Chapter Eleven
**Oliver West**
I inserted my earbuds into my ears and grabbed a few bucks from my savings. I raced downstairs to et Pumpkin on the sofa. She looked to be working on her assignnts. Mom still wasn’t back yet.
Sotis I wished I could be like her. I couldn’t help being jealous of my kid sister.
I have a huge workload of howork and projects lined up for . They still have to be submitted before Friday. My second na should be called procrastination.
I really need those points. Without them I would never manage to get into a good university. I would be trapped in this little town all my life.
The thought sent a thrill of motivation and the reality of everything I would have to struggle with if I ended up falling through . I wondered how long it would last, but either way I’ll get started on it once I get back.
The weather was cool and breezy. The orange setting sun gave the environnt a sort of peaceful look. It looked perfect to take a short walk down the neighborhoods, or perhaps go to the grocery store. I needed a new sketch book. The old one was completely filled up. Also, getting so new colored pencils would be great.
"Pumpkin, can you manage alone? I need to go out and get a few things. I’ll be back in a short while."
She looked up from her howork with a mischievous grin. "Only if you bring back so gummy bears. The sour ones, not those boring regular ones."
I rolled my eyes. "Your teeth are going to rot and fall out if you keep eating so much candy. Then you won’t be able to kiss anyone in the future because you’ll look like a toothless old granny."
"Eww, Oliver! I don’t want to kiss anyone! That’s gross!" she shrieked, throwing a pillow at my head. "Boys have cooties!"
"Just wait a few years, you’ll change your mind," I laughed, dodging the pillow. "And when you do, you’ll thank for trying to save your teeth."
"Whatever! Just get the gummy bears or I’m telling mom you snuck out to et your boyfriend!" she threatened with an evil grin.
"I don’t have a boyfriend!" I protested, my face turning red.
"Yet!" she sang out. "But when you do get one, I want to et him first to make sure he’s good enough for my big brother."
Despite everything, her words made smile. "Deal. Gummy bears it is, you little extortionist."
"Yay! And get the big bag, not the tiny one!"
At her triumphant nod, I made my way out of the house, shaking my head at my sister’s antics.
*
I paid for the sketch book and pencils. I decided to walk around the bookstore for a while. I wanted to get a new manga, but I just couldn’t decide on which one. All of them looked good.
I shoved the last one back in place. I was about to select another when I heard a sickening familiar high-pitched tone.
How could it be? I peered my head through the space the book shelf allowed, and sure enough it was Amanda.
Only she wasn’t alone.
Kieran Morrison.
He was with her. My gaze followed them as they made their way to the cashier.
How could they be here!
I held a hand over my heart that picked up at an alarming rate.
No worries. They haven’t spotted yet, and I doubt they would be able to do anything to with so many people around, adults and young alike. Sure this was the most famous bookstore in town, but I didn’t expect to bump into them yet.
I hid perfectly well among the bookshelves, but couldn’t manage to control my fast breathing.
What could they possibly want?
Buy books of course! I replied to my own obvious question.
Maybe my question wasn’t entirely obvious. I an for a girl like Amanda, nothing here could possibly interest her.
It must be Kieran who wanted sothing, and he had brought her along.
That would an that their relationship wasn’t just an easy fling like William had suggested.
I spared another glance in their direction.
There was no Kieran.
Just Amanda who didn’t appear like she would leave anyti soon.
I couldn’t wait here any longer. It was getting dark outside, not to ntion that Pumpkin was all alone at ho. And I still needed to get those gummy bears or I’d never hear the end of it.
I made my way out without her spotting . Now I just have to get ho straight.
Only I wasn’t so lucky.
As I walked out in a hurry, I bumped into a hard wall of brick. A sound of pain escaped my mouth as the stuff I held slipped from my hands and scattered onto the floor. My legs would also have given way if not for the muscular pair of arms that caught .
Wait... Arms?
I opened my eyes to et a startling gray stare. It burned with an expression I couldn’t read that made my heart race even more, if that was even possible.
For a mont ti stood still. He didn’t make any move to let go. I also couldn’t break free even if I wanted to. His gaze held in a trance.
My heart was thundering hard. The scene pretty much looked like one of those scenes from a romance movie... but yeah, this was how it really happened.
He blinked. The strange look was gone, replaced by confusion and finally ended with a blank look.
He pushed away instantly, like the feel of my skin burned him.
"Why the fuck are you here!" he spat with a an look.
I fidgeted. I wiped my sweaty palms against my skinny jeans as I struggled to co up with an answer.
Wait...
Why do I even have to answer him? I might as well ask him the sa.
This wasn’t school. He couldn’t possibly push around in such a crowded area.
His gaze left mine and focused on my scattered drawing materials on the floor. One of his eyebrows went up, but I still couldn’t read his expression.
"You still draw shit?" his voice was flat. Was it just , or did it lack that icy chill it always held?
His words struck , and replayed in my head. I stared at him confused. A wave of excitent swept through . It was as if I finally t an old friend.
One I still missed dearly.
I wanted to tell him that I don’t "draw shit" anymore. That I had drawn him so many tis all through these years. I could even manage perfectly fine with my eyes shut tightly closed.
"You do still rember that I draw," the words slipped out of my mouth, my voice small and croaky.
That statent was a mistake. A hard look flashed across his face so suddenly that I was startled.
"Yes and that’s just one among all the hateful things about you!" he said coldly.
His words hit with a stab of hurt. I guess that short precious mont was forgotten. At least it had been precious to . He was now back to hating .
"Fine, you hate . I already know that," I mumbled in a low tone, trying hard to keep the hurt out of my expression, to maintain an indifferent look.
I don’t know if it worked.
I sucked in a sharp breath when he took a step towards .
Then another.
I recognized that glint in his gaze. He always had that look whenever he would do sothing to hurt .
My whole body scread to run. The hairs on my body prickled, but I stood glued to my spot like a statue.
He stood, towering high above . I couldn’t tear my gaze away from his hard features.
The line of his jaw seed sharper up close. His nose flared with each breath he took. His lips set in a grim line.
I shrank further into myself. My knees shook with tension.
He never failed to use his height to his advantage against . Making him look so intimidating and untouchable. Like a predator who could easily crush to death with his boot.
"Since you know how much I despise you, then why don’t you just die? The world doesn’t need soone as pathetic as you. I an, how could you live so normally? Don’t you think about ending it sotis? Don’t you still feel guilty?" He spoke it with such raw hatred that felt like a thousand needles to my already bleeding heart.
My eyes stung, but the tears didn’t fall. I didn’t allow it. I looked up at him, eting his gaze with my swimming ones.
"I do. Unfortunately I can’t," I spoke in a whisper, the tears threatening to fall.
His gaze was dark. His mouth was open like he wanted to co up with a sharp reply.
But he didn’t. Instead he stared at sothing behind .
Amanda.
She was a few feet away from us.
I wondered if she overheard anything.
She made her way towards us, linked her arms around him and brushed her lips over his.
Was she doing this to show her claim on him to ?
I thought I saw an irritated look cross Kieran’s features. I guess I saw wrong. She was his girlfriend after all.
She looked at with a too sweet smile when they finally pulled away.
"Hey nerd, it’s no pleasure eting you," she said in her fake accent.
I t Kieran’s gaze, then took a quick glance around. How did it get so dark?
I really need to get going!
Ignoring her, I bent down to gather my sketchbook.
"I’m talking to you!" she spoke again in a high tone.
I rolled my eyes. Was she this clueless?
What was she expecting?
A smile or an apology from ?
I stared at the both of them.
"It’s no pleasure eting the both of you either, but you’re just everywhere, so what do I do? I just have to put up with everything!"
I saw Kieran’s shocked narrow look. Even Amanda looked at speechlessly for a split second.
I dashed into the night wondering where that had co from.
Kieran would probably make pay for it tomorrow.
But for once, standing up for myself felt good.
Even if it ant I’d suffer the consequences later.
*
As I walked ho in the darkness, I couldn’t stop thinking about that mont when Kieran caught . For just a second, he had looked at differently. Not with hate or disgust, but with sothing else.
Sothing that made my heart race for all the wrong reasons.
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