Philophobic : Tyler Galpin

8: Smash Book

Friday, October 19th

[victoria's pov]

"Thanks again for picking us up," I said to Tyler as I sat in the passenger seat of his car.

"Sorry, I forgot to let you know ahead of time..."

Enid, Shanks, and I were in Tyler's car as he drove us back home. It was getting dark since I was in Enid's dorm until seven.

"No problem," Tyler reassured. "What're you guys doing over the weekend?"

"We're getting our nails done and making a smash book," Enid answered, a box of crafts resting on her lap.

My eyes widened and I snapped my head in her direction. She grinned and I laughed awkwardly.

"What's a smash book?" Tyler asked obliviously. Oh, the innocence. "Do you mean one of those burn books that you write your feelings in and destroy?"

"Yes, something like that," I said, eyeing Enid as I looked away. I thought Enid was bringing crafts to help me make a scrapbook. Not a smash book.

"What about you?" I asked Tyler.

"I work tomorrow, but then I'll be at the festival on Sunday."

"Oh, that's right," Enid said as I raised my brow. "You're going with Wednesday, right?"

"You are?" I asked, surprised. Wednesday didn't seem like the outgoing type. But then again, I remembered their interaction at the Weathervane...

"It's no big deal," Tyler said sheepishly. "I just owe her since she helped fix the espresso machine on Monday."

"That's great," Enid nodded. "Yeah, Victoria's going with Rowan so maybe we'll all see each other!"

I would've snapped my head in Enid's direction but it would have been too obvious. Tyler cocked his head.

"That guy from the Weathervane?"

"Yeah..." I said. "But I'm not going with him, Enid got the facts a little bit wrong. I'm actually just going for club..."

"Well," Tyler nodded. "I guess I'll see you there then."

"Hopefully not," I thought, already fearing the worst about what Eugene was going to make me wear.

As we pulled into Tyler's driveway, I couldn't help but feel bad about how Tyler must've felt—or rather, awkward. As we got out of the car and I handed Enid my house keys, Tyler and I momentarily stood on his driveway, facing each other.

"You know," I said—for some reason more nervous than usual—"Enid and I are making pasta for dinner. You could join us. I think I bought too much noodles anyway-"

"That's okay," Tyler said, taking me by surprise. "It's a girl's night so..."

"Oh- yeah, right," I said, quickly nodding. "Well, uh..."

"Another time?" Tyler asked with a short smile.

I nodded and turned my heel to go inside.

"Goodnight!" Tyler said as I turned back with a short smile.

"Yeah, goodnight," I said loud enough for him to hear me.

The last thing I saw of him was the back of his head as he skipped up the stairs of his porch.

Enid was standing inside my house with a fat smile on her face. A devilish smile.

"You are not Cupid," I scolded. "Rowan? Seriously? Stop trying to complicate things!"