In love with a bad neighbor

Chapter fifteen - We are only friends

Emma's POV:

I hate to be grounded. Mostly, it's because of something stupid. I won't apologize for what I did. At least Vince is with me. It's not like I can see him very often. I don't know what my mom's problem is. I told her a million times that I don't like Ricky. Why can't she understand it? Maybe I have to stop saying it. She will never understand. I have to say that I am a bit worried about Vince's parents. Now they know about me and I hope that they won't tell anyone. I am already grounded, so I don't want it to get longer. I wish that I was like normal girls. They don't have so many problems and definitely don't have to hide their friends. To be honest, I don't even know what Vince and I are. I would like it if we were friends, but what we do shows the opposite. We can be friends with benefits, but our benefits are more than friendship. I don't think that I like Vince in more than a friendly way, but if I have to be honest, it would be weird if he was not around. I got used to seeing him every day. It's not like this is something bad. Except for the beneficial part, he is a good listener and understands my problems. I know that he wants to kill Ricky, but I can't let him get in trouble. I never thought that I would care for a stranger, but I do. Vince is important to me, and I don't want him to be away from me.

Finally, after one week, I am free again. I don't like being grounded. Who does? If I had done something bad, I wouldn't complain, but I didn't. Is it wrong to defend yourself from someone who is forcing you to do things that you don't want? I don't understand how my mom can't see what type of person Ricky is. At least dad is on my side. It's not like he will ever be against mom. I just wish that everything was normal. No one can tell me with who I will go out. I am old enough to take this decision by myself. Moreover, Vince is not a bad person. He said that he was a bad boy, but he hadn't done anything bad, or at least not in front of me.

I woke up and walked to the window. Vince was still sleeping. In that case, I can go and get ready for school. When I was done, I walked downstairs for breakfast. I left him a message that I would wait for him at the end of the street as usual. To be honest, the breakfast was a bit awkward. Mom and dad were talking from time to time, but that was it. I didn't know what to tell them. That's why I ate my food as fast as possible and walked out. I waited ten minutes for Vince. Now I see what took him so much time.

- Is that gel on your hair?

- Yes, why?

- Let me fix it. - I said and put my hand through his hair to remove the gel

- Why did you do that?

- Because I don't like it. You look like the fake celebrities on the Internet.

- Now my hair is bad again.

- If you let me, I can help you.

- Thanks, but you already did enough.

Of course, I didn't listen. I pulled out the small comb, which I always wear in my backpack. Let's say that when I am tired of my ponytail, I have to brush my hair. Otherwise, it looks ugly. For less than two minutes, I fixed his hair. It was nothing complicated. I opened the camera on my phone so he could see himself.

- Oh, I look good.

- See. I wanted to help you.

- Thanks. You did a good job.

- Let's go now. I don't want to be late.

Soon we arrived at school. Both of us walked to our lockers and later to class. I noticed that Derek and his friend looked at us. I didn't say anything and sat in my place. I know that they won't do anything because I trust them, but I feel like they want to tell us something. I have no idea what is going on, but I expect to understand very soon.

After this class, we walked into the hall. I saw that the boys were looking in our direction. Ok, I need to know what is going on. Did Vince do something for which I don't know? It's time to understand.

- Hey boys.

- Hi Emms. - Derek said

- You know that my name is Emma.

- Yes, but I like this nickname.

- Whatever. Can I know why you have been looking at us since we came here?

- Let me ask you something.

- Go on.

- Are you two dating?

- What? No, we don't.

- Are you sure?

- Yes, I am. Why are you asking me this?

- Everyone has noticed the way he looks at you. I'm sorry, but it looks like there is something. To die if this boy doesn't like you. - he said, chuckling

- We are only friends. Moreover, everyone knows that even if I like him, I can't do anything.

- Well, if you stop listening to your mom and start listening to your heart, you might do something.

- It's not that easy. Anyways. Since when do people care about me and my relationship status?

- Since you have finally found a real boy. No one hates you, and I think that you know it. They just don't want Ricky to be with you. Let me say it like that. If you find someone else who is not Ricky or like him, people will be friendly with you just how they used to.

- Vince and I are only friends.

- Keep repeating this until you believe it.

- Derek is right. It's obvious that there is something. - Ryan said

- Think about whatever you want. I know what the truth is.

- No, you don't. - Derek said, laughing

- I need to stop talking with you.

- No one is making you.

I didn't say anything and walked away. Why do people think that there is something between us? We are trying to keep it friendly. At least when there are people around. What we do at home is something that no one needs to know. I went to my locker and saw that he looked at me. I smiled at him, but he didn't return it.

- What?

- Did they do something?

- No and why?

- Because you don't look in a good mood.

- It's ok. They were just joking about some things.

- If you want I can go and...

- No! You already did enough. Please don't make it worse.

- Did I do something?

- Let's just go. - I said and grabbed his hand

Both of us walked to our next class. I was thinking of sitting next to someone else, but this would make Vince think that he did something wrong. It's not his fault that people can't make a difference between friends and a couple. I noticed that he looked worried. Maybe I have to talk with him. He grabbed my hand under the desk, but I pulled away. The thing is that I am scared. If my mom finds out that I am with someone, even as friends, she will ground me again, and I will never see him again. This is something that I don't want to happen. We might only be friends, but I still want us to go out together.

The class finished and I walked out quickly. There will be questions and I don't want to answer them. Vince is not guilty, but I don't want people to believe things that are not true. Especially when it comes to my love life. It's not like I have one.

- Wait! Emma!

- I have to go.

Of course, he didn't give up. Vince grabbed my hand and dragged me to the janitor's room. Now, there is no escaping. If this was Ricky, I was going to scream for help, but since it's Vince, I wouldn't do it.

- Can you let me go? Please.

- Not until you tell me what is going on.

- You didn't do anything.

- That's not true. Why else would you ignore me?

- It's complicated.

- I don't care. Just tell me. Why are you distancing from me?

- I'm not.

- Yes you are. Did I do something?

- No, you didn't.

- Then?

- I just don't want everyone to think that we are dating, ok? I don't want my mom to find out about this. So stop looking at me like you own me. Please. - I said and looked at him

- What? I didn't do anything other than the friendship things.

- According to some people here, you are looking at me differently.

- And why do you believe them?

- Because someone might tell my parents, and you will never see me again.

- So will you stay away from me only to shut down the rumors?

- What else do I have to do?

- To don't care about what people are talking about you.

- You know that I can't do this.

- No, you just don't want to be with me. - he said and walked away

Until the end of the school day, Vince didn't talk with me. I guess that he got mad. I tried to get his attention, but nothing worked. Even on the way home, he didn't say anything. I hate myself. If I hadn't told him this, nothing bad would've happened. Now, I can't do anything. I walked home and saw Ricky. Why does he always have to be here? I was about to walk away, but he stopped me.

- Won't you greet me?

- I'm not in the mood to deal with you.

- Emma! - mom said

- What? I want to be alone. - I said and walked to my room

I locked the door and sat near the window. Vince saw me and closed the window. I ruined our friendship. I need to talk with him, but even if I call him, he won't answer. In that case, only one option left me. I walked downstairs to check where mom and Ricky were. They were still in the kitchen. I slightly walked through the living room and opened the front door. I need to be careful. Soon I walked out and quickly ran to his house. I knocked on the door and his mom opened it.

- Hi, can I come in? I know that Vince is at home.

- Sure. By the way, did something happen? He wasn't much in the mood.

- I said and did some things. Now, he is mad at me.

- What exactly did you do?

- Some people in school told me that everyone thinks that we are dating, so I started staying away from him to shut these rumors down. I was afraid that someone might tell my mom and that's why I did it. Now, he is mad at me.

- Vince is in his room.

- Thanks.

- Emma!

- Yes.

- I want him in a good mood again.

- Don't worry. I will take care of that.

I walked upstairs and knocked on the door. I didn't hear "come in", but I still walked inside. He looked at me and I saw anger in his eyes. If his eyes could kill me, I was going to be dead.

- What are you doing here?

- I came to see you and to talk with you.

- Go away.

- Vince. I'm sorry. Try to understand me.

- No, I won't try. You care more about what your mom will do instead of me. I'm done with you.

With that, I felt how my heart broke in two. I know that he doesn't think it for real, but said from his lips, it makes me sad. I have never thought that this would hurt him so badly. I sat on his bed and grabbed his hand, but he pushed mine away.

- Please, don't be mad at me. I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt you.

- Can you leave?

I didn't want to do that because I was saving it for when I didn't have any other thing to do. There is one thing that cures every argument. Without thinking, I grabbed Vince by the shirt and pulled him for a kiss. As I expected, he didn't pull away. Since he stuck to me for so long, this means that, after all, I have some effect on him. He wrapped one of his hands around me and pulled me close. Soon we pulled away, and I looked at him with tears in my eyes. He carefully wiped them and hugged me.

- I'm sorry.

- It's ok. I will try to be more understanding.

- No, you don't have to. I will stop listening to what other people tell me.

- Why don't we do it together?

- If you want.

- I do.

We talked for a while. I like spending time with him. I feel important and, for the first time, no one cares about the way I look or act. Vince is very nice to me and cares a lot. I never thought that I would be stuck with the boy who I just met. I might have slapped him back then, but now, I will never do it. He became very important to me, and I'm glad that I met someone like him. At least he is keeping me busy. That way I don't have to spend time with Ricky. I know that he won't stop coming home, but I don't have to spend time with him. I hope that no one will understand about us. I don't want to lose Vince.