I Do... Not Want My Boyfriend

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

--Elspeth--

School was better the following day, I was able to focus now that I knew my grandmother was in good hands and Clay's presence made everything all the more perfect. For some reason I'm starting to see that being around Clay made me feel calm and complete. It was a feeling I hadn't known existed, especially with the chaos that has been surrounding my life lately.

I was headed over to the cafeteria to have lunch with Riki when I was stopped by a tanned arm. I looked up to see Veronica looking at me with her fake smile and evil eyes.

"Hey Veronica, was there something that you wanted?" I asked her.

She scoffed. "We need to talk." 

Although I wasn't sure about us talking, I agreed. Even if I had said no, Veronica would had found a way to get me alone again. This talk she wanted to have with me was inevitable so I might as well get it over with now.

She pulled me over to one of the more secluded parts of campus where people usually went to sneak off or have private conversations. A large tree sat in the middle of area, surrounded by patches of dry, yellow grass. Tables similar to the ones at the cafeteria were placed on the grass and Veronica gestured for me to take a seat as she sat down on the metal bench under the tables.

"I'm going to tell you this once and only once." She started, her voice leaving no room for an argument. "Stay away from Clay."

My eyes bulged out of my head. Clay? Was she talking about the same guy I was thinking she was talking about?

She had Kristoff, why would she care? Even though their relationship started off as a plot to get Clay jealous, that had to eventually go down in the tubes right? How could she be in a fake relationship for that long? Didn't the fake relationship turn into something more over time?

Sigh, why must things be so complicated?

"Excuse me?" 

"Yeah you heard me, stay away from Clay. I know you have him wrapped around your little finger but you have a boyfriend, so hang out with him instead." She added with a flip of her brown hair.

I shook my head at her, wondering if she was delusional. "Clay's my friend Veronica, and who are you to tell me who and who not to hang around?"

Veronica smacked her bubble gum and looked at me as if I were stupid. "Are you really that dense Elspeth? Clay and you aren't friends. And if you are, he doesn't want to be."

"What are you talking about?" I didn't understand what she was getting at. Clay was my friend. Although I do admit that I'm starting to feel things for him that wouldn't count as friendly. But right now we're friends and that is where the line will be been drawn until I sort through my emotions. I don't know how Clay feels but I don't think his feelings are anything more than what I feel.

"What I'm trying to say is that Clay is in love with you and it's not fair! I want him and all he does is drool after plain little you. So that's why I'm telling you stay away." Veronica exclaimed.

My eyes widened and my heart stopped. Did she just say what I thought she said? Suddenly my heart was at full speed and my cheeks turned that deadly shade of red. Why did everyone think that Clay was in love with me? Hollis had suggested the same thing the other day when we had a bit of girl-talk. And after a second opinion, I'm starting to doubt my original thoughts about Clay and I's relationship. 

Was Clay in love with me?

But did I love him back? Or was this panic that I felt? God, I don't know.