Philophobic : Tyler Galpin

6: Rejected-?

Thursday, October 18th

[tyler's pov]

I was waiting in my car for Victoria to come out of her house as I waited in my car. Usually she was ready at an adequate time, but this morning she was a few minutes late.

———

Shanks' mommy: Thank you.

Me: Yeah, no problem :)

Today 7:37

Me: Are you awake?

Hello?

Seen

———

That was a yes in her book.

"Should I knock on her door?" I wondered a few seconds later.

But maybe that would be too much, considering I had just requested to follow her last night...

Could she possibly be ignoring me?

Before I could think deeper on that, she exited her house, locking it. Shanks was already making her way over to the car, knowing the drill. I'd grown fond of the cat, feeling like she was Victoria's other half that was buried beneath the surface.

Victoria got into the car with Shanks on her lap and I greeted her. "Good morning, neighbor."

"Morning," she said.

She sounded tired.

"What time did she go to sleep last night? What could've possibly kept her up?" I thought. "Could it have been my follow request?"

Which she hadn't accepted or declined yet.

"No," I decided. "She's too good to let that get to her."

"You look tired," I said while she was putting up her hair. "Did you stay up late?"

"Not by choice," she answered, her hair-tie between her teeth. Damn was that a sight.

"What kept you up?" I asked curiously.

"I have a test in botanical sciences," she explained. "It's not exactly a tough subject, but it's a time consuming class. You can't take the test until all of your previous assignments are turned in."

"Oh, I had a class like that last year. It was easy," I said, as she peered at me slightly. "But it wasn't that time consuming and we have different teachers so... Anyway, does that mean you'll have time to make it to the Harvest Festival?"

"I don't really want to," Victoria answered. "But I'm still deciding on that. I have everything for this week turned in already."

"Going with anyone?" I asked since it was good to make casual conversation. "We could go together. You know, as friends."

Victoria shrugged. "I'm not sure yet."

"Not sure yet?" I wondered. "What could that mean? Is she going with someone else?"

As I drove through the street, she was peacefully sleeping, leaning against her hand with her elbow on the rest of the door. Shanks laid on her lap, equally tired. Jeez, it'd only been a good five minutes since she got in the car. There had to be more on her mind.

A total of twenty minutes passed and I finally came to a stop at the academy. Shanks snuggled into Victoria's bag and she awoke, making sure she had all of her things.

"Stay awake today, okay?" I told her, to which she nodded in response. "Are you even awake right now?"

"Yes, sir, I am," she said sarcastically as I smiled.

"Good."

The corner of her lips curved as she shut the door. I waited until she was out of sight then drove away, wondering what could have been on her mind. Who could have been on her mind. Is it the same person who'd take her to the Harvest Festival?

Is that why I got rejected-?

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