That blanket looks so comfy. Thanks @honey.crisp.luv for the poster!
Chapter 45: Wrong drawer
Bianca Rodriguez always looked dressed for a VSCO moment. I'll give her that.
She was in a navy mini skirt, tight white shirt and navy cardigan. She even carried a matching handbag. There's no way a textbook could fit in that handbag, but maybe that's irrelevant.
Maybe I'm just missing the point of school.
Cearra and I were chatting beside her locker when I saw Bianca. She saw me and began walking towards me. That's never happened before.
"OK don't look now," Cearra said, standing in front of me and staring at someone behind me, "But your ex-boyfriend is walking towards you."
"Really? Because my boyfriend's ex-girlfriend is walking towards us too," I replied.
It's like they coordinate these moments.
"One...two...." Cearra counted, "Three."
We both turned around at the same time.
It took me a moment of staring at a sea of students before I recognized Kaden. Staring from one ex to another... it struck me how different Luke and I were for each other.
"Queen Bee has been distracted," Cearra reported back to me, now keeping tabs on Bianca, "We can make a run for it."
"What do you think he wants?" I asked out loud, focused on the ball of bad energy heading towards us.
Cearra offered her opinion, "Hm, what to ask your girlfriend after you break up? Maybe he's looking for some feedback."
I answered, "How not to be a di-"
"Millie," Austin intervened, "It sounded like you were about to swear."
I don't know where Austin came from, but I was relieved to see him.
He must have seen us spinning 180 degrees for no apparent reason. Cearra and I had just been cornered... by Medusa on one side and demon spawn on the other.
He looked in the direction I was staring at and sighed, "Him again? I can't go anywhere without seeing him anymore."
"Me neither," I said, "It's like a nightmare that won't stop."
"I'll stop it," Austin said and walked ahead of me, intercepting Kaden's path.
I couldn't hear what he said but he pressed his hand firmly on Kaden's shoulder and stopped him in his path. Demon spawn averted. If only Austin could take on her next.
Luke had decided to stay friends with Bianca. But me and Kaden... As far as I was concerned, we had nothing in common anymore.
I glanced over at Cearra who was staring longingly at Austin. Not subtle.
"Your future boyfriend is a hero," I teased.
She said, "I wish he could save us from her too."
I can't decide who I dread to see more. Kaden or Bianca... spinach or kale.
"Watch her call out my age," I predicted.
Bianca always finds a way to mention how I'm 'just a junior.'
Finally, Bianca stopped in front of us and we faced up to her. Actually, not that far up. With her heels on, Bianca wasn't taller than me.
"Hello Millie and Millie's friend," Bianca greeted us.
"Hello Beeanca," Cearra greeted her back, with an equally judgmental tone.
Bianca ignored her. "I heard you were thinking of joining our seniors only group trip to Chad's place this month."
Cearra glanced at me and mouthed, "Two seconds."
"Chad invited us," I said, referring to both me and Cearra.
"He did? He's a softie when people beg," she said, "But if I were you, I'd rethink going. What you have only works in this little town. Your cutesy, clumsy vibe won't fly in the real world."
I'm not clumsy. I'm uncoordinated. And there is a difference.
Cearra took the words out of my mouth. "This is some fresh out the oven bullshiiii-"
"No one asked you anything," Bianca told her, "Your existence in my life depends on her relevance," she pointed at me, "Which is fading fast."
"Don't disrespect her," I defended Cearra, but Cearra didn't need defending.
"Girl," Cearra said, "you better move. I'm wearing boots and your dainty little feet are inches away from my next step."
"Fine, go ahead," Bianca backed off, recognizing that Cearra wasn't joking, "But Millie, don't be naïve and think that Luke isn't going to rethink how he spends New Years' when he sees me looking like a ten and you looking like a-"
Cearra stepped onto Bianca's ballerina shoe. Her black boot pressed down, hard.
"B*tch!" Bianca exclaimed, hopping backwards and staring down at the red mark on her skin, "What's wrong with you?"
"Me?" Cearra laughed, "We're trying to diagnose your level of crazy."
And then the worst thing happened.
Austin, who had been in the same hallway, came running over. All he witnessed was Cearra's aggression.
Bianca reached out to him as he stared at us, "Why did you do that?"
I watched her rest her arms around Austin's shoulders.
"She's crazy!" Bianca pointed at Cearra, using our own words against us.
Cearra, who's usually so bold, went so quiet. She didn't know how to respond to Austin. I didn't know how to respond to Austin. As close as we were getting to him, Austin and Bianca have known each other for years. Why would he take our side?
Bianca stared me right in the eyes as she said her next words:
"Luke and I have slept together. And by the look on your face, you haven't."
**
Do I go running to my boyfriend about some girl who was mean to me?
Do I go running to my boyfriend if that girl happens to be his ex-girlfriend and happens to think they're destined to be together?
Do I go running at all? Because I hate the gym and I can't remember the last time I bought workout clothes.
"Millie," Cearra shook me out of it, "We should go to class."
I guess Bianca wasn't playing nice anymore. Not that she ever was. We turned away from Austin, Bianca and all the other spectators.
"I'm coming to Dubai," Cearra told me.
"For Austin?" I asked, wondering how their ship was doing after that storm.
"For you," Cearra answered, "You need backup to deal with that b*tch."
**
~Computer labs~
Joe was having the time of his life. He was working on a new math quiz as if there'd be a magical experience at the end of it.
I want whatever he's on.
"Hey Joe," I said, with my pen in my hand.
I was still puzzling through question number one and my brain was not feeling it. The computer labs felt isolated from the madness outside. Meanwhile, Joe was scribbling numbers across the page like he was painting art.
"I lost my job," I said.
I hadn't been able to say it to anyone yet. It was embarrassing to admit, but I felt like Joe wouldn't judge. I also felt like there was a good chance Joe wouldn't even hear.
But he looked up from his beloved math quiz and asked, "Did you want it?"
I never thought of that.
"No," I admitted, "Not the job, but I wanted the salary."
"Then apply for a new one," he said, practical as ever.
I didn't have any references and it was the middle of the year. Who would hire me?
"Math tutor," he suggested, pointing at the work we were doing, "Then you could do this every day and it'd be good practice for the next competition."
I never thought of that. I never thought I'd be good enough for that. "How?"
"You're a mathlete and I'm guessing you have good math grades. You could teach freshman," he added, "Become a student math teacher. I can recommend you."
I thanked him for his kindness. But Joe didn't think he was being kind. He thought he was being fair.
**
~Dupont Avenue~
I was studying at Luke's desk. His room was empty, with no distractions. His desk was under a window that overlooked the backyard. I kept it open, despite the cold winter air, just so I could hear him play.
He was in his backyard, playing basketball solo. I'd hear the occasional swoosh of the net or bounce on the backboard. Sometimes his sneakers would skid against the ground.
I tried hard to focus. It took a lot of restraining my urges from climbing over the desk and staring down at him playing. I liked listening to him exercise. The sounds he made...
Instead, I stared down at the white page in front of me. I don't know why I thought I'd do this better with paper than a laptop. I was trying to channel Shakespeare for my English essay, but the closest I got was my doodle of a cauldron.
Where does he keep his eraser? I looked in the desk drawers for his stationary.
"Luke!" I yelled out the window, "Eraser?"
I pressed my hands onto the desk and leaned over, looking out. He stood with the ball in one arm, staring up, shirtless. He raised a hand to cover his eyes from the sun. I watched his abs contract with the movement.
"Desk drawer," he answered, waiting to make sure I heard it.
I blew him a kiss and forced myself away from the tempting view.
"Drawer?" I repeated to myself. I'd already checked his desk drawer.
I stretched myself and reached for the drawer on his bedside table. I opened it and slammed it shut. Oh. No.
I should've seen it coming. I should've expected that.
Little shiny packets scattered within the drawer.
Little, shiny, square packets.
Condoms.
How do I unsee?
The door opened and Luke came in. "Did you...?" he saw me sitting guiltily in the chair, halfway between the bed and the desk.
He must have run upstairs after I asked him for the erasers.
"Wrong drawer," I said.
"I figured."
**
Luke had asked to take me on a date, somewhere special. I got dressed for it in his room, since we'd started to leave clothes behind in each other's rooms. He'd left me to get dressed in private, to put on some make up and to think.
My job, Bianca, the blackmailer. Maybe they were all connected. After all, things started going wrong when the blackmailer started leaving threatening messages, stealing my mother's necklace, painting our door.
Luke knocked on his own bedroom door. He opened it and saw me wearing what I thought was a good winter date outfit. White turtleneck and blue jeans.
"You look beautiful as always," he said.
He had showered in Jake's bathroom. He was already dressed and ran a towel through his hair, shaking it dry.
I stood nervously by the desk. I don't know why I still get nervous in front of him. The butterflies still emerge.
"Let's move on from the rubber incident," Luke smirked, obviously amused by the whole situation.
We hadn't talked about the condoms, but eventually we'd have to talk about the wider subject. I think.
I had no idea where he was taking me. We walked down the stairs and passed his disapproving parents. We got into his car and he drove us off Dupont Avenue.
**
We drove past a sign and I did a double take as I read it. We'd been here once before.
Of all places, I never expected us to come here.
"You wanted me to be more open," Luke told me, glancing at my bewildered expression in the passenger seat, "That's what I'm going to show you Minnie; a part of me I keep private."
He parked the car.
A/N: I broke my streak of 2 updates a week, so I figured I'd write a long one. Sorry, it's been busy - in a good way - but I had less time.
Can you guess where Luke took Millie on their date?
Also, here's a fun and useless fact: another streak I've broken this week is trying to wake up early. My morning routines have gone back to beginning in the afternoons. Did I say this was a fun fact? It doesn't sound very fun in hindsight. Sad, if anything.
OK, enough rambling. See ya!
Natalie <3
P.S. Please vote!