You Should've Listened

Starved

It's been two weeks since we were assigned as partners. I know we have a lot of time to get this project done but it's like she's avoiding me on purpose.

I don't even care about the assignment, I honestly just want to talk to her but the assignment is the only excuse I have and whenever I bring up working on it, she brings up an excuse.

"Do you have a nickname?" I set my tray of lunch next to Dahlia and sat beside her. She usually sits alone and at first I wasn't going to come by, assuming she likes being by herself but when I glance at her, her lip twitches like she wants to smile. Like she's okay with me sitting with her.

"No." My eyes stay fixed on her. She eats her food like she is in a rush but we just sat down and we have a little less than an hour for lunch. She doesn't stuff her face in a disgusting way, only like she's hungry.

I shake it off, assuming she only skipped breakfast. "So no one calls you Dah or Lia?" She shakes her head and barely swallows before taking two more bites of her pizza.

"Just Dahlia." She says between chews. She finishes her pizza in a few more quick bites and I slide her mine. She sends me a questioning look but I shrug it off.

"Not hungry." She looks between my eyes for a beat then thanks me and devours my slice.

"You usually stare at people when they eat?" Only pretty people. Her head snaps to me and I think for a second I said that out loud. She turns her head to the side then she quickly looks down and grabs a napkin.

"Do I have something on my face?"

I feel myself smirking at the hint of embarrassment in her voice. "Yeah but that's not why I was-" I cut myself off as I realize any other reason to stare would sound weird.

She wipes everywhere but where the sauce is on her chin so I reach forward to wipe it off but she flinches. I feel a crease grow in my brows.

After a beat I reach forward, a bit slower this time and wipe the sauce off. Our gaze meets one another as my hand lingers on her chin for a bit longer than needed.

When a crashing sound fills the cafeteria we're reminded we're not alone and our attention is broken from each other. "Today, project. My house or yours?" She looks everywhere but my eyes like she's growing anxious. What is her problem?

"I'm bu-"

"You're not busy." I shut down her excuse before she gets to voice it. "We can work on it at the school library if you being alone with a guy is the issue." Maybe her parents are strict.

"That's not the issue." She scoffs like that was a stupid assumption. "Or maybe it is?" She looks confused now. "Everything is an issue. He's the issue." She mumbled the last part but I didn't miss it.

"Who is?" Her eyes meet mine in slight shock, like she didn't mean to even say any of that out loud. She shakes her head like it was nothing but she still seems on edge so I can tell it isn't.

"I just can't be home late." Her eyes won't meet mine again.

"Okay, when's your curfew? I don't have practice today so we can work around your schedule." She shakes her head again like that won't work.

"I need to be home right after school and you can't come over. This isn't going to work."

"I can't go over for a school project? I'm sure your parents will-"

"He isn't my parent." She quickly interrupts me, defensively, I almost put my hands up in surrender.

"Okay." I nod once. "He can't be lenient about who's over for a school project?" Dahlia lets out a sigh like that will be the hardest thing in the world.

"After last night, I don't plan on asking him for anything that might piss him off." She mumbles again, just above a whisper.

"What?"

"Nothing." She stands from the table but I grab her wrist, stopping her from walking away. When she winces and I quickly drop her hand and my eyes fall to her arm.

"Dahlia." She grabs her bag and avoids my eyes.

"Look," She starts, "You seem like a nice guy, Aries. I don't want to lie to you so don't ask any questions, okay? We can work on the project tomorrow." With that she walks off leaving me with my questions she apparently would've lied about.

Who is he? What happened to her wrist?

She said we'll work on the project tomorrow but tomorrow never came