Twisted

Chapter 13

Vanessa's POV.

So, this guy's idea of getting to know me was taking me out to lunch.

"I know a little place by the school called Café de la Marge," he pleaded earlier. "Please, let me take you there. It'll be my treat."

"I have money," I responded defensively, refusing to look him in the eye, keeping my own eyes focuesd on the school ahead. "I don't need your money"

"Oh, okay," he responded awkwardly.

After thirty seconds or so, I responded, "When?"

"When?" he questioned.

"When do you want to go?" I insisted.

"I was thinking today, during lunch?" he quickly responded, his voice drenched in nerves. "I mean, if that's all right with you."

"Wait, we're skipping school?" I questioned a bit too eagerly, looking over at him. I noticed that he kept his eyes focused on me the whole time. He then chuckled, and I found myself slightly smiling at his laugh. The sound reminded me of that feeling you get when you're drinking hot chocolate, bundled in a warm set of covers, sitting by the fire on a cold winter's day. It was that feeling you get when you've been running a mile, and someone finally throws you a cool bottle of ice water.

It was that feeling of relief and relaxation.

I didn't know I was still staring at him until he finally stoped chucking, and his mouth formed a semi shaped smile. He was staring back at me too, endlessly smiling, never not.

I felt my cheeks redden a bit, and my

mouth slowly untangled itself from that smile that ever so surprisingly sprung to life on my face. I lowered my head a bit a as I continued to walk ahead.

I heard Erin clear his voice before he spoke again. "Sorry. Uhm no, we aren't skipping school. Today is a free lunch period, so we don't have to eat the school's lunch. We're free to travel on campus grounds if we like"

"Oh," I said.

A couple of more minutes or so came our way, and we were already walking up the front enterance of South Shore.

I was about to make my way into the building before I heard him call my name from behind.

"Uh, Vanessa"

Turning around, I rolled my eyes, wanting to be left alone. "What?"

"Well, I don't have your locker number. I was going to meet you by your locker-"

"I'll just meet you by yours." I dismissively waved him off before I headed towards the direction of my locker, not bothering to look back.

Now, I was in the hallway, making my way towards locker 203. The fact that Erin wanted to get to know me made me feel uncomfortable to the highest degree. I am my own person, and I'm damn sure not open to the idea of letting other people inside of my personal life. There were things about me that even Ashley didn't know.

Things about me that I refused to even acknowledge to myself.

But I was doing this for Ashley. It was up to me to get her and Erin back together, and I had to do my part, even if it meant putting up with Erin for however long it took.

When I approach locker 203, I see Erin's eye brows pulled together in concentration as he fumbles with some books in his locker. I don't take in how tall he is until I get even closer to his locker, but then I think it's just because I'm really short, and it seems like everyone around me is just taller. I lean against locker 204, wondering how long it'll take him to notice my presence.