15. Pure Curiosity
The movie theatre around the corner from campus, were filled to the brim with Marvel fans on this Saturday night. Dillon had begged for them to go on a more quiet night but it had been out of his hands as soon as Laura had taken charge. Austin and Brittany seemed to be hitting it of spectacularly, in the seat next to Dillon and Laura. For the greater part of the movie they had been lip locked and Austin, a Marvel, fan hadn't turned to the screen once.
Dillon should be doing the same with Laura; lord knows she had given him enough hints, but he had no interest in her. Not only had she picked a movie she only trashed talked but her shallow conversations gave him insight to how dull she was. But then again he should have known better than to assume that Laura truly wanted to see a Marvel movie and talk about anything other than her.
"Dillon," Laura whispered while elbowing him lightly, "I'm feeling a bit cold, can I borrow your hoodie?" She fluttered her eyes at him and gave him a half smile.
He rolled his eyes in the dark theatre and took off his hoodie slowly. He knew she wasn't cold but felt it better to comply rather than telling her he was on to her. Laura looked thrilled once he draped it over her shoulders and she instantly grabbed a hold of his arm for it to stay wrapped around her.
Of course she must have found it to be awkward being in the company of her friend and not getting the same attention. But little did Laura know that Dillon only had tagged along to be Austin's wingman and not to go on a date with Laura. But he was sensitive to Laura's feelings, too, seeing as it wasn't too long ago since he had felt the same way. He would've never been caught watching a movie with a girl that showed zero interest in him â that would've killed his reputation in high school. So, instead of making a big deal out of it he let his hand rest on Laura's shoulders and tried his best to concentrate on the movie in front of him.
"That was some movie, huh?" Austin said once they left the theatre and was standing outside finishing their drinks.
You wouldn't know, Dillon thought but kept his thoughts to himself. Laura and Brittany had gone off to the side and were eyeing Austin and Dillon while whispering amongst them. He couldn't hear them but he had an idea what they were talking about. Laura wasn't happy at his lack of PDA and how little attention she had been given compared to her friend.
"How were you and Laura doing in there? I was too busy to check on you but it didn't look like much action." Austin said with his usual cocky smile.
"I'm just here to wingman you tonight, Laura isn't really my type." Dillon said and threw his drink in the trash. He was itching to go home but knew he had to keep lingering for a while longer.
Laura had regained her sultry look once the two walked back over to join Austin and Dillon. He could see Austin's pleading yet angry eyes fixating on him to tell him to keep his act up a while longer. He could tell that Austin was clueless to why Dillon would turn down Laura, only seeing her beauty, and why anything but her beauty would interest him but to Dillon it was too obvious.
"If you fuck this up for me, I'll haunt you forever." Austin whispered as low as he could before Brittany jogged the last bit to him and then straight into his arms. Her childlike happiness was written all over her face and Dillon questioned why he even had to be there any longer.
"So we're getting a bit hungry," Brittany said only looking at Austin, "how about we finish off at the Campus Café and then head back to mine?" She suggested.
Dillon wanted to groan out loud but hesitated when he saw another angry look from Austin. Before he could make up an excuse for not going Austin had said 'yes' for both of them and then started walking with Brittany, leaving Laura and Dillon to walk by themselves.
"Brittany really likes Austin," Laura exclaimed while hooking her arm in the nook of his, "I think they're going to start dating for real soon."
If she only knew Austin's plans for Brittany she wouldn't have said that, Austin who only talked about Brittany's body, gorgeous lips and how badly he wanted to explore them in a more private setting. But Laura wasn't his friend and neither were Brittany and he wasn't going to warn them â not like he had with Libra. With her it was different, everything was, he knew he owed her and that's why he looked out for her now â he didn't owe Laura anything.
Instead of telling her what he knew he simply nodded at her statement and kept on walking as relaxed as he could. As they were closing in on the Campus Café he couldn't help but to pray for Libra's absence there today. For some reason he didn't want her to see him with Laura hanging off his arm when he knew she already had reservations about him; and Laura made all of them into truth. She was everything Libra wasn't and everything his high school girlfriends had been, hence the reasons why Libra would judge him. With his heart beating slightly harder than normal he entered the café and to his horrors his prayers had not been heard.
Libra was wiping off a table in the corner when Laura swung the door opened and pulled Dillon toward the counter where Libra's friend, Jack it said on the nametag, were waiting to take their orders. Dumbfounded Dillon let Laura order for herself while he subtly watched Libra wiping her tables and picking up dishes. She had yet to spot him but he knew in seconds her head would pop up and she'd spot him and when she did he did not want to meet her eyes. Why had she started to affect me lately?
"Do you want anything, sweetie?" Laura winked over her shoulder and snapped Dillon right out of her daydreaming. Without a word he met Jack's narrowed eyes and shook his head no in response.
When Laura and Brittany took their orders and sat down Austin and Dillon was left to pay and just as they did Libra came to join Jack at the counter. For some reason she had yet to meet his eyes and scrambled with cups with her back turned to him â making things far more awkward.
"Look who found themselves a little girlfriend in less than two weeks." Jack said and snatched the money out of his hand. She could tell he wasn't impressed with Laura and he couldn't blame him â he wasn't either.
His tolerance toward these judgmental looks he'd been getting around campus was getting on his nerves. H didn't know Jack well enough for him to judge him like this and the same went for Libra. The two of them played their victim cards about being former outcasts and thought they were exempt from hurting other people's feelings â boy, were they wrong. Even if Laura had been his girlfriend it was no one's business but his and he had to make that clear now.
"Listen dude," Dillon leaned in closer to Jack and fixated an angry look toward him, "I don't know what your problem is with me or my friends but they are none of your business â and neither am I. Got it?" He hissed and gave him one last angry look before turning around and walking to his table.
To prove a point how little he cared about Jack's opinion he placed his arm around Laura's shoulder, totally ignoring how happy she became when he did it. This was only to show both Libra and Jack that they're judgmental looks and snarky comments could do nothing to rattle him. Libra had done her best to ignore them completely but every now and then he saw her glance in his direction when she thought he wasn't looking.
"Libra come here," Jack called her over from behind the counter and Dillon ignored the conversation held at his table, "you go home early tonight, it's just Dillon's table left and I can handle them alone. Go home to Sophia and I'll see you for the early shift tomorrow."
Dillon's heart sank slightly now that he knew she would be leaving. He saw no point having his arm around Laura any longer and slowly removed it, pretending to scratch his cheek not to alarm Laura. He was almost frozen completely when he watched Libra pack up her things, grab her bag and head for the exit. She passed their table without giving him one lousy glance and then the bell signaled that the door was closed and she was heading, what he assumed would be home.
"Dude," Austin kicked his leg and called for his attention, "can you drool over that chick after we're done here? We are on a fucking date with two hot girls and all you can do is stare at that nerd â get over yourself!" He hissed and leaned back to re-join Brittany's and Laura's conversation.
When he turned to Laura she leaned in and whispered, "I saw you staring at that girl. I know you're used to being a player but I don't share men, alright? I'll make that clear to her too if I need to." And then she placed an innocent kiss on his cheek.
Dillon looked out of the window again but there were no signs of Libra. In his mind he had already run after her to explain himself, knowing full well he didn't have to. But Libra Jones had done something to him, something he couldn't yet explain although it felt like more than guilt now â almost like pure curiosity.