Noelle POV
"Is it just me, or has Jeremy stopped trying to approach me?" I asked Jinne as we walked side by side, heading toward the mall after my part-time job. The evening air was cool, and the streets buzzed faintly with life.
"Isn't that what you wanted?" she replied, raising an eyebrow. "You've been dodging him for, what, two weeks now?"
I let out a laugh at her tone, which was a mix of disbelief and exasperation. "You just don't get it. Women are complicated."
Jinne rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Don't start with that. You avoided him like he was radioactive, and now you're upset he's stopped trying? Make it make sense!"
I smirked, shaking my head. "You talk like you're a guy or something. Yes, it's true, I've been avoiding him, but that doesn't mean he should give up. I mean, come on. He could've tried harder."
Jinne let out a dramatic sigh. "Elle, seriously. Just let the boy breathe, will you? He's tried to talk to you all week, but every time he gets close, you act like he's got some kind of contagious disease and bolt. What do you expect him to do?"
"Hey, whose side are you on?" I asked, turning to glare at her. "You're supposed to be my best friend. You're supposed to be on my side!"
She burst out laughing, her shoulders shaking as she tried to keep it down. "Elle, I am on your side, but you're being ridiculous. He's probably confused as hell right now."
I pouted but decided to let it go. There was no point arguing with Jinne when she got like this. "Fine, fine. Let's forget about my boy's problems for now. What are we even shopping for?"
Her face lit up with excitement as if she'd been waiting for me to ask. "Sexy swimwear for the grade trip, of course!"
I raised an eyebrow, smirking at her. "Hmm, Jen, who exactly are you trying to seduce on this trip?" I teased, giving her my best best-knowing.
"No one!" she replied with a dramatic huff. "I just want people to remember how sexy I am. Is that a crime?"
"Jenni, that's such an ambiguous statement," I said, eyeing her suspiciously. "Should I be worried?"
"Let's just shop," she said quickly, grabbing my arm and dragging me into the nearest bikini shop before I could press her further.
We spent the next couple of hours browsing through racks of swimwear. Every so often, we'd hold up a particularly daring bikini and burst into laughter, imagining the reactions it would get on the trip. By the end of it, we'd each picked out four sets of bikinis, along with some sundresses and accessories we hadn't planned to buy but couldn't resist.
As the mall began to wind down for the night, Jinne dropped me off at my house. "See you tomorrow," she said cheerfully before driving off toward her place.
That night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, my thoughts inevitably drifting back to Jeremy. I couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty. Had I pushed him away for good? Or would the upcoming grade trip give me a chance to fix things? Three days together with nowhere to hide—what was I going to do if he decided to approach me again?
Sighing, I rolled over and buried my face in my pillow. Whatever happened, I knew I had to figure out how to face him.
I was halfway through breakfast with my mom when I heard the loud honk of Jenni's car from outside.
"I'm heading out now! See you in three days. Don't miss me too much!" I said playfully, grabbing the handle of my mini travel suitcase and making my way to the door.
My mom raised an eyebrow, smirking. "And try not to come home with a nine-month problem," she teased.
"Mom!" I exclaimed, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Before she could launch into one of her famous safe-sex lectures, I rushed out the door.
Jenni was waiting in her car, sunglasses perched on her head and music already playing softly in the background. As I hopped in, she grinned. "Ready for the trip of the year?"
"Absolutely," I replied, settling into my seat. We chatted all the way to school, mostly about the grade trip and what we hoped it would be like.
When we arrived, a luxurious bus was parked in front of the school, gleaming in the morning sun. "Wow," I muttered, taking in the sleek black exterior and the tinted windows.
"That's the bus Jeremy's parents arranged," Jenni said. "I even heard the lodge we're staying at belongs to his family."
Of course, it does, I thought to myself. Jeremy's family had always been the epitome of wealth and influence.
Jenni pulled into the school parking lot to find a spot while I hopped out near the bus. One of the male chaperones was loading students' bags into the cargo compartment, so I handed him mine before taking a moment to scan the crowd. I couldn't see Jeremy anywhere, though I tried not to let it bother me.
Jenni walked up to me a few minutes later, her expression a mix of annoyance and something else I couldn't quite place.
"Why do you look like that? Did someone piss you off already?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She huffed, crossing her arms. "I don't know if I should report this, but I just saw Jeremy with that girl who's always following him around like a lost puppy. What's her name again?"
I instantly knew who she meant. "Oh, Cindy," I replied, trying to sound casual, though my stomach twisted uncomfortably.
"Yeah, her. She was all over him. Like, practically clinging to him." Jenni's tone was sharp, and I could tell she was as annoyed as I was. "I almost went up to her and told her to keep her hands to herself, but I didn't want to cause a scene."
I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady. "What were they doing, exactly?"
"Nothing major, just talking... but she was way too touchy. You know how she is," Jenni said, rolling her eyes. "But don't overthink it, Elle. If he wanted to date her, he would have done it ages ago. She's been chasing after him forever, even before you transferred here. And guess what? He's never been interested."
I nodded, though her words didn't fully comfort me. If Jeremy was spending time with Cindy, was it because I had been avoiding him?
As if sensing my unease, Jenni added, "Seriously, don't let it get to you. Cindy's harmless. She's just... clingy."
I nodded again, this time with a small smile, and we made our way onto the bus. Jenni and I chose seats near the middle, settling in and chatting about the trip ahead.
Moments later, the sound of laughter and chatter filled the air as Jeremy and his group of friends climbed aboard. My breath caught in my throat when I saw Cindy practically glued to his arm, her head tilted toward him like he was the only person in the world. She looked like a koala clinging to a tree, and for a split second, I wondered if he even noticed how close she was.
Jenni nudged me with her elbow. "Ignore her," she whispered. "Remember, you've got the upper hand here."
I forced a smile, though my heart felt heavy. As the bus engine roared to life, I couldn't help but glance at Jeremy again. This was going to be a long trip.