It Was Always You

Chapter Six

Mila snapped out of her memory, feeling the heat rise through her neck and to her cheeks.

"Earth to Mila. Hello? I asked why you are sitting over here eating by yourself?" Selena waved her hand in front her face looking perplexed.

Jared came in front of her as Selena sat on her other side. He looked around with his hands tucked in his winter coat looking for all the world like he was bored.

Evan threw his arm over her shoulders and gave a huge smile. Her cheeks were seriously having a tropical vacation on their own, apparently not getting the memo that it was freezing cold outside.

"Oh no." Jared groaned in dismay as he shut his eyes tightly.

Her eyebrow raised at him as he looked like he was trying to hide in his coat a bit.

"What now?" Selena sighed irritably.

Mila looked over where she had seen him peek and grinned. Because the person that was now on a mission to get to their group was the one person who could really annoy Jared the most.

She had to admit, she quite enjoyed watching Jared get very uncomfortable whenever her young outrageous cousin, Kristan, was near him. The girl was obsessed with him and she tried to follow him wherever he went. Desperately tried to be by his side and always trying to touch him in some way. Of course, Mila had to stop her antics by that point. Not because it drove her crazy that her cousin was so forward with Jared.

She was okay with it or would be if Jared didn't let Kristan get her way all the time.

He once told Mila during their walk to 5th period, the only one they have together, that he was a little afraid of Kristan. The conversation came to her as she watched her cousin power walk with no one in her sight but Jared.

"What do you mean, you're afraid of her? She's like fourteen and a girl." She had nearly laughed.

"No, it's not that, it's just I'm afraid if I tell her I don't see her in that way that she'll freak out on me and make a huge scene about it. Then make my life a living hell."

His face had looked so lost at that moment that she wanted to giggle. The one thing she learned about him was that he hated confrontations. Oh, he'll take a stand if the boy needed too, but if he could avoid it at all costs he would.

"So what Jared, if she's making you uncomfortable then let her know. You're only making it worse by not saying anything."

She stopped him in the hallway. "Look, you letting her be the way she is with you is making her think you feel something for her and believing she may have a chance with you."

He started laughing. "Yeah okay, everyone knows I really can't stand her."

I didn't really want to show him this, but the boy wasn't getting it. He needed to see how serious her infatuation, her obsession really was. She pulled out a notebook and sighed heavily.

"I had hoped to spare you this but...looks as if nothing else seems to get into that brilliant mind of yours."

He grinned down at her. "Think I'm brilliant, do you?"

Rolling her eyes, she handed him the notebook. "Don't blow anymore ego into that brain, it's already so full of it, it's going to explode then you'll be left with nothing but hot air."

Taking the book, he nodded his head. "Nope, can't take it back now. You just stated I'm brilliant. That one is staying in the memory bank forever."

He looked down and frowned. "What's with this?"

She gave a sweet smile. "Open it and find out."

His features became clouded with worry. Slowly turning the cover his eyes became huge and dread filled him all over. Right on the front page was words he never wanted to see together ever in his lifetime. There were hearts and kisses with his full name in them. Some even had Kristan's name with his.

He felt sick to his stomach and very awkward staring at the thing. But what really made him slam the book closed was the fact she had written her name with his last. He shoved the book back to Mila. There was no possible way that girl will ever get his last name. There was only one person he would even consider taking it and she was standing right in front of him. Something he wasn't planning on ever admitting. Not unless she felt the same way.

She gave him a look full of sympathy. "See? Now will you listen?"

That conversation ended with him nodding and turning into the classroom. They never brought it up after that. Now she was coming over and Jared looked scared out of his mind. The poor guy was afraid to hurt her feelings and that she was going to retaliate by being vicious.

He did have that talk with her though. It didn't seem to work or sink in. In fact, she took it completely the opposite. Instead of her crying and making a scene like they all thought, she had calmly said okay and walked away. Now she's more determined than ever for Jared to see her as something other than a friend. So instead of helping the situation it only made it worse.

Poor Jared.

Evan, seeing the menace of his best friend's existence, burst into laughter. Selena couldn't even suppress a smile that crept on her face.

"Hello Jared." Kristan comes up close to him with a big smile.

One more inch and they would be touching. Mila's smile fades like melting ice, replaced with a scowl.

He quickly backs away from her. "Uh h-hey Kristan."

The girl doesn't even bother to say anything to the rest of them. She doesn't even look in their direction. Her attention was squarely on the boy right in front of her.

"So, Homecoming dance is coming up. Have you thought about who you're taking?" Her eyelashes flutter and it was clear who she wanted him to ask. She wasn't being very subtle about it in the least.

He glances at the others feeling trapped. No one was coming to his aid. In fact, they seemed interested in what his next words were going to be. He was on his own with this one.

"Yeah Jared, who are you taking?" Evan prompts with a huge evil grin.

He scowled at him. Then a sudden thought hit him, and he smiled evilly right back at his friend. Evan raised an eyebrow.

"You know what, I'm afraid I did already ask someone." His eyes twinkled with mischief.

Kristan's face fell, while everyone else with surprised shock. Evan on the other hand gave him a suspicious glare.

He asked someone to the dance? Mila wasn't sure how she felt about that new information or why she even cared.

"Who?" Her cousin demanded, anger now replacing her dismay.

"Yeah, who did you ask?"

Before Mila knew it, Jared quickly grabbed her hand and hauled her up right next to him. Squeezing her to his side, he put on a big happy smile.

"I asked Mila."