Darken my love

Chapter 5

Chapter 5:

"I have a plan" Mert threw a stack of papers in front of us in our little meeting at lunchtime. "I am starving, why don't we head inside?" he whined looking to the direction of the lunchroom. Tom, Elizabeth, and Matt were looking at me in expectations, I shrugged grabbing the papers from the ground where we were sitting and started reading us.

"Vi, our, here is tiny bit Claustrophobic so you head inside we will wait here" Tom straightened his legs in front of him on the ground leaning against the tree. I glared at him through the papers, my fears were something I didn't want to discuss with anyone, ANYONE!

"Come on, let's overcome your this fear" Matt brushed his jeans getting up and held out his hand for me. I shook my head vigorously in no glancing at two and most patient Mert. "Come on, there is no such thing we can't overcome" he bends down to hold my hand in my lap and made me stand up.

"I am not claustrophobic, not exactly. It's just I don't like going to places with the crowd, where your bodies are touched with stranger's and where-"

"- Just cut it out, Violet. I am a very impatient guy" Mert cut me in standing up from the ground. "You go in, order your food, take your food, find the table and eat it. TADA!" he put his hands in the air exclaiming' Tada', Tom got up too and helped Elizabeth with her bag. I gave him knowing look which he shrugged off by an eye roll.

"Fears are meant to be overcome. You don't even know that you have stranger's touch fear because she didn't even try it" Elizabeth muttered taking my other hand in her grip and squeezed it. I hated to say that but she was right, I nodded smiling at her.

"Just a deep breath and get in" Tom whispered standing by my side swatting Matt's hand away, which was holding mine. Matt chuckled sheepishly and took a step away from me.

"Can we go, now?" Mert asked boredly and we made our way inside. Inside was the same I thought it would be, crowdy but everyone was already pre-occupied with their conversation and food as we made our way to counter. I asked for a milkshake, so did Tom, Elizabeth ordered a sandwich, Matt fries, and Mert a full lunch tray. After collecting our food, we found an empty table in the deep corner of the lunchroom and sat down. We did receive a few weird glances but I kept my eyes on the food when I heard a squeal just behind us. I knew whose voice was that as I clenched my eyes shut ready for the embarrassment.

"Look who decided to show up. Where did you wake up in the morning?" Vivian muttered amused and her friends snickered beside her.

"Why don't you take your bitchy behavior to somewhere else, b***h" Mert stole Matt's fries and threw it at her. Tom punched his shoulder and mumbled, "She is our sister" and went back to his shake. Mert looked at me, then Tom and then Vivian before scoffing and digging in his food. Vivian glared at him and scurried away stomping his feet in anger. I turned my head to see her retreating figure to her table.

.....................

"Vi! Listen up!" Before I could enter my last class, I heard Vivan's voice. I turned around to see her walking towards me but the guy was gone. The clicking of her heels echoed in almost empty hallway along with clicking sound of her key chains on bag zipper. I adjusted my book in my hands and adjusted my weight on the other foot.

"Tom is leaving for Malaysia" Vivan said coming close to me. "Nanu needed some help for Nana. Tom is leaving and also there is Nanu's Godson for their take care." My eyes started pooling waters on hearing this as it was a super-sensitive topic for me.

Nanu and Nana were our Paternal grandparents living in Malaysia. Nana had Alzheimer, so he could forget things easily. That was why Nanu decided to live there in Malaysia, in Nana's friend's circle. "So, Tom asked me to collect his belongings from his friend in the Parking lot. I have a  gossip meeting already so can you do that for me?" Vivan was in her world so she kept informing me, to which I nodded absentmindedly, before walking in the class but the whole time it was Nona and Nanu.

                                ~

3:00 PM

The school ended and I was in the parking lot, waiting for someone to show up with Tom's belongings. I sat on the wooden bench near the parking gate so that I could be spotted easily. There were Nanu and Nana in my mind all day, I just couldn't wait to go home and called them and the tardiness of Tom's friend was not helping at all. I fished out my phone and typed a quick text to Vivan about my location as we both were to drive back together.

I sensed a presence behind me and saw a silhouette on my phone screen when I was waiting for a text back. I turned my head to look behind me but upon seeing the familiar silver eyes and black hoodie I jumped back in my seat and was ready to kiss the ground when he held my arm to ease me down. He pulled me forward in the position where we both were face to face and I was leaning over the green parking bench. His face was expressionless but features were quite familiar. Sharp nose, Silvereyes, black curly hairs peeking out of hoodie, white skin, light stubble. Was I checking him out?! Oh No!

I pushed him to create some distance between us and stood straight on the ground to hide my blunder. He seemed knocked out of thoughts as he too stood two steps away from me and pushed his hands in his pockets. I could still sense his hold on my chin from yesterday, a rather harsh one.

"It was a misunderstanding" I heard him utter those words but none of them made sense. He wasn't even looking at me, I thought he was talking on phone or Bluetooth So I turned and about to leave WHEN

"Violet Claire Somerhalder" he called out softly but that halted me. How did he find out my name? My full name! How? Only our family and some records had my full name. Is he some kind of stalker?! "It was a misunderstanding" he whispered in my right ear that caught me off guard. I turned around completely to see him... Gone? He just flew away? After al-

"Hey, Tom's Sister" I jumped on the voice behind me and turned back with a hand over my heart to see Matt. He smiled sheepishly at me. "I didn't mean to scare you" I regained my normality and smiled at him. "Tom asked me to give you that as he had an emergency" He said stretching his arm with Tom's bag and few heavy books. I grabbed the bag with one hand and books with other but both of them fell hard on the ground. Matt chuckled and crouched down to pick the mess. I felt embarrassed so I decided to help him.

"I am sorry" my voice came out weak. Matt shook his head and gave me the bag as he got up with books.

"Where's your car? I'll accompany you to it" He said searching for our car in the parking lot. I nodded and started making our way to Vivian's Mercedes.

"I am Matthew" He said from beside me. I looked at him confused. "Come on I am trying to be a friend. Introduce yourself" I chuckled and stretched my hand.

"Hello, I am Violet Somerhalder" He looked at me, at my hand then books in his hands. I laughed loud seeing his condition because he couldn't shake my hand. He narrowed his eyes at me but smiled. "You are pretty" that seized my laugh, I resumed marching to my car.

"Hey! I was testing the waters!" he said running towards me. I put the bag on the bonnet and crossed my arms over my chest.

"You were flirting" I pointed out to which he chuckled placing books on a nearby bench.

"I was stating the fact" before I could react he surrendered "Ok! Ok! We can be friends. Right? As Tom is away for God knows how much time and I am new and all alone." he shrugged expecting me to understand. I chuckled at his puzzled expression and nodded. The clicking of heels got our attention. Vivian came into view from behind.

"Matthew?" Vivian's eyes widened with surprise or anger or I don't know! Matthew stood up straighter, mouthed me goodbye then neared Vivian smiling incredibly tight. "You don't know me" he whispered to her but I did listen to him. Did they know each other? If yes, then why being strange? If no, then why would he react? Ugh! My head was about to explode. I got in the car after settling Tom's bags and books ready for another interrogation round with Vivian.

"What?" Vivian asked irritatingly. I narrowed my eyes at her and neared closer to the passenger's seat. She rolled her eyes and groaned. I sat up straight and busied myself with my phone.

"Sure, don't tell me. I'll ask Mom to confront you." Her head whiplashed in my direction. "Oh please, Vi. Shut it. I am not involving myself in danger and that's all for you to know! Get a hint, Dude." I shrugged my shoulder and hit the call button to Tom when Vivian put the car on the drive.

Sorry guys, exam season!