Just one from Bailey, asking for advice on a dress for her winter formal, which I quickly type out a response to.
Me:
Love it. You’ll look amazing.
I hit send and scroll back through Six’s thread anyway, and reread the last few messages. Was it something I said? Something I did? Did he get tired of waiting to meet me because I’m such a coward?
I drop the phone onto my chest and stare up at the ceiling, blinking against the burn in my eyes.
I got my hopes up.
I let myself believe that maybe Austin liked me. That maybe there was something there. That the kiss meant something.
And maybe I let myself believe that Six cared, too. That whoever he is behind that screen, he liked talking to me. Looked forward to it.
My throat tightens, and I press my face into the crook of my arm.
I should know better by now. Idoknow better.
But it still hurts knowing that maybe I’m just destined to be the girl no one chooses.
I’m about to close my laptop and do some homework when my phone buzzes.
Austin:
hey.
One word. Three letters.
And somehow, it still knocks the air right out of my chest.
I sit up too quickly, my blanket sliding off my legs as I grab the phone, rereading the message.
It’s the first I’ve heard from him in days.
Not since that afternoon in the library.
Not since he passed his test.
Not since that kiss.
Me:
Hey.
Austin:
got a spare slot 2 tutor me?
I squint at the screen before typing out a reply.
Me:
You passed. Why do you need tutoring?
Austin:
yeah, well, I want to make sure I keep passing.
