Philophobic : Tyler Galpin

13: Vulnerable

Monday Night, October 22nd

[victoria's pov]

"How was that pasta you and Enid made?" Tyler asked as he carried groceries out of his car. He followed me to my porch as Shanks followed close behind.

Tyler had made a grocery run for our little dinner date–not that I had asked him to, let alone expect him to. His presence almost made me forget what had happened with Rowan and Eugene–all the sour feelings. Now I was feeling a little nervous.

"It was great," I said with a nod. "But Shanks didn't like how there wasn't chicken, so I'll cook that up this time."

Tyler nodded as I opened my door and allowed him in for the first time. He looked around my foyer as I walked him to the kitchen.

"Your house looks exactly like how I imagined," Tyler said, examining my kitchen. "Very neat and reserved. Like you."

"I can agree with neat, but what makes you say I'm reserved?" I asked curiously.

I helped him unpack some of the groceries as he grinned. "Well first, I don't know much about you despite being neighbors and the fact that I see you everyday."

He was right–since he stood on my porch that one Friday evening, I've been seeing him everyday. I couldn't recall a day going by when I didn't see his likable face.

"Second, you don't laugh or smile much," Tyler continued.

"I smile," I raised a brow.

"You grin," Tyler corrected me as I pursed my lips in defeat. "And that's very humbling, I thought myself to be very likable and funny."

"You are likable," I agreed. "I'm not so sure about funny though..."

Tyler's jaw dropped slightly with a face of disbelief. My lips curved at his sarcasm until I felt a tug on my face–a smile. Perhaps a real one, I wasn't sure...

"I was only joking," I quickly said, still struggling to not smile.

"Sure, Weems," Tyler chuckled, shaking his head.

"I was, Galpin," I reassured, nudging his shoulder.

He unpacked a few vegetables while giving me a certain look–but I wasn't able to read it. Yet he was smiling.

Tyler's smile was unlike any other–like he was refusing to reveal the quirkiness of his personality. Almost like he was afraid of his own smile. But his eyes completed his smile–brightening his face, enhancing the warmth and comfort he radiated.

Warmth that carried up my neck and up to my face as I nervously kept myself busy.

"I- I'm going upstairs to change out of my uniform," I said, looking down at my Nevermore uniform. "I'm not fit for cooking right now."

"Yeah, I'll get started on the sauce," he replied as I nodded and made my way upstairs.

I felt a little relieved to be out of his sight and my body felt cooler. Tyler was beginning to make me feel nervous around him–and more in a good way than bad. But I never found nervousness to be good either.

I changed into casual clothing (with the bandage on my dominant shoulder covered up) and checked myself in the mirror, making sure I looked decent before I returned downstairs. Tyler had gotten a lot done when I returned and he had my phone in his hand. He saw me and looked a bit concerned.

"I didn't mean to invade your privacy, but someone's blowing up your phone," he said.

I got a hold of it and saw a couple of calls from an unknown number and Enid. But Enid had told me to not worry about anything earlier that day since she found out about Tyler and my date so I silenced my phone and put it away. And the unknown number was possibly just spam...