The New Kid | lrh

Chapter 8

I had no idea what to say to Luke. I quickly got in my car and drove off leaving him speechless. I had no idea what to say to him-- that I liked him too? That he made me happy?

I would not ruin something good I had going for me by catching feelings. I just couldn't.

I drove around without really paying attention to where I was going. I had nowhere to go to. I stopped at a gas station and filled my tank and picked up food for me to snack on. Chips, donuts, and Arizona green tea. My favorite.

I got back in the car and continued driving. I drove until I pulled into someone's driveway. I hadn't realized who's driveway it was, until I saw Michael and Violet standing in the doorway on the porch. I grabbed all of my stuff and made my way inside. I probably would spend the night here anyway.

I plopped down onto one of the couches in the basement and waited for them to follow. They sat opposite from me on the other couch.

Violet had a concerned look on her face but said nothing. Michael carefully eyed me, assessing what I would do next--cry or punch a wall. My usual outlets of anger.

"You okay, Zo?"

I was so out of it, I didn't mind being called Zo by her. I just sighed and grabbed a pillow to hug.

"Well, she's not okay. She just let me call her Zo." Violet put two and two together.

"If it's Sean, I will fucking beat his ass right now. What'd he do?" Michael asked.

I looked at both of them. I knew they loved me and cared about me. I had no idea what I would do without them.

"Uh, well," I stalled. "It wasn't Sean this time... Luke said something to me today... and I didn't know what to say to him... so I kinda ran away..." I nervously laughed.

"Was it a math problem? Could you not find what 'x' was?" Mike snickered.

"No, you asshole." I laughed, throwing a pillow at him. "He said something and I didn't know how to react to it. I got scared..."

"I don't know what he said that would've scared you. Did he say he was part demon? Or an angel of death coming to take you with him?" Violet laughed.

"Or that he was gay?" Mike chipped in.

"Or that he had a small dick?" Violet added.

"No, wait, I have a good one." Mike started. "That he liked you!" They both busted out laughing, clutching their aching stomachs.

When I didn't say anything, they stopped laughing instantly.

"Wait, are you serious right now?" He asked. "You're scared of a guy that likes you?"

"Yes! He was never supposed to like me! I was never supposed to like him!" I exasperated, throwing my hands in the air.

"He's actually a decent guy, Zoe. A little nerdy but who cares. If he makes you happy, go for it."

Aw Michael.

I stood and gave him a hug. Michael did have a romantic side that he didn't really show until he started dating Violet. She brought out the best in him and vice versa.

"You like him. Why didn't you tell him?" He asked into my ear, still stroking my hair.

"I don't want to get hurt again." I whispered.

~

Violet's POV

"Michael, you can't just go up to him and ask him if he likes her! You'll scare him!"

"It's not like I don't already scare majority of this school."

He had a point.

"You don't scare me, Michael Gordon." I crossed my arms over my chest.

"That's not fair because you've seen me naked. That's a vulnerable state to be in."

"Oh, you have feelings? I thought you were so punk rock." I teased.

"I have feelings." He rolled his eyes.

He was more like a kitten. A cute kitten.

We were in school and Zoe wasn't, which was normal. We all skipped majority of the time. Zoe was probably avoiding Luke in order to gather her thoughts. I've only seen her like this once--With her ex.

He was popular, funny, smart, and nice. The perfect package. Zoe dated him for a year and they eventually broke up. He was an asshole. He cheated on her with some cheerleader at one of his away games. He played football with Michael. Michael quit shortly after finding this out. He was like Zoe's older brother. He cared about her and wanted to protect her, so at his last game, Michael beat the shit out of him.

After their breakup, Zoe was devastated. She never ever wanted to open up to anyone ever again. She started drinking and smoking. Zoe partied weekly. She did things she would have never done.

Zoe was a good girl gone bad in most people's eyes. To me, she was a girl who was betrayed by her first love.

I was lucky that she even told me what was going on with her. We'd known each other for years and knew each others deepest darkest secrets. But this, she just wouldn't tell me anything. I'd never seen her so devastated in her life.

Zoe hadn't been this devestated since her grandmother passed away, a few years before. Her grandma was the only one who cared about her and tried to raise her with morals.

I don't how she survived that, but she did. The breakup brought her over the edge. She lost another person that she trusted.

"I'm talking to him to see what's going on. I won't let her get hurt again."

"You can't guarantee that."

"I can, for now." And with that, he turned around and made his way over to Luke's locker. Mike startled him. I walked over to him before he said something that would scare him shitless.

"Did you tell Zoe that you liked her? That must've took a lot of balls."

"Uh," he stalled. "No. Why? What is she saying?" He panicked.

"I'm her best friend. She tells me everything, Luke. You're gonna have to lie better than that." I crossed my arms over my chest.

He let out of a deep breath. "Okay, I do like her. I shouldn't like her, but I do. But she doesn't even like me, so I have to get over it." He said, slamming his locker shut. His book bag slung over one shoulder and phone in hand.

He didn't know how she felt at all.

"You don't know that." I countered.

"She doesn't like me! I shouldn't like her." He huffed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mike asked.

"She's not like me! She's not nerdy or an outcast or-"

"First of all, bullshit. You should get to know her better. She's the biggest fucking nerd when it comes to certain things. I would tell you how she feels but I shouldn't be the one to do that. Go over to her house and surprise her. Let her be the one to tell you how she feels." I reasoned.

"But she doesn't like me...."

"Stop being a little bitch! Man the fuck up and go see Zoe."

"But-" Luke started.

"Shut up, Luke."

A/N: somEONE PHOTOSHOPPED THIS PICTURE AND I'M PEEING MY PANTS LOL BYE