Chapter 12

I couldn't even have a word about what movie would be chosen for us. Casen, Emilia and Austin were already arguing over the ride, so I didn't even dare to speak up, All fifteen minutes of the drive have been spent arguing over the movie while we were heading to Seaside.

When we got out of the car, Casen opened the door for me with a cheesy smile.

"My lady," he said and I pinched his arm.

"Quit it." I closed the door before he could.

When the others walked over to us, Seeley crossed his arms with a frown on his face.

"Are we seriously here just to celebrate that Heds had met someone?" Seeley asked. I couldn't help but flinch a little at the cold tone that held his distance firmly.

"We are here to have fun," Casen answered, narrowing his eyes. "Heddy's new job and possible love interest is just another reason. We would have come anyway."

"Exactly," Austin joined and stopped by my other side. Now I was held captive by two boys who didn't have any intention to let me off the hook anytime soon.

"You too?" Seeley asked, turning his attention to Austin.

"Heddy had been working overnights while being at school," Austin waved his hand around. "This is the least that she deserves... Not talking about her previous relationship that had been a wreck from the beginning."

I twisted my head in Austin's direction and he blew me a kiss.

"You know I love you," he gave me a half smile which wasn't convincing at all.

"One of the biggest crosses I've been dragging around." I sighed and Casen laughed.

I liked the boys very much, mostly because we weren't so different from each other. But some subjects were just too touchy, hence my first relationship which only lasted for two months but it had burnt me very much.

I wanted to move on and forget it but it was hard and outrageous if my friends kept reminding me of him. I knew that bad experiences taught us to be smarter and better but honestly, all I wanted to do was forget his face and voice which had been still echoed in my ears.

And the boys' teasing wasn't helping very much.

"Can we go or what?" Seeley asked impatiently.

"I second that idea." Leigh gave Seeley a knowing look.

"Can I get a hamburger first?" Casen asked as we walked away from the car.

"Didn't you eat?"

Casen frowned and turned to me.

"No, because I was too busy with someone trying to strangle me." He glared at me and I smiled innocently.

"Everybody has their kinks." I answered.

When Casen turned back while walking, he pointed at Seeley before leaning closer to me.

"Don't even listen to him," he whispered into my ear. "He is just mad that you didn't want to strangle him."

"How disrespectful." I played along, my uneasiness slowly fading away.

"Boys are just like this, my darling." Casen assured me.

"But aren't deaf, you idiot." Seeley caught up with us and pushed Casen away playfully. Even if it was a playful attempt, it came off somewhat aggressive and his face didn't even break off the tension.

"It would be a gift if you were, asshole." Casen rubbed his arm and walked to my other side.

I was afraid to speak up since Seeley didn't look like who would enjoy our afternoon trip. His face gave his uncomfort away and I couldn't help but wonder if there was anything that we'd done today to piss him off.

I hated how impatient and stoic he has become. I didn't know if he has been acting like this all the time over the last six months but it seemed like everything was about to get worse.

Maybe Clara had pissed him off that his whole day was ruined. I wondered if he cared about Clara's little visits to her colleagues and possibly other people.

He must have been pissed about it but I didn't know why on earth would he just stay in silence and never say anything about it?

Had he cared for Clara so much that he didn't want to lose this tiny piece of their relationship or he just didn't care that much?

I've had too many questions when it came to Seeley and I was even more confused about his mood swings. It happened yesterday with his friend at the gas station and also today.

And by the look on my friends' faces, I was sure that they noticed that too. They just didn't want to acknowledge it or push his buttons by bringing his anger up.

Something serious must have been going on the hat was invisible to us. And my heart ached for the boy who had decided to face his demons all alone instead of opening up and asking for our help.

But we couldn't force anything on him and I knew we wouldn't.

I, on the other hand, still feel the thorn in my heart from what I've done six months ago, I've never stopped trying to help him as much as I could.

Even if I was the last person he wanted help from.

We were talking about the new movies and comic book adaptations while we were waiting in line. Then Emilia and Leigh decided that we should watch a thriller movie based on a true kidnapping story.

The boys didn't even dare to say no, they just nodded and let us know that they would be buying the popcorn while we were standing in line for tickets.

When the boys were out of hearing sight, Emilia crossed her arms and let out a loud exhale.

"Do any of you know what the hell is going on with Seeley?" Emilia asked. "He is more stoic than he has ever been."

"Maybe he is missing his girlfriend." Leigh guessed and I almost shook my head.

I didn't know why but I had a feeling – according to the way he was talking about his relationship to me on the hood of his car – that there was a high chance that he wasn't missing Clara.

He might have but he seemed to be distracted by something else.

"Clara? Please no." Emilia glared at her. "You don't mean that. No one would miss her."

"I wonder why did Seeley ask her out." Leigh pressed her fingers against her lips. "She looks great and has her better moments, but..."

"She is a snake." Emilia interrupted. "She must be like Kaa, manipulates you then eats you after you showed calmness and trust."

I laughed dryly and adjusted my bag on my side. I didn't want to mark out from them out. I didn't know what they were thinking of this whole Seeley – Clara situation and I also didn't want to blurt something out accidentally.

Not that I wouldn't trust Leigh and Emilia enough, we just needed to choose our words carefully around each other.

"You can't be careful enough around snakes these days." I shook my head. "But I'm pretty sure that Seeley can take care of himself."

All right, that might have been a white lie but at least I hoped that Seeley was careful enough with Clara. I've known for a fact that she was a short-temperature person but I didn't know what was she capable of.

"Have you noticed that he is moodier since they have gotten together?" Emilia asked. "I knew that relationships changed people but I didn't know that Seeley would do an eight hundred."

"True... It's almost like he is nothing like he used to be before,"

I felt an invisible knife stabbing my heart as my best friends acknowledged and analyzed Seeley's drastic change.

I had a feeling that he was acting when he showed up at my house to pick me up but I hadn't thought that he has been like this with everyone.

I knew that we were in a strange place for months now and almost avoided each other as much as we could but I had expected him to be honest toward at least Casen or Austin, if not both.

"People change." I cleared my throat. "Sometimes in a bad way, we they don't know about it because they are so occupied with the new direction of their life that they think everything is fine."

Leigh gave me a sad look before turning to Emilia who seemed lost in thought.

"I just hate to watch her bring him down with her, he deserves so much better." Leigh said honestly and I couldn't help but nod in agreement.

"We can't help people who don't want to be helped, we have to remember that." I shrugged, sadness dripping from my tone.

After buying the tickets and joining the boys, we were in a hurry to take our seats before the movie would start.

While stumbling in the dark and possibly stepping on other people's toes, Emilia gave me a nudge and stepped out of my way.

I had thought that she was just being kind to give me space but when I saw Seeley sitting down next to my chair, I felt my stomach turn into a knot.

I looked back at Emilia who was remarkably avoiding my gaze as she took a seat and adjusted her snacks in her lap.

I made a note in my head to kill her later after there were no witnesses and sat down between her and Seeley.

My left arm grasped his right as I moved my popcorn in my hands. I couldn't stop getting goosebumps from that little contact that we accidentally made.

When the trailers started to play, Casen and Austin started to talk about them excitedly, just like kids, planning their next cinema experience.

On my right I had Emilia and Leigh whisper about something that I couldn't hear, so I leaned back in my seat and started to eat my popcorn.

After a few minutes I felt Seeley turn his head in my direction lightly and when he didn't want to stop staring at me, I knew that this was his way of trying to get my attention to him.

When I looked at him, I had to swallow, because even in the darkness where the only light we had were the sudden scene cuts from the trailers, he still looked handsome.

His hair was falling into his eyes, and for a moment I almost reached out to move it away but I stopped myself before my arm could move an inch.

"Want some popcorn?" I asked awkwardly and put it between us.

He looked down at the snack and then threw one piece into his mouth while still looking at me.

"So, today was a good day, huh?" He asked and adjusted his shirt.

I didn't know why but I felt my heart speed up at his low but confident voice. I was glad that he wasn't irritated anymore.

"Yes, it was," I agreed.

"I'm glad that you found a job." He dropped his gaze to my hands. "Just don't wear yourself out."

"That's the plan." I smiled and he let himself smile a little. I just wished he smiled more, I missed his happiness and sarcastic comments.

"Don't you repeat what you had done during senior year," his eyes searched for mine, and eat another piece of popcorn.

"You mean annoying everyone with my existence?" I teased him and his face softened.

"You were never annoying," Seeley reassured me and I felt my heart skip a beat. Not only because I didn't know how to handle compliments well but because it came from Seeley whose kindest sentence to me over the months was 'see you later.

"My mother would like to debate on that." I chuckled to hide my awkwardness and he raised his eyebrows.

"Don't listen to her," he pressured me softly. "She doesn't know your worth."

I inhaled sharply, hoping that he didn't hear me while the sounds were blasting through the speakers as an action movie trailer was on screen.

What did he mean by that? Why was he so kind all of a sudden?

What happened between then and now? Did he forget about all the things that I've done and said to him half a year ago?

"And you do?" I asked, my voice small and my throat dry all of a sudden.

He turned his head to the side as a thoughtful expression changed his face.

When he turned his head back to me, his eyes seemed somewhat brighter and softer than they already had been.

"I might know a few things," he rubbed my hand with his finger. I almost pulled it away if it weren't for my shock and confusion.

I hated to admit but I liked how close he suddenly had become to me. His words warmed my heart and his eyes were burning my skin wherever they looked at me.

Here I was, thinking that I let my past sins go but I still cared for his feelings. Maybe more than ever.