🎱. . .CHAPTER 39 ! -----
( real life . . . )
❛ i can't with you ❜

ᵣₑₐₗ ₗᵢfₑ !

          The calming sound of water splashing fills mikayla's ears as she sits on a towel concealing mini pebbles next to nick. with the clear, blue sky and the sun shining brightly, a warm glow is casted over everything it touches.

          mikayla removes the claw clip from her hair, letting it fall down to her shoulders while the nature surrounding her seems to come alive. the air is fresh and invigorating, seeming to make everyone fall more energized as the rest of the friends play in the lake.

          "stop it matt!" maria loudly squeals, squinting her eyes as he splashes her in the face. she falls back slightly into the shallow water, her hair sticking to her body as it absorbed the liquid.

          the water may be slightly dirty, most likely filled with all sorts of bacteria, but it's cooling everybody down while also making them feel cheerful. it's friday, and they're all glad that they're here and not sitting in the school that forces them to be moody.

          mason runs his hands through his ginger curls, his freckles illuminated by the rays of sunshine reflecting on his skin. he stands in the water with lucille and nathan, the three of them conversing beneath a willow tree hanging over the lake.

          miks props her body up using her elbows, frustrated because of the weather and also chris. he's in the water, slightly isolated from the rest of his friends. she notices this, as well as the fact that he hasn't spoken to her all day but she doesn't care.

          of course it hurts mikayla that she fell for him, but she can't help but feel that she can't even be mad since they were never dating in the first place.

          the sunshine reflects against chris' chain as he slowly turns around, now facing mikayla. even with the distance between them, she feels that intense connection with him and she hates herself for it. it seems like whenever they stare at each other, all she thinks about is they way he would—

          "—mikayla," nick utters and her attention fortunately shifts away from chris, turning her head to face the triplet next to her. "i was saying how chris has been acting weird," he clearly acknowledges his brother's attitude and mikayla agreeingly nods her head.

          "something's up with him," mikayla quietly states, her eyes glued to chris as he travels through the lake to his other brother. "he's been acting weird," she chews on her bottom lip, playing with the rings on her finger.

          nick tuts as mikayla stares at her friends having fun. she purses her lips as maria narrows her eyes at her, most likely noticing how her friend seems slightly disheartened since last night. "guys, get in here!" maria yells to miks and nick, beckoning them over with her hands.

          miks slowly turns to face nick, a dimpled grin across her face and she watches as he lifts his top lip into a sneer. "fuck no," he hisses, making her playfully rolls her eyes.

          "c'mon nick," miks begs, holding onto his bicep. she looks up at him through her lashes and he repeatedly shakes his head. "please," she drags out her words through a grin.

          "literally no," nick huffs, leaning back into a comfortable position on the towel. he pulls his sunglasses down to cover his eyes, resting his hands on his chest, concealed because of the white vest he's wearing.

          mikayla pouts slightly, using her hands to stand up. as she steps off of the towel, she winces at the hot pebbles beneath her feet as well as the small amount of sand caking her toes. "shit!" mikayla yelps out in pain, hopping into the water while listening to nick's giggles.

          the water's a decent temperature, not too hot and not too cold; a peaceful atmosphere surrounding them all. even despite the mob of flies rising into the humid air, mikayla feels soothed with a sap sweet smell hanging in the environment. miks splashes through the lake, shuffling towards maria and matt conversing with each other.

          maria immediately throws her arm around mikayla's shoulder. "it's so hot, i'm fucking dying out here," maria complains, rubbing her bare stomach caused by the black bikini set she's wearing.

          "literally," miks hums in amusement at maria's choice of words, followed by a laugh before gliding her tongue across her bottom lip.

          matt runs his hands through his wet hair, a few strands sticking to his forehead and messing up his middle part. "what's up with you and chris?" matt questions, clearly noticing the tension between them.

          a long sigh escapes from mikayla's lips while she rests her hands on her exposed hips. "he's being an asshole," she blankly states, no longer laughing. "i couldn't care less though."

          she's lying.

          "you're a liar," maria retaliates while her eyes turn to slits, already knowing how much mikayla truly likes chris no matter how many times she'll deny it. she pokes matt in the rib, "talk to him about it please."

          matt's eyes flicker between the girls in front of him, his hand reaching the back of his neck. he clicks his tongue, hesitating for a couple moments, rolling his eyes. "i'll try miks," he forces a smile.

          "GUYS!" lucille yells, forcing everybody to look at her. she holds her wet hair up into a ponytail with her hands, still standing with nate and mason. "i'm shriveling up here like a raisin, can we please go home," she pleads, everyone murmuring in agreement.

        

         
          After a much needed warm shower, miks stands in the shared bathroom, wiping down the mirror concealed with fog — caused by the condensation. her body's wrapped in a towel with a hairbrush in one hand. miks hums along to an imaginary rhythm in her head, combing through her wet hair.

          with an outfit already picked out for the carnival, displayed on her bed and her drenched bikini hanging on the headboard, she feels joyful that this night won't end like how it did yesterday.

          miks ponders for a few minutes on what hairstyle would suit her outfit best — a lacy red top with some baggy jeans, ultimately choosing to just keep it down and let it air dry.

          as mikayla continues to detangle her hair, brushing out any knots gained from sitting in a lake for such a long period of time, she hears a few faint knocks on her door. miks thinks to herself that she's just hearing things, but the same noise repeats, this time even louder.

          she stops in her movements, tilting her head quizzically as the same noise repeats again. she just sighs, turning around. miks' hand slowly reaches for the handle, though she assumed everyone was busy getting ready to go out again.

          at a sluggish pace, mikayla opens the door, grimacing immediately when she notices chris standing in front of her, wearing a pair of camo pants with a clean white shirt and a matching cap. he adjusts his soft, brunette waves beneath his hat after pulling it backwards over his hair.

          miks folds her arms beneath her chest, keeping her towel secure, as she leans on the doorway. "are you here to stare at me even more?" she blatantly inquires, breaking the silence but biting her tongue to restrict herself from saying anything more.

          "whatever," chris says through a scoff with pursed lips, playing his hands in his back pockets. "i haven't stared at you once mikayla," he replies with a tone of denial. he watches her jaw visibly tick at his statement, a smirk creeping on his face.

          she's irritated at his entitlement and audacity to even come to her while she's getting ready, choosing to just entertain this conversation. "you're annoying," she mutters, followed by a sigh.

          "no you," chris retorts like a five year old, only doing it to piss mikayla off. it's definitely working with the way she's staring at him, almost as if she wants to rip his head off right now. "hurry up though, you take long to get ready."

          miks rolls her eyes again, really pissed off now. "oh just fuck off chris," she snaps, a bitter laugh filling the room. she presses her lips together, trying to stop herself from rambling on about how frustrated she is with chris' constant changes in behaviour. but it's no use, she wants chris to understand how he makes her feel. "what the hell is up with you chris? last night you literally said so much shit, and then you said we should just stay friends," mikayla's eyebrows knit as she examines his expression.

          "mikayla—" chris pauses, allowing himself time to think on what to reply with. "i don't get why you're upset," he tilts his head slightly and mikayla's face flickers with disappointment.

          "are you serious, chris?" her voice cracks slightly, not because she's about to cry, but because she's genuinely confused on how he could change within an hour. "i can't with you," she glares at him, watching the way chris' face drops. "maybe we are better off as friends," she mumurs as her expression dulls.

          no, mikayla doesn't want to just be friends with him. but thinking back on their whole relationship from the beginning at the beginning of august, she finally understands that it was never going to work in the first place. it's september now and she wonders why it took so long to realize that.

          "i'm done with this," she uses her hand to gesture between the two of them, chris' eyes following her every movements. she seals her lips, preventing herself from uttering any words about how much she likes him that she desperately wants to say. "with us," she repeats in the same tone, taking a step back.

          chris parts his lips to speak, but it's too late because by the time he tries to even get a word out, mikayla's already slamming the door in his face. she takes a deep breath, squeezing her eyes shut. 'this isn't what was supposed to happen', she repeats to herself. but there's no saving what was never going to work in the first place.

maybe this is for the better.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ arianna speaks ¡
oh !