𝐓𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬

|14|REQUEST|

I shook my head, about to shut the door when someone held it to a halt. My eyes were fixed on that familiar pair of Nike shoes. She was the only one that wore Nikes every single day. Victoria.

❦︎

~[VICTORIA]~  

I was puzzled.

Why Chris was sitting across me in the library without saying anything confused the heck out of me.

I shifted uncomfortably on the wooden chair, awkwardly tried to return his hard glare–which I was sure I was failing at by the way.

“Can I help you?” I finally asked. There’s only so much awkwardness a person could take.

“Yes.” His baritone voice was accompanied by an arched brow. “I need your help.”

One, is this how to ask for help?

Two, what does he need my help for?

“What for?”

“Have you modeled before?” he returned my question with his.

I frowned, my confusion increasing. “As in runway modeling?”

“No, just posing for pictures.”

Eyeing him warily, I replied, “No, why?”

“I need your help.”

“I’m sure you said that already.” I deadpanned, puckered my lips.

“I have a project for Photography and we need a model.” All this while, he maintained his blank expression; But did he just say,

“We?” My brows shot up my forehead. “You and who?”

“Me and my partners.”

“Who are your—”

“Would you help or not?” he asked and somehow his gaze got even harder. Again, I felt like he could see my soul with his light brown eyes that had flames in them.

“You’d have to ask nicely.” I crossed my hands and let my back relax on the chair. I knew I was testing my luck too much but after taking my time to think of the two times we had interacted (this one included), I’d realized that Chris was not scary. He was just… straight forward. But then again, he had only talked to me twice, so I could not be so sure.

“Come again?” he finally broke his stoicism and a surprised expression was now visible on his face.

“Ask nicely.” I repeated, trying to hide the fact that I was still a little bit scared of him... Okay, I was still very frightened. I mean, my conclusion about him was there but one could not be too careful.

He sighed, placed his hands over the table and clasped his fingers. “Please.”

I smiled triumphantly. “Say ‘Please I really need your help.’”

For a moment, he looked taken aback by my petty request but he still succumbed. “Please, I really…” exhale. “…need your help.”

“Okay, I’ll help.” I stretched my hand for a handshake and he reluctantly took it, muttering undecipherable words. But I could also tell that he was holding back a smile.

“I’ll come get you when school's over. We’re going to mine.”

And before I could begin to ask questions, he had already pulled out his hand and was walking away with smooth yet wide strides.