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Rolling my eyes, I grab another fry. “Iknowthat, guys. I just want to enjoy my day. Is that wrong?”
“No, it’s not wrong, love. We just want to make sure you’re okay,” Taya voices. And I love them for it. But I don’t want to talk about it.
“And I am. Thank you, but can we move on?”
They share a look before both nodding.
We spend the rest of the day touring the city, hopping from museum to museum and going into souvenir shops. Bratislava is such a beautiful city. Living in California, we see the water every day. But the water in Bratislava isgorgeous. With the ancient architecture and the water, the city is so exotic. Even thetreesare gorgeous to look at. It’s like visiting a completely different planet, to be fair.
We’re back in the room by late afternoon, after a long day of exploring the city.
“Did you guys want to go to a nightclub tonight? I met a guy downtown that can get us fakes, and we haven’t done anything really...funyet,” Taya says. Taya, the life of the party. I would totally say yes if I were feeling it. I would totally say yes if I were comfortable in the fact that Jake wasn’t avoiding me.
Things have been awkward between us since yesterday. I woke up this morning, and he wasn’t in bed, which sort of worried me.
Why did it worry you? You told him you only wanted him to treat you like a friend.
Sighing at that memory, I try to push it out of my head.Leia, the self-saboteur.
“No, I think I’m gonna stay in tonight. I’m not in the mood to bump uglies with locals,” I try to joke. Sarah gives me a small smile, while Taya rolls her eyes.
“So you’re gonna stay holed up in the hotel room? Leia, no. Tomorrow’s your birthday! That’s not healthy,” she moans.
“I’m okay, Taya. Why don’t you guys just go with your boyfriends tonight?” They don’t need me. Theyhaveboyfriends.
“What boyfriend?”
I give Sarah a look. “Brock...?”
Sarah just rolls her eyes at me, sighing. That’s not a good sign. “That’s not a thing anymore.” When I try to ask what she means, she brushes it off. “That’s a story for another time. I don’t wanna talk about it.” I guess I’m not theonlyone dealing with guy troubles right now. Taya just rolls her eyes again.
“Well,Ihave a boyfriend, and we’re hanging out tonight.” Taya gives Sarah a nervous look. “Brock will be there, too. So I’m not sure if you wanna come.”
This visibly makes Sarah upset. “And you didn’tthinkto tell me?” Whoa, Sarah doesn’t look happy. What could’ve happened between her and Brock? I’m not sure if I want to ask her. “You know what, it’s whatever. I’m still going tonight. We’re in Slovakia, and I’m not spending my time in a hotel room. No offense,” she says to me.
I only laugh. “It’s fine. You guys enjoy your night. I...need to catch up on schoolwork anyway.” It’s mostly true, but I don’t see myself catching up tonight. I just really want to be left alone, to be honest. I haven’t heard from Jake all day, and that’s what’s also bothering me. Schoolwork is the furthest thing from my mind right now.
It’s 22:47 p.m. right now, and I still haven’t heard from Larson. I haven’t even heard from Taya or Sarah. Ihaveheard from my parents, though. They were checking on me because I haven’t spoken to them since I left LAX. I let them know how the trip was so far, but I didn’t let them know about the track situation. Or the Jake situation.
I’ve been passing time, watching the Nature Network...again. Why is no one communicating with me?
Oh, that’s easy; because they’re having fun.
Something you clearly knownothingabout.
I can take Taya and Sarah not texting me and letting me know what’s going on. But Jake not texting me makes me sad. Is he really that upset with me about last night? I waskicked offthis year’s track team. Surely, he didn’t take what I said seriously about being friends.
Or did he?
Suddenly, my phone beeps with a text. From Sarah.
SARAH:Hey, what r u up to??
ME:Watching Nature Network. Why what’s up??
SARAH:Jake’s out with us.
My heart stops when I read that. I figured he might’ve been, but I was hoping he wasn’t. Now I have confirmation that he would be at a nightclub. Without me. This shouldn’t upset me.
