Spring's Unexpected Love

Chapter 27 (Ximena)

"You're the absolute worst, Ximena," Luka half joked, half complained to me as we walked through the halls together during lunchtime. We were both on our way to our respective clubs— in my case the gardening club, and in Luka's case the several he was a part of.

He stopped abruptly, pouting as if waiting for me to ask him why I was the worst. I sighed, deciding to humor him, "Why Luka? Why am I the 'absolute worst?'" I said the last part with air quotes, rolling my eyes at him.

"Well since you asked..." he began, "It's not fair!"

I could feel eyes on us as Luka continued to act dramatic for no reason at all. "What's not fair?"

"I helped you get closer to Asher."

"And...?"

"You said you'd help me get closer to Hazel."

I rolled my eyes at him and started walking again. "Seriously, Luka?"

"Hey don't leave me," Luka cried, jogging to catch up to me. "You're so mean."

"If you want to get closer to Hazel so badly, then join the gardening club," I grumbled. "I bet she'd love that."

"Ugh normally I'm not into plants but I guess I will," Luka said.

"I was being sarcastic."

"Seriously, Xi, you're so grumpy sometimes," Luka said.

And you're oblivious. I wanted to respond, but instead, I elbowed him hard in the ribs. "You're lucky I even tolerate your annoyingness."

"Ouch, you're so mean!"

We reached the area where we usually parted ways; instead of making his way to whatever club he usually went to first, Luka followed me.

"Why are you following me?" I asked.

"I'm following your advice."

"I wasn't being serious about it."

"Either way, it was good advice."

I turned to glare at him as I stopped in front of the door to the old lab where the gardening club met. He returned the glare with a wink that would normally send me to the emergency room but today I felt... normal.

Was I finally moving on?

"You're spacing out again," Luka said, pulling me from my thoughts. "Planning on opening the door anytime soon?"

"Shut it, loser," I told him as I flung open the door with more force than I intended.

"Gosh you've been so mean to me recently," he whined, following me inside. I barely heard him; I was just happy that things were slowly getting back to normal. While I was still hyper-aware of his presence, I found myself feeling more comfortable around Luka again.

"Hey Ximena," Travis said, looking up from his lunch which sat on the floor in front of him. "And...?" He raised a surprised eyebrow at Luka, "Uh...Luka, right?"

"Yup, that's me," Luka answered cheerfully, "How'd you know?"

Travis rolled his eyes, "Who wouldn't know?"

"Uh... it takes a while for him to warm up to new people," I explained to Luka, "Travis is a really nice guy."

Travis rolled his eyes again, "Keep telling yourself that."