Next chapter, guys!
Audrey sighed heavily, shutting the door with her foot and tossing her pom-poms into the chair at her desk. She had just returned from cheer practice. Luckily, it had worked to clear her head of the previous day's argument with Jay. She hadn't seen him since that morning and was glad for it.
"Hey, you're up early," Audrey remarked to Jane, who was positioning a bow in her hair in front of her mirror. Cheer practice started at six in the morning and lasted two hours, so it was still extremely early in the morning for a Sunday.
"Yeah, Carlos invited me to lunch," Jane said. She blushed lightly as she said it.
Audrey raised an eyebrow, pulling a fresh pair of clothes out of her wardrobe to change into. "That's not for at least four hours though."
"I know, but I'm nervous. Mal and Evie are coming over in a bit to help choose an outfit and help with hair." Jane plopped down onto her bed, watching Audrey choose between a pink or blue blouse.
Audrey put the blue shirt back and turned to Jane. "Don't be nervous. It's just Carlos. He's an Isle kid. He'll be impressed either way."
Jane frowned. "I don't know. His mom's so stylish. I just...I want to look nice." She raised her eyes to Audrey's. "Jay came by while you were gone."
"What?" Audrey frowned. "Why?"
Jane pointed to Audrey's bed, and that's when she saw it. Lying in the center of her bed was a bouquet of white tulips. A black ribbon was wound around their stems, attaching a note to the bundle. She picked them up and flipped over the card to read:
I'm sorry. -J
Audrey huffed and turned, marching out of the room. Jane called after her, but she didn't hear what she said. Audrey walked with purpose, not stopping until she had reached the boys' rooms on the other side of the dorm. She hammered on a door. It took a moment, but it finally swung inward.
"Good morning, beautiful," Jay said, no sarcasm or any other type of venom in his tone. It seemed genuine, which somehow only irritated Audrey more.
Audrey rolled her eyes and shoved the bouquet into his arms. She slipped into the room. "Good morning, yourself," she snapped. "What are those for?"
"Did you not read the card?"
She put her hands on her hips. "Of course, I read the card. It wasn't very informative, was it?"
Jay walked over to his desk and set the flowers down. "I thought it was sufficient."
"Hi, Audrey," Carlos said, looking up from where he was playing a videogame to wave at her.
She pursed her lips and gave him a nod. "Morning, Carlos." She turned back to Jay. "Ok, you're sorry. For what? Insulting me? Sleeping with me?"
"You slept with her?" Carlos asked. He was stunned enough that he didn't even notice when his character in the game was killed and ended the level.
Jay ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah. Uh, Carlos, can you just give us a second?"
Carlos shrugged and got up. He pulled on his black and white jacket. "Yeah, I'll go get us breakfast," he said and left.
Audrey was blushing. She had just assumed Jay would brag to Carlos about sleeping with her or something. She had no idea he would actually keep quiet about it. "Sorry," she muttered.
Jay sighed. "It's whatever. I thought you didn't want people knowing, so I didn't tell him. That one's on you." He crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm sorry for yelling at you, is what I meant, by the way. I was just angry. Granted, I still believe I had a good reason to be so. But, I'm sorry I yelled."
Audrey looked away from him. She couldn't talk to him when he was being thoughtful and reasonable. It made her want to apologize too, and she didn't want that. She wasn't sorry for being wary of the villain kids. She had grown up being taught that all the people on the Isle were evil and cruel. She couldn't just suddenly change her mind after they had been there for barely two weeks. It simply wasn't logical.
"Thanks," she finally said. "For apologizing."
"I also sent you the flowers because I want you to realize that I'm different than what you believe," he continued. He waved a hand to stop her when she opened her mouth to speak. "I know you're with Chad. I know you say you don't have feelings for me. I still believe you may just be denying that to yourself because of who you think I am. If nothing else, the flowers were a peace offering, something good to challenge you to...keep an open mind about me."
Audrey dropped her hands from her hips. "Fine. Whatever." It wasn't going to change anything. But, he was right: it was a nice gesture.
Jay picked up the flowers from the desk and walked back over to her. He held them out in offering, and she took them carefully, not letting her hand come into contact with his. "Also, Audrey, try not to steer Jane away from Carlos by influencing her to think he's bad or anything. If nothing else, he's the most innocent person I've ever met on the Isle. He deserves a chance at happiness."
Audrey nodded, not speaking as she cradled the flowers in the crook of her elbow. She turned to go, but Jay caught her free hand. She almost snatched her hand away, but the pleading look in his eyes made her stay still.
"Try the other too, please."
"What?" she asked.
"To keep an open mind." He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.
Audrey pulled away from him then, but she gave him a short nod of promise. "I will." She stepped back out into the hallway and shut the door behind her. She stood there for a moment, just holding the flowers and thinking. Ben had never even gotten her flowers while they had been dating. As much as she hated to admit it, Jay had done something extremely sweet, and it was something she couldn't hold against him.
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Foarrin
