The Thief of Hearts

Chapter 17

Keith's pov

It was coming down to the end of the semester and final exams, also known as the most stressful time of the school year. I had my books all over the living room floor while I laid on the soft tiger colored rug that covered half the room. I bobbed my head to the music coming from my headphones while I half recited the elements involved in classical conditioning.

Ashton was at our study table on the other side of the room texting away, with one hand holding his phone and the other his calculator. I laughed lightly thinking that my best friend actually looked normal today. He wasn't drunk or nursing a hungover. He was out last night, but not too late and came back with Mandy. They spent the night talking and eating pizza while watching Riverdale.

I was happy about that, but otherwise, I felt like shit. Thalia still haven't talked to me, even though I'm sure that Mandy tried her best to change her mind. I watched her through the classroom windows, I passed her on campus everyday, but she either looked the other way, or changed directions.

It hurts. I haven't been this obsessed with anyone for this long in my life, and instead of scaring me, the fact actually made me excited. A part of me thought maybe this wasn't just an obsession, maybe she was the one. Maybe this that I feel was the just the beginning and if she gave me a chance in her life, we would last forever.

"You're staring off into space again." Ashton's voice sounded fuzzy and far away when he turned to me.

I blinked slowly as I seemed to be descending back to earth. "What?"

He shook his head at me pitifully. "Nevermind. I need someone to proofread my report for me. Know anyone?" 

Thalia came to my mind again but I dismissed the thought. "I can do it." I offered.

"Dude, do you see how much work you have to do?" He said.

"So?" I replied, "let me do it, who else do you have in mind?"

"Mandy is really busy too, but she said Thalia loves doing stuff like that." He said, the one thing I was hope he wouldn't. "She doesn't have much paper work to do. You know, she's making a TV show for one of her final exams?"

I sighed. Of course she was doing something like that for her exams, she's a Journalist in training.

"You can ask her if you want. Good luck with that." I said with another sigh and went back to my books.

"What do you mean by that?" Ash asked a bit perplexed.

I rolled my eyes at him and stated the obvious. "Your my best friend, assuming that she knows that, I don't think she's going to want anything to do with you. She hates me."

"Well it won't hurt to try." He replied, typing on his phone. He was silent for a while and I was contented with the lack of noise as I went back to my studying. My concentration shattered when Ashton began talking again."She said yes, I'm sending Thalia the email now."

This shocked me a bit as I looked at him in disbelief. "How did you end up with her number?" I asked.

"Amanda." He answered simply with a shrug.

Of course! What a stupid question. "Can I have it?" I asked without thinking.

"No, Mandy would kill me." Ash said. I guess I expected that answer. I decided to keep my mouth shut and go back to my books.

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Thalia's pov

"The seniors are putting on a masquerade ball for less stress week, are you going?" Amanda asked me.

I was combing my hair for school while Mandy sat fully engrossed in her phone. "You do know that you need to be invited by a senior to attend, right?"
I asked. Sure she does.

"Duh," she replied, "I'm going with Ashton, and you're coming too."

Oh no! See what I was saying? She's planning a double date already. Ugh!
"No, I am not." I said firmly.

"Oh, come on. You never go anywhere." Mandy whined.

"That's because I'm antisocial and I hate parties." I said, "besides, I don't have a date."

I saw as Mandy rolled her eyes dramatically through the mirror I was using. "Girl, you know that Ke - I mean you know who would take you there in a heartbeat."

"Shut up!" I snapped, I couldn't help it. 

"You never told me what happened that night."

"Mandy, I don't want to talk bout it."

"Why not? He really likes you and you're pushing him away."

"Just shut up, will you?" I shouted, upset. "Going out with him was a mistake, I like him but I don't like him. He pisses me off and he drives me wild. I have all these feelings throwing tantrums in my body and I feel like I'm losing control! I can't do this! Leave me alone!"

I felt tears running down my face and I wiped them away angrily before Mandy noticed them. She sat quiet for a while as I tried to get my shit together to head out.

"It's like morning sickness." She said softly.

"What?" I was beyond confused. How did that drop in??

"Morning sickness, expecting mother's go through this at the first part of pregnancy. This is because their bodies are not used to the new life that is forming and tries to get rid of it as a threat." Mandy said.

"I know what it is." I replied. "What does that have to do with me?"

Mandy sighed and rolled her eyes again as if exasperated. "You feel something new for Keith. This strange feeling threatens your heart because you're not used to it and so you try to get rid of it, him. You're in love with Keith."

Her words made my chest hurt and I felt like a huge load was placed on my shoulders.  I didn't know what to feel, what I was feeling, so I decided to snap at Amanda again. "You're a nurse Mandy, not a doctor. You don't get to make diagnosis."

The last thing I saw before I left was the hurt look in Mandy's eyes, and I rushed through the door hating myself.

I am such a horrible person!