The Heartless Frankenstein (XIV Series #2)

Chapter Fourteen

High School Sweethearts II

“Where are you? I’m done here.”

“I actually can’t pick you up today.”

My eyes widened.

“We’re having an assembly in our department and they won’t let me go home unless I finish the task they gave me.”

“WHAT?”

“Sorry, Gwynn. I would be there now if I wasn’t caught up with department duties.” He explained but I wasn’t taking a reject from him anytime soon.

“No way!” I flung my hands in the air, grunting. “You told me to pick me up today so you’re picking me up!” I grunted in frustration as I looked around the area, thinking what my next move would be.

“If you want, you can wait for me there.”

I squinted my eyes in disbelief. The nerve of this man.

“I’ll finish my responsibilities as fast as I can.”

“Forget it.” I quickly cut him off when I realized what he was trying to make me do. I wasn’t going to stand around waiting for him for, God knows, how long it would take. “I’ll just go home myself.” I sighed. Maybe it’s the nature’s call for me to have fun and have an alone time. Though it would be a bonus if a guy comes up and makes my alone time better – that’s totally okay with me, I won’t be complaining if that ever happened.

“Okay then. Be careful. Call me when you get home.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” I lazily replied.

I’ve never really got the chance to walk around the city like this. Like really stroll around and appreciate it. I mean, I often see dating cites but nothing else – nothing like this. I kind of missed just being myself, I guess is what I’m on about. Who would have thought I would? That’s crazy!

“Lois?”

I froze from my position at the sound of my name being called. I wasn’t that that familiar with the voice but it was ringing something in my memory.

Is this who I think it is?

I turned around with a sweet smile, regardless of who it was, and saw— “Snoopy!” I exclaimed in delight. I mean, I expected a new guy but then again, maybe he’s a new guy to me as well and it just felt like he wasn’t because we’ve already watched a soccer game together. And often saw each other inside the campus. “What a surprise to see you here?” I wasn’t that surprised. I was more relieved that I have a reason to finally be alone with him since that went totally wrong when we were supposed to watch the game together without Aiden.

“I went to buy a new journal notebook for another class.”

I nodded even though I wasn’t that interested about it. “Are you alone?”

He looked around him. “Yes. My friend sort of bailed on me…”

I laughed, but really, I was giggling because now, I was sure I was going to ask him to accompany me since we were both alone and got bailed by our friends. “I always seem to find my way to you whenever you’re being left by someone.” I teased, crossing my arms as I glanced at his direction.

His eyes sparked. His eyes looked way better than the first time I met him. “I’m starting to think so too,” He chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

“Maybe we’re destined to spend the day together because Aiden ditched me too.”

He flashed a shy, small smile. “Maybe we are.”

The rest of the afternoon, we spent our day walking around the nearby park from the café, entering shops without buying anything, messing up cleanly stacked shirts, unsorting out racks and racks of items. It was fun. I would have done this with any guy and, admittedly, still have fun. While I was out here enjoying my free time, my teammates were suffering training with the lack of their main support, and I don’t really mind. I’m way enjoying this more than I expected.

“It’s getting dark, we should go home.” I suggestively said, looking up to the already dark sky. Time really went fast when I’m with guys.

He nodded, a little disappointed. Maybe he didn’t want the day to end as much as I did, but I did promise Aiden I’d call him once I get home, and it’s been hours. He’s probably going crazy thinking and worrying about me more than his. “Should we grab an ice cream before we go?” He said pointing at an ice cream shop just across where we stopped.

“Sounds great.”

When we went inside, ordered, we took a seat and waited for our ice cream. I sat across him, looking away but he was just looking at my direction with a smile. I wasn’t even glancing back because I was worried it might make the environment feel awkward so I joking said, “Hey, why are you looking at me like that? You’re going to melt me and my ice cream. That’s no good. Do you like me or something?” I chuckled, raising a brow at him and thankfully, he didn’t take it too seriously because he cackled along with me.

“I’m really grateful that you took me to that barbeque house that day,” He started. “I can’t imagine how it would have been if I moped around because of the breakup. I have a feeling I would have felt depressed when you didn’t walk to me in that moment.”

I let out a small scoff, bobbing my head. “You’re welcome you met an awesome friend like me.” I said before he could even tell me he liked me. I mean, pointing out as friends always made things less awkward. It’s always a good loophole to just say you’re friends even if you really tried to flirt with them without breaking their hearts that much.

“F-Friend… right.”

Poor Snoopy. I kind of feel bad now but I would have felt worse if I dated him and broke his heart after. Being friends isn’t that bad. “What’s with the stammer?” I asked, taking a sip from my water. Again, I honestly didn’t need to know. Guys just naturally feel more comfortable when they’re given what they want and need.

“You know, after the breakup, I thought,” he paused, smiling bitterly. “Lois’ helping me heal a lot. That’s so nice and she likes watching soccer games, and giving me her food.”

Oh no.

“I like her a lot.”

There it goes.

His eyes stared at mine with so much sincerity and pain at the same time, but I couldn’t really reciprocate the feeling. “But then I see you and you’re always really nice to other people and not just me so I realized, ah,” he looked away, nodding. “Our feelings must not be mutual.”

I sighed, staring at him pitifully. It’s quite sad that I can’t allow myself to date him or be exclusive, like he was with his ex-girlfriend. He’d be a really good boyfriend and that’s why I wouldn’t dare play with his feelings even if I felt like I already did and I’m too late to take all my actions back. If you were a little badder, I would have dated you without question but you’re too precious, Snoopy. Trust me, you are.

“I like being friends, don’t get me wrong.” He shook both his hands in the air, trying to make me feel better about indirectly rejecting him. “I really like talking to someone who likes soccer as much as I do. And I really like how it feels so light with you. It feels comfortable being around you and I guess that’s one of the reasons why people are so fond of you.” He smiled, a genuine one and I couldn’t help but smile back. He was very understanding too. But I have to disagree on the last part of what he said because I was doing things on purpose. I was being comfortable with everyone because I plan it with not as pure of intentions as he thought I might.

I pressed my lips together. “I like you a lot too, Jett. Just not the way you think.”

He smiled but nodded.

“You do know you’re the one I’m calling every time I want to watch soccer games now, right?” I heard him chuckle which relieved me. “Without Aiden next time. He’s nothing but annoying.” I rolled my eyes, grunting as I shook my head as I remembered the event.

“To friendship?” He suddenly raised his cup of ice cream in the air.

I laughed, remembering how we did this the first time we met. Funny, how I actually remember that and not the ones I’ve had with other guys, wow. I flashed a crooked smile and raised mine as well, mumbling, “To friendship.”