My Twisted Heart

Chapter Five

Crestwood Mall was larger than I had anticipated. The sheer size of the building took me aback, its sprawling expanse stretching out with an endless maze of shops and corridors.

Despite the impressive array of stores and amenities, I couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort that settled in the pit of my stomach. The mall was packed with students, their animated chatter reverberating into my ears.

As I maneuvered my way through the crowd, a sense of regret began to creep over me. Perhaps accepting Violet's invitation hadn't been the wisest decision after all. I had never been one for noisy environments, and being thrust into the midst of it all left me feeling distinctly out of place.

This wasn't my element, and I knew it.

Just as I thought I'd voice my misgivings, Violet's arm shot up in a lively wave. Following her gaze, I noticed a group of students seated at a nearby cafe. Two girls and two boys sat at a long rectangular table, their faces alight with anticipation as they returned Violet's greeting.

"Are you guys coming or what?" Violet called out to Nicole and me as she rushed towards the cafe.

"Yeah, yeah..."

For some reason, Nicole didn't seem to share Violet's enthusiasm. If anything, she appeared exasperated. Perhaps even irritated. But why?

Noticing Nicole's head turning in my direction, I averted my gaze and pretended to fidget with my watch. Judging by our earlier conversation, it was glaringly obvious she didn't like me at all. If she caught me staring, I could only imagine how much worse her opinion of me would become. She'd probably think I was a weirdo.

Unless she already thinks that...

"Sorry, we're late, guys. How long have you been waiting?" Violet asked as she approached the table. She wore an apologetic expression on her face.

"Don't worry Vivi... We've only been here for about ten minutes."

The girl who spoke had short pink hair and big brown eyes. Her small frame perfectly complemented her gentle voice.

"Speak for yourself... I've been waiting for over half an hour," a boy with long red hair interjected. Though his tone sounded somewhat accusatory, I also detected a hint of sarcasm.

"Don't listen to him, Vivi... Alex is exaggerating," the second boy said.

Unlike the redhead, who appeared to have an athletic build, the second boy had a slender frame. He had short brown hair and wore round glasses, which seemed a little oversized for his face.

The red-haired boy, Alex, shot a steely scowl at the skinny boy who returned his glare.

"Alright, boys, that's enough!" Violet smiled as she sat between the two boys. It was clear she was trying to mediate the mood.

Nicole, who'd been watching quietly, nodded politely as she claimed the spot at the front of the table. Though she seemed to know who these people were, it looked like she wasn't as close to them as Violet.

As the two girls settled into their seats, I realized I was the last one left standing. To make matters worse, the only seat available was between the two girls I wasn't familiar with.

Crap... What should I do?

For a moment I contemplated whether I should introduce myself before sitting down. I didn't want to appear strange or rude. Besides, I was well aware of the importance of a first impression and I didn't want to screw mine up.

"Uhh, Violet... Who is he?"

The girl who'd been quiet up until now seemed to have noticed me. Her face bore a look of curiosity as she played with the white ribbon on her hair.