Babysitters

Chapter 19

VERONICA VALDEZ

I don't want to leave my room.
I don't want to face Theodore.
I don't want to admit that I was wrong, that he, in fact, does not see me as more than a 'hook up'. And we haven't even had sex.
That was probably all he had in his mind. To just use my body and go back to the girl Tom is now marrying.
I'm so disappointed in myself. I should've seen it coming. I knew what Ava thought about him, and how he had proved her opinion to be right in the past, multiple times. So why did I choose to believe something else of him? Why did I make the conscious decision to be a naive dumbass who sees the good in everyone?
Is it because he's so freaking handsome?
Is it because he gave me the kind of attention I'd last gotten so long time ago?
Is it because—
It doesn't matter why it is. I was stupid. I wasn't thinking rationally, and it got me hurt, again. And I feel even dumber to admit it hurt me, even after so little time. We don't even know each other, not really. We're basically strangers.
It was stupid of me to think anything else.

              ***

"Veronica?" Enzo's voice echoed in the hallway, reaching my door.
"What?" I replied in a harsher tone than I meant to.
I have to calm down.
"Can I come in?" He asked, his voice now just behind the door.
"Is it important?"
He chuckled at my attitude. "Yes." Without waiting for my answer, he opened the door and stepped in, looking around as if he hadn't been here before.
I was laying under my sheets, drowning into my own self-pity. Depressing, I know, but I couldn't help it. I let myself get attached to a boy who had a reputation of being selfish and heartless. I can only blame myself.
Enzo sighed, and sat next to me on my bed. "What's up with you? It's almost six in the afternoon and you haven't left your room once. Has something happened?"
"No, I'm just tired." I couldn't let my eyes meet his, he can't know I heard their conversation. He'd just go to Theo and tell him, and that'd mean I'd have to speak to him. I'm not ready to do that, not yet.
"Cut the bullshit, Veronica!" Enzo said in an overly dramatic voice, laying down right beside me. His fingers creeped up my side, until they reached the spot right under my ribs and I instantly knew what he was about to do.
"Enzo," I started, trying to make my voice sound more stern than panicked. "If you dare to tickle me, I will—"
I couldn't even finish my sentence before dug his fingers onto my skin and started tickling. "You will what?" He smirked.
"NO!" I screamed and tried to squirm out of his grasp. "Enzo! Stop it!" I could not control my laugh as it was forced out of me.
"Tell me what's wrong with you and I'll stop right away." Enzo was laughing now too, but he wasn't about to stop.
"Goddammit Enzo! Please!" I giggled. I felt like I was about to choke onto my own voice. "You're killing me!"
"Then tell me."
"No," I choked out between the laughs.
He smirked. "Yes."
"No. Yes. Fine!"
He let go of me immediately and I rolled away from him, sitting up. I knew my hair was a mess and I tried to settle it down before looking at him. He had a wicked grin on his face as he sat up on the bed too. "Speak, princess."
I was panting and eyeing his smug expression with a frown. "You're mean."
His smirk widened. "Maybe."
I took a moment, before starting to talk. "You probably know that me and Theo... actually, no, there isn't anything between us, but I thought there was."
"Wait, there isn't?" Enzo perked up, frowning.
"No... he likes someone else," I explained quietly, not sure if I even wanted to talk about this. "I heard your conversation in the dining room earlier today."
Enzo opened his mouth, slightly gaping at me before sighing. "How much?"
"What?"
"How much did you hear?"
"I—well, enough." I swallowed hard, trying to stay calm. "Tom's marrying someone who Theo likes. Apparently he only thought of me as a 'hookup' and we haven't even—yet."
I shift my gaze from my hands to Enzo's face, only to see him holding back a laugh.
"What?" I could hear the annoyance from my own voice. Here I was opening up to him and he was just laughing at me?
"I don't know whether to laugh or cry," Enzo snorted. "This is so messed up and you aren't even supposed to know about this, but since you already heard, I have to tell you everything. I can't stand to see you like this."
My eyes flew open. "Hold on, is this the big secret I wasn't supposed to know about? That Tom is marrying some chick? Or that Theo doesn't actually like me?"
"I mean, yes and no—"
"Okay, what the actual fuck? You couldn't tell me this? Mattheo punched Theo because this was such a top secret that I could not hear? And Theo wanted to tell me—"
"Veronica!"
I quieted down as I glared at him. "What?"
"You have to listen to me. You don't know everything!" Enzo grunted and slid his palm down his face.
"Then tell me."
"I will, but you'll have to calm down for this one. Also, I need you to promise me something."
I grabbed my phone and flipped it upside down on the bed. "Fine, whatever it is I'll do it but now just tell me!"
"Promise me you won't tell anyone that you know about this." Enzo's voice was stern and he was staring at me intently, not letting me escape his piercing gaze.
"I promise."
"Good. Where should I start? Do you remember that day when—"

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A/N:
Hello loves
Another update is here :) How has your week started? I hope you're all doing well and have had a good day/night. For a moment I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get this chapter out on time, but I did and I'm glad I did. I feel like I did a good job in writing this (for once).
Make sure to vote and comment if you liked the chapter, it really motivates me to update quicker for you!
Love u all x