Chapter 20. Distraction
1282 Words
Claire was waiting for her at the entrance gate the following Monday.
"Hey girly!"
Her friend waved at her with more than enough enthusiasm Milly had to smile.
"Hey, are you feeling much better?"
She asked.
Claire felt under the weather the rest of the weekend, probably because of lack of sleep.
"I'm good as new!"
She assured her, twirling once as they walked inside the campus.
"How are you?"
Claire clung to her side as they walked up the stairs.
"You look inspired..."
Her friend commented.
"Did something happen that I should know about?"
She was flicking her brows up and down and Milly laughed at how silly she looked.
"Nothing's happening, and if there really is, I'm not telling you!"
Milly teased back, leaving Claire behind as she made a run to their classroom.
"Hey!"
Claire called up, running after her.
"Don't be a spoilsport and tell me everything!"
Milly was giggling as she turned to see Claire chasing her.
Distracted for a moment, she didn't see the guy standing next to their classroom door.
Amelia landed straight to a muscled chest and lean, strong arms, steadying her from both sides.
"Woah, Woah..."
His deep voice penetrated her ears before she even had the chance to look at him.
"Steady..."
Milly looked up to penetrating eyes and maybe a couple of weeks old stubble under his chin.
"Hi."
He greeted her softly.
Milly had to blink a few times to recognize who was in front of her.
"Theo!"
Recognition dawned on her face as she straightened and moved away from his body.
"What are you doing here?"
She asked just as Claire caught up to her.
"Oh, hey!"
Claire sounded as surprised as she was, so her friend didn't know why he was there either.
"Just passing by..."
He replied and nodded at Claire before turning his attention back to Milly's.
"You're passing by...all the way here?"
Claire continued.
"And your building is like half a block away."
Milly bit her lip and averted her gaze.
She felt awkward being there.
Theo laughed a little and cleared his throat.
"You're right."
He easily admitted.
"I'm just checking in on how you two are doing!"
That earned a frown from Claire, obviously still suspicious.
Her long-time buddy never cared to visit her classroom first thing in the morning even back in high school when they belonged to different classes.
"Hmm..."
She hummed in response.
Her eyes slanted thin as she looked Theo up and down, then turned on Claire.
"Anyway, I'll see you around!"
He didn't wait for them to acknowledge that but just walked towards the stairs, relaxed and confident in his gait.
"What was that about?"
Claire bombarded her right away as soon as Theo left.
"I think you know more than I do."
Milly answered, truly had no idea why he was there that early.
"I'm almost certain he was here not because of me."
Claire spoke matter-of-factly but Milly's brows furrowed.
It was highly unlikely that he was there for her. There was no indication whatsoever that he was interested in her.
Was there?
Milly shook her head and faced her friend.
"And I think you're most certainly mistaken that he was here for me."
She declared, pulling her book from her bag and putting it on their table with a thud.
Claire let out a sigh but her face told Milly she wasn't done at all.
"It's not because of me...that I'm sure."
Her friend murmured to herself but since they were sitting elbow to elbow anyway, Milly could still hear her.
"Mark my words, he was interested in you."
Milly cast her a quick glance before dismissing her with a small wave.
He wasn't interested in her and even if he was, she had no intention of entertaining another suitor.
Wow.
Suitor.
That was a strange word to her, and it was the first time she halfway acknowledged that Laurence was, indeed her suitor.
Did anyone still use that word?
Maybe not anymore. Milly concluded.
Regardless though, she couldn't think of Theo any more than an acquaintance.
Hours later, the cafeteria was packed with the lunch crowd. Good thing they were able to grab a table right after some seniors finished and left. It was almost twelve and Milly was already starving. She only had a piece of bread for breakfast. She also needed caffeine for the full afternoon class so she planned to get coffee before going to the auditorium.
"Do you want my corn too?"
Claire asked after seeing her finish hers in just under three minutes.
Milly looked up in anticipation.
"Really?"
Her friend appeared dumbfounded but did give her the bowl of corn kernels she had.
"I haven't seen you this hungry before."
Milly smiled but scooped up a spoonful into her mouth.
"Thanks."
She quipped, not wanting to speak too much in between spoonfuls of food.
Claire just shook her head and focused back on her plate.
"I figure you'll be needing this sooner rather than later."
Milly looked up to see Theo standing next to her, two bottles of what looked like cold green tea in hand.
He casually placed it in front of them and took the empty chair from the next table to theirs and got seated.
"Ohhh, Theo!"
Claire was the first one to react, opening hers right away and gulping half of it down.
"Great timing! I needed this."
She added and looked at Milly's face.
That was the only time she realized she must have looked so messy. Taking two small gulps from the bottle, Milly mumbled her thanks.
"Anytime."
Theo replied, his eyes focused on her face.
He blinked a few times and hesitated, but smiling a little, he extended his right hand to her.
"You have a..."
Milly automatically leaned back, surprised by his gesture.
But Claire just stayed silent, content in observing the two.
"You have...something on your cheek."
Theo didn't allow her to react to what he said, instead he leaned forward halfway to the table between them, and wiped her cheek with his thumb; ever so lightly.
Milly felt her blush creep up to her cheeks right away so she murmured another thank you and offered him a small awkward smile.
Claire's mouth was half open, slowly munching on her sweet potato, her eyes bulging in surprise and astonishment.
What an interesting turn of events! She thought.
So she was right with her hunch. Theo never gave any special attention for no reason.
This would be fun! She concluded, taking a big bite off her fried drumstick.
That was not fun to watch!
Laurence flicked his fork down it clattered on his plate noisily, surprising the boys around him.
They went to lunch together so they could talk about their practice in the afternoon. But his mood turned sour just halfway through. Eyebrows furrowed in obvious annoyance, Laurence gulped down his soda and let out a pent-up sigh.
"What's wrong?"
Ryan asked, confused by his sudden mood change.
They were jovial just before they sat down to eat.
"Was it the food?"
Ron chimed in and took a half spoon off his plate.
"Food's fine...as usual."
He commented and went back to eating.
Matt and Jaden didn't say anything but just looked at him curiously.
Shaking his head, Laurence stood up.
"I'm heading out first."
He could still them across the room. Beyond the sea of bodies filling the cafeteria. He could see them.
The guy Theo just touched her.
He touched her and he didn't like how he was staring at her.
He knew what it meant.
He knew.
Because that was how he looked at her too.
- Writer
