Josh- Movie? Just like yesterday?

Emma- Yeah sure! Come over tonight. We can watch Pulp Fiction.

Few minutes later Josh was at my place. It was our usual arrangement like before. We were both cuddled up on the sofa watching a movie on Netflix.

"Thanks for hanging out with me. All Leo keeps on doing is work and Derek is too much in love so he is always out with Hailey. I am telling you I thought we had a bromance there but then your friend came and butted in".

I laughed," No problem. In fact I can relate to you. George is always with Sebstian and Hailey is always with your bromance buddy".

"Yeah we might as well be dating now but I don't want Leo's head to explode", he joked.

"He wouldn't even give a fuck".

"Oh he will", he said smiling at me, "Believe me he will".

We decided on ordering shawarma and fries. "My treat", he said as he confirmed his order through the delivery app.

I couldn't help but notice the wallpaper which was a portrait of a middle aged woman. She was beautiful and the painting captured that so well.

"That is a beautiful painting. Is that your mom?" I asked observing the woman in the painting  who had had similar features to Josh.

"Yeah it is".

"She is beautiful. Who painted this?"

"Me", he said nonchalantly eating chips off the bowl and watching tv.

"This is amazing Josh. I didn't know you were talented", I mused.

"It's nothing actually. You should have seen my grandpa's works they are exquisite".

"Your grandpa was a painter?"

"Yeah he was. He wasn't actually that well known since he kept his artworks more to himself. In fact he never showed it to us. After he died, I searched his attic where I found his works".

"I would love to see them".

"Why don't you come over one day to my place so that I can show it to you?"

"Sure I would love that".

We ended up watching the whole movie without falling asleep unlike last time.

"What do we watch next?"

"Riverdale. It's gonna start in five minutes".

"No I forgot about the game! We will be watching that".

"I don't think so. It's the season finale I have to watch Riverdale".

"NO the game", he snatched the remote from me and kept it on the coffee table beside me so it was out of my reach.

"Hey give me the remote!" I protested but he changed the channel to ESPN and kept it on the coffee table beside him out of my reach.

"Uggghhh I am not gonna miss Riverdale for your stupid game!" I climbed over him to get the remote, which might have been an awkward position but I didn't care since I was only worried about watching Riverdale.

Right at that time Leo entered the house. His expression was a mixture of anger and shock. "What the hell?"

"Uhh I was just... getting the remote", I said trying to justify our awkward position. Why was I even trying to do that?

"Yeah she was", Josh nodded agreeing. I realized I was still on his lap so I got off him, too fast almost tripping myself.

"Yeah.... Right", With that Leo left the house.

.................

Things were already bad between Leo and me but it got even worse the next few days. We didn't talk at all. He didn't try to talk to me like he used to. We just blatantly ignored each other.

He was pissed after the couch incident with Josh. But I wasn't guilty of it. It's not like we did anything. And none of us has feelings for each other. We were friends who watched movies every weekend. But we did get closer over the last few weeks over movie nights.

We talked about our families and everything going on in our lives. He even showed me his art works which I was dying to see for a long time. They were all beautiful in their own way.

One day we were grabbing lunch together when Jules stopped us. "Oh so you are after the other friend now?" Jules asked, glaring at me. "Or are you guys sharing?" Jules said looking at Josh.

"Shut the fuck up Jules. Not everyone is like you", Josh said bitterly.

"Great it's the other one then. So you guys are a thing since Leo ditched you? It's great that Leo realized what a bitch you are. Josh you should come to your senses too".

"You are going way out of line", I said trying to keep calm. It was a long time Jules has harassed me like that, I thought it had stopped but turns out she is still a bitch.

"No I am not but Leo has. I have seen him hooking up with girls that's when I knew you guys weren't a thing anymore".

I sneered,"I don't believe yòu", honestly I wasn't sure. He was out all the time. It's wasn't necessarily because he was working all the time. It might be because he would be..... I couldn't even bring myself to say it. It actually made me mad thinking about it. It might be because he was too busy hooking up with girls. But I didn't let Jules see that I was affected by this. I just had to keep my calm.

"Oh hell you wouldn't. Why don't you come over and see it for yourself?" She challenged. "There is a party at Max' s place tonight. Be there".

..............

Emma- Why do you even want me there?

Hailey- Because it's the first time I will be hanging out with Derek's friends and I don't want to alone. What if they don't like me? What if they get bored of me? You HAVE to be there for me.

Emma- Didn't you meet his friends already? At school?

Hailey- Yeah but I just met them. I didn't have to spend time/ hang out with them. Besides I met them all individually but this time they will all be there together. I am nervous. You gotta be there for me. At the party.

Emma- Okay fine! The things I do for you...

Hailey- Oh my god! YESSSS! I love you <3

So I finally had to go to Max' s party today which I didn't want to go. Going there meant I was actually paying a heed to what Jules was telling about Leo. Besides I didn't even care what Leo goes around doing in his free time. I mean we weren't even dating in the first place. It was all a pretence. He can hook up with all the girls he wants. Who am I to give a fuck about what he does?

I dressed up in a bodycon dress which Hailey left over at my place when she visited me the last time, since I didn't have many dresses to wear. Hailey suggested me to wear a dress as she will be wearing one too since I didn't own many dresses I had to go with this. It was an off shoulder dress which came just above my knees I looked decent since I put minimum effort in makeup and hair.

"Em you are here!" Hailey said wrapping her arms around me. "Thank you so much!" She whispered in my ears.

"No worries. Just be yourself. You will be fine", I advised her.

The party was quite upbeat. Max was known to throw the coolest parties. The music was in full swing, people were dancing and of course some where making out but I managed to stick with Hailey. We were going to meet Derek and his friends who were at the backyard doing a keg stand.

We finally found Derek who introduced us to all of his friends. They seemed quite friendly and was quite opposite of what Hailey expected. I guess Hailey was just worried. We seemed to be getting along pretty well. We were having such a good time that I forgot about Jules or even Leo being at the party.

"I am going for a refill. Do you want one too?" I asked Hailey.

"Yeah sure. Are you sure you are going to be fine alone?"

"Mhmm", after assuring her I went to fetch us some soda since none of us were interested in having booze. The last time I consumed alcohol I ended up getting a tattoo. I am not going down that path again.

I open the refrigerator to pop open some soda cans and fill our plastic cups with it, when I noticed Serena one of Jules minions wearing a lacy dress which barely covered anything of hers striding across the living room to sit on the lap of some guy I couldn't see the face of since the room was dark.

Out of curiosity I followed her, I don't know but the guy seemed awfully familiar from the back. All I could see was his leather jacket and his dark hair under the dim lights. I went forward facing the guy, he had his head down but I knew him too well that I didn't have to see his face to recognise him.

Shocked, I dropped the plastic cups spilling grape soda all over the floor.

..............