Chapter 3: Confused

Kate

I'm totally awake. I can't sleep and no one's home except for me. I haven't been sleeping well since the last incident I had with Dylan. It’s been 5 days since the last grey jacket incident and I'm glad that he hasn't been approaching me, the only thing that I hate is when he winks at me every time we pass by each other and it's totally freaking me out. What is his problem? Can't he just pretend that we don't know each other or none of the things that had happened between us has ever existed?

He's pain in the neck. Can we just go back to the part where we haven't met at all and every time I saw him, he's just flirting girls in the hallway? I'm already okay with being invisible and not even a guy like him would make me happier by just letting me know that he noticed me. I don't want to be anywhere related to that play boy and life is much easier without problems. And by problems, I meant him.

I jump out of the bed and slap my face gently, "Pull yourself together!" I said to myself.

I should not think about him and just focus on every detail that's going on my head right now.

The doorbell rang, I took my phone from the table and its 8pm. Who would be visiting at this late at night? Maybe it's my mom’s visitor. Too bad, mom isn't here.

The doorbell rang, again. "Just a sec!" I yelled, making my voice heard.

I was on my pj's. I need to change, okay? I change into my shorts and wore my hoodie over my fitted white shirt. I tied my hair into a pony tail and went downstairs.

The doorbell rang thrice already and whoever this guy or girl was, it was annoying me already. I peeked through the window, it's a guy. He was facing at his back that's why I wasn't able to see his face.

I open the door, "And what can I help you?" I ask nicely.

The moment I open the door, the aura seems familiar. It's like I know this guy from somewhere. He came to look at me, he faced me with his annoying yet charming smile.

He waved his hand, "Hi Natalie." He said.

I now declare my peaceful life to be over.

-

Dylan

I've been thinking a lot lately and one of those things is Natalie. I don't know why or how but she keeps on popping on my head. I've been silently asking some of my school mates if they know a girl named Natalie and all of them were pointing a girl from the freshmen year who plays piano. Sometimes I pass by with Natalie and I don't know what to say so I just wink at her like a complete bad ass jerk. I know, any of my moves won't work on her.

Both my friends are worrying about me and asking me I've changed a lot. I seldom paid attention to girls since the last incident that me and Natalie met at the parking lot. I seldom hang out with the guys and when I do have a free time, I ask some of my schoolmates about her but no one knows her. So what I did, I followed her all the way home.

And now, I'm waving my hand like a complete idiot. I, Dylan shouldn’t be doing this. I mean, I'm like a stalker. I don't go to girls, they go to me. But what I'm seeing right now is a complete opposite.

"What are you doing here?" She rolled her eyes, annoyance was very evident on her face.

"I was, uhhh-- I thought, I mean. Wow! What a coincidence! You leave here?" I scratch the back of my neck and diverted my eyes elsewhere, avoiding eye contact.

What was I thinking? It was pretty obvious that it wasn't a coincidence.

"Yeah, what a coincidence. Okay, bye!" She smiled in a weak and forceful manner.

She was about to close the door, until I put my foot to stop her from closing it. She opened the door again, raises her left eyebrow and she leans on the door.

"What do you want?" She ask in an unwelcome tone of voice.

"I, you. You didn't answer my question the last time we talked." I settled my eyes on her.

"I am none of your concern, so please? Go away?" She breathes in a stressful manner. She placed her left hand on her forehead, "You're really not going?" She focused her attention to me.

"Uh-huh. Not until you tell me your real name which was not Natalie at all." I reckon. I lean on the wall of their porch and waited for her reply. She was staring at me, confused.

It's like she wanted to ask questions but she tried to keep it in.

"What does my name have to do with you?" Finally, an answer. But that's not the answer I wanted to hear.

I came closer to her. I smiled and gladly said, "I want to be friends with you."

"I." She takes a step backward, "am." She winks at me, "goodie". She touch the door, and closed it with force, "night!" She added.

-

Kate

What is his problem? Now he's following me? Doesn't he get it? I don't want to have any involvement with him.

"Nice name, goodie night. Goodie night to you too! I'll be back." He shouted.

I peeked on the window, he was still standing in front of the door. He was smiling, it's somehow weird. He buried his hands on his pockets and turn over his back and started walking. He then left.

He is pain the neck, why don't I just tell him tomorrow to leave me alone because I don't want to have problems in my life? Yeah, that I will tell. I will definitely tell that to him so that he'll leave me alone.

I jump and land over my bed, staring at the plain white ceiling. Seriously, what is this guy up to?

“Be friends with me huh?” I smiled in the thought that this guy is playing jokes on me. Even those words won’t convince me to tell my name to him.

-

I’m at the library, trying to keep my distance away from him. I’m glad that we haven’t passed by each other since I arrived the school. Peace and quiet, that’s the two things I’m aiming for right now.

“Hey.” The girl with glasses was calling me. She has this black hair, brown eyes and freckles on her cheeks. She was wearing a white sweatshirt and plain jeans.

She sat down beside me, “I love the book that you’re reading.” Did just someone made a conversation with me?

Am I dreaming? I kept my silence and she smiled, she offered her hand to me,

“I’m Bernadette. But you can call me Beth.” She said.

I shake her hand back and smiled, “I’m Kate.”

“Are you new here? I just transferred just a week ago and don’t you think it’s weird? People here don’t welcome new comers.” She scratches her nose which is now completely red.

“I’m also a new student but I’m already here about 4 weeks now and I don’t have friends. It’s not weird, I have experienced that too.” I retorted. “Glad that I was able to talk to someone who’s a new student like me.” I whispered, making my voice low as possible so that the librarian wouldn’t gave her full attention to us.

The librarian was laying her eyes on us, “Can we go outside? The librarian is creeping me out.” Beth said.

We went to the rooftop. I’m glad that I have finally met a normal being in this school. What? Don’t you find it weird? They don’t welcome new students, like us. She moved here together with her family because her father decided to work out of the city. Just like my story but the difference is, my parents were separated.

Based on her actions, she’s kind of a bookworm and most likely, intelligent. But she have this habit of scratching her nose, she told me that she have allergies and I didn’t ask anything related to that any further.

“Come to my house later?” she scratch her nose, again.

I remember what Dylan told me last night, he said that he’ll be going back. That’s a good idea, I’ll be at Beth’s house. So that when he went there, I’m not home.

“Hey? You okay?” she interrupts the bubble that’s formulating in my head.

I nodded, “Yeah! Let’s go to your house later. I’ll just text my mom that we’ll do some kind of project so that she will allow me.” I gladly said.

-

Dylan

“Hey, Sofia in the third table to the left was looking at you.” Ryan points at his left.

I took a bite from my burger, I glance at what he was pointing to and came to face him again.

“What’s your problem? You haven’t been flirting around? Have you completely forgotten the moves you have back then?” Ryan exclaimed. He buried both his hand over his face.

“He looks frustrated, huh?” Austin jokingly said. “Why don’t you just imitate our friend here?” Austin points at me, “He’s changing for the better.” He added.

“No way, with those good looks and charm. He must not be wasting it with some girl.” He slams the table. “Are you joking me Dylan?” He leaned his head on the table.

“Hey Felicia.” I called the girl who passed on our table who was giving me her smiles every time she passes by.

The girl looked at me and went hurriedly beside me. “Yes?”

I pat the sit beside me, “Come, sit.”

She sat down at once, “So, what do you want? I’ll give you anything, even a favor.” She flirts.

Ryan arouses, he faced me. A wide smile was plastered on his face.

-

Kate

I got hungry. So I and Beth decided to go at the cafeteria and bought something to eat. First time to go to the cafeteria with a friend.

We both took our trays and bought the food that we wanted to eat. After that, we roam around the tables and look for an empty table that we can seat on.

Beth saw a table which was just three tables away from where we are standing, she lead me to the table. I walked without noticing the people around me and just settled my eyes on the empty table.

We sat down and finally, we can eat.

“Want to hang out with us some time?” I heard the guys talking beside our table. They were talking loudly that it could hurt my eardrums.

“Yes, definitely. Anything for you” The girl who I presume was on their table said. Her voice was calm and as if she was making her voice sexy which was really making me annoyed.

“Do all guys in this school are like that?” Beth asks. She took a sip from her bottled water as she looks at the table beside where we are sitting.

I moved my head and looked at what she was looking to. Three guys and one girl in the table, both guys were flirting the girl who was obviously was having fun while the other guy was focused reading on his book.

I then realized, the guy who was seating beside the girl was Dylan.

I divert my eyes to my food and just settled it there.

There was something, I kind of felt like I don’t want to look at him. I don’t know, I felt sad even though I don’t know why. Or this feeling of a little stab in the chest which I don’t know why I ever felt that way, it’s weird.

“Let’s just eat.” I said.

She agreed and ate our lunch. We were talking and telling stories and I can’t seem to stop to glancing at them every time we talk. It’s making me frustrated.

-

Dylan

“Good bye, Felicia. See you around.” I wink at her playfully. She gave me a kiss on the cheek and left.

“Now that’s my Dylan!” Ryan exclaimed. He raises his one hand, waiting for me to slap it back. More like a high five.

“You didn’t change. I take that back.” Austin said as he kept his eyes focused on the book that he was reading.

“How about that girl, she’s okay.” Ryan points the table beside where we are sitting in. I looked at what he was pointing and I saw her.

She was talking with a girl with an eyeglasses. She’s seems troubled and serious.

“Hey, hey.” Ryan calls both their attention.

Both look at him, they were serious and not a single glint of excitement was evident on their faces. Not like those other girls who kept smiling and having their wide smile plastered on their face when we call them.

“Name’s Ryan. This is Dylan and the guy reading a book is Austin.” Ryan greeted them with his flirting charms which I know, will never work.

“Shall I call you Natalie or Goodie Night?” I focused my eyes on Natalie.

“Don’t call me.” She smiled, “Come Beth, let’s go.” She said to her friend.

The girl who wore glasses nodded, they stood up.

“You really are good at girls, don’t add me to one of your collections. Because I’m limited edition and you can’t afford it.” She said in a dark and deep aura.

She walks away.

Why does she hate me so much?

“I don’t intend to add you with one of my collections and I’m really serious on what I said last night.” I said loudly, enough for her to hear.

She stopped on her tracks and faced me, “Oh really? You expect me to believe a playboy like you?” she laugh sarcastically. “Yeah, right.”

“Damn right, I’ll prove it to you. Just wait and see!” I defended.

She left me without answering me.

“She’s Natalie?” Austin was shocked. “You’re right, she’s different.” He added.

“Last night? What happened last night?” Ryan asked. He was so confused that he attacked me with questions that he wanted to be answered now.