Friendship And Family

CHAPTER 41. Highlight

Maria

Not much changed in senior year. We were still the same group of teenagers, with the same routine.

But something did change outside of our group, and that was Anita and Deborah's friendship. They were back to hanging out like old times, until this happened...

Mathias' POV

"How come I hadn't realised how cute you are?" Deborah had left her spot to come sit with me.

"What are you doing?" I repulsed, holding her hand that almost felt my cheek.

She rolled her eyes. "We both know Anita is too busy for you."

"Are you for real?" Anita had excused herself while we were all chatty in the living room a moment ago. Although I wasn't fully involved, as there wasn't much of a discussion I could have with Deborah.

Deborah turned around, unbothered, and stood up from the couch. "Someone is insecure... I was only being nice." She referred to her earlier intention with a hand gesture in my direction.

The fight wasn't mine, so I sat quietly, allowing Anita to handle it the way she deemed fit, and judging by how disgusted she looked over Deborah's action, I could tell that we were finally headed somewhere. "I was so stupid to think we could actually be friends."

"Ugh... tantrums," Deborah muttered in a mocking tone. "Well, just a little piece of advice from an old friend. You should try fixing your hair so you can at least look good enough for him." She then faked a smile. "Bye forever."

Anita jerked at the slam Deborah made with the door, her jaw hanging low in betrayal. Deborah's attitude wasn't in any way surprising, but seeing Anita with her when I came in was utterly shocking.

I sighed as I got up to meet her, her beautiful brown eyes shifting from the door to mine when I held her hands. "She's obviously jealous of you."

She let out a breath. "I feel it's my punishment for using her," she said, relieving me with her trust as many guys would have received a questionnaire booklet over Deborah's advances.

"Hey, that's enough. Deborah isn't innocent in any way. And your hair is naturally pleasing to me." I felt the fluffy texture with my fingers as I moved the strands and tucked them behind her ears for a full view of her face. "Deborah can't pull off a messy hair and still look pretty"-She chuckled-"Plus, she isn't the only student in school," I used student so it doesn't seem like I was limiting her choices, but deep down I didn't want her having male friends, yeah, jealous much, "you can attract the best of friends if you open up."

She smiled. "Yeah... just hold me."

I chuckled at her gesture, wrapping her in my arms and dropping a kiss on her head after.

Maria

And Anita's friendship with Deborah ended for good. But Deborah didn't stop there. This girl in all her glory and lack of shame crawled back to her past. For the love of God...

Andrew's POV

"Hey," Deborah called as soon as I walked out of class, the impatience eating up her entire body making it obvious that she'd been waiting for me. With a sigh one only offers an unwanted guest, I stepped down from the veranda to meet her.

"Hey," I said back.

"I've missed you."

I almost choked on my scoff. "You gave me a proper goodbye with the beating," I reminded her.

"I swear I had no hand in that," she said, like a criminal desperately trying to cover up their crime.

"The least you can do for yourself is own up," I said with a straight face, in contrast to how disgusted I felt about the lie she made worse by swearing, as spearing her a reaction would be a waste of my energy, and an argument, another waste of my sweet time.