Chapter 5 No.5

"Oh my god" I say as I stare at my grade from the math test

A ninety five percent written in red pen.

I passed.

I passed!

"What grade did you get?" Avery asks me as she looks over at my test paper

I slightly tilt my paper in her direction so that she can see it better.

"Great job, Aspen, I guess your tutoring session with Belleza really worked" she congratulates with a teasing tone of voice

The bell suddenly rings, releasing us to lunch.

"I guess it did" I say with a small smile

I've got to show this to Belleza.

Not because I care about what she thinks.

It's just so she knows that her tutoring efforts are paying off.

Yeah, that's it.

I head in the direction of my locker where I see her waiting for me.

Awe, she's so sweet.

My smile doesn't leave my face as I stop in front of her.

"Whats got you so happy?" She questions with genuine interest

"I passed my math test" I say as I show her my test paper

Her eyes light up as she scans the paper.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so happy for you" she says as she holds her arms out for a hug

I don't waste any time as I quickly wrap my arms around her neck while she wraps hers around my waist.

I lay my head comfortably in her neck as my smile never falters.

Fuck.

I'm so happy.

"What's going on here?" Megan comments with a slight edge to her tone of voice

Why is she on edge?

I'm just hugging a friend.

I slowly pull away from Belleza only to face a stiff looking Megan.

"Oh nothing, what's up?" I ask her to quickly get the attention off of me hugging Belleza

"I was wondering if you wanted to eat lunch together" she says with a child-like smile

Really?!

She never wants to eat lunch with me.

What's different about today?

Just as I'm about to respond, Belleza jumps in.

"Actually she's eating lunch with me"

Excuse me?!

When did this happen?!

"She is?" Megan questions with the same edge to her tone

"I am?" I question with a look of confusion

"Yeah, I want to take you to this diner, if it's okay with you" She says with an adorable facial expression

Oh my goodness.

This girl will be the death of me.

Wait a minute.

What am I saying?

"Okay" I say with a smile

I turn to face Megan only to see her glaring at Belleza while clenching her fists.

Wow, she's really angry.

I don't think I've ever seen her this angry.

"Maybe tomorrow?" I suggest to Megan

"Sure" she says unenthusiastically before walking off

I hope I didn't upset her.

"So, where do you want to go?" I ask Belleza with a curious tone as I turn to face her

"That's a surprise" she says with a playful wink before grabbing my hand and leading me out of the school

Some kids were watching this scene unfold from afar but Belleza didn't seem to notice.

Oh god.

I hope no one starts any false rumors.

-

We soon arrived at a small diner that seemed to be deserted.

This place looks familiar.

"I called in ahead and reserved the diner for ourselves" she says as she hands me a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap

Specifically the same ones I wore when she gave me a ride home after practice on Monday.

I accept them and start to put them on as she retrieves her own cap and sunglasses.

"Are you ready?" She asks me as she turns to face me with her disguise on

Even with a disguise she still looks breathtaking.

What the fuck, Aspen!

Get your mind out of the gutter.

"Yeah" I say with a bright smile as I go to open my door but she stops me

She quickly opens her car door and jumps out of her car before running around to my side and opening my door.

I blush as she holds her hand out for me to grab, which I do.

I gently place my hand in hers as I carefully get out of her car.

"Thank you" I say as my feet touch the ground

"No problem" she responds as the closes the door and locks the car

She quickly leads me towards the small diner making sure to hold the glass door open for me.

As we enter the neon diner I feel a huge wave of nostalgia hit me.

Woah.

"I've been here before" I say as my eyes take in the eighties themed restaurant

The half checker tiled half wooden flooring. The aqua blue chairs and booths. The arcade game console and jukebox.

"Really?" She questions but her voice gives nothing away as she tries to look for someone

"Yeah, Charlotte and I used to come here every summer with our friends" I inform as I continue to admire the beautiful restaurant

It hasn't changed since the last time Charlotte and I have been here.

It's been too long.

"Char- Belleza" Meredith says with obvious excitement as she walks up to us

I wonder what she was going to say.

I turn to face her with a smile.

"Aspen, I haven't seen you in so long, you've grown so much" she says with a shocked facial expression

Meredith Meyers.

She owns this amazing restaurant.

She bought the building when she was twenty seven, if I'm not mistaken.

She's currently thirty five and still has her youthful glow.

"It's nice to see you too, Meredith" I say as I walk up to her and give her a big hug

She hugs me back with just as much strength.

I slowly pull away from her and face a smiling Belleza.

"You've also grown into a nice young lady" Meredith says as she looks at Belleza

Does she know her?

"Yet you haven't aged a bit" Belleza says as she removes her disguise

Oh right.

I quickly remove mine too.

"It's the genes" she says with a laugh as she grabs a menu from the pile

"How about the two of you take a seat and call me when you know what you want" Meredith suggests as she gently pushes us towards a booth

Okay, not what I had planned.

Belleza quickly slides into the cushioned bench.

I go to sit across from her only to get stopped by Meredith.

"Don't you think that it'll be easier to read the menu if you sit next to her" she suggests as she points to the space beside Belleza

Belleza chuckles slightly at Meredith as I shrug.

"I guess" I says as I sit down beside her

Meredith smiles widely before exiting the diner and walking back to the kitchen.

"If I didn't know any better I would say that she ships us" Belleza says with an amused tone

Ships?!

As in wants Belleza and I to end up together?!

No, that cannot happen.

I don't like her that way.

I like Charlotte.

Belleza is not Charlotte.

Just because they look and act slightly similar doesn't mean that they're the same person.

"Oh, um, we can't" I quickly say as I look down at the menu to avoid her eyes

She turns her body so that she's facing me.

"Really?" She says with a smile

What is with her a smiling during serious conversations.

"Yeah, I already like someone else" I say as I nervously nibble on my bottom lip

"Charlotte?" She questions

I just nod my head in response.

"No offense, but I'm starting to believe that she's not even real" Belleza says which causes me to whip my head in her direction

"What makes you say that?" I question her with a slight hard tone

"You said that she goes to our school, but you haven't seen her yet" she lists off

Okay, she does have a point.

"Should could be starting school later than anticipated" I suggest weakly

I honestly have no idea why she hasn't shown up yet.

"Have you chosen what you would like to eat?" Meredith asks us as she walks up to us

"Can I have a slice of Hershey's pie, please" I request with a smile

"I'll have a stack of blueberry pancakes" Belleza says politely as she hands Meredith the menu

"I'll be back soon with your food" she says before walking away

"Lets change the subject" I say as we're left alone again

"Okay, there's a football game on Friday, who are you going with?" She asks

Is she serious right now?!

"No one since I'll be cheering the whole time" I say with a 'duh' tone

She stares at me with amusement which makes me shift in my seat awkwardly.

"Stop looking at me like that" I says

"How about I take you home after the game?" She suggests

I give her a weird look.

"Avery usually gives me a ride home, plus won't you get surrounded if you show up at a football game" I point out

"Leave that to me" is all she says

Should I let her?

I mean it's a nice offer but what will Avery think.

We've always rode home together after a football game.

Plus I don't want to risk Belleza getting mobbed by the bunches of students that'll be there.

"Okay, but this doesn't mean that it's a date" I say with a stern tone of voice

I don't want her getting any ideas.

"I never said it was" she says as she raises her hands up in surrender

I nod my head just as Meredith comes out with our food and drinks.

"Here's your pie and your pancakes" she says as she places our plates down in front of us

"And your favorite, sprite" she says as she takes the two glasses of sprite and places a glass of sprite in front of us

"You remembered?" I say with a surprised tone

"Of course, enjoy your meals" she says with a wink before walking away

That woman is always full of surprises.

-

"Why are the both of you late?" Avery questions

She doesn't sound happy nor mad.

"We miscalculated how long lunch was" Belleza says as she sits down beside me

Avery gives me a look as if silently saying 'we'll talk about this later'.

When school ended I practically thanked god.

I felt like my head was going to explode if that teacher kept talking.

"Can I sleep over at your house, my little brother and his friend are coming over to my house" Avery asks as I zip up my backpack

"Sure, do you want me to drive you?" I ask her since I don't know if she brought her car to school today

"No, I'll swing by my house and grab some clothes before heading over" she says

We quickly exit the classroom and walk towards her locker.

I have everything I need already.

"Aspen" some girl calls me as Avery and I stop at her locker

"Uh, Yeah?" I question since I have zero idea who this girl is

"Are you and Belleza dating?" She asks

What?!

"No" I immediately reply

I don't want any drama.

I hate drama.

"Okay" she says as if she doesn't believe me before walking away

"What was that about?" Avery asks as she closes her locker

"Who knows" I say with a shrug as we exiting the school, not before being stopped by three other girls who as me the same exact question.

'Are you and Belleza dating?'

Why is everyone asking me that question?

Did something happen?

Did someone spread a rumor that her and I were dating?!

Did she tell someone that her and I were dating?!

Oh god.

I hope that this doesn't get too out of hand.