to do this for Eli," I say cutting her off. She stood there dumbfounded, but then she composed herself.

"Yeah, whatever. You didn't deserve Eli anyways," She mutters and I looked back at her. My lips parted as I gave her a sarcastic smile.

"Oh, it's an honor. You can have him, you deserve him better anyways," I say as I gave her a tight-lipped smile before I walked out.

Too much for having my own peace at the library.

I walked towards the gym and just in time, the basketball team was already done with their training. Some of them were leaving the gym already. So, I waited for Henry outside.

I was leaning against the wall, looking at my red converse. Out of nowhere, Henry lifts up my chin making me look up to him. He was wearing a fresh white shirt and basketball shorts.

He chuckles and the side of my lips rose from seeing him.

"Hey," I greeted, my lips growing into a grin.

"You waited for me?" He asks teasingly.

"Yeah, I was going to return your hoodie," I said as I gave him the hoodie.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about that. You can have it though," He says as he gives it back to me.

"It looks better on you anyway," He licks his lips before he grinned as we walked together.

"Thanks," I replied, biting the inside my cheeks to stop myself from smiling even wider.

I mean, it's normal when friends give you their hoodies, right? It's just his hoodie. With his name embroidered. Don't overthink it, Adeline.