Every Part of Us

Chapter One

Underneath the  music, a loud buzzing started to ring. "Stevie, you're getting a call, luv!" Erica yelled, oblivious to the loudness of her voice
through her own blasted music. She turned her face toward me, completely unaware of how loud she was.

I reached my hand back Erica passed it to me. On the screen, the name "Paige" flashed

- A week ago -

"Can we talk?" I rub the back of my head. I couldn't stand still, shifting my weight from foot to foot as I look at Paige's face. She's sitting on the gym bleachers, looking up from her phone with a smile. I knew she would be here with her friends who glance at me. Probably thinking how pathetic I look.

"Aw, babe, where have you been? I've been calling your phone, but it says it's turned off." She smiled brightly, as she puts her phone down. How can it be fake? How can she pull it off so easily?

"I didn't want any distractions." I forced a smile—maybe not as good as hers, but I can act too.

"Getting high without me?" She playfully frowned, but her eyes smile, is she's enjoying this little game. She reaches both her arms out for me to help her stand up. I didn't want to touch her. I hate the way she plays with me right in front of my face, probably enjoying it.

I grabbed her arms, reluctantly helping her up. She jumped up, smiling, and I can't help but feel a pain in my chest. "Let's go." She snatched up her bag from the floor. I walked ahead of her down the bleachers, my mind still confused. The the laughter of the group brings me back out of my head. I looked back to see the others; they just smiled back at me. Was I going crazy, or are they that fucking fake?

Paige noticed my serious face and her expression softened. "Hey, where do you wanna go?" She reached for my arm intertwining her arm with mine, as if she hasn't said those things behind my back. I looked away for a second, trying to hold back the rising frustration, biting my tongue as we walked toward the gym exit.

"Hey, Paige, where you going?" We had to pass the guys playing basketball, and one of them, Derek, called out to her. He had a smirk on his face, all sweaty, gross. His eyes lingered on her and briefly at me.

"To make out." She wrapped her arm around my neck, laughing. I hate this.

I stepped away from her, my heart pounding. She stood there, confused. "What's wrong?" She turned to Derek, giving him an annoyed look. He put his hands up in Defence, his grin fading as he jogged back to his game.

I turned on my heels, walking out of the gym. Paige followed behind, her heels clicking on the floor as she hurried to catch up.

"Hey, talk to me. I was just joking. You know Derek is an airhead. I just wanted to tease him." She scoffed, the confusion clear on her face as the sound of the gym door closing behind us.

"What a funny joke." I chuckled, the sound bitter on my tongue.

"Are you mad at me? What did I do?" She asked defensively, her brows furrowing. She'd never seen me upset before. Too used to seeing me follow her around like a lost puppy, was that it?

"No, I'm actually really happy with what's going on. I mean, I'm sorry I'm not like kissing your ass right now, or maybe following you like a lost puppy? Oh, wait, sorry, am I being a bitch right now?" I laughed, bitterly. She caught on to what I was saying, her mouth slightly opening, but no words coming out.