Chapter 36 Heartache Remedies

I felt a great sense of comfort and calmness knowing that Michelle and Chris would be back today. After last night, having danced in the rain with Wes and sharing that moment, I needed to be away from him.

It was the perfect and most magical moment all to be ruined because he didn't kiss me.

Maybe I was selfish and petty to think that, but I couldn't help but be hurt. All my hope that maybe Wes does hold some feelings for me was stripped away when he didn't make any sort of move.

"I showed all the signs," I grumbled, shaking my head. "All the flirtation, getting flustered, being a little more touchy, making comments and teasing. I did everything to indicate that I have feelings for him."

Michelle tilted her head as she looked at me, trying to understand every detail. "Maybe he didn't see the signs?"

I gave Michelle a flat look. "This is Wes we're talking about. He's an expert in reading women and dating women."

Michelle shrugged, giving me a sheepish look. "I'm sure he just didn't see the hints you were leaving. You're not just another woman he's taking out. You guys are friends so maybe it's confusing and he doesn't know what to read into."

I leaned back against the wall, tightly hugging a pillow to my chest. I knew Michelle was trying to help but anything she could say wouldn't help me feel any better about this. I was just disappointed because I had gotten my hopes up. "I don't think so, Elle. At my parents house, when I kissed him, he did agree that it was all for show and that was why he was with me."

Michelle frowned. I could see the sympathy in her eyes. She walked over to my bed, sitting in front of me and taking hold of my hands. "I'm sorry, Fia. He's just stupid."

I shook my head, sighing lightly. "I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. I know Wes and I know he's insanely picky when it comes to ladies. We only work so well together because we have only ever been friends."

Michelle squeezed my hand in a comforting manner. "What are you going to do?"

I met her eyes. A light bulb went off in my head as I sat up straighter, smiling insincerely. "He's my friend and I don't want to lose him. There's only one thing to do."

"Confess your feelings?" Michelle looked at me with excitement flashing in her eyes.

I rolled my eyes, shaking my head frantically. "That would only mess things up further! No."

"Then what?" She gave me a questioning look, not understanding what else could be running through my mind.

I heaved out a heavy breath, getting my head back in the game. "Things have to go back to normal."

Michelle nodded her head very slowly and unsurely. "What does that... imply, exactly?"

I bit down on my lip, trying to fight back a frown. "All the lines got blurry when we had to fake date. When we got back to campus, it was just the two of us alone all the time. Now it's time to fall back into the old routine where we would all hang out like normal and just like Wes and I had agreed, I would play cupid and set him up on dates so he can find that perfect girl he'd be willing to settle down for."

Michelle looked at me horrified, like I had just grown another head. "Are you fucking crazy?"

I quirked an eyebrow, giving her an odd look. "What about that sounds crazy?"

Of course the idea made me want to punch every girl in sight that I could see Wes with. I hated it and it made my heart clench. I knew the whole thing would drain me and leave me miserable but it was the only way to get over my feelings for Wes and have things go back to normal.

There was no way our friendship would survive if I didn't get rid of my feelings for him.

Michelle laughed at me like she seriously thought I was messing with her. "Dude, I love the effort but that's going to kill you. You're head over heels for this guy but you want to find him other girls to date? How does that sound like a good idea?"

I sighed, leaning my head back against the wall. I felt drained from the thought of match making for Wes. "Yes, the idea makes me want to cry. That's pure torture right out of the book, having to see Wes with another girl." I shook my head slowly. "But it's the best way for me to get over him and let our friendship fall back into its original place."

Michelle sucked in a sharp breath, giving me a wary look. "I don't know, Fi."

"What else can I do?"

Michelle shook her head softly, at a loss herself. "I don't know. I wish I did but that's going to hurt you, Fi. I know you care about him and want things to be normal because you don't want to lose him, but this plan is going to hurt you."

I heaved out a slow breath, staring down at my hands. I shrugged weakly. "There's no better way for me to get over him, Elle."

"Bu-"

Michelle was cut off when the room door flung open.

Chris beamed a sheepish smile as he held out a bottle of alcohol. "I heard we have some heartbreak to take care of."

I bounced to my feet, laughing as I pulled him into a hug. "Chris! You're back and you're the best."

"I know," he grinned as we pulled apart. "Now, shall we get the drinking started? Apparently you need it."

I smirked, grabbing the bottle right out of his hands. "Hell yes."

Not soon after that, I found myself giddy and wasted with Michelle and Chris. Chris was slightly buzzed while Michelle was just as hammered as I was.

She spun around the room like a ballerina in a those jewellery boxes. She giggled as she grabbed my hands and pulled me up to dance with her.

"Shh..." I placed my index finger on my lip, leaning closer to her. "We might get a noise complaint." I spoke in an exaggerated whisper.

Michelle rolled her eyes, brushing off my concern. "Boo hoo. Dance with us, Chrissy bear."

Chris only grimaced at the nickname. "I'm not nearly drunk enough."

Michelle shrugged as she took my hands and started spinning me around with her. I laughed deeply, feeling light and airy while everything spun around me. The alcohol definitely made me feel a hell of a lot better, although I knew it wasn't a coping mechanism I should resort to.

The dancing was cut off when my phone started ringing. I reached over to grab it off the bed, my eyes going wide in horror when I saw the caller ID flash onto the screen.

"Guys!" I exclaimed, causing Michelle to halt her dancing to a stop. "It's him. It's Wes."

Chris's eyes went wide as he shook his head firmly. "No, no. Do not pick that up, Fia. You will regret it, trust me."

Michelle on the other hand, gasped as she lunged forward. "Pick it up!" She clapped her hands excitedly as she sat down on the bed in front of me, looking at me with bright and ecstatic eyes.

I gawked at my phone screen, frozen in spot and conflicted on what to do.

Part of me just wanted to hear his voice that would instantly make me smile. Yes, I am aware how sappy and stupid I sound but I really did feel like a smitten and lovestruck schoolgirl.

The other part of me was screaming that it was a bad, bad idea. Very bad.

Before I had the chance to decide whether or not to answer Wes's call, Michelle snatched the phone out of my hand.

Chris lunged for her, trying to take the phone away from her. "Michelle. Do not."

Michelle giggled as she stood on the bed, reaching her arm up to stop Chris and I from reaching the phone.

She quickly picked up, pressing the speaker button.

"Helloooo," she sung giddily while wiggling her eyebrows at Chris and I.

"Hello?" Wes's soft voice was filled with confusion. I could already picture the questioning look he must've had on his face.

"Hi Wessy boy," Michelle giggled softly, shoving Chris's face away as he tried to grab the phone.

I backed up, staring at her with wide and horrified eyes. "Tell him I'm not here." I mouthed the words to her and hoped that she would somehow comprehend them and listen to me.

"Hi Michelle," he laughed softly, the sound of his laugh making my whole body tingle and warm up. I could still hear a hint of confusion in his tone. "Is Fia around?"

Michelle narrowed her eyes at me to get a hint for what to say. I frantically shook my head.

"Nope!" Chris yelled out in the background before Michelle could speak.

Michelle stuck a tongue out at him as she flopped down on the bed, sitting with her legs crossed. "No," Michelle agreed. "She's out."

"Out?" Wes asked.

"Yup," Michelle nodded her head firmly, though he couldn't see her. "She... went to Michael's."

I gawked, staring at Michelle with wide eyes as I waved my hands in the air like an imbecile. I shook my head, trying to ask her why she would say that of all things!

"Michael?" Wes murmured, still sounding utterly confused. He paused, clearing his throat. "Who... is that?"

Michelle giggled, rolling her eyes playfully. "The craft store, silly. Michaels."

I heaved out a deep sigh in relief. I don't know why it worried me to have Wes thinking I was with another boy.

I'm stupid. He obviously wouldn't care.

"Oh, right," Wes mumbled sheepishly, chuckling but it sounded forced. "Why didn't she take her phone with her?"

Michelle paused, a befuddled look on her face. She was too drunk to come up with a reason.

Chris sat down beside Michelle, lowering his head near the phone. "Because she forgot," Chris looked at me and Michelle is disbelief. "She was in a rush. Really needed some... tape and glue. Or something. A project."

"A project already?" Wes sounded skeptical and confused. "Classes haven't started."

Chris winced. "Right. Yes, well you know Fia and how she likes to be ahead of the game."

Wes heaved out a slow exhale. "Yeah, right. Of course. Do you guys know... when she'll be back?"

"Why are you asking?" Michelle asked quickly, her detective tone on.

I rolled my eyes, plopping down on the other bed and sighing as I listened to all of this unfold. I didn't even know what was running through my mind right now.

Wes chuckled softly. "I just wanted to talk to her, see how she was feeling. We got caught in the rain, I just wanted to make sure she hadn't caught a cold."

That's kinda cute. Aw.

And thoughtful.

Shut up, Fia.

I shook my head at my subconscious thoughts, trying to push away any false hope that I was giving myself.

"Well, she didn't catch a cold but she did catch feel-"

I sprung to my feet and slapped a hand to Michelle's mouth to shut her up before she could expose me. I glared at her frantically, almost cursing but catching myself quick enough to stop before I could start. The last thing I needed was to blow my cover.

"Sorry," Chris coughed awkwardly, snatching the phone from Michelle. "She's distracted, catching up on Grey's Anatomy. You know how it goes."

"Uhh..." I almost felt bad as Wes's confusion seeped through his tone. "Are you guys okay? You sound a little..."

"Drunk?" Chris offered. "Michelle might have had a drink or two. She was feeling wild, the winter break nearly being over and all." Chris cringed at his own words, shaking his head at his terrible coverup.

Wes paused for a long moment. "Okay, that sounds totally normal." He laughed lightly. "Anyways, you guys have fun and do your thing. I just wanted to check in on Fia."

"Why?" Michelle suddenly broke loose from my grip, shouting into the phone. "Do you like her or something?"

I tackled her back down on the bed, shoving a pillow in her face. She shrieked as she flailed her arms around like a fish out of water.

"What?" Wes laughed, the disorientation evident. He sounded like he was unsure how to answer, unsure if Michelle was joking or not.

"Got to go, man!" Chris yelled into the phone. "There's a spider and Michelle's freaking out!" Chris hung up the phone and threw it on the opposite bed before pulling me back and holding me away from Michelle.

"What the hell!" I exclaimed, staring at Michelle with horrified eyes. "Why would you that?"

She exhaled deeply, catching her breath as she sat up and pushed her hair out of her face. "I was trying to play cupid," she frowned.

I gaped. "That was not cupid!"

She stuck her tongue out at me. "Sue me. My head is not thinking properly, Fia."

I groaned loudly as I grabbed the alcohol from the table. I was about to chug it when Chris snatched it out of my hand.

"No," he shook his head firmly, giving me a stern look. "You both are cut off."

I pouted out my bottom lip. "No fair," I walked over to lie down beside Michelle, both of us tangling our legs together and frowning at Chris as we snuggled up and hugged each other.

"No fair," Michelle agreed before turning to look at me. "Should we rewatch Grey's Anatomy?"

My eyes went wide with excitement as I eagerly nodded my head. "Hell yes. Georgie will still be well and breathing."

Michelle fist bumped me as she pulled out her laptop and struggled to put the passcode in.

Chris sighed as he came over and took the laptop, unlocking it and putting the show on for us.

"You two are twisted."

At least the cover wasn't blown. Or so I'll hope.