Chapter 12
1231 Words
12
I found Olivia and Raisa at the park, seated on a wooden bench, observing the commotion going on around them.
“You clean up nicely,” Raisa teased me.
I flushed and stuck my tongue out at her. I’d tried not to go overboard since we were only hanging out at the park. I’d chosen tight dark blue jeans, a thin white sweater, and matching beige boots and purse. Plus, I had combed my hair until it shone and applied black mascara to accentuate my dark green eyes.
I sat beside them. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing much,” Olivia answered. “The graduate students are running around like crazy setting up the stands and organizing the games. We’re laughing and gossiping.”
I rolled my eyes.
“He was there a few minutes ago.” Raisa pointed toward a white stand not too far from where we were. “I think it’s where you can donate blood.”
I nodded and remained quiet, my hands pressed hard against my thighs to stop their trembling from spreading through my whole body.
The girls fell into easy conversation—and gossip—while I scanned the surroundings looking for Victor.
Twenty minutes later there was still no sign of him.
“I guess he isn’t coming back,” I said, my spirit sinking. I turned to the girls. “Thanks, though, for calling me.”
“It’s okay, Nad.” Raisa patted my hand. “We know you would have done the same for us.”
I smiled. “Yeah, I sure would.”
“I’m glad to know that,” Olivia said. “But you shouldn’t move. He’s back, and he just saw you.” I froze. My heart flipped as she watched something past my shoulder with a smile. “Don’t turn yet. Keep talking to us as if you didn’t know he was here.”
“Okay,” I whispered, feeling my palms sweating. “At least tell me what he’s doing.”
“Staring at you,” Raisa said, pretending to scan around nonchalantly.
“He is?”
Olivia nodded. “Yeah. I think he’s trying to focus on helping out, but every few seconds he glances at you.”
“Oh God.” I was shaking. Raisa held my hand. “What do I do? Should I wave if our eyes meet?” I felt like I was thirteen again. Getting mushy over a guy. But this was Victor. Or at least the real-world equivalent of Victor.
“I dunno.” Olivia stood. “How is it when you two meet?”
“Good question. It is weird,” I said, hoping to deviate from the topic. “We’ve never had an actual conversation. Mostly, we snap at each other.”
“Really?” Her brows moved up. “’Cause the way he’s looking at you, I would say he’s at least curious about you.”
Curious might be the right word. After all, I could weirdly lessen his pain and dizzy spells with a simple touch. But curiosity wasn’t good enough.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have come.”
“No, stay here.” Olivia held her hand out to stop me. “I’m gonna go buy coffee for us. At least stay until I get back so Raisa won’t be alone.”
Raisa turned her hazel eyes to me, batting her lashes, and I laughed. I was crazy about coffee.
“All right,” I agreed, watching as Olivia rushed to the nearest coffee shop. “What’s he doing now?”
“Carrying and opening boxes.” Raisa smiled. “He just looked at you again.”
“Oh God,” I turned, relaxing against the back of the bench and looking for Victor.
There he was, with a utility knife in his hand, opening a large box. His head was lowered and his messy hair fell over his face. I was used to the Victor with non-messy hair, but I had to admit, the hair-over-the-eyes look was totally hot. In fact, he looked handsome in jeans, a burgundy polo, and a brown suede jacket.
And yet, he was oblivious to the many girls staring at him, crazy to have his attention—me included.
Raisa broke through my thoughts. “You’re doing that thing again.”
“What?”
“The thing with your hair.” She pointed her chin to me and, looking down, I found my index finger coiling a strand of my hair.
“Oh,” I muttered, untangling my finger and crossing my arms. Raisa laughed.
When I glanced at him, he was staring at me. My heart fluttered, but he averted his eyes. I felt like dying.
“I told you I shouldn’t have come.” I stood, feeling hurt tears surging up.
“Don’t be silly. Sit down and enjoy the view.”
“I don’t think I should.” I was ready to argue, but Olivia was coming with three steaming foam cups.
“So, what happened in my absence?” she asked, handing us our coffees. I tasted mine, pleased it was mochaccino, my favorite.
“He looked away from her when she looked at him,” Raisa related.
“Really?” Olivia put a hand on her hip. “What a fool.”
“Well, girls, I think I’m out.” I raised my cup toward Olivia. “Thanks for the coffee.”
“Stay, Nad,” said. “We’re going to grab a bite somewhere later. Come with us.”
“I need to study.” It wasn’t a lie.
“It’s okay, Raisa,” Olivia said. “If Nad thinks she needs to study, then let her go.”
Raisa raised her brows. “Why? She’ll get an A or a B+ even if she doesn’t study.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m off. Bye.”
They waved goodbye, and I walked back home, feeling even worse than before. Why did I have to come here? Why did the girls call me? I sighed. They were doing what any friend would. I was the one with such bad luck, or karma.
I was one block away from my building, at the exact same place Micah had saved me from the bats, when his voice called me.
“Nadine!”
With wide eyes, I spun around and found Victor running in my direction. Then, on instinct, I scanned our surroundings, making sure the bats weren’t hiding. I waited, and he came to a halt in front of me.
“H-hi,” I stuttered.
“Hey.” He ran his hand through his messy hair. I guessed that without the mousse or whatever kept dream-Victor’s hair intact he did that a lot. He kept glancing around. I wanted to ask what he needed, but I held my tongue.
A cold breeze blew and I hugged myself. I had gone out without a jacket, hoping the tight sweater I had put on would emphasize my thin waist, but now I regretted my decision.
What did he want? Was he going to be nice for once, or start one of our arguments? “Can I help you with anything? I mean, you didn’t come all this way to compliment my singing.”
Once more, he ran his hand over his hair. It seemed so soft and shiny I wanted to touch it too.
“Well,” he said, then paused and looked around. “I wanted to ask for your touch,” he said in a rush of words. I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “I’ve been feeling rather nauseous since morning, and the pain has been building for the last hour. Do you mind?”
My hand was already extended toward him. He hesitated for a second then gripped it tight. The warmth wasn’t as strong as before, but it burned my skin, nonetheless. Like Micah, he tilted his head back, drinking in whatever it was I passed to him.
With a loud sigh, he let go of my hand.
“Are you better now?”
“Yes,” he said, frowning. “The nausea and the pain are gone. Thank you.”
Then why was he scowling? “You’re welcome.”
Victor cleared his throat. “I should get going.”
Ouch. What now? I was a disposable object? “Yes, of course.” I tried to hide the hurt in my voice, but didn’t think I was successful.
“Good night,” he said before marching back the way he had come.
Guess I had been used.
- Writer
