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Groaning, I grab my phone and read Gemma’s message. My eyes hurt from how long I’ve been staring at my laptop screen, analysing this week’s lab results.
We have always done a movie night when things get tough. Failed assignments, lost internship opportunities, that sort of thing. She must think I’m a mess if she’s calling one this early into the semester.
Eden:
Fine. But you have to tell me what movie is on first.
Gem:
Scooby-Doo: Spooky Island
Eden:
You know me too well.
I finish typing out some more notes before getting ready. And by ‘getting ready’ I mean ‘which pair of trackies have the least amount of food stains on them’. Finding a pair that is mostly clean (I hope. They passed the smell-test.) I slip into them and throw a hoodie over the top. The weather has just started to change and I am definitely not built for the autumn chill. I clip my hair back and get moving. Gemma is impatient at the best of times and that only increases when a movie is on the line.
Eden:
Open the door hoe
Gem:
Girl just come in you basically live here
“Who’s ready to get scoobed?” I laugh as I push the door open, expecting to see Gemma on the other side. In reality, I end up face to face with Oliver.
What the fuck.
“Uh, me I guess?”
“What are you doing here?” It comes out a bit harsher than I expect, but I did expect a quiet night in with Gemma. Not Oliver. Definitely not Oliver.
“Gemma invited us.”
“Us?”
“Yeah. Ben and I.” Oliver looks like he’d rather be anywhere else right now, so I’m grateful when Gemma sticks her head out of the bedroom. I pretend not to notice he’s wearing the jumper I was in when I was sick. And I try not to remember the feeling of it on my skin, how it brushed the skin just above the middle of my thighs.
“Oh good! You made it! I’ve got it all set up in the living room.” The look I give her could cut through concrete.
“I’m just going to…” Oliver moves past Gemma and into the other room, which gives me the perfect opportunity to grill her.
“What the actual fuck is going on here?” I hiss.
“Please don’t kill me. I just thought…you know.”
“I know what?” Venom laces my words, and Gemma holds her hands up in surrender.
“That it’ll stop you from moping around if you two just talk about it. Even Ben has been complaining about Ollie’s moods lately.”
“Do I look like I’m ready to talk about this?”
Looking me up and down, Gemma smirks. “Well, at least you’re wearing pants this time.”
I roll my eyes. “You should have warned me.”
“If I did, you’d never come. Manipulation was my only choice. Now come on. The popcorn’s hot.” Gemma pats me on the back and leaves me fuming in the hallway, so I have no choice but to follow her.
