Twisted Reality

TWELVE

I didn't exactly know what it was that came to my mind when I walked into school and saw Adan leaning against my locker. I was mostly confused though. Was he waiting for me? Or maybe he just didn't know that this was my locker. It's probably that. I'd bet that apart from Betty and Lance, no one else knew that this was my locker.

"Adan?"It came out as a question which I guess it should be.

His eyes snapped up, like he was deep in thought and I just pulled him out of it. He looked at me as a smile started to curve up his lips. Why was he even smiling? "Danica"

I furrowed my brows. I was mildly confused whereas he looked calm and relaxed. And why won't he be? After all he's the one that marched up to me. Or more accurately, my locker.

"What are you doing here?" I asked hesitating before walking closer to my locker. Why was I hesitating? It was my locker. If anything, he was the one without the right to be here.

He cocked his brow at me. "What do you mean?" He asked, clearly trying to be annoying. I sent him a flat look which caused him to laugh lowly. "I just came to say hey, Danica. It's been a while"

"Why do you always do that?" I asked, not entirely knowing where the question was coming from. It didn't even run through my brain. It sort of just came out.

"Do what?"

"Call me Danica."

He sent me a confused look. Like a genuine confused look. "Isn't that your name?" He asked, cautiously and I realized he actually thought he was wrong. He was probably expecting me to blow up and jab at his throat.

"Yah. Yes, I mean it is but you call me Danica. Not Dani" I said, my eyes wide as I gestured frantically.

The confusion quickly changed to bemusement. Again, he lifted a brow and I was hit with a strong urge to shave it off. "You call me Adan don't you?"

I frowned. How was that even connected? "Well yeah." I said, gazing up at him."You have one of those names"

He hummed. I rolled my eyes.

"Those names. " I said emphasising on the 'those' but not knowing why. It wasn't like he was going to understand what I meant from that sentence alone. I huffed, attempting to clarify. "You have a name that can't really be shortened. You know? What do you expect me to call you? Ad?"

He laughed at my rumbling. His eyes actually lit up in laughter and I couldn't help but stare at him silently.

"Oh Dani " He chuckled, wiping a non existent tear from his left eye. I didn't really get what was so funny but I couldn't help but smile in return. "You're something else"

"What does that mean?" I hoped he did not expect me to take that as a compliment. Was it even a compliment. It could stand for a lot of different things actually. Like I was extremely annoyingly stupid. That would make me something else.

"We have to get to class" He said completely ignoring my question. I was about to bring it back up because I needed an answer when he tugged on my arm, throwing his over my shoulder.

That got me quiet.
•••
I had a free period before school was officially over and happily, I walked to the gate.

Betty didn't have a free period and I wasn't sure Lance had either. I was not sure of all the others but that was not even the basic thing. My point was I usually enjoyed this alone.

However, today was different. How different I wasn't sure yet. Adan was already outside looking like he was ready to jump into his car and drive away when I came out.

I wasn't quite sure what grabbed his attention but he looked up and locked eyes with me. Then he titled his head, his blonde hair falling into his eyes, and smirked.

I walked up to him. "Do you have a free period or are you skipping?"

"Does it matter?" He asked and I was close to saying yes but instead I just shook my head. "So where you headed?"

I bit my lip at his question. I knew where I was going or well where I wanted to go but I also knew quite well that I did not want him there. It sounds meaner than it actually was.

"Hello?" He called, tapping the side of my head. I blinked and looked at him."I asked you a question like forever ago"

"Yah I know. I heard you" Taking a small breathe that he definitely noticed by how he looked at me, I shrugged. "No. No, I'm not heading anywhere in particular"

He studied me for the briefest of seconds before shrugging. "Well get in. We could go grab a bite to eat"

He didn't wait to see if I got in or not as he rounded the car and got in. I was kind of pleased he didn't do the cliché thing and open my door for me.

I got in. Fastened the seat belt and remained quiet for a while. Then the memory of me hunched and running under the rain flashed in my eyes and as opposed to this moment, I couldn't stop myself from bursting into laughter.

Adan looked at me. He probably thought I was crazy. "Are you okay?"

I couldn't help it. His cautious tone only caused me to laugh louder and deeper. It was just too amusing.

"Yah" I wheezed in between breathes, nodding slightly. "I'm fine. Just.. I'm fine"

He nodded slowly. "So why were you laughing?"

I ignored his question and reached forward to turn on the radio. "You know this is a really strange way to ask a girl on a date"

Of course I was only joking but by the way his eyes widened, I didn't think he knew that. Oops?If I thought I got him speechless his next words caused me to sputter on nothing.

"Do you want it to be that? You know a date?" It was a simple question I suppose but the way it rolled off his tongue had me tongue tied.

It was his turn to laugh. He wasn't looking at me but I imagined his green eyes were sparkling with amusement. "It's okay Danica. I know you want this"

I choked on saliva. "Oh please." I breathed laughing widely. He pouted causing me to coo at him.

We pulled up in front of a small diner that honestly, looked like it had seen better days. But Adan looked sort of excited so I kept my comments to myself.

When we entered inside, I could see why he liked it. It wasn't some big beautiful fancy place. It wasn't close to that. The painted was old chipped. The tiles were not glistering in any way. And it had little tables and chairs together.

It was more of the feeling. Walking in there already felt like walking into a soft slightly warm home. The people around chatted like they had been friends for decades. And the people serving bounced around actually looking happy to be there.

He pulled me to the front and grinned at the waiter behind the counter. "Johnny" He called simply and that alone pulled his lips into a little smile.

"Ah Aday my boy" He greeted before his eyes drifted to me and for some reason I felt my cheeks heat up under his gaze. His eyes drifted to my hand that was still clasped inside Adan's. A knowing smile lifted his lips. "You finally found the girl, ey?"

My eyes widened. "What? No. We're.. it's .. we're just friends"

They both glanced at me with amusement at the flustered mess that I was. My cheeks heated up more.

"Ah" Johnny winked." You youngsters. Knowing everything but blind to what is right in front of you"

I didn't quite know how to respond to that but apparently, Adan got as flustered as I was. He mumbled something before turning around and pulling me with him.

We sat down and I suddenly realized we didn't place our orders. Did we? I looked at Adan who was still not meeting my eyes.

"Adan?" I called out quietly. He slowly dragged his eyes to meet mine. I released the lip I was chewing on. "We didn't place an order"

He looked slightly embarrassed which of course amused me slightly. Then he dragged his eyes to Johnny who was already looking at us with a wide grin.

Adan groaned.