Something Red

Part Twelve

'I know what you think you saw.'

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I dreaded Monday all weekend and thought about not going to college at all several times but reconsidered. That would just be suspicious and overly dramatic. There also has to be a reasonable explanation about what I think I saw.

Dylan is going to give me a ride to college today which I'm grateful for. Thankfully his truck got repaired last week or so, he said something about his godfather getting it fixed for him and getting him a new paint job. Even if it was beat up and smelled like instant noodles I would hop into it any day of the week rather than take a walk or the bus –or unwanted late night rides.

He texted a while ago and should be here in a few minutes so I decide I'd just wait in the car park for him and calm my jittery nerves. He pulls up not too long after and I climb into his truck with a smile –one I only have when it's Dyl.

We don't talk, just enjoy the silence and the music too. It's unusual for Dylan to not be talking about something but he seems deep in thought this morning and I don't want to bother him. 

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I will definitely not bore you with the uninteresting details of my lectures before lunch. I decided I'd just go to Komorebi again today because I didn't want to run into a certain someone. If I hang out with the gang today, he'll make an appearance and I don't know what to expect.

But as always the masters of the universe have to mess up my life and be one step ahead. I walk into Komorebi just to find the group there. I'm about to backtrack and bolt when I see that I've been spotted by the only other blonde in the small circle of friends –what's her name again? Ingrid?

I shuffle over with a friendly small smile I manage to muster when I spot Dylan. He waves me over and I have to sit beside him, which places me exactly opposite Arlo. It cannot be helped, I'm going to have to sit through this and try not to look at him.

"H-hey Sc-scarlet." It's a familiar stutter and I turn to smile as warmly as I can at Paige.

"Hi." I even do a little wave and she smiles back, shyly before she goes back to listening to what Thera is saying to her.

Thera wiggles her brows at me in greeting and I chuckle slightly, rolling my eyes.

"Scarlet right?" I'm distracted from what Dylan is arguing about with Arlo and the other guys as I turn to see Ingrid looking at me expectantly.

"Yeah, you're Ingrid right?"

Her face morphs into a mix of shock and distaste. I guess I was wrong? There are giggles and guffaws around the table and I know I definitely messed up.

"It's Imogen actually, don't forget it." She says to me through her teeth, faking a giggle.

She looks like the snotty type and I just know what she's like –but then again she does seem very familiar.

"Anyways, never mind that. I'm inviting you on our girl's day out later today." The way she says it alone clearly leaves no room for refusal and I do not particularly like it.

I'm about to decline when she pulls out her sparkly phone and starts to tap away like she just made a declaration and expects nothing less but cooperation.

"I can't make it."

"Excuse me?"

She only then stops her tapping and drops her phone, giving me her snarky attention.

"I can't make it to this 'girl's day out' I'm busy?" I say making quotation marks in the air with my fingers.

"Why? What could you be possibly doing? It's Monday and I'm pretty sure you don't have a project or assignment to get to. Unless you work?"

I level Imogen with a steady gaze and I can feel everyone halting their conversation to focus on ours. I feel the hairs on my arms rise. She says it like I don't have a life outside college and this gang – I might be a little anti-social but that's a life still. I have to handle this carefully before I get into a pickle. This is why I don't like to associate myself with so many people.

"Imogen, thanks for the invitation. It truly warms my heart but I have other things to do. You can understand that, can't you?"

My lips are pulled back in the fakest sweet smile I have made in a long while.

"Oh please, come on Scarlet. Just come with us? It will be so much fun especially if you come with and we can bond, you know? Get to know each other better. You're still kinda new here, going out with friends can be really helpful. Plus, I don't think Paige and I want to be stuck all day with the shopaholic that is Imogen Bloomingdale."

Thera rushes to say all in one breath, in an attempt to convince me and diffuse the tension, with the cutest look of hope and desperation on her face –must be the Asian genes.

"Y-yeah, S-scarlet. We w-would real-ly l-love to have y-ou come a-long."

That has got to be the longest sentence Paige has ever said to me. I think it's the softness in her voice that finally makes me cave and the sight of her fidgeting too. Knowing how shy she is, she must have really put in effort and courage to ask me to come too.

I'm becoming such a wimp, it's pathetic but I don't think too much about it as I sigh and slump in my seat.

"Sure, I'll come on this torturous odyssey of female bonding rituals if you insist." I mutter softly under my breath.

Thera squeals and Paige smiles so widely that it's worth the smug look Imogen throws my way before picking her phone back up.

'What have you gotten yourself into now, Throne?'

I feel heavy with the weight of the stare I'm receiving right now. It's oddly familiar and when I open my eyes to find my watcher, I regret it because I'm locking eyes with Arlo Blackwood.

There's something about Arlo and looking at him. When I start I can't really get my eyes to get off of him, like some enchantment –or just his insanely good looks. He's just one of those people. He doesn't say anything and he doesn't have to because that stare means something. I scrunch my brows together trying to decode it.

'I know what you think you saw.'

I blink and he's not looking my way anymore, Imogen is saying something to him –fawning actually. I'm about to start thinking about what I just saw but then Dylan says something to me and I'm startled turning to him.

"What did you say? Sorry."

He searches my face with a weird expression as though I look odd and I sit up leaning onto the table as I flip my hair out of my face.

"I asked if you were going to order anything. Are you ok? You seem out of it."

"Uh... yeah yeah I'm fine. Just lost in my thoughts as always and I'll go talk to Makoto about my order. Thanks Ken Doll."

"So it's back to Ken Doll?"

Dylan calls after me as I slide out of my seat and make my way over to the counter. I chuckle turning and walking backwards as I mouth.

"You bet."

He pouts and I shrug playfully turning back around with a smile on my lips, heading over to Makoto who's returning my smile warmly. It's almost like she's mirroring my face right now –so I can still smile like this? This feeling is so foreign and for now I revel in it, pushing Arlo's hidden message aside for now.

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