Styles Triplets

Valentine's Day. The day that all singles joke about crying and buying themselves pity chocolates and the too adorable couples post everything on social media making us singles more depressed. Nessa wasn't looking forward to seeing more couple making out in the halls than usual or an obnoxious amount of teddy bears being carried around.

Nessa wasn't trying to be a downer, in fact if she had a boyfriend she'd do the same thing and wouldn't care about the hypocritical remarks. She only wanted one person to hand her drug store chocolates and a fluffy bear; Marcel, but that's too complicated.

Nessa didn't want to hate Marcel for crushing on Ari, but she wished he blushed a little anytime Nessa smiled in his direction.

At her locker, Nessa had planned to walk to the band room for some extra practice for her upcoming solo concert, but she needed to grab her music binder. Just before she closed the door, Marcel shouted her name from the end of the hall.

"Nessa! Hey Happy Valentine's Day!"

"Oh yay the day we celebrate the beheading of Saint Valentine. How romantic."

"Wow...umm...that's a little depressing. Everything okay Ness?"

Nessa loved that nickname. It was so cute and perfect. Wait what are was she thinking? Wasn't Nessa mad at Marcel?

"I'm sorry I have to go...band practice."

"Hey I meant to ask why you left so quickly from lunch the other day. What happened?"

"Oh you know...cramps." Cramps really?! You couldn't have thought of anything smoother?
Marcel looked a little flushed and stuttered his awkward goodbyes.

Nessa couldn't believe she's let herself not only make a fool out of herself...again, but also lost the courage to confront Marcel about the kiss and his feelings for Ari.

~

The halls were empty as Nessa locked up the band room. Her hands ached from practicing and all she could see were black spots from focusing on the music for hours.

As she heard the door click behind her, Nessa fast walked to the student parking lot because Lakeside Academy after hours was creepy.

Nessa found her Dad's car in her space and as she unlocked the door, Nessa saw Marcel talking behind her. He was walking to his own car talking on the phone, probably to Ari.

Shaking off the jealousy, Nessa opened the car door, but took two seconds to ramp up her confidence and slammed it closed again.

Nessa marched across the lot just as Marcel hung up the phone still smiling.

"Hey Nessa! What are you still doing here?"

"We aren't talking about that right now. I want to talk about us."

Marcel paused at a loss for words. Maybe she could have worded that better because technically there wasn't an 'us' between them. Too late she was on a roll now.

"Marcel...I'm confused. First, we kissed and then you say it meant nothing and you want to pretend it never happened? I'm sorry but I'm not that girl. You took my first kiss and it hurt after you stomped on it."

Still at a loss for words Marcel's mouth was agape trying to comprehend what was happening.

"Say something...anything!"

"What do you want me to say? That I like Ari and I kissed you and it was great, but I still really like Ari because that's where I am right now Nessa."

Nessa was fuming. Why did guys have to be so complex? Just say what you need to say to the girl and see what happens.

"Talk to her about it Marcel. I promise she won't hurt you."

"Nessa...do you ever feel like your whole world is complete when you have a crush, but then when you find out that it will never happen...your whole world just turns grey?"

"All the time."

Furrowing his brow but choosing to overlook it Marcel continued.

"That's why I can't say anything because I don't want my dream and happy place to turn into my own personal hell."

"Marcel...look at me."

Marcel's green eyes met Nessa's muddy brown ones and she felt a small part of her melt as she saw his internal struggles and pain.

"Ari is one of the most caring and considerate people I have ever met. She is not going to stomp on your heart or laugh at your feelings. She will sit there, hear you out, and talk to you. I promise."

Marcel nodded and smiled his perfect lopsided grin and said, "I'm sorry I ruined your first kiss Ness."

"Honestly...you're not a bad kisser."

Nessa bit her lower lip and tried to stifle her laugh. Marcel laughed so loud that it reverberated off the surrounding buildings giving Nessa more chances to enjoy its sound.

"How would you know?"

"Uh...umm...no comment?"

"Is that a blush I see Ness?"

"No way! This is post rage color for your information."

"Sure it is."

Nessa began to turn around and walk back to her car, but before she could get too far Marcel caught her elbow and pulled her into a hug.

"Thanks Ness."

Nessa nodded and walked the rest of the way to her Dad's car and closed the door. Before she turned on the ignition, Nessa pulled down the vanity mirror and saw for herself how flushed she was.

Marcel Styles...why him?

Notes