♡ chapter twenty three ♡

                                    

                                          

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The crowd roars in victory as our soccer team wins their final game of the season. I see Taehyun immediately run up to Alex and hug him tighter than no other. The entire team rushes towards Alex and lifts him up into the air so that they're carrying him. Our eyes finally meet across the field as I cheer louder than anyone else in these stands, he smiles over at me and cheers as well. 
After the game, we all make our way to our cars and wait for the boys to get out of the locker room. Beomgyu, Soobin, and Kai are all leaning against Soobin's car while me and Yeonjun lean against Beomgyu's car. 
I'm too cold to talk, so while the boys all talk about god knows what I stand and suffer alone. I feel Yeonjun tap on my shoulder so I look up at him, "You okay?" He asks me. 
He's making that face, the face he'd make after me and Beomgyu had a fight and he found me crying. He's worried, caring, willing to do whatever it is to help me. I smile up at him, "I'm just a little chilly, did you enjoy the game?" I ask him. 
"I did, Alex was amazing. How come he knows all about soccer and you don't?" 
"Vivian is the real soccer star. She's the one who taught him everything he knows." I say, Yeonjun's eyes widen. "Seriously?" 
I nod, "They would always play together whenever she came over. Of course they tried to include me but, I'm not much of a fan for sports"
He chuckles, "I know-" He pauses and looks down at his shoes, "you never wanted to play basketball with me whenever I asked." He never was good at maintaining eye contact. 
I lean my head against his shoulder causing him to stiffen a bit. "Uh Ariana, what're you doing?" He asks me.
I sigh, "I don't know, but I hope you know how grateful I am for you. You weren't the best boyfriend but, you are a great friend." I say smiling up at him, he smiles as he nudges me away causing me to laugh. Alex and Taehyun finally make their way out of the locker room and towards us, "So, what's the plan for tonight boys- and ladies" Taehyun asks winking at me during that last part.
"Movie night? I really wanna watch Finding Nemo." Yeonjun says, I chuckle. 
"How bout instead of Finding Nemo we watch-"
"Actually guys-" Beomgyu interrupts walking over to me and holding my hand, "Me and Ariana have plans tonight." He says. 
"Oh please don't tell me you're gonna have sex with my sister." Alex says making a disgusted face. The boys all laugh in unison as I punch Alex in the arm, "NO! I'm meeting his Mom tonight you idiot!" 
"But-" Kai says catching his breath, "didn't you meet her last night?" He asks curiously. 
"For 2 seconds, tonights my official first date with his parents and I can't go looking like this." I say looking down at my sweatpants and Beomgyu's oversized hoodie. "So, if you'll excuse us we're gonna head out." I say getting into Beomgyus car. 
"Alright alright but seriously, be back before 12 or else Mom will kill you!" Alex shouts at me as we get into the car. 
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The car rides long, but we've mostly been silent. Y'know its different between how Yeonjun made me feel and how Beomgyu makes me feel. 
If I were in this silence with Yeonjun, I'd feel uncomfortable. I would think he was mad at me, or didn't want to talk. I'd think he'd seen me exchange eye contact with a boy for one second and he's holding a grudge against me, by staying silent. I'd think he's bored of me, of us. I'd think about every bad possible outcome until it broke me. 
With Beomgyu, I think about how different it is with him. How comfortable this silence is because I know he isn't mad at me and I know he cares about us, about me. 
I look over at him and reach for his hand. His gaze wonders away from the road and right at me, he smiles, "Yes beautiful?"
"I hope you know I don't still like Yeonjun." I say softly, he nods. "I know." He says looking back at the road.
"And I was just leaning my head against his shoulder and telling him I'm thankful for him because he is my friend and I am thankful for him and I just don't want you to get jealous and think-"
"ARIANA!" Beomgyu yells slightly causing me to shut up. He lets go of my hand and pulls over on the side in a neighborhood I've never seen before. 
He unbuckles his seatbelt and turns to face me now, I stay silent.
A huge smile appears on his face as he tilts his head to the side closest to his seat, "You know I'm not jealous right?" He asks me. 
I nod, "I know but-"
He leans in closer so that our faces are only inches away, "I don't think you do." He says softly causing my cheeks to warm up a bit. 
He sighs, "Ariana I know you tried your hardest to never make him jealous, and I know that made you cautious in how close you sat towards one of us, if you laughed at our jokes, if we offered you our jacket because thats the nice thing to do, I know you were always careful." He says moving a strand of hair out of my face, continuing to smile down at me. 
"And no matter how careful you were, he always got jealous. But you never, ever have to worry about that with me. I don't care how close you sit next to Soobin or Kai, were all comedians LAUGH, and if you're cold and I'm not there I want them to give you their jacket so you're comfortable. So no I don't care if you were talking to him about how grateful you are for him, cause I know you'd never stoop so low as to cheat or make me jealous, okay?" He says that last part looking me in my eyes now, how perfect they are, his eyes.
"I really, really wanna kiss you right now." I whisper softly still maintaining eye contact. He looks away clearly flustered and I smirk when I realize I've made him nervous. 
I hold onto his neck forcing him to face him, "What? Did I make you nervous?" I say confidently.
He lets out a deep breath before leaning his head back, "God Ariana-" He says in a low husky voice, "You have no idea what your words to do me." He says starting up his car again.
I chuckle, "So no kiss?" I ask politely, he looks over at me and shakes his head.
"Nope." 
Tease.
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