Until I Met You
Open relationship (17)

Open relationship (17)

Grace Another day.

Another day at college. I walked in hoping this day would turn out better than the others. I don't know what happened between Jake and his friends but I really hoped he would sort it out amongst themselves and leave me alone. Whatever is going on between them is none of my business. I just hope it won't affect my life.

My phone buzzed with a message and I fumbled to grab it out of my pocket from one hand as my other hand held two books. Request for a meeting.

The message read. Some guy name Ron had messaged me. I had to work to earn money. So I decided to take my time and meet him. Later, I thought. I will talk to him later. I put my phone down from my face while simultaneously taking a turn around the corner. I smacked into something hard and I let out a gasp of pain from the blow I received just there. I closed my eyes when I stumbled upon my own legs, falling backwards when two strong hands grabbed the side of my waist. Opening my eyes I saw a set of two black eyes staring at me with amusement.

"Are you okay?" Ethan asked. I gained my footing and pushed back, away from him. I felt numb and cold from the blow. My conciseness reminded me that I don't feel my phone in my hand anymore. I panicked and looked at the ground to replace my phone face down. I bent down to pick it up but Ethan beat me to it. He brought my phone up and turned it around to see the damage. He gave it to me.

"Just a scratch. Everything is fine." I examined it on my own. Flipping it upside-down and turning it back and forth. There was just a tiny scratch. Nothing big. Yet, this phone was almost new and I wanted to keep it that way. I cursed myself in my mind. How can I be so reckless? Why can't I walk without stumbling into someone?

"You didn't answer my question. Are you okay? Or are you trying to ignore me?" His question snapped me back into reality. That was when I actually realized it was Ethan. "What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"First answer my question." He said smiling. His smile annoyed me. What is he smiling for?

"Yeah. I'm fine. Now answer mine." I said. Completely annoyed by his still their smile.

"What are you smiling for?" I asked. Trying to ignore the twitch to snap at him. People used to have this smile when they saw something childish. Did he think that I'm childish?

"Are you always like this? Stumbling and bumping into people?" He asked with a full on grin. Leaning against the wall, he abruptly pulled me towards him. Again, I stumbled and my face smacked into his hard chest. I, again, pushed away from him. I took a step back. I was ready to give him a peace of mind when slammed into something from behind. I looked over my shoulder and saw a big dude frowning at me.

"Watch where you go." He said walking away.

"How can I watch behind my back? Idiot." I muttered.

"Then don't walk backwards." The guy who stumbled upon me said without turning back. He turned around into another corner and disappeared from view. My mouth hung open a little. He had such a good hearing. How could he even hear me from this far?

I heard a low laughter. I turned back and crossed my arms around my chest. Ethan was laughing. A low, deep laugh with his eyes closed. His shoulders were shaking. He opened his eyes, looked at me and again started laughing. A bit loudly this time. Still laughing he opened his eyes. I tried to give him my evil stare but it all faded and my composer cracked. I started laughing with him. Slowly at first, then we both burst into laughter. We laughed so hard that students around us started giving us looks. I clutched my stomach and sat down on the ground. I couldn't breathe but I kept on laughing. My eyes teared up.

Our laughter went on for a few seconds more. My laughter died down and it turned into a smile. Ethan extended his hand for me to take. I took his hand and stood up. We both were smiling. Tension between us ceased for the moment. "I guess I am clumsy." I said.

"There's no doubt in that." He said and I feigned an offended look.

"I am offended. Even if I'm clumsy, you shouldn't say it on my face." I told him.

"My apologies. Madam." He replied. I waved my hand dismissing his mockery.

"Let's go to the cafeteria." He gestured for me to walk. I was going to refuse him when I heard my name being called.

"Grace. Grace. Grace!" I turned around and saw Angela walking towards me into big strides. Her expressions were grim and she looked angry. She came and stood next to me. Turning to Ethan she said, "Excuse us." With that, without hearing any answer, she practically dragged me into an empty room.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked slamming the door behind her." What?" I asked. I couldn't comprehend what she was talking about. What was she talking about?

"WHY didn't you tell me?" I frowned. I was confused.

"What I didn't tell you?" I asked her. Angela took a step back. Raised her one eyebrow. She didn't say anything.

"Tell me. What didn't I tell you about?" I yelled in frustration. She came out of nowhere, started asking about god-knows-what and now she's not answering me. It made me frustrated. A hell lot.

"WHAT?" I asked again. I got angry at Angela's angry face. And I didn't even know what she was angry about.

"You're dating Jake?" I was about to yell again but her question made me shut my mouth. My eyes widened and mouth shut when I understood her. Pretty sure my shock was evident on my face. I opened my mouth. Then closed it. Opened it again and then closed it.

"How do you know?" I asked timidly.

"So it's true." Angela confirmed. She nodded her head.

"And you didn't tell me. I thought we were friends." I took a step towards her but stopped short. "Of course we are friends." I said. Desperation made my brain fuzzy.

"But not the types of friends who share things?"

"Look Angela..." Words evaporated from my head and desperately searched for the words to explain her.

"I liked him first, you know. Jake, I mean. I liked Jake first..." she stared at the ground, lost in thoughts. "... and I wouldn't have minded if you liked him. I told you before that I liked him. You knew it but you still went with it." Her voice was not much then a whisper.

She looked up at me. Her face, angry and I saw a hint of tears in her eyes. I flinched at that. I never realized it could have been such a big deal for her. Never would have thought that it would hurt her like this. I completely forgot about my first day when she told me that she liked Jake.

How could I do this to her?

How can I be so selfish?

How can I forget about her liking Jake?

Oh! I'm such a terrible friend.

WAIT...

"How do you know about us?" I asked, alerted. My mind raced at the speed of light. How did she replace out about it?

"Everybody knows about it. There are rumors. Everywhere." My face scrunched up. Everybody knows about it? What? Oh shit! How could I didn't notice the weird glances and whispers around me. Holy crap! Jake's going to kill me. Does he know? "Look Angela. It's not what you are thinking. I didn't have an option." I tried to explain it to her. But how can I explain her anything without revealing the deal between Jake and me.

I sighed.

There's no way of explaining how I became his so called 'Girlfriend'.

"I'll explain it to you later. I have to go now." I told her. My thoughts were swirling around, if Jake knew about it.

"To meet your boyfriend?" She asked. Her taunt bounced off my head. I understood that she was hurt. And it was all my fault. I caused her this pain.

"Yes. Look Angela. I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings. It was never my intention. I swear. But I..." I stopped when she spoke.

"...oh really? Then can you leave him for me?" I bowed my head in shame. I wish. I wish I could leave him. For you, for me, for anyone in this world. I wanted to tell her everything but I can't.

"I'm sorry Angela. But I can't." I told her with my most earnest face I could muster.

She didn't say anything. It pained me. It was like actual physical pain to see her like this. Yet, I couldn't tell her. I couldn't afford to tell her.

"I'm sorry. I have to go." No. I wanted to stay. I wanted to give her a hug and beg for her forgiveness. I would have given up on Jake in an instant for her if my whole life would not have depended on it.

I calmed myself down. I swallowed hard, trying not to cry after seeing my friend like this. Composing myself, I walked out of the classroom.

I started walking towards the cafeteria.

Jake.

That was the only thing on my mind. I hoped I would replace him there. If I couldn't replace him there I'll go straight to his house. Anywhere I can replace him. As I wished, I heard his laughter from inside the cafeteria. I walked in and spotted him right away. Without looking anywhere I walked straight to him. My face hardened at his genuinely smiling face. I stopped at their table short, which was filled with his friends and mates. Ethan and Mason were also there. Seated comfortably. The table went quiet with my arrival.

"Can I talk to you?" I asked Jake. I pointedly looked at him.

"Here to collect your boyfriend?" Someone said and I heard some people snicker. That made me snap my face to Jake. He didn't show any sign of shock nor discomfort. I looked at his side to Ethan.

"You know?" I asked Ethan in disbelief. Then I looked at Jake.

"You both know?" I asked. My voice laced with shock.

"Yes. Yes, I know." Jake replied.