BREATHE

Chapter 20

"Hey, look, who has risen from the grave!" Ana exclaims loudly when I exit my lecture hall and my eyes find hers as she sits in front of the great fountain of our University.

"Hey yourself!" I haven't talked to her since the bonfire four days ago which is unusual for Ana and me.

"I was busy studying for my first exams of the semester, what is your excuse?" she quacks and I sit next to her on the edge of the fountain. I'm at a loss of words as my mind is captured by Luis when he makes eye-contact with me. He said we would see each other in University, but I didn't reckon with it to happen actually.

"I think that hunk over there just gave me the eye," Ana says and has me back to earth.

"Are you sure?" I try to act casual, knowing that Luis was looking at me.

"Isn't that the thug-guy from the gym? Wow, I didn't notice how good-looking he actually is."

"He isn't a thug, Ana," I laugh, but her eyes are focused on Luis as well as her attention. I clear my throat when it starts to annoy me.

"What's his name again?" she asks me, her eyes goggling at him.

"Luis," I retort flatly. "I thought you're dating someone at the moment." I sound irritated and regret my tone towards her immediately.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean...wait," she stops mid-sentence and stares with a furrowed brow at me. "Is there something going on between the two of you?"

"No," I lie hastily, but realise that my respond came way too fast.

"Oh my god! You're blushing," she exclaims shocked.

"No! No, I'm not!" I defend and blush even more. Ana gives me a grin, telling she doesn't believe me.

"I want to know every single detail and do not dare to skip a thing!" she demands and her green-brown eyes don't leave mine. Maybe, it wouldn't be too bad to talk with someone about what happened in the past weeks between Luis and me.

I sigh defeated and begin with the party where Luis threw me into the pool. I tell her about the kiss in the gym and that we kissed a few more times. I also explain her that I don't know what is going on and that we're not dating or something like that.

"What are you two then?" Her eyebrows knit together. I hope, she doesn't think, I'm letting Luis playing games with me. On the other hand, I'm not sure myself if it isn't exactly like this.

"I don't know." I try to find an explanation for everything, but it's pointless. "We didn't speak about it. He isn't much of a talker, you know," I say.

"Well, then you both have something in common," she mutters and pulls out a cigarette box.

"Hey Zo!" Fred waves at Ana and me as he walks by.

"Hey. How are you doing?"

"Good. Mind if I join you?" He smiles at me and lights a cigarette.

"Take a seat!" Ana suggests enthusiastically and Fred sits down next to me on the edge of the fountain.

"Crap," Ana curses and looks into the emptiness of her cigarette box. "Has any of you guys a cig for me?"

"Sorry, just smoked my last one." Fred shrugs and I shake my head.

"I'll just go and buy cigarettes. I'll be right back," I tell them feeling like needing a cigarette for myself right now.

As I walk over to the little shop near the cafeteria, I feel Luis' eyes on me and just from that knowing, my skin begins to tickle already. I wonder if I have any effect on him too? Most likely not. I shake my head off of him and go back to the fountain. Fred and Ana seem to be engaged in a deep conversation and I take one last glance at Luis who talks with a guy that I don't know, before I head back to Ana and Fred. They fall silent when I return to the fountain. I give them each a fig before I sit back down next to Fred.

"Fred here wants to tell you something." Ana pads Fred's shoulder in a encouraging gesture. His cheeks colour light red, making me confused.

"Yeah..uh...my band plays tonight at Ruby's. I was wondering if you'd like to come by? I mean only if you don't have any other plans already, of course." He sounds a bit weird, like he is unsure of himself which isn't usual for Fred.

"Sounds good. Does Tamara come as well?" I ask him and Ana cringes her nose as I mention her.

"Uh no...but I can ask her," he adds, then excuses himself and walks over to Luis and the other guy. I'm alone with Ana again.

"Hey blind! Fred just asked you out for a date?" Ana stares disbelieving at me.

"He did?" I play dumb.

"Yea, you totally didn't get it."

"Well," I begin, but don't know what to say to her.

"He's cute, don't you think? You should go out with him!" Ana suggests and I find that weird considering that I just told her about Luis a few minutes ago.

"What's going on with you? You're so horny lately." I try to avoid talking about Fred.

"I'm not." She nudges her elbow into my side."I just want you to be happy, you know."

"I am, Ana," I respond and watch Luis talking to Fred in the distance.

"Well," she says and I quickly look back at her, "then let's go to Fred's gig tonight. I already invited some friends to come along."

"What friends?" I wonder.

"You know," she mumbles and I can tell by her tone that she isn't quite sure if I'll be happy with her choice. "Dennis and his mates."

"Really? Them, Ana?" I ask, feeling already demotivated.

"Come on, they can be fun." She tries to persuade me although she knows that they are douchebags. I don't understand why she keeps hanging out with them. "Or are you too cool now to hang out with those guys because they're not into coke?" she teases and I immediately have a queasy consience. I haven't seen Tamara in the last past days and to be honest I avoided to see her. I kind of like have a trauma since she gave me that pill and I went crazy. Of course I don't blame her, but I feel like distancing myself a bit. This whole drug thing grew over my head.

"Fine," I give in and Ana yelps and gives my cheek a peak. Perhaps, it won't be too bad to hang out with some other people that don't have anything to do with Luis and the others of his group.