Does He like Me?

Chapter Four

Day Three•

        Ashley hasn't talked to me ever since yesterday and I don't blame her. Was I helping her constantly? Maybe, maybe not. I don't know anymore. I don't care anymore. I just wish somehow, someone would fix this huge mess; about Ashley's friendship with me, about the secret group that's somehow about me, about Tanton. Tanton. Where is he? Is he with Ashley? Comforting her? I needed comforting too, Ashley isn't the only one that needs comforting.

       I've decided to stay at the hotel while everyone else is out taking pictures by lady liberty. I guess I'm finally giving Ashley some space. 

                                                                                        •••

        A few hours have passed and I'm getting hungry. I'll just get some food and go back to the hotel. I pack my bag and wrap my long brown hair into a ponytail and shading my hazel eyes from the sun in my sunglasses I get a few months ago. 

        I walk around and I get hopelessly lost. Am I running around in circles? I eventually sit down on a bench which probably has a ton of chewed gum on the bottom. Society, what have you done?

        I unlock my phone and open up my google map. I'm in the middle of searching for someplace with fries when someone sits down next to me with a big thud. The person runs me into the building next to me, "Hey! What the hell?" 

        "Hey, I'm Brad." He smiles wide.

        "Did you seriously not see me run into the wall because of you? Asshole!"

        His blue eyes widen a little bit. "Such language."

        I roll my eyes. Wrong day, buddy. You caught me on the wrong day. I start to walk away from this freak when he grabs my hand and says, "Didn't you feel it?"

        "All I felt was the wall!" I jerk back, but his grip tightens.

        "No, our connection!"

    A single one of my eyebrows raises, "Connection?" Oh God. Just another guy looking for something to do on a Friday night. 

        "Yes. Right when you sat down, I past you and I felt this magnetic pull towards you." He stares at me a little while longer. "You really didn't feel it?"

        I roll my eyes and get ready to tell Brad what I really think about our connection when someone yells over to him.

        "Romeo! Let's get out of here already!" I turn my head and see three other guys laughing and pushing eathother around.

        "Well, you gotta go, I gotta go. So leave." I say.

        "Wait just a second," he pulls something out of his pocket and before I can pull my hand away, he has grabbed it, and started writing on it. I wouldn't let some guy touch my hand; let alone actually writing on it! I jerk my hand away and the marker smudges. He smiles at me again and runs off, turning around only once to mouth the words, call me! 

                                                                                         •••

        Everyone arrived shortly after the whole Brad thing.

        "Oh my God! Did you see that old lady almost fall?" Bowery laughed. Everyone was laughing so hard, there were tears streaming down everyone's faces. Everyones- exept mine. 

        "And that one guy who," Ashley falls over laughing before she finishes her sentance. I roll my eyes and lock myself in the bathroom. Secluding myself from everyone. So she's normal when she's not around me? Wow, that's some good friendship right there. I look down at my hand. Romeo's number is still there. Why haven't I washed it off yet? I decied the time is now so I run the water and try to wash the ink off. It fades, but you can still see the numbers; seven-three-two-five-eight-something-something.

        Soomeone knocks on the door. "Kylie? Are you still in there?" More pounding. I dry my hands and run my fingers through my hair. Might as well look like I did something today. 

        I open the door and see Tanton staring down at me. Right now, I didn't want anything for anyone. Especially him.

        "Are you okay?" 

        I put on my best fake smile, the one I usually give to my parents. "Just super duper!" I quickly slide past him, trying to avoid him. I just want to go to sleep and forget this entire day...

        I run into a wall. "God damn it, Brad!" I regret it the second it falls out of my mouth. 

        "Wait, who's Brad?" I hear Tanton say. Is it just me, or dod I hear some jealously? 

        I know I shouldn't, but I just can't resist to see the look on his face... "Oh, just some guy I ran into today." I feel a little tension grow between us. I spin around to see his face disapointed, then it disapears when he sees me looking at him.

        "Oh. So, Brad is it?"

        "Yep." I try to pop the 'p' at the end, but it comes out weird. 

        "Oh, okay. I was gonna tell you something but," he shakes his head. "Nevermind."

        He walks out the door to he and Ashley's room. I head to the living room when I hear sobs in the bedroom. I open the door and see Lola cuddling Ashley in her arms. Ashley's face is covered with heavy mascara and big tears. 

        "Oh my God! What happend?" I say as I quickly cross the room to reach them. I know Ashley and I were going through a tough time right now, but shes still my best friend. And no amount of secrets will change that. 

        "He *sob* broke *sob* my *sob* heart!" 

        Tanton broke her heart.