Fate

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

"Um, would you want to maybe come to my house to work on the project?" A question I never thought I'd ask. One, I wish I could take back immediately. Not every question necessarily needed to be asked. Specifically, if one were to think they wouldn't like the answer they'd be given.

"Your house?"

Okay, so he didn't want to. The look of shock on his face made my stomach churn with embarrassment. Would going to my house really be that bad when he knew nothing about it? Then again I guess going to the freak's house would be an impossible thing to imagine. He was rather intelligent, to be honest. Even if he never seemed to care what others thought I guess he really did. Why else would he keep his dad a secret?

"It's okay. It was a stupid idea, I know. Just offer--"

"No, I don't mind. Just ... do your parents mind?"

My parents? Why would he ask if they minded him coming over for a project? Even if Kenneth really did. Zayn didn't seem the type to care what parents thought when he didn't care himself.

"No my mom told me I could."

Yeah, real smart Ariel. "My mom said I could". Like I was eight or something. If I didn't already appear pathetic enough I figured I'd just confirmed it. Even if I cared immensely what mom thought.

"She knows your working with me?"

"Yes? I told her about the project and your name.," I explained wondering why that was even important.

"Your dad?"

Kenneth not my dad. Biologically maybe but not my dad. He'd lost that privilege he never seemed to want to begin with.

"Why does it matter?" I huffed not wanting to talk about him.

"Well, dads don't always like it when girls bring guys over."

"I'm not bringing you over. We're working on a project." How dare he even talk like I'd bring a guy over to have sex. Maybe he believed the rumor his stupid girlfriend had started. I didn't like what that phrase implied.

"Yeah, I know but does he know that--"

"I'm not a whore," I spat bitterly. The anger had just gotten to me today from where Kenneth called me a whore like he called mom a whore. It wasn't' true. Mom would never do anything like that and neither would I. She did her best to keep Kenneth happy. I did my best to keep everyone happy. I was a virgin for crying out loud. I wouldn't bring a guy over like that.

"I never said you were," he said seeming taken aback. That did little to calm my emotions.

"Your girlfriend did and a lot of other people. But just forget about it. I wouldn't want you over anyway." Tears burned my eyes in frustration and anger as I clenched my fists. I hoped my words would hurt him as much as possible. Make him feel like he was disgusting and unwanted. Like I felt. That wouldn't happen. He wouldn't be affected by my words one way or the other. It was all in vain.

"Harsh princess. For the record, I would have come." My eyes snapped up to him once again. He would not come. He was just saying that. Or maybe I'd misunderstood and that just made me feel worse.

"Don't say things you don't mean," I replied audibly.

"I do mean it. Do you want to work on the project? Tell me when and we will."

He couldn't seriously be thinking of actually coming. I could never allow that and if Kenneth knew I didn't want to think of what would happen. I didn't know why knowing Eric made him hate Zayn as much as he did. I did know that he disliked him and that if he disliked something that meant you did what he said. That or you suffered the consequences.