Chapter 16
1066 Words
Riley
The second morning, I rushed downstairs as soon as I woke up, but there was nothing, no Carl, just warm food and no note.
He was home last night, perhaps he returned late not to run into me and also left early before I woke up.
I stared at the plate, irritation curled in my chest. “Wow,” I muttered under my breath. “How generous of him,”
Going out to check if his car was in the parking lot would be a waste of time, so I ate the food anyway.
I must admit, Carl was good at cooking, the meal I ate last night was delicious, like he had cared too much about the details.
And I couldn’t throw this away because part of me hated that he could be thoughtful without actually speaking to me.
Two days, it was two entire days since our argument in the living room, and now he had preferred avoidance because I had accused him of treating me like a child.
I have been eating alone, and it was infuriating, too humiliating just because I chose to show him my feelings.
I shut the door behind me with a frown on my face, deciding to stop caring.
“You’re not going home?” I heard Neil’s voice behind me and I turned to see him.
“Not yet.” I answered.
He sat next to me at the low brick wall outside humanities building and slowly nudged my shoulder. “You’ve been weird all week.”
“I’m always weird.” I tried to laugh it off.
“Not like this.” He said and I glanced at him.
Neil had been orbiting around me like a very patient moon, but right now, I am not sure if I should tell him the truth, I was missing Carl, and still didn’t want to think much about it.
I was also scared of going back to an empty house, the excitement of going home to see Carl was no longer there, because it won’t change the fact that he wouldn’t be home.
“I’m fine.” I said, turning my gaze back to the students who were departing.
“You’re lying.”
I smirked. “You sound very confident about that.”
Neil leaned back on his hands, studying my face. “You’ve been staying later after classes, you keep checking your phone and pretending you’re not checking it, and yesterday you laughed at a joke that wasn’t funny.”
“It was funny…”
“It absolutely wasn’t.”
I rolled my eyes, but my lips twitched, my heart felt a bit light, but then the thoughts came back again.
“Is there someone else?”
I blinked. “What?”
“Are you waiting for someone?”
For a moment, Carl’s face flashed through my mind, I wanted to see his face, I wanted him to text or call me, but he hadn’t, he didn’t care.
I pushed the thought away. “No.”
Neil was silent for a while, I could see him staring at me, but I tried not to give anything away.
He exhaled. “Okay, good, because I want to ask you out.”
I closed my eyes and chuckled softly. “Neil, you’ve been asking me out for like two months, and I have already given you an answer…”
“Not like that.” He interrupted me and held my gaze. “I mean actually out, dinner, a date, and please, no ‘maybe next time’ excuse.”
I studied his expression, and he wasn’t joking. “Neil…”
“I know you keep brushing it off,” he continued, running a hand through his hair. “But I’m serious about you. Riley, I have been for a while.”
My chest tightened unexpectedly, this was different from when he had given me flowers in front of everyone in class, this time I was looking at him in the eye.
He reached out slowly and took my hand, his fingers were warm and gentle.
“And if there’s not some mystery guy you’re secretly in love with,” he said quietly. “I’d really like a chance with you.”
I stared at our joined hands, for some reason Carl’s voice echoed in my head.
You’re playing games you don’t understand.
I closed my eyes. If Carl wanted distance so badly, I could give it to him.
I opened my eyes, intertwining my fingers with Neil’s. “Fine.”
Neil blinked. “Okay?”
“Yes.” I said with a small smile. “Take me out.”
His face lit up. “Seriously?”
I nodded. “Seriously.”
He squeezed my hand with a grin on his face, and I smiled back, just then, a horn made us turn and I recognized Carl’s car.
I didn’t let go of Neil’s hand, but I was surprised to see Carl there, he had showed up, after three days of being away, he was there.
“Your father’s friend?” Neil muttered softly and I glanced back at him.
“Yeah, he’s here to pick me up.” I stood and Neil stood too.
I glanced at our hand, but didn’t let go of him as we both walked toward the pickup area, I didn’t care if Carl saw this, I knew he was watching, I wanted him to see that I was doing well without him.
When we approached the car, Neil squeezed my hand before letting go. “Friday night,” he said. “I’ll text you.”
I nodded.
“Don’t stand me up.” he added.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I responded, from the corner of my eyes, I noticed Carl’s finger tightening around his steering wheel.
Neil left and I turned to the car, getting into the passenger’s seat, Carl didn’t look at me when I got in.
“Seatbelt.” He said and my irritation flared immediately.
“That’s the first thing you say to me in three days?”
He pulled away from the curb. “You should wear it.
I clicked it loudly. “Happy?”
He didn’t respond and I looked out the window, while Carl focused on the road, I was too angry to speak, but relieved that I got to see Carl’s handsome face again.
- Writer
