Chapter 8

Pov: Caleb

She was avoiding me. It irked me. I don’t know why but it did. 

I hadn’t talked to her since that Friday. Every time that she would see me coming in the hallways, she would either duck into the nearest room or just flat-out turn and go in the other direction. After our classes, she would be the first person out of the room. One time, she actually sprinted away from me.

I didn’t think that I had done anything to offend her so her behavior didn’t make sense to me. I also did not help that Brianna was around all the time. She was basically monopolizing me. She was a really nice girl but she was way too clingy. Sometimes it annoyed me but I couldn’t say anything. The last thing that I wanted was to make her mad at me. It would cause too much drama.

Thursday finally rolled around. I found myself looking forward to the biology lab lesson scheduled for that afternoon. I knew that it had nothing to do with my interest in the actual subject and everything to do with a certain elusive redhead. My plan was to get to class and get a seat next to her. There was no way she could avoid me then.

The time dragged by but at last, it was finally time for our biology lesson. I basically ran to the lab and sat in our previous spot hoping that she would come to sit with me. She finally came into the class but wouldn’t even make eye contact with me. It hurt me more than it should have. 

Mrs. Kingsley walked into the class five minutes after the bell rang.

“Okay, kids. I need you to pair yourselves up in the same pairings I assigned last time. I am going to give you a test that I’ll need you and your partner to submit before the end of the lesson.”

Most students groaned but I felt overjoyed. She had to talk to me now. Victoria stood up from where she was seated with Samantha and dragged her feet to our table. She obviously wasn’t pleased by the teacher’s order and now I could find out why.

She placed her book on our table and sat down as far away from me as she could. The papers were passed around the class. When she realized that there is no way that we could do the assignment seated so far from one another, she let out a deep sigh and scooted closer to me. I had enough.

“I can’t do this anymore. You’ve been avoiding me and I need to know why. Did I do something that upset you? I don’t think I did but if so, tell me how to fix it.”

She finally looked at me and said, “I’m not avoiding you. What gave you that idea?”

“So this is how we’re going to play this? Denial? You literally ran away from me the other day. Yes, that’s right. I saw that. Subtlety isn’t your strong suit,” I replied.

Her eyes widened. She looked like a deer caught in headlights. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said. She couldn’t meet my eyes.

“You are a terrible liar. Come on, tell me what’s wrong.”

I was pleading with her at that point. I had never tried so hard to get a girl to have a basic conversation with me. I hated it.

“I can’t tell you.” Alas! We were finally making progress.

“Why?” 

“I can’t tell you that either.” This girl was infuriating. I ran my fingers across my face in frustration. 

“Fine, don’t tell me.”

I thought that response would bait her into telling me what was going on but I had a feeling that she wouldn’t make it that easy. We were both silent for a few minutes. I really tried to keep my resolve but I caved first.

“You’re seriously not going to tell me?” I asked, breaking the silence.

“No, and we need to start this assignment. We are falling behind,” she answered.

I knew from her tone that I wouldn’t get anywhere with her. We spent the rest of the lesson doing the work. I was very disappointed. She asked the questions and wrote down the answers that we agreed on.

Halfway through the paper she commented, “You are really good at this. I didn’t know that you were this good at biology.”

I shrugged her comment off. In all honesty, I loved biology and had always done very well in it but I didn’t go around advertising the fact.

“You know, there is more to me than my luscious full hair. For shame Tori! Us pretty boys can be smart too,” I said dramatically as I ran my fingers through my hair.

That made her crack a smile. The sight of it made me feel like I had just won a marathon. Maybe there was still hope that I’d thaw out the ice queen. We continued the assignment but this time, it was a lot less awkward. I knew that I could get her to start talking to me again. I knew in my gut that Victoria and I were meant to be friends so I’d do anything to wear her down. 

She made me feel at ease and gave me a sense of calm and stability that I desperately needed in my life. The lesson ended and she handed our assignment in. I thought that she would run off again but she stopped by our table, smiled, and gave me a small wave. 

“Bye Caleb.”

That was the only motivation that I needed.

*** 

The next time that I got to talk to Tori was the next day at lunch. She and her two friends were sitting at their table while I sat with my team. She said something that made her two friends laugh and  I envied them. I stood up to go talk to her and Carl asked, “Dude, where are you going?”

“I’ll be right back.”

I got to their table without any of the girls realizing that I was coming. I slid in next to her and the conversation halted. All three girls looked at me like I was an alien. 

“You’re sitting here,” Victoria finally broke the silence. 

“Yes, I am.”

“Why?” she asked. I shrugged and reached for a chip on her plate. She slapped my hand away and growled.  

“Don’t mess with Tori and her food. The last time I tried to take a chicken nugget off her plate, I almost lost a finger,” Samantha said.

She turned to me, deadly serious, and said, “Drop the chip if you know what’s good for you Stallone.”

I was feeling bold. I raised my hand and put the chip into my mouth extra slowly, not breaking my eye contact the entire time. I bit down and made sure that the crunch was extra loud. She gasped and narrowed her beautiful eyes at me.

“You shall pay for your crimes. I’d watch your back if I were you.” 

“What if promised to get you a new bag of chips as penance?” I asked. 

She mulled over it for a moment and nodded. “ Fine, but don’t do it again. My food is stricter out of bounds.” 

“I thought that friends are supposed to share food,” I reasoned with her.

“That is absolute poppycock! Also, since when are we friends?” She raised her brow and looked at me skeptically. 

“We’re friends Johnson,  don’t fight it. I guess I’ll see you after school. We’ll go get you your chips.”

“What? I didn’t agree to that.”

“Yes, you did.” 

“No, I didn’t.  I have plans after school.”

“No she doesn’t,” Sam interjected. 

Victoria glared at her friend. Thank God for Sam!

“It looks like you’re coming with me. I’ll see you after school. Meet me at the entrance. Bye, ladies.” I turned on my heel and walked away before she had the chance to protest.