Love ~A Series of Short Stories~

Taken | Dylan O'Brien

VIENNA

"Is there anything I can do that will encourage you to come on time?"

I glared at my homeroom teacher as we stood in the hall, so sick of having this conversation over and over again. Yes, I came to class late almost every morning. Sure, it didn't make sense because I did so well in class. One of the top students in the school had a pretty bad attendance record as a senior. I know it didn't make sense to her, that I seemed to care so little.

Well, that's because I don't. I don't give a crap about school, grades, and this stupid hierarchy created by a system designed to make us fail.

But, there's no way I'd tell her that. She'd just try to convince me I'm wrong. Waste of my time, and hers.

So, I gave her a smile that didn't reach my eyes, "I don't think so. I just have a lot that I'm doing right now. Right after lunch, I go to work. I don't leave work until eight or nine at night. Then I have to work on my homework, and relax so I don't go crazy. 

Plus, I have my dual-credit college classes every Wednesday that almost never end before nine pm. And those are in Scarborough. So, I don't get home until ten or eleven. I'm sorry, but getting to school on time isn't one of my priorities."

She sighed, tapping the folder in her hands with an index finger. I could see that she had given up on treating me like a child in her kindergarten class; for now.

"Alright, well, if there's anything I can do to-"

"I'm okay," I interjected, ready for this conversation to be over, "thanks." I gave her a quick, genuine and relieved smile before going back into the class. As much as it pained me to go back in there, I would rather be 'learning' than in the hall with her.

As I made my way to my desk, I could feel a pair of eyes on me. I didn't want to look, because it would distract me as I tried to sit in this thing. Whose idea was it to put a table and chair together like this? It's so tiny, and annoying.

Ms. Bryan's voice faded into the background as I stared at my MacBeth handout, still trying to ignore the feeling of eyes boring holes into my face. I finally looked up, locking my gaze with the exact guy who'd been looking at me.

We stared at each other for I don't even know how long, before I finally looked away. I let out the breath I was holding in and clutched at my heart. 

He is so hot.

******

"Oooh, Lucas, huh?" My friend, Rose, smiled as she ate her vanilla pudding. "Wait, is this sweet and sexy Italian hottie Lucas? Or step aside, your-face-doesn't-make-up-for-your-mouth Lucas?

"Sexy hot-hot Lucas,"I told her.

"Good."

"Yeah... You know, I kinda liked him last year. He was sweet and making a few moves. But, last I heard he has a girlfriend in university. Or college, whatever. I didn't even just hear, I saw her. And you," I pointed a finger at her, accusingly, "you were all buddy-buddy with her, like you'd just met your new best friend!"

Rose scoffed, rolling her eyes, "well excuse me if I didn't know you had a crush on him! I'll be sure to mouth off to her next time. It's not like we're friends or anything."

"That's not what I mean... I don't dislike her or anything-. I just don't feel like being friends with the girlfriend of a dude I imagined making out with." 

"You know," Rose started, grabbing a pack of soft cookies out of her bag, popping the package open, "they're not together anymore. Haven't seen her in forever, and I heard him talking with some friends."

I rubbed my jaw, surprised, "really?"

Rose smirked, offering me one of her cookies, "really."

******

Okay, that's done. Now, I just have to get some material on tube-testing and I can go get some food. God, this is so much work-

"Are you almost finished?"

I spun around, eyes meeting with Lucas'. His sparkled as he smiled at me, waiting for a response to his question.

"Sorry?"

He took a seat at the computer next to me in the lab, scooting the chair in as quietly as possible, "are you almost done with your essay?"

I looked at him, still surprised that he was even having a proper conversation with me. Well, trying to. Yeah, I kinda liked him the year before, and he was kinda making moves. But, it was all stolen glances and quickened heart beats. 

"I uh, um," I shook my head, regaining my focus, "no. Ha ha, no. I'm just done with my research. But, the essay shouldn't take me more than a day to finish."

"Why's that?"

I furrowed my eyebrows at him, and let out a chuckle, "because I'm prepared, and I'm really good. It only takes me more than a day to write something if it's a book with chapters."

He grinned, nodding, "you're pretty amazing, huh?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I looked at the ground, "thanks..."

Lucas leaned in to me, to the point where his face was inches away from mine, "you're on your spare now, right?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

He shrugged, and I could see the gears turning in his brain, "how about we go somewhere?"

*********