Chapter 18 Angeline POV

“So are you ever going to tell me why you’ve been avoiding me?”

I blushed,“I’m really sorry about that. It’s just… you reminded me of someone I used to know, someone that put me through a lot, and I was kind of expecting you to be just like him. But now that I say that out loud, it sounds very stupid and judgmental. I’m sorry.”

“Huh,” was his response, his brow furrowed in deep thought. “Wow, he must have been a massive douche then.”

“Yea,” I said, “he definitely was.”

“Do I really give off douche vibes?”

“You’re surprisingly really nice. I was just being narrow-minded is all, again, I’m sorry.”

“Hey it’s cool. Can’t say this happens often to me but don’t worry about it.”

“Okay.” I said and he paused for a moment.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what’d he do that was so bad?”

“Honestly, it’s a long story and I’m not sure that- I mean I don’t want to be rude, but I’m not sure that I-”

“Hey! Hey,” he interrupted, “you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. I shouldn’t be prying in the first place.”

“No it’s okay, it’s just that those are some horrible memories I don’t feel like remembering at the moment.”

“Is he why you won’t talk to people?”

I raise my eyebrows at him. How does he know I don’t talk to anyone? He’s either really observant, or he’s been watching me, possibly both.

Or maybe I’m just really obvious.

“Yea, I guess so, I didn’t used to be so anti-social, I used to actually want friends.”

“Then take me up on my offer, sit with me at lunch. You’ll like my friends, they’re all really nice and chill.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“Oh c’mon, what are you afraid of?”

“Well for starters, we hardly know each other, second, it seems intruding, and lastly, they probably won’t like me.”

“Nah you’re just making up excuses. Dude, sit with me. We’re not like your old school, I’ll show you.”

I eyed him warily, “why are you so insistent?”

“Why not?”

“I dunno-”

“It’ll be fun, and if you decide you don’t like sitting with me by tomorrow, I’ll never ask you again… deal?”

Damn, was he persistent. Not only that, but he was practically beaming down at me. Slowly but surely, I felt my resolution collapsing the longer he kept smiling at me that way.

“Okay,” I said reluctantly, “deal.”

He smiled triumphantly, “ tomorrow then.”

How could I even say no to him? He acted like a young boy who’s just been given a Christmas present.

I was about ten minutes late to my class at this point, we just stood there, outside my class, talking.

“Sorry again for making us late.”

“I’ll be fine, you’ll be fine too.”

He grips the handle to my class and turns it.

“After you,” he says with a playful wink.

I was so invested in our conversation that I forgot I was supposed to be flying under the radar.

The entire class stops to gawk at me… or more specifically Daniel with me, even the teacher looks at us suspiciously.

“Sorry Mrs. Abernathy, I was just helping her find her class.”

“Oh of course! That’s awfully sweet of you Daniel, please have a seat… um…”

“Angeline.”

“Right, you can sit right here.”

I made it a point to only look down, and still, I could feel their stares burning holes at the sides of my head. By the time I sat down at my desk, Daniel was already gone, and I was made to feel alone again.

All throughout the class period I would catch eyes glancing, lingering, and scrutinizing me.

They were wondering how and why someone like Daniel would be talking to someone like me, an almost-looking homeless man.

Why was he so adamant on befriending me anyway? I didn’t understand him at all. What does he get out of all this?

Is it a ruse to humiliate me just as Keenan had done so many times?

I mean it’s definitely a possibility.

Is he trying to just get in my pants?

I highly doubt it, he’s hot and there are girls far prettier, experienced, and probably far more willing than me here.

So then why? I cannot believe that someone is that nice for no reason.

I guess I’ll find out soon enough though.

A part of me is hopeful but a bigger part of me feels like I’m that idiot in a horror film walking head first into danger and ignoring all the red flags along the way.

Mrs. Abernathy let the class socialize in the remaining 15 minutes of class.

Quickly, the room became noisy with chatter and I take out my novel and turn to the page I last left off, when suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

A chubbier girl with light brown hair and red lipstick was staring at me with questioning eyes.

“Weren’t you just with Daniel?”

“Uh yea, he was only helping me to my class.”

“Yea he’s just nice like that, always has been.”

“Yea,” I say rather awkwardly, “he’s really nice.”

“So what’d you guys talk about?” She raised her brows at me.

Was this a trick question? I thought about it for a moment.

“Nothing really, he saw that I looked lost and he helped me find my class. That’s it.”

“So… do you like him?”

“What? No? No!”

“Oh you can tell me girl, every one of us has a crush on Daniel, it’s too bad he never spares anyone the time of day though.”

“Does he have a girlfriend or something?”

“None that we know of, or at least no one that goes here. Why do you ask, are you interested?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Hey it’s okay, like I said, we all do.”

“That’s fine, but I don’t.”

“Uh huh, suuuuuure. But serious question, do you think if I act lost, trying to get to my next class, he’ll help me?”

I laughed but quickly stopped when I realized she was being dead serious. Is she really contemplating that or is she passive aggressively making fun of me? Does she think I faked being lost just to garner Daniel’s attention? I don’t know.

“Um… It’s a possibility? It could work?” was all I said.

She nodded, satisfied.