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"𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭."
Missy's comment grabbed the attention of Nas and Angel, who quickly turned to see Sam walking by with her head down. The trio had gathered that morning before school to share some gossip. Nas recounted her argument with the redhead, Missy talked about their mom being kicked out and Aaron stepping up as the legal guardian, while Angel excitedly shared details about her upcoming date with Cory. Unfortunately, their chat was cut short when the bell rang, signaling the start of the school day.
Angel's day dragged on painfully. Her classes felt dull, and the small talk with classmates was just as tedious. Normally, she would be in a good mood since her dad returned home the night before, but his jetlag had him passed out on the sofa, leaving them with no time to catch up.
After a long day at school, the girl felt a wave of happiness wash over her as she opened her locker to stash away some heavy books. To her surprise, nestled inside were bright red roses, accompanied by a little note. As she picked it up, a flutter of excitement filled her stomach.
"I love you," Angel read softly, her face lighting up at the sweet gesture from Cory. He had been making a real effort to win her back lately, sending her good morning and goodnight texts, along with these thoughtful surprises. It was clear that his efforts were paying off, and she couldn't help but feel touched.
Just then, a familiar voice broke her moment of bliss. "Are those from lover boy?" Naveed asked, and Angel looked up to see him grinning. She nodded, feeling a sense of ease between them despite their past. Surprisingly, their friendship had grown stronger, allowing them to share thoughts and feelings they wouldn't normally discuss with their closest friends. It was refreshing to have someone to confide in.
The two friends then headed out of school, making their way to Evan's house. Angel had promised Naveed she would be there to support him at his first comedy show at the community center, and they planned to practice their routine at the girl's place beforehand.
As they reached the gates, Angel couldn't help but giggle at the sight of Mr. Simpson in his bright orange Hi-Vis jacket, trying to round up some year elevens who were slacking off instead of attending their extra study session. Noticing Angel's laughter, the PE teacher decided to confront her, feeling a bit embarrassed about the whole situation.
"Did you always want to be a traffic cone when you grew up, sir?" Naveed chimed in with a joke, which made Angel laugh even more. Unfortunately, the teacher didn't share their sense of humor and ended up giving them detention. Angel quickly pleaded with him, explaining that they had to attend comedy night, and surprisingly, her puppy eyes worked this time, allowing them to leave without punishment.
As the night progressed, the teen absolutely crushed his comedy set. His two biggest fans, Mr. Simpson and Miss Keane, were right behind him, and they both had a blast watching him perform. Angel was also cheering him on, and when he finished, she rushed over to give him a huge congratulatory hug.
"So, what do you think?" Naveed asked the group, his nerves still lingering. Both teachers and Angel quickly assured him that he was fantastic. Just then, Angel received a text from a certain boy asking her to meet at the rec. She excused herself, gave Naveed a quick hug goodbye, and headed off to meet him. She quickly noticed Cory by the lake and headed over to him. After settling down on the park bench beside him, she caught sight of the charming smirk on his face that always made her heart flutter.
"Did you get my flowers?" Cory asked, glancing at her. He felt the urge to reach out and touch her but held back, knowing he had been working hard to regain her trust. Even though they had spent the night together, it was Angel who had initiated things, and he didn't want to overstep just yet.
"I did, and they were gorgeous," Angel admitted, a hint of blush creeping onto her cheeks. She was still getting used to this softer side of Cory, who usually came off as cocky and arrogant, traits she also found endearing. But for now, she was more than happy to enjoy the sweet treatment he was giving her.
"Not as beautiful as you." Cory grinned, a playful grin spreading across his face as he noticed the girl's cheeks turn bright red.
"Wow, you're really laying it on thick, Wilson," she laughed, giving him a gentle nudge in response to the new nickname she had come up with for him. Their playful banter always made the moments they shared feel special.
They settled into a comfortable silence, gazing at the shimmering lake. After a moment, Cory leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her cheek before quickly pulling back. Both teens turned away, their faces flushed, unaware of the lovestruck smiles they wore, each secretly hoping they could find their way back to each other.
o. 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞.
