(23): Flirting?

"Hey, do you have any idea why Nick is avoiding me?" Winnie asks worriedly as I walk her to her next class.

"Nope" I lie.

All these lies are going to catch up to me, I can feel it.

She sighs "He's acting so weird. I tried to speak to him but he just made some lame excuse so he could leave. Twice"

I think if he's left alone with her, he'll just break and tell her the truth. He's probably doing this for her own good... in a way.

"Maybe it wasn't an excuse" I suggest.

She rolls her eyes "It was too. I know Nicholas Gill like the back of my hand. He sucks ass at lying anyways"

Do you also know that he's in love with you?

"I don't know, Winnie, maybe you should ask him" I reply.

We reach her class and she sighs "Whatever, he'll probably just lie about it anyways. Okay I have to go now"

I hug her as I watch her enter.

As I turn around, I bump into Delilah.

"We have to talk" I tell her immediately as I start to walk away and luckily she follows without protesting.

"What's up?" She asks when we've reached a secluded spot.

I fold my arms "Everyone knows. You need to tell Winnie before Kathrine or Nick beat you to it"

"You told him?" She gapes angrily.

"I told Kat and she thought it was a smart idea to tell Nicholas"

"Do you know how dangerous that is? It's no secret how Nick feels about her. He's probably been waiting for this moment ever since we started dating" She rants.

Oh, so she knows.

"Good. All the motivation to tell her"

"So you're not even going to deny my suspicion?" She accuses.

I raise a brow "What suspicion?"

"That Nick likes Winnie"

Awkward.

"I think that's a conversation you should have with him, and not me" I tell the exasperated girl.

"Come on, I know he has these conversations with you. You're easy to talk to" She urges "Does he really?"

"Delilah. That's besides the point"

"Well, well, well, if it isn't lying-dee and lying-dum" Comes an all too familiar voice.

"Seriously. I don't get why you're mad" I reply.

Kat narrows her eyes at both Dee and I "You two only have a few more days till I tell Winnie myself"

"What's your problem, Kathrine?" Dee snaps sharply "You don't even know Winnie like that. Why do you care?"

"Yeah" I agree.

I really don't get why she's so pressed about this whole situation suddenly.

"Why do I care?" She scoffs incredulously "I might only know her for a little over a month but clearly I have her best interest at heart, unlike the two of you"

I breathe loudly, shaking my head "I'm trying to have her best interest at heart by not telling her, okay? Stop acting so high and mighty"

"I'm not acting" She huffs.

"Listen. You just need to mind your own business" Dee tells her "Take a few lessons from your best friend over here"

"Guess what? My best friend is the one who told me in the first place" She retorts.

"And now I regret it" I mutter.

"Whatever" She dismisses "Anyways Winnie and I had a deep conversation the other day and that's why I'm like this now. She told me things and I just think it would be ideal if you told her soon and got things over and done with"

"What things did she tell you?" Dee asks.

"That's not the point, Dee" I intervene. The girl has thing of missing the point "Anyways, I think Kathrine is right"

Dee sighs defeated "Okay, I'll tell her after the exam break"

"After?" Kat snaps.

"Yes. I don't want to ruin her break"

"Do you honestly think that Nicholas can hold himself till then? You do know they're going home together, right?" Kat informs the girl.

Dee sighs dreadfully "I'll see, okay? I have class now so I'm going"

"Bye Dee" I say softly as she walks away.

"Why are you protecting her so much?"

I scrunch my face up in confusion "What do you mean 'protecting her'?"

"Why aren't you telling Winona" Kat asks accusingly "It's been almost 2 weeks. I think her time is way overdue"

"Seriously, Kathrine, when did you start giving such a big fuck?" I defend exasperated.

"When I witnessed the connection Winnie and Nick have together. What if you're withholding them from their happiness?"

"It's none of my business" I retort "And it's none of yours either"

She narrows her eyes at me "Is this like your thing now? Keeping secrets from everyone? Even your own best friend?"

Oh no.

"What are you talking about?" I ask nervously.

"Did you know that I had to find out from Nicholas and Winnie that you were face to face with a gun? Why didn't you tell me, Chelsea?" Her tone sounds hurt.

My throat closes up at the memory.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want you to worry" I breathe softly, a lump in my throat.

"You're my best friend; we go through these types of things together" She tells me determinedly "You know that you would be the first person I told if anything went bad in my life. Because I trust you and I know you'll always be there"

"Kat, I really don't want to cry right now" I choke, my throat hurting "I'm sorry. I promise I'll tell you if something else happens"

She envelopes me into a hug "I'll hold you to that"

"I thought I was going to die that day"

"I think if you had to die by murder, it would definitely have to be Kyle who kills you. Not anyone else" She jokes and I can't help but laugh.

"He said the same thing" I admit amused.

We just laugh.

***

"Why are you packing? Please tell me you're moving out" Kyle says watching me throw random clothing into my suitcase.

"Ha-ha" I deadpan looking back at him "I'm going to dad's for the exam break"

He comes into my room and sits on my beanbag while watching me "You are?"

He looks so weird and funny just flopped down on it. He does look pretty relaxed though. Yep, it's that comfortable.

I shrug "Yeah. He wants me to"

"So you don't want to?" He asks curiously.

"I guess I do. I miss Chris a lot. Plus I haven't seen them in almost three years"

"I wish I wouldn't see my dad in three years" He mutters lowly but I hear him loud and clear.

"Trust me, it's not nice"

He scoffs "It is when you have a dad like mine"

"So I take it you're gonna stay here for the exam break?" I ask thoughtfully and knowingly.

He shrugs "Yeah. I already went home last week anyways"

"For, like, a night" I snort.

"A night too long" He replies brashly.

I clear my throat seeing as he really doesn't want to continue with this topic "Okay well don't miss me too much, mister"

"Three anti Chelsea-Anne days are exactly what I need to regain my sanity" He responds causing me to roll my eyes.

"More like lose your sanity" I laugh.

He raises a cute brow "You think your absence will make me lose my sanity"

"Yep" I nod confidently "The longest time you've gone without seeing me is a day since I started living here. You very much will lose your sanity"

He snorts "You forget I lived a life before you"

"A boring one" I fake yawn.

"A peaceful one" He corrects.

I laugh continuing to pick out my clothing "Whatever, Chambers. I still know you're going to miss me"

"Maybe I will"

Sorry, what? I didn't expect that at all.

I look at him weirdly "You know I'm just kidding, right?"

"Why? Do you think you're incapable of being missed?" He challenges, head cocked to the side.

"By you, yes" I admit.

He shrugs after looking to contemplate my answer before breathing a laugh "Fair enough"

"So you're going to miss me?" I ask unsure.

"I'll tell you when you're back if I did"

Interesting.

He's still in my room when I pack my last article and then struggle with closing the zip. I even sit on the suitcase to flatten it but to no avail. Did I really pack that much? And am I really that light? I eat like a freaking elephant.

I huff defeated "Please come help me"

He rolls his amused eyes getting up "I should probably sit on it because I weigh more than you"

I get up from it and watch him do what I was doing. The little traitor suitcase flattens immediately making it impossibly easier for me to close the overloaded zip.

"Huh? How did you do that?"

He shrugs getting up "Muscle weighs a lot apparently"

"Well thanks, muscle man"

"Don't call me that" He deadpans "What did you even pack in there? Girls always pack unnecessary shit"

I scoff defensively "Excuse you but being a girl is hard and almost everything in our cardboard is essential"

"All I need for five days is a few pairs of sweatpants and shirts. That probably only needs a duffle bag"

"Well not all of us can look good in just anything like you" I blurt uncontrollably.

Nice one.

He laughs, raising a brow "Is that a compliment?"

I cover my face embarrassed and I'm pretty sure it is red "Ignore me. I say super weird things sometimes"

"You're like an innocent little cat"

"No I'm not" I roll my eyes "What does that even mean?"

"It means you're too cute for your own good"

"I have a feeling your meaning of 'cute' is very condescending" I murmur thoughtfully and accusingly.

He feigns shock "Oh why would you think that, miss Chelsea-Anne?"

Playful Kyle is the best honestly.

I laugh "Because I know you"

"All I'm saying is that you're kind of naive half the time so we need to toughen you up"

"How is me saying you look good in everything being naive?" I ask confused.

"Ever head of 'confidence is sexy'?" He asks and I nod "Well if you had said that statement more confidently then maybe I'd be feeling some type of way"

I raise a brow "What way?"

"I guess we'll never know now cause I'm not feeling that way"

I pout "You suck"

"So you think I'm attractive, Chelsea-Anne?" He asks arrogantly.

"Don't you own a mirror?"

He laughs "I want to hear it from you"

Is he... flirting with me?

"No, no I don't" I lie.

"Really?" He chuckles, looking at me knowingly "Not even a little? Like one percent?"

I shake my head stubbornly "Nope"

He hums "Interesting"

"Any reason you're being nice to me?" I blurt after a while of silence.

"I'm always nice to you"

I bark out a laugh, not believing my ears "No. You're never nice to me. Well maybe only twice before this"

"We're just having a conversation, Chelsea-Anne, relax"

"An unargumentative one" I correct.

"So?"

I shrug "It hardly happens"

"Maybe you should stop over-analyzing every little thing" He advises.

I roll my eyes "I'm not. It's literally right in front of me. You will tell me if we're officially friends right? Cause I feel like we are"

"We're not" He deadpans immediately.

"Come on, why not?" I plead.

"You're... you" He explains causing me to look

at him in confusion "I can't be friends with someone like you"

"Why not?"

He sighs "Cause you're you, Chelsea-Anne"

"Why does that mean, Chambers?" I demand.

"It just means we can't be friends. Incase you haven't noticed, my life is very complicated and kind of dangerous so I don't want to drag you into all the mess"

"I already am" I say matter-of-factly "If we were friends, you'd be like my shoulder to cry on when these things happen. This is kind of all your fault in the first place"

He chuckles, making me surprised. I thought he'd be all defensive and angry "I guess. But nope, we are not friends, okay little girl?"

Idiot.

I roll my eyes "Whatever, muscle man"

"Stop it" He scowls.

"So how come Nick and Winnie are your friends? And Nathan?" I demand, still not over it.

"Winona and Nicholas are basically family. Nathan just kind of forced me to be his friend and now here we are"

I hum "I should ask him how to do that"

"Why do you want to be my friend so bad anyways?" He asks me genuinely curious and confused. I know it's genuine because his eyes squint.

Good question.

"Because... I just want to"

"Why? It's not like we're gonna plait each other's hair or something"

I snort thinking about it "I would actually really love to do that. Your hair looks so soft. And it smells good most of the time"

Nice one.

"I really don't know why I'm having this conversation with you" He sighs defeated "Although, I would like to know what weird things go on inside your brain"

"Likewise" I chirp excitedly "You see. This just confirms that we should be friends. I'll know what goes on inside your brain and you'll know what goes on inside mine"

"Who says I'll tell you?"

"We'll be friends. You'll kind of have to"

"My friends don't force me to tell them what goes on" He argues.

I shrug "Then I'll be that friend who does"

"Okay, this conversation has been going on for way to long now" He sighs shaking his head "I have to go"

I pout "Why?"

I was really enjoying his company.

"You make me feel weird" He mutters shuddering, causing me to laugh at him "I don't like it"

"You're surprisingly a very honest human"

He rolls his eyes "I know. I've been told that I always tell the truth"

"It's a good thing"

He gets up "Whatever. Bye"

"Bye, Chambers"

He's so CUTE!!! I just want to bite his face or something... in a very completely non-sexual way.

I think...

And I seriously want to be his friend!

***

Ahh!! I'm a sucker for Chelsea and Kyle conversations. 😍

It comes so naturally to me!

Comment please and vote.

xoxoxoxo ❤️