Chemistry

Chapter 16: The Unexpected

Tiara cautiously walked into the auditorium, trying to go unnoticed by the numerous administrators roaming the halls. They knew who were to be in the auditorium and who wasn't. Tiara could pass without anyone correcting her, but she didn't want to take that chance...just in case anyone knew about her schedule change. She entered through the doors on the far left. 

She had been sitting at lunch with Daniel, Zack, Nicholas and all his freshmen friends, when she finally gained the courage to just tell Brandon what's up. She excused herself from Daniel and the others, and headed for the auditorium. This time she'd let Daniel know where she was going. He had nodded his head in acceptance. 

Tiara walked in and directed her head to where Brandon usually sits; the top right corner. And there he sat. He looked intrigued in whatever he was doing. He had a open book in the center of his lap and his lips moved silently with the words of the book as he read. But the first thing Tiara noticed was that he was alone. By himself. All the other girls were at least five feet in circumference away. And this refreshing scene made Tiara smile.

"Hey, Brandon," Tiara greeted pushing the auditorium seat next to Brandon down. She noticed the earphones in his ears and started to tap him on the shoulder. But he looked up almost immediately. He beamed when he saw who had greeted him.

"Hey, T," he replied pulling the earphones out of his ears. 

"What are you listening to?" 

"Oh, nothing. I just put earphones in my ears to block out all of the noise," he answered. He put his pencil in his book and closed it. "But what's up?"

"I was looking for you this morning," Tiara stated. "Where were you? You weren't in your usual spot."

"Had to make up a quiz."

"Oh," Tiara responded. "Well, you have some really nice friends."

Brandon laughed, "You've met Rachel?"

"She's my favorite one," Tiara grinned. 

Brandon cackled. "Don't mind her. She's just been through a lot."

Tiara personally hated when people used their situations as a crutch. Tiara's been through a lot as well, but that doesn't mean it's okay for her to go around and pop off on random people. But despite what Tiara really thought about his statement, she nodded her head anyway. 

"Why were you looking for me?" Brandon asked.

"I gotta talk to you."

Brandon turned his whole body to face Tiara. "Wait, T, before you say anything, I feel like I have to apologize to you once more. I know what I did with Ashlyn was f*cked up, I admit that. And I want you to forgive me cause I swear I'll never do it again. Only a fool makes the same mistake twice. And the reason why I came back asking for forgiveness so suddenly is because I saw you with Daniel. Seeing you with another guy 'bout drove me crazy, T.-"

"-I know," Tiara sighed cutting Brandon's apology short. "And that's why I told Daniel that we should just be friends." 

Brandon's eyebrows quickly shot up.

"-But! I told him that I would tell you the same. So I came here to tell you that we should just stay friends as well."

All was silent for awhile. Brandon was thinking of a response to this statement that didn't reveal the true thoughts that were bouncing around his head. "Is that what you want or what Daniel wants?" Brandon sincerely questioned.

"That's what I want," Tiara placed her hand on her chest to emphasize the word "I". 

Brandon stared into her eyes in an attempt to read her. "You don't sound too sure..."