Blue Fire

10 | Strawberry Icecream

Nicole

I skipped lunch on Monday, ignored Merlinda and Marilyn's texts asking my whereabouts. Instead, I spent the breaks busying myself at the library. Facing Jahdiel after what happened last week was not something I was willing to do at the moment.

She asked me to leave her alone, and damn right I will.

Sometime though, I saw Colin cornering Marilyn against her locker. She wasn't the least bit intimidated. Instead, she looked to be spewing off Bible quotes to him and lecturing him about good morals while he looked at her with stars in his eyes. Not that she noticed.

Sometimes, I wondered why he kissed me at all if he didn't like me. Was I a pity kiss? What exactly was his motive? All he had to do was leave me alone and chase the girl he actually liked. But no, he had to go on and mess up my already weak self-confidence.

And why had I also failed to see the longing glances he'd been aiming at Marilyn all the time? I'd been so dreamy-eyed over him that I failed to see he couldn't take his eyes off my bestfriend.

I couldn't blame him though, considering Marilyn was built like Tems.

I hurried home as soon as school was over, not wanting to be late for my first meeting with Cornelia Connor. The thought had a soft smile playing on my face.

My heart had soared when Travis texted me last night, telling me his sister agreed to help me. It felt surreal, like a dream come true, and I'd almost wanted to gloat in my family's face.

He went on to send me their location, telling me I was free to go anytime from 4pm onwards. That was when Cornelia would close from school. He went on to say he'd be home himself as soon as he was done with his lectures.

From our conversation last Saturday while I kept him company as he ate a meal at a restaurant I could never afford, I'd learnt he was a freshman at NYU and was studying Electrical engineering. He was a college boy, just like Cy.

Interesting...

I found myself staring in awe at their house when I arrived in an uber at 5:30pm, after assuming Cornelia would need some time to rest after school. The house was as massive and as grand as the Raffertys', and just as luxurious.

The mansion was contemporary, neat, with tall floor to ceiling windows, a balcony overlooking the next house and a freaking pool at the backyard. A beautifully kept garden held blooms of magnolia blossoms, pink and white petunias, geraniums, daisies, and roses. Their sweet fragrance filled the air.

I stared at the number of luxury cars parked at various vantage points, then immediately started feeling out of place.

This... this was all more than I'd expected.

And the sudden realization that he was way out of my league shouldn't have bothered me so much.

I mean, he'd said he was single last Saturday at the restaurant, but that didn't mean anything. It didn't mean he liked me...

But he's been really good to you.

I shut that thought out of my mind. I wasn't ready to have the last shreds of my self-confidence dragged through the mud again. I wasn't ready to feel too deeply about Travis. He could never be mine.

I spotted Cornelia in one of the swings on the porch, located on the first floor. She hurried down as soon as our eyes held. The front door was pulled open, and we spent half a minute assessing each other.

She had heavily made-up eyes, flawless skin and a couple of bracelets dangling around her slender wrists. Her indigo crop top was super tight and revealing. Her jeans whacked off to end at her mid-thighs, revealing shapely legs.