Whose Fault? (Editing)

Chapter Four

"Oh, come on Wren," he said inching closer to me eventually sitting right next to me, then whispered in my ear "it's just a nickname," before getting up and walking away.

I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples trying to stop the negative course my mind was on. It's okay, he was doing it on purpose. But he's right. It is just a nickname.

I hate it. I hate it. I hate it.

Xavier had been doing that kind of stuff since the semester started. He did small, annoying things that he knew would stay in my head and bother me for a long time. I tried my best to stay as far away from him as possible, but he always seemed to find me.

"You alright, Wren?" Chloe asked me.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I said, I'm sure I didn't sound too convincing. "I'll be back. I'm just gonna run to the bathroom real quick."

"I'll come with you." She said and made no room for argument as she gathered her things and stood up.

I made my way to the bathroom outside the café. I went about my business and was washing my hands when Chloe asked me if I was actually okay. "It's stupid... It's just that- He keeps calling me Wrennie," even saying the name felt like there was something tearing at the inside of my chest.

She came up to me and gave me a hug, "oh Wren. I'm sorry."

I did the best I could to hold back tears, "I don't understand. Where could he have gone? Why didn't he tell me?!"

Why would he just disappear like that?

It's been a year already. Get over it.

"I don't know. But if he ever shows his face again, I'm gonna kick his ass so hard he'll wish he was dead." Chloe pulled back, but held me at my shoulders, "everything's going to be okay, alright?" No, it's not. I nodded, not wanting to hear anything else from her that she would think was helpful.

The rest of the day I was distracted. I couldn't seem to focus on anything. It was frustrating, but every time I tried to do something about it, my brain would take me somewhere else.

I was walking to class, not being able to pay attention long enough to focus on where I was walking. I bumped shoulders with someone; I threw a quick apology not looking in their direction and tried to keep walking, but someone had grabbed my wrist and was pulling me in their direction. I looked to see that Xavier was the culprit, "you should really watch where you're going Wrennie."

I pulled my arm out of his grip, "leave me alone Xavier... and stop calling me that!" Why can't he leave me be?!

I walked into class after that, hoping Xavier had to make a pit stop and wasn't following me in. I sat down in my seat and waited for class to begin.

I saw Xavier sitting down out of the corner of my eye and tried to ignore his presence as our professor began his lecture, but Xavier started talking to me again. "You should really work on those manners, you know."

"My manners are just fine, and I'm polite to those who deserve it. You just don't happen to be one of those people." Mistake.

"Whatever you say, Wrennie." He said, ending with an evil smirk.

"I believe I heard her tell you in the hallway to stop calling her that." Eli's voice said from behind me.

Xavier's attitude flipped like a switch and he smiled up at Eli, "you're right. I was just teasing, right Wren?" He asked, turning his gaze to me.

The look in his eyes told me to agree with him, and I didn't want to chance doing the opposite in fear of what might happen, "y-yeah." I said looking at my nails as I picked at them.

Before Xavier got the chance to say anything else, Eli started speaking again, "so Wren, you want to get started on the next part of our project?"

I looked up to see him smiling at me, I loved seeing it. "Yeah, sounds good!" I answered, smiling back.

"Sweet! I saved a spot for us to work at over there," he said pointing to the table for us to work at that was farthest from Xavier. I got up, grabbed my things, and started walking away with Eli, "are you okay?"

I smiled again and lied, "yeah. He was just messing around. He knows I don't like the nickname but teases me with it all the time."

He nodded, seemingly accepting my answer, then sat down with me so we could start our work.

So much for not being around him as much. I thought to myself as we began working. The silence between us was uncomfortable as I tried as hard as I could to concentrate on my part of the project, which wasn't working out for me. I sat there for a couple minutes just trying to control my head, before Eli interrupted the process.

"So where'd that nickname come from? If you don't mind me asking."

I thought for a moment on how to answer without lying before responding to him attempting to sound indifferent, "someone I used to know started calling me by it, and it just stuck. I don't have contact with them anymore and I've been trying to get everyone to stop, but he's the only one who still messes around and addresses me by it anymore."

I think he could tell I was upset by the situation because he attempted to cheer me up, "well I'm the kind of person who believes everyone needs a nickname. So, we're just going to have to come up with a new one for you that you don't hate."

"Thanks Eli," I said, smiling. He really seemed like a good guy. Too bad good guys always turned out to be the worst. I was going to have to tread carefully with him, no matter how difficult the task seemed to be.

We continued working together on our project until our professor dismissed us. We began packing up, then headed out of the classroom. Before we went our separate ways, Eli quietly said, "see ya later Birdie."

Then he started walking away; I was extremely confused. "Wait, Birdie?" I questioned as I grabbed him by his arm to stop him and didn't let go.

He smirked a little, then started to explain himself, "yeah! Like your name; a wren is a type of bird." I was about to interrupt him, before he stopped me and continued, "also it's really unique, just like you are. I like it and I like you," he said, shrugging his shoulders like it was no big deal.

I pulled him in for a hug before he could try to leave again. I really appreciated him taking the time to come up with a genuine nickname for me. Granted, it was stupid because it meant he wasn't focused on our project, but still.

"Thank you. I love it," I said to him. "But for the record, I hate birds." He laughed at that and held me to him for a couple seconds more.

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Hello, wonderful people!!

This chapter is a whopping 3,521 words. It took me a while to get through this one, but it is here!! Leave this chapter a vote if you enjoyed it :)

I hope you're having a wonderful day, week, month, year!

Well, that's all from me for now...

TM