Reasons To Love A Nerd Like Me (10th Anniversary Edition)

Chapter 24 ~ Eavesdropping

I took a succession of deep breaths as I stormed out of school, trying and failing to calm down. I couldn't believe the nerve of Taylor. His sheer arrogance was out of this world. Did he really think I'd ever want to get back with him after everything he'd put me through? He was nothing but a selfish, lying coward.

Just like you, a tiny voice whispered in the back of my mind. You're still lying. After all this time you're still lying.

I shook the thought away. It wasn't like that. I wasn't lying, I was just omitting a tiny bit of the truth. Besides, I'd tell Vincent, eventually, when the time was right. It's not like my past mistakes had to be this massive deal or anything...

And suddenly, there he was. Leaning against the trunk of his favourite tree and talking to a rather sheepish looking Alexis. I did the thoroughly mature thing and hid behind the edge of the school building where they wouldn't see me watching.

Alexis spoke first, her voice barbed and defensive. "Go on then, have a go at me. Just get it over with already."

There was a long pause. It was probably unethical to be eavesdropping like this, but I couldn't walk away now if I tried. Vincent drummed his hand against his leg, the one giveaway of nerves amid his composed demeanour. "Alexis, I know this is hard for you, but I'm not putting up with your shit. Scotty means so much to me. Don't you want me to be happy?"

Alexis crossed her arms, not meeting Vincent's eye. "Of course I do, but why does it have to be with him?!"

"You don't have to understand why. You just have to accept it."

There was another pause. My chest was thundering and my hands were so slick with sweat I nearly dropped my bag. Alexis spoke again. "Well, what if I can't? Because this is killing me, Vincent..."

Hot jealousy throbbed through my veins. I tried to ignore the feeling, hoping it would pass quickly.

"If you can't start being civil then we'll have to cool it."

"But what about our music?!"

Vincent gave one of his signature, nonchalant shrugs. "I can't be in a band with someone who won't support my relationship."

It was hard to make it out clearly, but I swear tears were spilling down Alexis's cheek. "Why are you doing this to me? Why can't we just go back to the way things were before? Haven't you heard the crap everyone's been saying about you today?! I don't get why any of this is happening!"

Vincent gave a hefty sigh. "Alexis, you knew I was going to meet someone eventually. And I'm ready for people to know now. This isn't just some little fling, I love Scotty. I think we might actually have a future together."

His words left me feeling electric. We hadn't spoken about the future yet, but I knew I wanted something long-term with Vincent. Hearing that he felt the same way was so wonderful, it was all I could do not to burst out from my hiding place and run into his arms there and then.

Alexis gave a pitiful sniff causing Vincent to place a gentle hand on her arm. "Look Al, I'm sorry. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but if you care about our friendship at all then you have to try and come to terms with it. I'm not saying you have to like Scotty, but you can't go shredding him to pieces as soon as my back is turned. It's just horrible. And I know you can be a right pain in the arse sometimes, but you're not horrible. Right?"

Alexis laughed through her tears, punching Vincent playfully in the arm. "Shut UP! You're such a patronising prick!"

He wasn't mirroring her jokey manner. "This ends now, OK? I don't want any more repeats of what happened yesterday."

It was hard to hear Alexis's reply due to her mumbling, but I just about made it out. "Well, maybe you shouldn't have lied to me all this time..."

"I'm sorry I lied to you, Al. But after your little stunt, I don't regret it."

His words must have been like knife wounds to Alexis. All of her obstinate bravado seemed to disintegrate on the spot. "No, I'm sorry, alright? I was hurt and angry... But it was wrong. Can we please forget about it now?"

"You have to apologise to Scotty."

"What am I supposed to say?! Oh, I'm really sorry I clawed your back to pieces, I hope you can forgive me?!"

"Yeah, that would be a good start."

Alexis shoved her hands into the pockets of her black jacket. "Fine. I'll speak to him."

A few moments passed before she addressed Vincent in a quiet tone. "Do you want to go back to yours then? Maybe we can hang out for a bit?"

"Let's just leave it for a while," Vincent replied bluntly.

Alexis hung her head down, defeated. "OK... I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Yeah. Talk to you later."

It was clear that the conversation was closed. Alexis dug her hands deeper into her pockets and stalked across the courtyard. Vincent purposely headed the opposite way, which just so happened to be where I was standing. I tried to look casual as he came closer as if I always stood hanging around the corners of buildings for no particular reason. He did a double-take as he walked right past me. "Scotty? What are you...?"

I fumbled around with my bag, pretending I had stopped to look for something inside of it. "Oh, Vincent! You're still here. What a weird coincidence."

He raised an eyebrow dubiously. "Were you eavesdropping on me?"

I went a little red. "Um, well, not like... eavesdropping... I just happened to see you out here and wondered if I might... um, overhear something?" I winced at the stupidity coming out of my mouth.

Vincent's lips were morphing into a small, irritated line. The longer I looked at him, the more waves of guilt lapped in my stomach.

"I'm sorry! I've just been so worried and I wanted to know what Alexis was going to say... But you handled it so well, you really did! I didn't mean to invade your privacy or anything, I just... I..."

I wasn't quite sure where I was going with my grovelling apology. I looked up anxiously at Vincent and saw that he was shaking his head, smirking. "Bloody hell Specs, I literally can't even take your cuteness sometimes."

I blushed and smiled awkwardly. "You're not mad?"

"Nah. Come on, I'll give you a lift home."

He took my hand and steered me toward the college car park. I locked my fingers with his as we walked along.

"So..." I started softly. "You see a future with me do you?"

Vincent prickled in surprise. "You heard that?"

I gave a little nod as we slowly neared his car. "Yeah. I did."

He lifted his hand and gently tucked one of my dark curls behind my ear. "Was that the wrong thing to say?"

There was a trace of unease flickering across his dark pupils. I brought my hand to his reassuringly. "Of course it wasn't. I feel the same way."

Relief spread across Vincent's face and he pushed me softly against the side of his car. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him close. Finally, everything was starting to fall into place.There was just one little problem that kept rearing its ugly head every time I found a bit of happiness. A little problem that happened to be approaching us that very second.

"Get a room you two, that's disgusting!"

We both lifted our heads to see Taylor and his posse standing on the edge of the car park. They had obviously come from their P.E. lesson and looked surprisingly intimidating, their hands gripping around their rackets as though they were deadly weapons.

Somehow I got the feeling they weren't here for a friendly conversation.