Chapter Twenty
T he commons seemed stifling when I arrived, knowing what I had to do. My stomach was in knots already, so food was out of the question until this part was over.
“Hey, um, can I talk to you?” I asked Kim softly.
“I don’t really want to talk to you.”
“Maybe you guys just need to cool off?” Liv offered, attempting to break the tension.
“I just need to apologize. Please let me.”
Kim said nothing, which I took as an invitation. “I had no right to say the things I said to you earlier. You know I don’t really think… You know I love you. I was stressed from being late, and I just didn’t want to hear gossip about Zack right then. I’m so sorry I hurt your feelings.”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. I know it’s not. I can eat somewhere else today if you want. Just…I’m sorry.”
“Yes,” she answered with a frosty tone.
“Yes what?”
“Yes, please eat somewhere else today.”
“Seriously?”
“You offered. Why did you say it if you didn’t mean—”
“Okay, okay. I’m going. I’ll see you later. Bye Liv.” Liv simply offered a stiff wave.
Apparently, the tides have turned , I contemplated in regard to Kim’s thoughts about Liv from literally three days before.
While in line for spaghetti, I looked around for Zack, finally ready to face the fact that I hadn’t heard from him.
He was nowhere to be seen. I looked around, assuming I was going to have to eat alone.
I saw a couple of upper classmen from cheer at a nearby table, but that felt awkward.
I spotted Luke sitting with a couple of guys from the basketball team, and I thought I’d brave that rather than be stuck with my own thoughts for too long.
I slid into an empty chair without asking permission, and I opened up the garlic bread that smelled delicious.
“V…” Luke started.
“Luke…” I finished in a mocking tone.
“Are you lost? Do you need me to show you the way back?”
“Nope.”
Troy Aimes, a long-time acquaintance and even longer-time douchebag at the table was looking at me curiously. “I don’t get it,” he stated cryptically.
“The English language? Basic math? Dental hygiene?” I retorted, not caring that I was being a complete bitch.
Troy’s eyes narrowed and he turned back to Luke. “You seriously took that hit—”
“Watch yourself, Aimes,” Luke warned his friend, his muscles suddenly tense.
“Whatever man.” He just shot daggers at me again, scooted out his chair with a screech, and walked away.
“Was it something I said?” I asked with feigned sheepishness. It wasn’t a secret that I wasn’t his biggest fan.
“Nah, why would telling a guy he’s stupid with bad breath offend him?”
I just shrugged my shoulders.
“What are you doing over here anyway?”
“I said some mean things. I’m waiting for the ice to thaw.”
“Wow, you’re just alienating people right and left.”
“Yeah, well, sometimes my mouth gets me in trouble. What did he mean about taking a hit? I thought it was a basketball accident.”
“We can chat about anything you like. Except that. Pick a new topic.”
I was quiet for a moment, thoroughly confused by his response.
“Ummmm, my basement’s almost done.”
“Sweet. When’s the party?”
“Yeah, there is very little chance of me inviting hordes of messy, dirty people over to screw up my creation, so never.”
“You’re just going to sit alone and stare at the walls?”
“They’re very nice walls.”
He just shook his head and leaned back in his chair.
“I remember you being more fun than that.”
“I’m fun,” I retorted, beginning to feel annoyed. Though to be fair, this was bound to happen sooner or later when sitting at the same table as Luke.
“Fun people don’t have to say that.” He grinned, shoving a french fry into his mouth.
“You’re dumb.” That was the worst come back in history. I was embarrassed I had even let it come out of my mouth. His grin turned into a laugh.
“And you’re losing your touch. You came to sit by me, so you’re free to leave at any time. You already chased away my friends. Are you trying to get me to leave too?”
I bit the inside of my lip, wishing I could tell him where to go and be okay sitting by myself.
“Whatever,” was all I could muster.
“So, tell me, what’d you say to get exiled from your own table?”
I breathed, recalling exactly what I’d spouted off, and the look on Kim’s face afterward.
“Stupid, mean, unkind things. I don’t even know why I said them. I’ve just had a crappy morning, and she is always saying, ‘I heard this, I heard that,’ and I just didn’t want to listen to it. But I was in the wrong, so here I am. In exile until Kim forgives me.”
“ Kimmy kicked you out? I thought for sure you’d been cat fighting with Liv. You must have screwed up; Kim thinks you’re like the Britney Spears of Fox Falls.”
“Shut up, she does not. ”
“Does so. I went to homecoming with her. We chatted. A lot. The girl likes to talk.”
“That she does,” I laughed. “It was nice that you guys went together though. I know she—”
“Hey, do you wanna get outta here?” he interrupted, suddenly sitting up rather straight in his chair.
“What? I still have two classes left today.”
“Yeah, and? We could go to the mall, or the zoo, I don’t really care, let’s just go.”
“I can’t. I totally failed a quiz this morning, and I can’t risk my other grades dropping. My mom would revoke my driving privileges again, and I just got them back. What’s going on with you? You were fine, and now you’re weird.”
His green eyes were hard as I tried to read them. The chair next to me was pulled out suddenly, causing me to whip my head around.
“Hey guys,” Zack offered without sincerity. He placed his fingers at the back of my neck and pressed slightly. I was sure it was supposed to be a comforting gesture, but his mood was off.
“Hey, where were you?” I asked.
“Went to pick up food. I brought you a cheeseburger, though seeing how you’ve been spending your time, I’m not sure you’ve earned it.”
Luke unceremoniously stood up and stormed away from the table without a word.
What the hell is going on?
“Shut up. Give me my cheeseburger.” I looked after Luke, but he was gone. “What was that about?” I asked as Zack dropped a Wendy’s bag in front of me. My mouth watered as soon as the scent of grease hit my nose.
“What, Miller? Eh, just a misunderstanding.” He waved me off, and I had more pressing questions to ask.
“I didn’t hear back from you yesterday.”
“What do you mean ‘hear back from me’?”
“I texted you, and nothing.”
“I didn’t know your text required a response, babe.”
“All of my texts require a response.”
He held my gaze, but never let his dimples disappear.
“Aren’t you feisty today?”
“I tend to get that way when one of my best friends tells me you hooked up with Jenna Saturday night.”
He almost choked on his soda.
“I what?”
“That’s what I hear. So, you must’ve been pretty busy.”
“V, I was with you all of Saturday night.”
“I know. I didn’t say I believed her. I actually said some really… well, I didn’t react in a ladylike manner. So now I’m sitting over here.”
“Aw, you were jealous.”
“Why would I be jealous of something I know didn’t occur?”
“Calm down, babe. I’m just messing with you. Thanks for defending my honor to Liv. Weird though, I thought she liked me.”
“Not Liv. Kim. Why does everyone assume Liv?”
“Wow, Kim’s talking shit, huh?” He looked over at my former table and waved obnoxiously at Kim, who refused to make eye contact.
“Oh my god, stop it. I’m trying to get her to forgive me.”
“Sorry. Couldn’t resist. And speaking of things I can’t resist,” he continued, pulling my chair next to him, “come out with me tonight?”
“When?”
“I’ll pick you up at six,” he murmured in my ear. “Please wear my favorite dress.” I shivered, wondering where he was going to take me.
“I can manage that.” I looked at my watch, realized I was cutting it close, and scarfed down the remainder of my cheeseburger.
I even let Zack hold me around the waist on the way to class.
I hated people who walked that way, often judging them loudly in public, but I wanted to ensure that anyone else who’d heard the Jenna rumor would know it was bullshit.
* * *
Thankfully, Liv was able to drop me at home after one of the best practices I’d had all year—my tumbling even earning me a compliment from Stephanie.
I was cautiously optimistic about my date with Zack and wanted to get in the shower as soon as humanly possible.
When I waltzed in the door, my mom practically pounced on me.
“Oh my god, I’ve been waiting forever for you to get home,” she exclaimed.
“Jesus, Mom, you almost gave me a heart attack. And why? What’s wrong?”
My immediate thought was that I was in trouble. My mom was never this happy to see me.
“Nothing! It’s done! The basement! Mike finished this afternoon, and I’ve been waiting for you before I went down there.”
My heart started thumping in my chest. My project was complete?
In six weeks? Weren’t contractors supposed to drag these things out and make the homeowners’ lives miserable?
It also struck me that my mom had waited before going to look at it.
The expression on her face conveyed that she actually got what a big deal it was.
“Are you sure? Finished? What about the outlet covers, are they back on?”
“I don’t know, Vanessa, I just told you I’ve been waiting for you! Mike said he’ll come by tomorrow and check on everything again, so you can leave him a list if there’s something missing. Now can we go downstairs or not? ”
“Yes!” I nearly shouted as it hit me that everything I’d been working for was done. Dropping my cheer bag where I stood, I flew down the stairs and into the main living space.
There was nothing like the feeling of walking in to a completely finished design.
I had seen all of the pieces, separately, but together?
It was magical. He had hung the Moroccan style lanterns in turquoise, yellow, red, pink, and midnight blue exactly where we’d discussed, and low light glowed out of them and filled the space.
I ran my fingers along the back of the clean-lined white sectional and took in the sight of the pillows.
There were so many pillows. Beaded ones, some with lace, some embroidered, in every color imaginable.
It looked like a marketplace from somewhere far, far from Ohio.
It was beautiful. Turning, I watched my mom take in the sight as well.
“Vanessa… this is incredible.”
“I know, right?!” I joked. I wasn’t entirely sure how to react to compliments from her.
She just shook her head and continued to inspect the art on the walls—some wrought iron work, some prints in heavy metallic frames.
“I can’t believe this is my house,” she murmured.
“Come! Let’s see the bedroom and bathroom!
” I urged, unable to wait any longer. The vibe in this room shifted slightly, the color palette a little more subdued but no less beautiful.
Mixed metals and colorful throw pillows stood out against the creamy white walls.
It was elegant and sophisticated, just as I’d imagined.
The bathroom was small but felt airy with the arabesque tiles and the gold and white shower curtain surrounding the tub. The whole thing was surreal. It was impossible that all of this had only been in my semi-organized binder two months ago.
“Please can I live in here?” I asked, unable to force my feet to leave the room .
“Vanessa, please don’t start. Let’s just enjoy your accomplishment right now. Please.”
I realized this was as good as a “no,” but agreed to drop it and enjoy the moment. “
Can I shower down here to get ready for my date?” I questioned, needing to experience the space.
“Yes,” my mom breathed, seemingly happy to be able to agree to something.
I knew I needed to hurry to be ready on time, but I still appreciated the detail work in the mirrors on the wall and the curve of the tall faucet in the sink.
After applying the finishing touches of my makeup and pulling on the requested dress, I went to sink into the sofa and take in what I’d created.