THE AWKWARDNESS DURING our lunch conversation was unbelievable. Nicolas and Evie kept on looking between Sebastian and I as we both avoided eye contact after our moment yesterday.

"I'm gonna go to the toilet, Al? Will you come with?" Evie asked me, breaking the silence between the four of us.

"Um, sure, yeah I'll come with you." I cleared my throat and slowly got up from my chair, and walked towards the ladies toilets with Evie trailing behind me. As we both entered the toilets, Evie quickly turned towards the door and locked it.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I asked her I unsurely.

"I need to talk to you." She replied, shrugging her shoulders.

"Okay. About what?"

"You and Sebastian." She told me, the corners of her lips turning up into a smirk.

"What? Why?"

"Because you had a moment before my dumbass waltzed into your bedroom and ruined it!" She shouted at me, excitement clear in her tone.

"Oh come on! We did not have a moment!" I scoffed at her, my eyebrows raised in shock.

"Really? So if you didn't have a moment why aren't you talking to each other? Where's your usual banter?" She questioned me smugly.

I struggled to come up with an answer, so instead, I rolled my eyes at her assumptions and unblocked the door, and practically power walked back to the table, grabbed my bags and muttered a quick explanation as to why I was leaving.

What the fuck is going on with me? I mean I know that I denied it, but Sebastian and I almost kissed. Holy fucking shit!

As I was walking down the street, my mind was running a fucking marathon with all these stupid questions about stupid fucking Sebastian Kingsley. Like seriously?

I'm the type of girl that develops feelings fast. Not that I have any feelings for him. When Jackson and I first started going out, I told him that I loved him 2 months into the relationship, thinking that what I was feeling was actually love. But it wasn't. I needed someone to look after me, for security. I know that I don't need someone to look after me, but it's nice to know that you can rely on someone who's not just one of your best friends or your family. I used to crave that feeling of security. But things with Jackson just started to go downhill very fast. I mean, he was my first real relationship, and I actually thought that we were in love. How wrong was I right?

"Lexi! Wait up! We need to talk, Lexi!" I turned around to see Sebastian running up to me, shouting at me to stop walking so fast.

"What?" I asked him quietly.

"Look, I know that we almost kissed yesterday when there was no one around, and I think we just got caught up in the moment so we really shouldn't let this become really awkward between us okay? Because even though we technically hate each other you're still one of my best friends Lexi and I can't let this almost kiss shit ruin whatever type of friendship we have going for us okay? So please don't let this become awkward." Sebastian rambled on at me, a slight blush coating his cheeks from embarrassment.

"Okay." I simply told him with a shrug of my shoulders, and turned around to continue my walking.

"Okay? That's it?" He shouted after me, confusion laced in his voice and his brows furrowed.

"Well, yeah. You just said to not let it get awkward between us so I'm not. Pretend it never happened okay?"

A look of hurt graced his perfectly defined face, and then as quick as lightning, his usual cocky smirk appeared on his face.

"You coming back for lunch?"

"I'm actually going to head over to Tal's Treats, you know to see how she's feeling and everything. You wanna join me?"

He smiled and nodded in response, both of us walking down the street to see Natalia, our usual banter bouncing back and forth between us.

•••

The bell to the small bakery chimed as Sebastian and I walked in, being welcomed by the smell of freshly baked treats.

"Alex! Sebastian! What are you guys doing here?" Natalia asked us, a beaming smile on her face.

"Hi Nattie! Well we just came to see you, grab a few treats." I replied, going over to her and giving her a big hug.

"Oh that's so sweet of you guys! Pick out whatever you want, it's on the house."

"Thanks Talia." Sebastian thanked her, giving her a side hug.

Sebastian and I walked up to the window where all the treats were sitting. Sebastian picked out a jam donut with an iced latte, whereas I picked out a salted caramel tart with hot chocolate, whipped cream, and mini marshmallows. We both picked up our food and drinks, before we walked over to sit in a booth that was seated at the back of cafe. I immediately took a big sip of my hot chocolate, humming in delight.

"You really like hot chocolate don't you, Lexi?" Sebastian smirked in amusement.

I blushed profusely at his words, embarrassed that he's found out what my guilty pleasure is, dipping my head down and nodding slowly.

"Don't be embarrassed, Sweetheart. I think it's cute." He told me softly.

"Uh, thanks, I guess." I told him, confused.

"Let's play twenty questions." He told me suddenly.

"Why?"

"Because I don't think that we know each other that well."

"Okay, fine. You go first."

He nodded, and was in deep thought for a second before asking his first question.

"What's your favourite colour?"

"Seriously? You took that long to think of that?" I asked him incredulously.

"Yeah. Now answer the question Black."

"Fine. My favourite colour is turquoise."

"Turquoise? Wow, I thought it was going to be pink or some shit." He gave me a small laugh.

"Not every girl likes the colour pink, Kingsley. And if you haven't realised already, I'm not like most girls."

"Indeed you aren't, Lexi." He muttered quietly.

"Favourite movie?" I asked him.

"The Rush Hour trilogy."

"I remember watching those films with you guys, they were actually better than I thought."

"They're pretty good."

"Okay then. What do you wanna do after school?"

"I don't know actually. I mean, my parents want me to go to university, but I don't know if that's for me you know? I want to travel! I want to learn about other cultures, meet new people, learn new languages. I just want to get out of the Upper East Side, I don't want to be that girl who lives off her daddy's money when I leave high school. I want to find a guy, who will love me for me, and not screw me over. Eventually move in together, somewhere nice you know? Maybe back in New York, or California, or even Sydney! And then maybe if he's the right guy, we'll get married, have a bunch of kids. I just want my happily ever after." I didn't even know that I actually said all that to Sebastian, but he nodded his head in understanding instead of making fun of me the way I thought he would.

"You'll get it. Any guy will be lucky to have you. Some just don't know what they have until they lose them, like Jackson for example." He told me softly.

"Thanks Sebby." I smiled at him gratefully.

"No problem Lexi." He gave me a playful wink.

"What about you Kingsley? What are you doing after school?" I asked him curiously.

"I guess I'd want to travel too. University has never been my calling really. I mean, James has always said that I'm welcome to work with him for Kingsley corp. so I guess I would just do that." He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

"What about a special girl? Don't you want to settle down and have kids?"

"What can I say Black? I love playing the field, and not just the football one."

I rolled my eyes at him as we began asking each other stupid questions.

"What's the thing you want most in this world at the moment?"

"A puppy. I've always wanted one, but my father never let me have one. If I had to choose a breed, it would either be a Spaniel or a Labrador." I smiled widely at him, my eyes brighter than normal.

"You really want a dog, huh?"

"Yeah. I just love the way they cuddle up to you, they're so loyal, they can always tell when you're upset, they'll protect you, make you feel happy and good about yourself. I guess it's like having a boyfriend, but in dog form." I shrugged my shoulders at him,  showing my fake smile.

"He never gave you that, did he?"

"Who?"

"Collins." He grunted our his name.

"No. He never made me feel any of the things I just listed, and I was stupid enough to call it love. I guess having a dog fills that void of being alone, you know?"

"You'll never be alone, Lexi. I got you. You don't need to worry about that." He told me seriously, taking my hand in his from across the table.

"Thank you." I replied to him grateful for his presence.

"Hey come on. We should get back to school. Let's say goodbye to Nat and get out of here." He told me, pulling me up from my seat, our hands still linked together as we say goodbye to Natalia.

Walking down the streets back towards school, our hands intertwined together. I feel a blush start to cover my cheeks, as I look down to the floor avoiding eye contact.

"What's wrong, Lexi?" Sebastian asked me softly, looking down at me.

"Huh? Oh it's nothing." I told him quickly.

Why the fuck are we holding hands outside of school?

"Hey, so uh, my parents are back in town and we're wondering if you wanted to come over for dinner tonight. Sofia and James will be there too." He told me, breaking me out of my train of thoughts.

"Sure. That'd be great. What time shall I come over?" I questioned him, giving him a small smile as I looked at him.

"About 6? Is that cool with you?"

"Yeah, that's cool with me." I giggled at him. He smiled at my little giggles, the both of us continuing our walk back to school, our hands still intertwined together.

What is happening to me?

Chapter 11 of Social Casualty is here! Let me know what you guys think!

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Thank you and ily all🥰

- Addy :)