It Was You

Chapter Twelve

I knocked on the door of James' house. He answered with confusion but led me inside anyway. 

"What brings you to this shack?" He asked as we walked out into the grassy backyard. James and Nate both had a dog each- Siri and Puff. 
Puff was an adorable Shitzu. Fluffy and crazy. He jumped all over me once I stepped outside, it was pretty cute. He was Nate's dog. 
Siri was a Jack Russell, friendly but wary. He had to smell me first before he decided I was good company. 
We sat down in the middle of the yard on the freshly mowed grass. Puff ran over and sat on my lap in between my legs. I gave him a nice scratch behind his ears. 

"I have some questions I need answered and I think you're the only one I can really ask." I explained. 

"This is about Nate, isn't it?" He sighed as if he knew it all along. 

"How did-"

He interrupted. "Please, I've seen the way you two look at each other. Frankly I'm surprised he hasn't asked you out yet." 

"He's still with Kate." I sighed with disappointment. "He's still with her even after-" I paused. James was looking at me waiting for me to finish. 

"After what?" He prodded. 

"After we kissed..." I finished. 

"Oh, wow." James ran his fingers through his beard. "When did this happen?"

I brushed my hands along the grass beneath me and replied, "Last night. I told him I was the girl he'd been talking to on that stupid app." The memory came flooding back, filling me with annoyance. "What did I do wrong?" 

"I should've guessed it was you. I'm a good little matchmaker." He thanked himself then his tone of  voice went serious. "You didn't do anything wrong. This is why you came to me huh? You think I have answers to his strange behaviour?"

"So he's acted weird before?" I was glad I didn't have to sit there and explain every little detail to him. 

James nodded, "He's never had much luck with girls, Mia." He grabbed the tennis ball from out of Siri's mouth and threw it up in the air. "I think it's really gotten to him." 

"I knew he had relationship problems before but he never went into much detail." 

"Because he's a guy. He thinks he should act tough and be cool about everything. He was most definitely attracted to you and then he started talking to someone he didn't know and he was liking her. Of course he would have felt conflicted because he liked two different girls but when he found out they were one in the same, that it was you the whole time, that made it all the more worse. He's the kind of guy who will run and hide when he feels something. That's why he's still with Kate, he doesn't like her so she can't hurt him." James explained. 

"As much as I don't care about Kate, he could potentially hurt her. She may be a bitch but it doesn't mean she lacks feelings." 

"You're right about that." James placed his fists under his chin, thinking. "But it is his life I suppose. We can't really say or do anything. I'm sorry Mia, I wish I could help you here. I can try talking to him?"

I shook my head and climbed up off the ground, brushing off the dog hair. "No, no it's ok. I don't want him to know I came and talked to you. Can we keep it between us, please?" 

He nodded, "Sure. Are you alright?" 

"I will be." I smiled unsurely. "Thanks, James." 

I waved goodbye to him and the dogs and headed back to my dorm room. The tears came rolling down my cheeks again. There was no way I could get Nate, no way I was going to be with him. I needed to forget about him. 
I walked towards the campus library. My home away from home. My escape from reality. I needed to read something to lift my spirits and make me forget everything. I had books back in my dorm but I didn't want to go up there. Not with the memory of Nate still lingering.
I took a copy of Wuthering Heights and sat far away at the back of the building with my head buried deep down in it. 
I hardly even noticed the figure stepping over me, looking down curiously and asking me why I was all by myself huddled in the corner.