On My Way To Mr. Right

Chapter 9

"I'm so in love with you, I hope you know," I hummed as I walked down the corridor. I just absolutely love this song. It always leaves me in a daze imagining Mr. Right Guy singing this to me. It is sweet and romantic and, well, cheesy, but it's so soothing, especially with a voice like James Arthur.

I could only imagine the life I would love with the right guy to enjoy it with and all the songs we would hum together and the happy memories we would create, and I will be looking back to this day when this song, this particular song, made me realize that I will be making my life with the right person someday. It would be magical.

That's pretty naive and incredulous coming from me. But what can I say? I've got a lot of love and compassion to give. Or I'm just having a fabulous day today. Pick one from the two, your choice.

Today is a good day and nothing in the whole wide world can ruin it, I thought to myself. The day was almost done and nothing was out of place. I mean, everything is perfect!

"Charlotte!"

But, unfortunately, I spoke too soon.

Steps came after me and I wanted to do nothing else but run. Adrian was jogging after me and I think you know why I have this specific delighted reaction. *Cue sarcasm*

I waited for him to catch up to me since I wasn't in any rush and because I seriously wanted to slap his thick face. He has the nerve to talk to me after what he's done.

"Hey," he said and I could feel his breathing lying on my neck, which made me squirm in my position. I turned around to see him sporting that dimpled smile again and I had this insane feeling of tearing it off his face.

With a sane thinking brain, I slapped him right across the face and walked away, quick enough for me to leave him stunned for a few minutes and hard enough for him to realize that approaching me wasn't the brightest idea.

I traipsed to the library since I had the remaining hour to myself and my friends were in their classes. I'm lucky I have such a loose schedule. It gives me more time to myself.

I had my ID scanned and wandered off to the amazing fiction aisle.

It's who I am.

I scanned the books, looking for something in particular. I know there were Mitch Albom books here. Mitch Albom himself donated it to Maybeck High months ago. I was so surprised and astonished at that time. My idol goes to the school I study at. How amazing is that?! I was and still am an avid fan of all his works.

There you are.

I finally found it after searching for a few minutes. But when I was about to reach for it, a hand from beside me grabbed it first and for a millisecond I couldn't help but think that this is such a cliche, the typical thing to happen in sweet flick movies. But after that millisecond of thinking, I realized that the book was not in my reach anymore. Someone had grabbed it before me.

Well, that just ruined my day a whole lot more. I thought this day was invincibly amazing. Turns out, I thought too early. Way too early.

"I was going to check that out if you don't mind." I turned around and came face to face with a man I never expected to see in this place.

"Damien White," I whispered to myself in surprise.

He chuckled, inserting the book between his arms.

"I do mind, shorty. Also, you have got to stop running out of breath and saying my name as if I'm a ghost every time we meet."

"I found that first," I said, completely ignoring his snide remarks.

"I got it first," he grinned, and I wish I could repeat what I did with Adrian.

Knocking some sense into him would probably do good. You don't take stuff from girls. You don't insult girls. You don't mess with girls. That's just not right.

"Why don't you stop taking what's not yours, Damien." I walked away, infuriated. The gall of that guy. After he did what he did to me and Adrian?

I don't like that he calls me 'shorty'. It's something that people shouldn't do unless they want me mad. I'm not short! He's only taller than me by a few inches. That shouldn't be enough qualification to be called 'shorty'. He's just lucky he grew by a foot or two this year.

He snickered. "I wasn't taking anything, shortcake. It was given to me. You gonna argue about that?"

I roamed through the aisles hoping for Damien to stop following me or to just get lost. "So you got the book! Stop being so arrogant about it," I groaned.

He laid his elbow on the shelf I was shuffling through, preventing me from proceeding to the next row of books. "We're not talking about the book, are we, short stuff?"

I couldn't contain it anymore. Five months of holding it in and pent-up anger, frustrations, and unanswered questions are surely going to waste today.

"Would you please stop calling me short!?" I shouted.

It wasn't just because he kept calling me short, I admit. I've been holding a grudge against this person and though I was trying to just be civil with him, it just keeps on resurfacing. More so when he purposely tries to annoy or bully me into submission.

And I have never backed down from a fight.

"Ms. Smith, Mr. White, " the librarian suddenly called from nowhere.

"Sorry, Mrs. Piper.”

"Let's talk, Smith," Damien said in a stern voice.

"Really?" I was taken aback because, ever since the incident, he had been ignoring and avoiding me, lest of the special occasions of mockery.

He laughed loudly. "Oh, what am I thinking? Damien White talking to Charlotte Smith about Adrian Harper?"

Well, that doesn't seem fair. All I did was shout and I got Mrs. Piper's attention while Damien released his horselaugh and no one came to confront him about it.

I slapped his chest as hard as I could, which wasn't as effective as I thought it was. He chuckled at my efforts and I walked right past him. I'm done playing his games. I'm done talking to this jerk.

"Okay, okay, sorry. Smith, I said I'm sorry." He called after me.

I didn't glance back, knowing what I would see would only make me more furious. He doesn't deserve forgiveness. He's not even asking for it.

"No, you're not, Damien," I muttered loud enough for Damien to hear.

I don't even know why I even started that conversation with him. I got carried away, I suppose.

I exited the library and made my way to my class. Fortunately, there were no nuisances and annoying dimes along the way, which made the walk easier and a lot faster.

I only needed to do a turn to find my English classroom but before I did, I stopped on my feet, feeling the need to talk to someone tonight. I have to talk to someone about my encounter with Damien.

I fished out my phone and texted Hailey, since boys are not allowed to sleep over at my place without the girls being over, Bea is out of the option and Ross stopped coming to school since Monday. I'm guessing she needs some time to herself and we have let her have it. Just to clear her brains. I know she's a tough girl. She will get through this and I don't have to worry about her.