She's Not a Nerd

Why, Nathan, Why?

"What're you doing tonight, Vivi?" Nathan asked once we stepped out of the building. God, how many nicknames does he have for me?

I pushed back my excitement at his statement and casually answered him.

"Nothing." I shrugged and looked up at him with a small smile.

He beamed. "Good. It's the first day since that I have absolutely nothing to do, and I'll admit, I'm not the most popular guy around, and since you were here I thought maybe I could take you out on a nice dinner? You've also been busy with the Goldberg case and I thought maybe you could use a break. I mean, you dropped out of high school to make this full time, I don't know if you still have friends you could hang out - " I cut his rambling off by placing my hand on his mouth and laughing.

Oh my God, he's so cute!

Oh my God, I'm touching his lips.

Oh my God, they're so soft -

Then he ruined it. His laugh was muffled but it sounded booming when he grabbed my wrist and pulled it away from his mouth. "Sorry for rambling! I just didn't know how to approach you because you're a teenager and I didn't want to sound creepy." He ended the sentence with a short laugh.

I just got friend zoned. . .again!

Not letting my disappointment show, I smiled and laughed along with him. I should really become an actress. . .

"Don't worry, you didn't sound pedophile-ish. Also, I'm not the type of person who reads too much into things." Lie. "I mean, we're going just as friends, right?" I asked but I was reminding myself that me and him could never happen. He's 24 and to him I'm probably an annoying teenager who cares more about shoes than her health. Plus, we're co-workers and I think it's against the rules to date co-workers. Not that he was planning to anyways. . .

"Of course!" He responded quickly. "You're like the little sister I never had." He slung an arm around my shoulder and we headed towards his car.

Ouch. Sister.

"And you're like the older brother I never had. . .nor want." I joked right along with him and even went as far as to punching his gut.

He should just punch mine really hard and put me out of my misery -

His laughter snapped me out of my death thoughts and even though I've tried many times not to like him, I just can't seem to not like him. Everything he does makes me like him even more. Even the times when he friend zones me, I just can't seem to stop.

Why, Nathan, why do you do this to me?

We reached his car and he opened the passenger door for me. See what I mean? He jogged to the other side and hoped in. The ride was spent in a comfortable silence, me gazing out the window and him staring at the road and drumming his thumbs to a beat on the steering wheel. Before I knew it, he was opening my door again and we were entering a restaurant.

"Now, it's not too fancy, but it's not trashy either." He smiled and held the door open. I went to tell him that it was okay, but my gaze landed elsewhere and my words got caught on my throat.

"What's wrong -?" He began but turned around and saw what I was staring at.

Ryder.

Ryder was walking looking rather sketchy with a hood covering most of his face -but still recognizable- and his head was constantly moving from side to side and behind him, as if he was looking out for something.

Or someone.

"Hide." Nathan told me and dragged me behind a bush and made crouch down. Oh, he's totally not going to see us.

"Call Anthony." He told me, keeping his eyes on Ryder.

"What? No. He'll make me walk up to him and squeeze the answers out of him." I said.

"Oh, right." He said sheepishly, still looking at Ryder. Then his eyes squinted suspiciously and he spoke up again, "Do you think he has a gun or a knife or something in his pocket?" He pointed at Ryder's hands, which were tucked into the pockets of his hoodie. Even though his hands were inside his pockets, it still looked as if he was holding something else inside them.

"Yeah, and why is he looking around so much? Do you think he's gonna kill someone else?" I asked him.

"Don't jump into conclusions, we still don't know if he killed Arnold Goldberg." He said but I strongly believe he is the murderer, I don't know why.

"Well - oh my. . .God."

Oh my God.

"What now, Violet?" Nathan asked worriedly, frantically looking around then back at me.

Not finding the words, I just pointed ahead where Ryder was walking towards to.

Nathan looked to where my finger pointed at, and he looked stunned for a moment before his jaw dropped.

Walking towards Ryder was. . .Ryder. The other man had the same features Ryder has, same posture, same walking pace, same hair color, and probably the same height.

"Oh my fucking God, Ryder Cambridge has a fucking twin."

*~*~*

Cliffhanger? Too short?

Sorry! I literally had nothing to write in mind, this chapter practically wrote itself, but now I have more or less an idea for the next one. . .I know as much as you do of this story, well, and a bit more.

Plus, was kind of in a hurry because since Thursday this story has had a lot of attention and left me stunned.

30+ votes, 30+ comments, 550+ reads. . .THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Keep it coming and I'll keep on writing :D

(George at the top)

xx