His Possession or His Princess

Six | Like A Moth to A Flame

Cal

Every day has been the same Olive was focused on Eric, I only saw Britt in passing when she was running towards Red, I saw Haley cling onto the Adonis, and I saw a new girl clinging to Alex.

It’s really affecting me how easily my friends just went away. It’s never been like this before. Like Britt has dated guys before, but she never put the guys above me and Olive. Well, I mean, it doesn't seem like she's putting him above Olive... just me. A part of me wonders if Alexander and Haley got to them since they’re having lunch together so often. Another part of me thinks that something is wrong with me to make them leave so easily.

It’s the next week now and I stopped trying to connect with my friends a few days ago. It’s Wednesday and I’m so glad to be halfway through this week. I’m just ready for the school year to be done at this point I am so lonely, and I just want to move somewhere new and start fresh.

Homecoming is this weekend and since the girls have been ignoring my existence, I assume that they won’t help me get ready this weekend and I’m on my own. I’m tempted to just not go to the dance, but I know how much money my parents spent on my dress that it made me feel bad to even think about ditching it.

I start to grab out my books and decide to put on the perfume that my dad gave me it helped me feel comforted in times like this when I felt so lonely. I go to close my locker door when I hear a voice that makes me jump in surprise, “I’m so sorry, Cal.”

I close the door and look at Olive and Britt standing in front of me looking guilty and upset. I huff as I lean against my locker with my arms crossed and I ask, “What happened?”

They look at each other and I can’t help but notice that their eyes look like they’re glazed over. That’s… odd. I’ve never noticed that before.

They look back at me and their eyes are now back to normal and Britt sighs, “We just got so caught up in our ma- our new relationships that we didn’t realize just how much time we were spending with them.”

“Relationships?” I ask skeptically with one of my eyebrows c****d up.

Olive smiles softly as a light blush brightens up her cheeks. She nods, “I know it’s fast, but something about Eric just drew me to him and we became official. I’m sorry that I left you behind. I never should’ve done that but I was just so drawn to him.”

Drawn to him like a moth is to a flame… the only thing that worries me is that Olive will end up getting burned.

Britt nods, “I felt the same way with Hugh.”

Hugh… so that’s Red’s name- I guess I should stop thinking of him as Red.

Olive suggests, “Why don’t you join us for lunch today? You can meet our guys.”

I’m hesitant to respond. I’ve seen the group they’ve been with and I don’t know how I feel about sitting with them especially with Alexander and Haley being in that group. The bell rings and Britt says, “I’ll see y’all later! I gotta get to class.”

She runs off because her class is on the other side of the school and I look over at Olive and notice her smile brightens and she walks away from me and towards Eric.  

I huff as I shake my head and walk to my class. I miss walking with Olive. We’re still in the same class, but now Olive walks with Eric and ignores me.

That’s it.

I’m not going to their table for lunch. I’m just going to get ignored or I’ll end up embarrassing myself in front of that hot guy. On top of that I’ve seen how Haley has been all over him and I can’t help the jealous feelings that stir inside of me. I really don’t want to see a close up of the two of them together because I’m sure by now they’ll be acting disgustingly in love.

When it’s time for lunch I hurry to get her food hoping that I won’t be stopped by Olive or Britt. I get my tray and rush to the exit so I can go to my tree, only… it’s raining outside.

I huff, of course it’s raining. It’s not just a light drizzle either, if it was, I would’ve still gone outside. But it is pouring so hard that one second outside would have me soaked.

I find a table where no one is sitting, and I sit down. I pull my hood up and put my earphones in and I pray my friends will forget all about their suggestion and stay with their guys at the new ‘it’ table.

I glance over at the table on the other side of the cafeteria and I shake my head because I swear it doubles in size each week.

I take a bite out of my lunch and pull out my phone to find a podcast to listen to when I hear the sound of chairs squeaking. I glance up to see Eric sitting across from me. Olive sits beside him and on his other side is Hugh. Britt pulls up a seat next to me and across from Hugh.

Eric tilts his head to the side as he looks me up and down and he asks, “So, is there a reason you don’t want to come to our table?”

Olive nudges his side and gives him a look and I force myself not to laugh at Olive’s actions and I smile softly, “I’m just not very comfortable in that big of a group.”

Hugh speaks up and I’m taken aback by how deep his voice is, “I agree with you. Honestly the only reason I sit there is because of Al-” Eric nudges him and I could’ve sworn that I saw Eric’s eyes glazed over. Hugh finishes his sentence, “I mean Titus our other best friend gets the center of attention anywhere we go.”

I glance over towards the guy that I’ve been referring to as Adonis. I assume that’s who Titus is and hearing that name sends a swarm of butterflies to my stomach. I ask, “Are you talking about the brunette over there?”

They all nod confirming my suspicion. Once again, my stomach erupts with butterflies at just the thought of his name, but I’m not quite sure why. I haven’t even spoken to the guy why am I having this reaction towards him?

The rest of lunch went smoothly. Nothing really exciting happened, I’m just happy because everybody tried to keep me involved in the conversation instead of making me seem like a fifth wheel.