Chapter Twenty-Three

“You look like an absolute idiot,” Jessica oh-so-bluntly pointed out when I entered the school building.

“What?” I asked dumbly.

“You just bumped into the fifth person starting from when we met up at the parking lot and you keep looking dreamily at thin air.”

I blinked once then twice then recalled what she said. My shoulder did felt a little sore so maybe I did bump into a few people. What I’m not aware of is that I was looking dreamily into thin air. Clearly, Drew was the cause of all of this.

After that kiss on his couch on Christmas Day, I had a wonderful lunch with the Everett household with Ariel occasionally sending me teasing looks. For the whole time I was eating, my hands were shaking and I spilled soup all over the place. When I said goodbye, I couldn’t even let out a proper sentence, I kept stuttering like a love sick puppy.

I didn’t get to see him on New Year because his family always leaves for his grandparents’ house to celebrate. He did texted me an extremely long message which basically just said that he wished me a Happy New Year and to just accept what may come, whatever that means.

“Did something happen with Drew?” she asked suspiciously.

“N-no,” I just basically gave it away with the stuttering.

“Oh my gosh!” she squealed, catching the attention of everybody within the area, “Did you two kiss?”

“Jessica!” I shrieked in horror.

“You did!” she covered her mouth in enthusiasm as she pointed at me with glee, “Tell me all about it. Was he a good kisser?”

Before I could even tell her to shut up, another person decided to join us, “Who was a good kisser?”

I froze when I heard Lucas’ voice and I was completely aware that he was just behind me.

“None of your business,” my best friend deadpanned. She grabbed my arm and tugged me to her side then crossed her arms over her chest as if he was challenging Lucas to come near me.

“Then I’ll make it my business, Oliver,” Lucas snorted, shooting daggers at Jessica.

“Just walk away, Smith,” she gritted out.

Okay, I know Jessica hated Lucas to some degree but it was just the start of school after the Holidays and they look like they were about to kill each other. Something clearly happened and I have a feeling it’s something that has to do with Blake. The twins are always seen together walking the halls during the morning. His absence is making me a little suspicious.

“Like what you did with my brother?” Lucas retorted, “He didn’t even go to school today.”

“It wasn’t even my fault!” she defended herself, “Somebody placed something in my drink.”

Now I’m thoroughly confused on what’s happening here.

“What’s going on here?” I asked the both of them. They looked at me as if they were reminded that I have been here the whole time.

“Nothing,” Jessica said at the same time Lucas muttered, “She slept with a college dude in Blake’s room.”

Jessica’s eyes widened with horror when Lucas said those words. I’m pretty sure I was mirroring her actual expression; this was a little too much for me.

“You what?!” I exclaimed.

“I didn’t mean to,” she jumped to defend herself but I only gaped at her.

“What’s up lovely people,” Annabelle chirped as she and Lillian walked up to us but their joyful expression turned into a one of confusion when they saw Jessica’s horrified expression, Lucas’ poker face and my mouth dangling open.

“Explain,” Lillian almost demanded as she scanned the three of us carefully.

Jessica shook her head and Lucas was about to open his mouth once again only for my best friend to smack her hand over his mouth, “Don’t you dare say it.”

He wrapped his long fingers around her thin wrist and yanked her hand away, “Don’t you dare do that again.”

“Then don’t tell them!”

“Why? Afraid that everybody will know that you’re a slut?” Lucas questioned making students who were at the middle of running to their classrooms to suddenly stop to pay attention to us.

Shock was an understatement for what everybody looked like and when I saw the tears forming in Jessica’s eyes, I couldn’t help but feel mad at Lucas.

“Don’t call my best friend a slut!” I growled.

“She deserves it after what she has done to Blake,” he countered.

I glared at him as I was slowly seeing the old Lucas back. The one I fought and argued all the time.

The late bell rung and the few people who were listening to our conversation, rushed into their classes but the five of us stayed perfectly still to where we were standing.

“We’re a bit lost here,” Annabelle complained.

“Jessica slept with some college guy at Blake’s room and my twin saw them together in bed,” Lucas told them before Jessica could stop him.

Their expressions were the same as mine when I heard it earlier. It was a mixture of shock, horror and disbelief.

“Who?” Lillian asked.

The tension got heavier after that, if it was even possible. Jessica was in complete silent for a good minute before she finally confessed.

“Charlie,” she mumbled under her breath but it was loud enough for us to hear and for us to hold our breaths in anticipation for Lillian’s reaction.

“Please tell me you’re lying,” Lillian pleaded, grabbing Jessica’s shoulder and shaking it. Her silence was enough for a confirmation and Lillian took a few steps back away from Jessica.

First day of school after the holidays and it contained more drama than those pathetic soap operas that Jazzy watches.

Let’s have a recap of what’s happening, shall we? I managed to kiss the guy I like three times, I got a huge surprise necklace from the person who has a crush on me yet I used to despise, my best friend just slept with a guy thus breaking any possible romance from the guy she actually likes and ruining her friendship with one of her other best friends.

Yup, just a normal episode of the Celeste Graham Show.

Footsteps echoed down the halls causing us to turn our heads until Drew came into view. He had his backpack slung lazily on his shoulder as he walked while grumbling curses under his breath. He looked like he rolled out of bed and his bed hair made him look ten times more attractive. If this situation wasn’t so tense, I would have kissed him senseless then and there.

 So maybe I am acting like a little love sick puppy just as how Jessica described.

Drew stopped on his tracks when he saw our little group and eyed us curiously.

“What’s going on?” he asked, getting more cautious with his steps as he approached us.

“Just great,” Lucas let out sarcastically, “Just another person to add to our problems.”

Ignoring what he just said, Drew walked to my side and ignoring the tension he looked down at me, “Good morning.”

“Morning,” I greeted bashfully, looking down.

Celeste, you need to stop acting like one of those girls who would go all gaga by just a simple greeting.

“Please explain, what’s with the…” he trailed off, gesturing to my friends.

“Later,” I whispered to him.

He nodded in understanding before scooting away, “I better head to class now, I’ll let you handle whatever what’s wrong.”

I sighed as I had realized that he was about to leave. Truthfully, this was the first time we saw each other since Christmas and I was already crazily missing him.

Do I have it bad or what?

When he saw my down face, that same smirk appeared on his face, “Don’t worry, I’ll be thinking of you all throughout the day.”

Cue annoyingly deep blush, “S-shut up.”

He let out a chuckle, “See you at lunch?”            

“I’ll see you at lunch,” I waved him off and he walked away from us.

Turning my attention back to my friends, Lillian at some point had sunk to the floor and was crying her eyes out while Annabelle started rubbing comforting circles around her back while Jessica was kneeling in front of her, sobbing apologies.

Lucas on the other hand was glaring at the direction where Drew has gone while his hands were balled up into fists at his sides.

This is going to be a lot harder than I thought.

“I’m so sorry,” Jessica bawled in front of Lillian who had her face buried in her hands.

“You knew that I liked him,” Lillian muffled followed by a hiccup.

“You know what?” I suddenly blurted out, taking my car keys out of my purse, “We’re getting out of here.”

“Where?” Annabelle asked.

I didn’t reply, I just commanded them to head out to my car. Lucas sat on the passenger seat while my three other best friends were piled at the back with Annabelle acting as a barrier between the crying Lillian and Jessica who I somehow managed to drag out of the school building.

When we pulled at the Smith’s driveway, Lucas bolt up as if he knew what I was up to. I turned off the engine and hopped out of my car. I waited patiently for the rest of my friends to exit. Fortunately, Jessica and Lillian stopped crying at some point during the drive and were now trying to catch their breaths and compose themselves.

I allowed Lucas to open the front door and we all piled into the living room couch.

“I’ll go get Blake,” he said, climbing up the flight of stairs.

I took Lillian’s purse before she could even protest and pulled out her phone. I scrolled through her contacts until my eyes landed on Charlie’s number.

“What are you doing?” Lillian sniffed out before blowing her nose on a tissue.

I lifted a finger to silence her as I brought up the phone to my ear and I waited for Charlie to pick up.

“Hey babe,” Charlie greeted. I guess he thought I was Lillian since I was using her phone.

“It’s Celeste and wherever you are, you need to come here,” I told him using a tone of voice where there was no room for him to disagree. I told him the address and hung up on him just in time when Lucas managed to drag out Blake.

He looked horrible to put it easily. His eyes were bloodshot and he was swaying from side to side as he held a vodka bottle on his right hand.

I saw tears were forming back right into Jessica’s eyes at the sight. Lucas was using his strength to support Blake’s body until he got him sitting safely on the couch.

“Why are you all here?” Blake slurred and I wrinkled my nose in disgust when I caught the scent of alcohol in his breath. I needed a sober Blake Smith but I guess this is what I need to deal with.

“We’re all here to clear things up,” I told them with a nod.

Moments later, we all heard a honk from the outside. Lucas excused himself and opened up the door for Charlie.

He instantly froze when he saw Jessica in the same room. He looked back and forth from the two girls whose eyes were red along with their noses.

“Is it me or drama just follows us around?” I sighed as I examined the scene in front of me.

“We’re popular, we always get mixed into drama,” Lucas pointed out, taking a seat.

“Hey Celeste,” Annabelle started, “As much as I know you like Drew, don’t mix him into this.”

I frowned at this, “Why is that?”

“He’s not part of our crowd, you might scare him away,” she replied.

I hate to admit it but she’s right. Even if we already know that we have feelings for each other, we still run in different social circle. His life is probably drama free aside from the fact that his father was placed in jail. I, on the other hand, deal with petty drama yet those dramas occur more often.

“Fine,” I let out, “I’ll try not to tell Drew.”

“You won’t tell him anything,” Lucas corrected.

“What’s your problem, Lucas?” I glared at him.

“My problem is that you’re dating Everett!” he yelled.

“We’re not dating,” I retorted.

“I’m guessing he was the one you and Jessica were talking about when I walked up,” he said, “You kissed him, didn’t you?”

Being as courageous as I can be, I nodded, “Yeah, we kissed. Three times for that matter.”

 Let’s just say that’s when all hell broke loose.

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Is it me or does drama just follows me around? I intended this chapter to be extremely sweet but in a span of a day, a lot happened to my friends that was enough to put me into this kind of mood so sorry.

Next chapter will have more Dreleste.

Question: I'm planning to change the book title, should I or should I not? If so, what's the new title?

Vote, comment and follow even if this was a crappy chapter (I promise a better one next time)