CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
Most had been put off by Saturday's events and they all had family business on Sunday. When school arrived on Monday, everyone had some sort of anxiety. Whether it be about exams, the cold weather or friendship issues.
Or, in Ivy's case; the man from the park.
She hadn't gone back but she knew that she had seen someone.

Finn hadn't said anything either but she reckoned he wouldn't be too keen on going back there to search for a creepy dude in the park. So, Ivy had decided that she would go alone next weekend.
Monday got off to a very awkward start.
It had all seemed to return to normal, with Ivy and Dana at odds over Dana's boy troubles.

The bus wasn't any easier. Ivy threw herself down next to Finn and studied her friends. Heather had shoved herself next to Tyler, who was glowering at Ben. Ben was next to Dana and Lionel was awkwardly sat next to Jace. Cinder and Heather both glared at each other and Lionel. Hazel still wasn't happy with Finn, so she sat next to Cinder. Blossom was just as curious at the sudden change as Finn and Ivy were.
They got off at the school and things didn't stop being awkward there.

"Why is everyone so... weird?" Blossom asked as she and Ivy hurried to Maths.
Ivy shrugged. "I don't know. Lots of arguments."
"Are you and Dana back at it again?" Blossom tried to find a way to hold her books properly.
"Yeah." Ivy yawned. "It sucks."

They made it to Maths and found their seats - next to each other. Tyler was in their class, but he had put himself at the very back.
"Tyler, Ben and Dana?" Blossom guessed. "A love triangle. Huh."
"Dana doesn't realize." Ivy rolled her eyes. "I can't believe it. It's the most obvious thing ever."

"And Hazel is still bitter about the whole thing with Finn, I'm guessing." Blossom waved a finger in the air. "Oh, and Cinder said something about Lionel doing something which has caused Heather to be upset."
Ivy nodded. "Sounds about right. Jace seems to be avoiding it."
"Yeah right." Blossom laughed. "Have you forgotten about the After Party already? He's still not over that."
"And we still haven't figured out who did it." Ivy mused. "We should look into that."

"I don't get girls." Lionel shook his head. "Why can't they tell me what they want instead of being so secretive all the time?"
Jace pressed his lips together. "I don't even think you know what you want."
"Shut up." Lionel scratched his head. "What do you think Heather means?"
"I'm not a Girl Whisperer." Jace deadpanned.
Lionel rolled his eyes. "Well, there has got to be someone who knows something about girls."
"Girl Theory." Jace suggested. "That should be a class they offer."

"Damn, you're smart." Lionel grinned. "That's a great idea."
Jace nodded. "Maybe we should suggest it to the board."
"Haha, you're awesome." Lionel headed to a table to eat his lunch. "Actually, should I do that?"
"I would love to partake in that class-" Jace yawned. "But I doubt they'd actually implement it into the school curriculum."

"I hate boys." Heather grumbled miserably from her place beside Hazel.
"Ugh. Me too." Hazel complained. "None of them understand."
Ivy and Blossom sat down, both sporting yoghurts that they ate whilst curiously listening to the girls complain about their relationship problems.
Heather sent a look in their direction. "I would ask you two, but your love lives are worse than mine and that's saying something."
Blossom paused and put down her yoghurt. "At least I'm not an envious cow."
Ivy saw the beginnings of a throw-down between Heather and Blossom (and as much as she'd have liked to seen it, she knew that it would end badly) so she interrupted. "Chill, guys."

Blossom went back to eating her yoghurt and Heather went back to complaining about Lionel.
"He needs to make up his mind." Hazel agreed. "Finn also needs to grow up-"
Now it was Ivy's turn to get defensive. "Come on , Hay. You know what Finn is like. He's just having fun."
"Having fun toying with my emotions?" Hazel snapped.
"It's Finn, for goodness' sake." Ivy rolled her eyes and waved the spoon around. "He's not good with women."
Hazel sighed. "You could say that again."

Dana appeared and jogged towards them, throwing herself down on the other side of Blossom. "Hey, guys."
Ivy went silent and Blossom spoke up for her. "Heya, Dana."
"What's going on?" Dana asked.
"Well, Heather is complaining about Lionel-" Blossom gestured to Hazel. "-And Hazel is complaining about Finn."

"Right..." Dana blinked. "And what are you two doing?"
Blossom grinned sheepishly. "Eating these yoghurts and listening to them complain."
Ivy threw the empty yoghurt in the bin and stood up. "I've got to go to music. See you."

Ben and Finn walked side-by-side, towards the sport hall. They were dressed in their sports uniforms and Finn was almost bouncing off the walls, hyped for basketball. "Geez, calm down." Ben yawned. "You're tiring me out."
Finn scratched his neck. "Alright. What did you want to talk to me about?"
"Dana." He looked around as if to make sure she wasn't close by. "Since you're a lot closer to the Falleh family-"

"How in the world am I closer to them?" Finn blinked rapidly.
"You're basically joined at the hip with Ivy." Ben pointed out.
Finn shrugged. "Valid. What about Dana?"
Ben sighed. "Well, I really like her and everything and I think-"
"Dude." Finn waved a finger. "You're not going to have this conversation with me."

Ben hurried after the red head. "What? Anyway, I think I might like her in that-"
"No." Finn groaned. "I've never had a girlfriend. You do know this, right?"
"What about Hazel?" Ben was quizzical.
Finn paused. "What about Hazel?"

"Doesn't matter." Ben continued. "I don't think Dana has noticed and the other day-"
"Oh blimey..." Finn closed his eyes.
Ben rambled on. "-She took both me and Tyler bowling. Both of us. I don't know whether I should tell her or not because what if she doesn't like me? She might like Tyler and then I'll be humiliated and-"
"SHUT UP." Finn whined. "Go speak to Lionel about this or something."

"Why can't I tell you?" Ben asked.
Finn rolled his eyes. "Uh, I'm me. I'm terrible at keeping secrets."
"Oh. Yeah." Ben's eyes widened and he took several steps forward. "Don't. Say. A. Thing."
Finn nodded. "Alright."

Thanks for reading!
Does anyone else have friends like this in real life? Where they're constantly complaining about girl/guy problems. Or if they ask you for relationship help but you're the single person in the group so you're like, "why are you asking me?".
Yeah, I'm always the single one XD

Anyway, thanks for all the support :)
(:;) (:;) (:;)