Guilt rushes over me. I’m a terrible person. “I’m really sorry.”
Vincent moves closer to me. “It’s okay. I’m sorry I never called or texted. I don’t exactly know how to do this.”
I freeze. “Are you breaking up with me?”
He takes my hands. “No, Megan. I’m a mess.”
“Vincent, I get it. But I’m your girlfriend. You have to let me in. I’m here for you to console or whatever you need.”
He nods. “I’m just not used to it.”
“Try. For me.”
Gazing into my eyes, he presses his lips to mine. “I love you, mon trésor. You’re my everything.”
Feeling my lips stretch into a grin, I return the kiss. “I love you.” I’ve never told a boy that, but I feel it.
As we walk inside the building, people stare at me and start whispering amongst their friends. Vincent holds my hand tighter and keeps walking like he’s the most confident man there. “Keep your head up, Megan. You are so much better than these people. Don’t ever let them make you feel bad.”
His words make me admire him and I’m grateful. When we reach my locker, I turn to him. “Thank you. It’s hard sometimes.”
“I know, but it won’t be like this forever.” He moves my hair away from my face and his thumb gently strokes my bruise. It shouldn’t make me feel good, but it does. “I’ll see you later.”
When he walks away, Cherry approaches me. “Things okay?”
“He just told me he loves me.”
She gasps, but her smile fades. “But does that forgive him for not talking to you?”
“His mom was in the hospital.”
Cherry frowns. “That sucks. Is she okay?”
I shrug.
“What are we going to do about these stupid rumors that Amber had your ass handed to you?”
I frown. I was on cloud nine. Discreetly, I move my hair so she can see the bruise.
With a gasp, she brings her hand to her mouth. “I could strangle that bitch.” She shakes her head. “What’d your mom say?”
“She doesn’t know.”
Cherry cocks an eyebrow. “How’s that even possible?”
“You aren’t going to believe this.” I relate my evening to her, except the sharing dreams part. I’m not sure I want to tell anyone that. I tell her about Vincent this morning and the near face-off between him and Casper.
“Why is Casper being so nice to you? I’m glad you forgave Vincent.”
“I can tell he really loves me. I really love him. I mean, when we kiss, it’s intense.”
Cherry’s face lights like a sparkler. “After this morning, I know he loves you a lot. So, what about Casper? Why’s he suddenly paying attention to you?”
“He says he likes me,” I keep my voice barely above a whisper. I don’t want people to listen. Although, if they do hear us, they’ll spread rumors that Casper likes me, and he’ll ignore me. That isn’t a bad idea. I still haven’t made up my mind about him. But I love Vincent and I don’t want to mess it up.
“What?” she asks a little too loudly.
“Do we have a problem?” Mrs. Edwards asks with a cocked eyebrow. Her hand is poised in the air about to write on the board.
“No, ma’am,” I tell her, and she turns back to writing.
“Sounds like Vincent’s got some competition,” Cherry whispers. “You don’t believe Casper, do you?”
“No.” Because the dreams are making him feel that way. He can’t like me. I’m with Vincent. Even though it still bothers me that he ignored me for two weeks.
“How’d you do on your chemistry test?” Casper asks as I take my seat in English. He smiles and I can’t help but notice how sexy and genuine it is. My stomach does a flip.
“Good. Thanks for your help.”
The rest of the class he tries to talk and flirt with me, but I tell him we have to work on the assignment. Once the bell rings, he walks beside me to my locker like we’re dating or something. It annoys me, but it doesn’t.
“Have a good day?”
“Sure. You?”
He shrugs. “Yeah, I almost got into a fight.”
I close my locker. “Well at least you don’t have a swollen cheek.”
“Touché.”
“Besides, you shouldn’t have antagonized him.”
“Antagonize him? Please. He was looking for a fight. But if you were my girlfriend, I’d react the same way. Though if you were my girlfriend, I wouldn’t keep you guessing.”
Casper meets my eyes and places his hands on either side of the lockers, blocking me from going anywhere. He likes preventing me from running. I look to the ground or his chest or his arms. I can’t seem to handle his heated gaze. My heart summersaults and I steady myself against the lockers. He leans closer, dangerously close, but my hands half-heartedly push against his chest stopping him. We both know he can easily ignore my pressing hands, but he doesn’t. I want him to kiss me, but I don’t. I can’t. What is wrong with me? Are the dreams making me feel this way? Are my issues with Vincent making me feel this?
“Casper.”
He drops his hands. “Sorry. That-that was weird. I just-it felt…” He lets his words trail.
It felt natural. Comfortable. I shake my head as if trying to get these thoughts out. “Look, after you drop me off today, that’ll be it. We can’t talk anymore okay?”
He straightens his stance. “So that’s it. We can’t be friends?”
“I’m tired of fighting with you.”
“Then don’t.”
“Then stop being a jerk. Stop acting like we’re together.”
He nods and holds his hands up in defeat. “I know. I’m sorry. Come on, I’ll take you to get your car.”
The ride is rather quiet, but he keeps music playing, which I like. At least he has good taste in music. He pulls up into the mechanic’s place
