Chapter 12 Heath #2
Sebastian and I wait in the parking lot to go eat at a diner.
Sitting in the cafeteria would bother all of us, but especially Rose.
She had a panic attack yesterday at the thought of everyone knowing about her.
So far, no one has said anything to her in front of me, but I know there must have been comments that people are dying to say.
Fuck.
This takes me back to when Marie was dealing with this sort of stuff. It’s not as extreme now, but the effect is the still same. Words get to people.
Sebastian crunches on Doritos loudly. “So, did you ask her out on the date?”
I swear he’s more obsessed about my date than me. I’m more nervous about it.
“Not yet,” I say, staring hard at the doors. Marie and Rose should be out by now.
“What are you waiting for?”
“I just made things clear to her this morning. I told her that being my girl meant she’s my girlfriend.”
“Well, at least you made some progress.”
“She’s been through a lot. I want to take things slow.” I lean back and face him. “Besides, I don’t have any rush. If anything I kinda like how we are.”
Sebastian bursts out laughing, making me feel like an idiot. “I can’t believe I’m hearing those words come out of your mouth.”
I flush. “What do you fucking mean?”
“It’s just strange hearing you talk about this way for a girl. With how things were a while ago I never thought you’d let someone in, much less a girl.”
He is right. I didn’t see any of this coming.
If someone told me that I’d be dating a girl and having huge feelings for her I would have to curse them out.
The mere thought sounds ridiculous. Yet here I am.
Liking this girl so much that it feels like it’s more than just like at this point. What I feel for Hope isn’t a crush anymore. It’s evolved into this anchor that has plunged itself deep into my heart. There’s no way it’s ever coming out. If I try to rip it out, I know I won’t survive.
What’s the word for this feeling or situation?
I don’t know and I’m scared to know about it.
This feeling has been there for weeks. The more time I spent with her the deeper that anchor sunk. I can’t tell when it happened or how it wormed its way inside of me. All I know is, it happened without me realizing.
It should scare me or surprise me. But the truth is, I became obsessed with this girl the moment she looked at me from that window and made me pause. Dad’s words became background noise as I focused on this girl who had the courage to look me in the eye and not cower.
When we collided in the hallway, she proved to me that she was brave and standing up to me wasn’t a problem to her.
My twisted head took all those cues and rolled them up in a ball of fascination that kept growing the more interactions I had with her.
Unknowingly, she made me hers.
“I like that look on your face.” Sebastian’s voice is low.
“What look?” Calm carries in my reply. Just thinking about Rose brings me peace.
Sebastian just stares at me with a composed, thoughtful face that says he’s trying to figure me out.
Good luck with that.
“You’re in love with her,” he says slowly.
My stomach tightens.
My heart drops.
My mind goes blank.
“I’m not,” I grumble and straighten up.
My best friend is messing with me. He’s trying to freak me out. Of course, I’m not in love with Rose. I can’t be in love with her.
“You are. You have been for a while now.”
I glare at him. “Stop saying it.”
A smile dances on his lips. “Even if I don’t say it, it won’t make it any less true.” He chuckles. “Marie and I both have known for a while. In fact, I lost the bet.”
“You placed a bet on me falling in… with Hope.”
Fuck. I can’t bring myself to say the L word.
“We did. It was inevitable.” He shrugs.
“You’re wrong. I don’t love her. I only like her a lot.”
Sebastian arches an eyebrow. “Liking someone a lot is considered loving them.”
“You’re wrong.”
“I’m a guy in love. I know it when I see it.”
“Sebastian, stop with this nonsense.”
He laughs. “I think I’ve seen this film before. A couple of weeks ago, actually. Looks like you’re gonna keep denying until you finally agree.”
Before I can muster up a reply, I see Marie and Hope walking towards us.
Not wanting to wait any longer, I cross the distance between us and near them.
“…so butterflies are amazing. They transform into this beautiful thing after going through so much ugliness. I mean I don’t consider the six stages of larvae ugly but others do. I think those stages are beautiful in their own way—Heath!”
Rose turns and looks at me. What I see makes me stiffen.
Her eyes are red rimmed and her cheeks are flushed. Despite the smile on her face, it’s obvious that she’s cried.
My mood changes. “What happened?”
I fucking knew it.
Someone used their useless mouth to spew bullshit and it hurt her feelings.
When I get my hands on them I’ll make sure they suffer.
Hope glances at Marie and a quiet conversation goes on between them. Finally, after a long minute, she answers me. “People said some things.”
“What things?” I press the matter.
“About what happened on the weekend.”
Fucking hell. I spent a couple of hours there, not a life sentence. People were eating these rumors with sheer interest and delight. It wasn’t Hope who was getting the looks. I was in the spotlight. Since we were dating, people were eager to reach her to get to me.
I just hoped that they wouldn’t find out about Hope’s dad otherwise it would be a mess. People have a habit of enjoying other people’s misery and it would be a field day at school everyday with comments she doesn’t need to hear.
Especially when she is learning to come out of her comfort zone and take a step forward in my direction. She is telling me stuff now which is new.
I am proud of her. For trusting herself and me.
“What did they say?”
Rose chews on her bottom lip. “Stuff about you spending a night in cell and the reasons why you could’ve attacked my dad.”
I hate people.
“What did they say that made you cry?”
Rose looks at Marie who takes the lead. “It was Shian. She’s a girl from our grade. You must have seen her around. She’s bitter because she asked you out a while ago and you didn’t pay any attention to her so she’s spreading false rumors and targeting Hope.”
“It’s that girl from the morning?” I ask Rose.
She nods. “She wants to be your girlfriend.”
“Hah! As if Heath would ever date her. She’s evil,” Marie says. “Also, she doesn’t complement him at all.”
I arch an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
Rose and I both stare at Marie.
Sebastian strolls over to us and hugs Marie to his chest. “Explain, babe.”
Marie grins at him then faces us. “People who are compatible complete each other. Like I’m loud and chaotic, but Sebastian is quiet and calm. In places I’m lacking, he completes me and in places he’s lacking I complete him.”
That makes sense. Rose complements me.
In all the places I’ve felt empty, she fills me and makes me whole.
I only wish that I do the same for her.
“So really, Shian had no chance. Besides, even if she had somehow lured you into her trap, I would’ve kicked her out of your life,” Marie says determined.
I cough to hide my laugh.
“Heath deserves Hope,” Marie grins.
I look down at Hope and Rose blushes.
“No, I don’t,” I murmur, not for anyone’s ears.
But Rose hears me because she shakes her head and murmurs back. “You do.”