Uh...what?
"What do you have against my fucking nose?!" I hear a familiar voice shout and it doesn't even take me 2 seconds to recognize the jerk I've come to hate to.
"Caleb?" I manage to let out since right now, shock was the only emotion I could feel.
"None other. Ugh!" He continues nursing his nose, which I'm sure I would break completely one day or the other if we go at this pace. My hands nervously fidget at the thought of his anger and being alone in a dark alleyway didn't help my nervousness get any better. To be honest, it's even scarier.
After a while of awkward silence enveloping the cold air around us mixed with a few groans coming from Caleb here and then, he finally takes off his hood and I could see the outline of his jaw despite the dark.
Damn that jawline.
No. No. No. Summer, no. Garbage lorry. Only a garbage lorry.
"Um...is your nose...uh...okay?" Of course, my awkward being never leaves me. Way to go, Summer.
He keeps quiet for a while and I look up at him, ready to give him another one of my punches if he opens his mouth to blab out shit like he always does.
"You know, for a girl, you sure do have strong punches." Calmness can be detected in his voice so for now, I unclench my fist which was ready to talk to his face again.
"Don't think I can't do it again. I wouldn't hesitate." I turn around, my back facing him as I speak.
"Any excuse to touch my-
As quick as I could, I uncontrollably turn and shove him on the same wall he pushed me against. My hands hold the neck of his hoodie and I was almost nose to nose with him. Short breaths come out from my mouth as I try to control my anger and my toes try to balance as I was tiptoeing in order to reach his height.
"Don't give me that bullshit again," I say in a calm yet angry voice. He doesn't say anything but I do notice his eyes squinting. A habit I've spotted him do like a hundred times whenever he's trying to analyze something.
I realize the position I was holding Caleb in. I was still using his shoulders as support considering how tall I had to be in order to be on eye level with him. Our breaths were rapidly mingling with each other and I was basically leaning on him as he was against the wall. I quickly move back, turning and looking around everywhere but him.
Yeah, I was definitely born in the Land of Awkwardness.
Without even turning back once, I start walking out of the alley. To my dismay, I hear Caleb's footsteps right behind me. I try walking even faster but in the end, he catches up to me and we now walk beside each other.
"Really? Speed-walking? What are we? 10?" I sense humor in his tone and I'm surprised considering I just cornered him in that alleyway. I close my eyes, trying to calm myself down. I wasn't angry neither was I tired of all the fast walking. Then why the hell was my heart beating at such an abnormal rate?
I continue ignoring him with the hope that he would give up and leave me alone. But no. Caleb Anderson never had the intention of giving up.
"I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you."
"And I'm trying to subtly avoid it."
Before I take my next step, I'm pulled back as Caleb held my hand. I look at my tiny wrist held in his huge palm and I look up at him. His eyes. Oh, his eyes.
Focus, Summer.
They spoke volumes to... me. I don't know what. I don't know why. He looks down at my hand and leaves it slowly.
"Can we at least pretend we don't hate each other? Just listen to me," he says as I take back my wrist and pocket my cold hands. I don't know why my stupid wrist missed his warm hold so much suddenly.
Goodness gracious, what is up with me? This evening breeze has surely gotten to my head. Nothing else.
"Umm... look I'm not good at this. I don't do this much. I do realize I was a little rude-
I raise my eyebrows at his choice of words. Audacious, much?
"Fine. Very rude." I smirk and nod for him to continue, very much liking where this was going.
"I shouldn't have said all that today during Math. I didn't mean it," he whispers as he deeply stares into my eyes. I find myself staring into his stormy grey eyes just as much as he was into mine.
"I was upset...umm... from before. So, just let it go, alright?"
"Let it go? You were way beyond than your everyday rude behavior towards me, Caleb. I can't just let it go. You have no respect for women." I seethe in anger as I look up at the sky becoming darker by the passing minute.
"I do respect women, okay? You got the wrong picture today. I swear I didn't mean it. Look, no matter how much we hate each other, I would never ever say that to a girl. Not even you. You have to believe me." I sensed strange desperation in his voice and somewhere deep down, I have no idea why I wanted to believe him and forgive him as well. I still keep quiet, not because I was furious at him but, because I was still looking for the answer from within. I tried to study his expressionless face for anything. What if he would just burst out and said something mean and never had the intention of apologizing to me in the first place?
"Yoo! Summer. You okay?" He asks me, raising his eyebrows and breaking me out of my little thinking factory.
"Uh... yeah."
"Are you still mad at me?"
"It's fine, Caleb. Your anger spoke. No worries in that. But learn how to control your anger, especially when you're talking to a girl. Any other girl-
"Would have cried me a river. I know. I know how you are. Tough and feisty." He smirked at my flushed state and I just sigh and start walking again. He falls into step beside me and suddenly I don't find anything awkward now.
"I would have killed you now for interrupting me. See, it's even a good opportunity considering there is no one." I look around, thinking if I was still angry at him then I would have probably punched him to death and buried him in the same alleyway we were at.
"But?" I look at him in surprise and again gaze back to my shoes which seemed very interesting at the moment.
"But... I won't."
"Why?" He presses on.
"Are you asking for a death wish, mister?" I glare at him while we come around to the apartments.
"No thank you."
"Then shut your mouth." I continue walking down the pavement as Caleb stops since he had to turn from there.
"To be clear, you've forgiven me right?" Caleb shouts from behind and I muffle in my laughter, turning around to look at him.
"Ask that one more time and you'll go home with fractured bones and broken ribs."
"No need to go all ninja on me, alright. You have, right?" He rolls his eyes and asks me as he starts walking backward.
"Yeah." I shout as I also turn away from him and continue, "But I still hate you!" I smirk, wanting to turn and see his reaction but I continue walking towards the entrance.
"That's great! Me too!"
I chuckle as I take a turn for the stairs. Caleb was always that bad boy, you know. It was even unimaginable for him to even apologize to me without saying the word sorry even. It was strange but I still accepted it. Word on me though, I still hate him. He still hates me. Nothing has changed.
Then why does it feel like it has?
I open the door to the apartment, sighing at the loud rock music coming from Draven's room. I walk past it and notice the three idiots playing a video game, occasionally hitting each other. I laugh and walk into my room, straight away plopping on the bed.
Despite the long and eventful day, a nap would be perfect, right?
***
I CAN'T EVENNNN! MY GOD! THESE TWO!
I totally see the ship sailing. Don't you worry about the story moving too fast. Wait...is it? These two deserve an amazing love story and I'm not gonna ruin that so... bear with me! ðð
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT THOUGH:
I recently made a new cover for this book and I don't know if it's nice or not. So big cover reveal in the next update!! Stay updated!
Vote and comment on this chapter and wait for the new cover ðâ¤
Adios!