“Then why did you?”
“Because you, and the possibility of what you could be, terrifies me.”
Well, what the shit!
Chapter 15 Dylan
“Because the possibility of you terrifies me—why in the hell did I say that? She probably thinks I’m some sappy ass loser.” I turn to my brother. “Well, help me here, does she think I’m a loser?”
“Sure. Loser. Yep.”
“Would you pay attention. Chase, I’m asking for your help,” I plead.
He tosses the game controller to the side and looks to me. “I have no idea what happened, Dylan, so exactly what would you like me to do after the fact? Did she leave after you said that?”
“What? No. We sat and talked for like two hours after.”
Chase picks the controller up and turns back to the game. “Then I’d say you’re fine. Loser status averted. All systems are a go.”
I throw myself back onto the couch. “See now, you say it, but you don’t sound convinced. I sense restraint in your tone, like you’re not telling me something.”
This time he turns the game off completely. “Is this how it’s going to be from now on with you two?”
“Huh? Wait, did you talk to her? What did she say? Did she say I was a loser?”
Chase lays back with his hand to his forehead. “How is it that two of the most oblivious people in the world decided to be in a relationship?”
“Whoa, no relationship. I don’t do relationships. Does Velyn think we’re in a relationship; because that wasn’t a date? I don’t date. Ever,” I blurt.
My brother stands from the couch. “Dylan, she didn’t say anything. Just that you apologized, and she’s glad that this whole thing with you is over and that there aren’t any more tensions.”
“So, nothing then about what I said?”
“No, Dylan. Now since you’ve monopolized all my downtime, I’m going to bed. I need a ride in the morning, so can you please wait for me?”
“Did she not hear what I said? I mean—"
“Dylan, did you hear me?”
I turn to my brother. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll wait for you.”
Chase walks off, leaving me to overthink the whole conversation with Velyn. I need to know what she thinks of me. Pulling out my phone, I scroll over my contacts then hit the call button.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Garrin, are you still seeing that girl in the school records department?”
There’s a moment of silence before he says anything. “Dylan, bro, you know it’s like eleven at night, right? This couldn’t wait until morning?”
“Sorry, man, I know it’s late, but I could really use your help with this one. I’ll owe you.”
Garrin lets out a sigh. “Yeah, I’m not seeing her anymore, but we still talk. She’s good people. What do you need and I’ll see if she can help out?”
“I need an address for Velyn Adler. She’s a freshman.”
“Okay, I’ll call you back.”
I end the call and sit there waiting. I could’ve asked Chase, but I don’t want to get him involved in this…that, and he’d probably just say no.
About thirty minutes have passed by the time Garrin calls back. “Hey, Gar, were you able to get it?”
“Hey, the only file she could find was an Evelyn Adler out in Pine Valley. That’s like a ways from the school though, man, and not in the best of areas.”
“That’s got to be it. What’s the address?”
“Dylan, when I say not the best of areas, I wasn’t exaggerating. Shit, when did you start slummin’ it?”
I feel a boil of anger run through me, but I keep hold of it. If I'm being honest here, it was only mere days ago that I would’ve made the same comment. Not because I genuinely believed it but because that’s what we do, or should I say…did. I never realized until now just how wrong we were.
“Garrin, can I just have the address?”
“Sorry, yeah, I’ll text it to you. Good luck, bro, in whatever it is you’re doing.”
I end the call, pull on my jacket, and with my
keys and wallet in hand, I head out. I have no idea if I’m about to make the biggest mistake ever, but I need to know.
I pull up to the address Garrin sent me; he wasn’t exaggerating when he said it wasn’t the greatest of areas. An uneasy feeling creeps up when I think of Velyn coming home at night by herself.
When I walk up to the building doors, luckily, an older man is exiting and I slip in before the door closes. I head to the elevators and up to Velyn’s floor. When I get to her door, I raise my hand to knock, but before I do, I realize that after waiting for her address and the time to drive here, it’s now just past midnight.
“What the hell was I thinking? I can’t just show up at her place in the middle of the night.” Realizing this may have been the stupidest thing I almost did, I turn to walk away, but that’s when the door opens.
“Were you seriously just going to leave after you went through the trouble of getting my address and coming all the way here?”
Turning to the door, I see Velyn standing there in just a black tank and a pair of barely-ass-covering sleep shorts.
Damn, she’s beautiful.
“I-I—” Needing to control my nervous stutter,
