Two days later
As Warren scaled the steps of the dorms he noticed it had become a lot easier for him to climb them without struggle. Nathan was right; he had to get use to not being babied.
The two hadn't texted since the day Nathan gave Warren his number. There would be times where Warren would sit with their conversation open on his phone, just staring at the text box racking his brain for anything to say to the other. Eventually he would give up and lock his phone, cursing himself for being such a "pussy" as Nathan would put it.
It's been a good amount of time since we talked; I'll text him while I clean up my room, thought Warren as he walked towards his door.
Once Warren got inside, he booted up his computer and put on his favorite Spotify playlist. He pulled out his phone and opened Nathan's text thread.
Warren: Hey :)
Nathan felt his phone vibrate against his chest.
He sat across from Victoria in the Two Whales Diner as they discussed the Vortex Club dance they had planned to throw for homecoming. Nathan had met up with her there after he received the budget his father had given them. Well, more like given Victoria. She was the real mastermind behind everything 'Vortex Club'. And Victoria knew as well as Nathan that Nathan's father would pay for whatever they needed.
He unzipped his jacket, reaching into his inner chest pocket to grab his phone.
Warren: New Text Message!
Nathan's eyes flicked up to Victoria, she was too busy scrolling through Instagram and talking about what kind of theme the party should be to pay attention to him.
Nathan: Hi.
Right as Nathan put his phone back into his pocket; Victoria looked up from her phone. "Here look at this." She spun her phone around on the table so Nathan could look at the various masks and Victorian styled decorations. "I was thinking of like a masquerade theme. You know the whole 'Phantom of the Opera' kind of feel."
Victoria knew that Nathan couldn't care less what the theme was, but when he actually took interest in the picture, she took it as a positive sign.
"That looks cool." Was all he said, but it was enough for Victoria.
He felt his phone vibrate again. He pulled the phone free and unlocked it.
Warren: Do you always type so properly? :o
"Who's that?" Victoria asked, trying to peak over the table at Nathan's phone. Nathan turned his screen away from her view, locking it and putting it back into his pocket.
"What? Don't mind me. Reply to your girlfriend." She said teasingly, leaning back against the seat with her phone in hand. Nathan felt his cheeks heat up. The bashful look didn't go unnoticed by Victoria. Nathan mentally cursed at himself for it. He was usually good at hiding his expressions; maybe he's getting sick or something.
"Oh, I forgot to ask you…" Victoria lowered her voice, her body simultaneously leaning forward in her seat, "Everyone knows that you got fucked up. Zach sure as hell made sure everyone knew that. But who did it? It couldn't have been Zach because if it was, he would have had posters made or something commemorating the event, you know that. Was it someone from outside of school?"
Victoria watched him with intruding eyes. He knew that she would ask sooner or later, but just like every other time she asked something too personal, he gave her a vague answer. "I don't even remember." He said, shrugging his shoulders. She went to open her mouth but he cut her off, "I actually need to make a call, I'll be right back." He watched her sit back in her seat as he exited the booth, using the closest exit to leave the restaurant.
The cool autumn wind brushed past Nathan as he walked down the steps to the front door. He eyed his truck. He could just leave. Say he needed to do something and go back to his room, maybe smoke a little and watch something on Netflix. He suddenly remembered the bottle of fireball he had stashed in his drawer. He sighed, the thought of the alcohol tempting him to leave even more as he walked towards his truck. All of those things sounded way better than party planning.
He unlocked his truck and climbed inside. He pulled his phone out, forgetting about the text from Warren.
Nathan: What do you mean?
Nathan stayed in the text thread, re-reading the past texts.
The phone vibrated in his hands.
Warren: I mean like you don't put any emoticons or anything ._.
Nathan: Nope.
Nathan locked his phone and sat back in his seat. But as soon as he got comfortable, he got another text.
Fuck this kid replies fast.
Warren: Is that just with me or do you never use them? ;o
Nathan: I don't get the point of them.
Warren: To get a read on people's emotions when they talk to someone. Ya know, because it's hard to tell how someone feels over text (:
Nathan: Oh. Well I don't think I'll ever use them.
Warren found texting Nathan way more interesting than cleaning, so he gave up and decided to just sit at his desk.
Warren: Why?
Nathan: Because, I don't text people very often.
Warren: Well you've been texting me for a little while now. ;D
Nathan: I guess you're right
Nathan sat for a second after he sent the first message.
Nathan: :P
Nathan face- palmed. He felt dumb. Using the faces wasn't his thing. Hell, texting didn't use to be his thing until now.
Warren: LOL you did it! xD
Nathan smirked. For a split second he forgets that he's technically with Victoria. He should probably get back inside before she gets upset. His weed, Fireball, and Netflix would have to wait. He sighed as he put his phone away, getting out of his truck and locking it before heading back inside the diner.
Victoria was still in the booth, typing something on her phone. When Nathan sat back down she didn't look up at him. She knew that he left because he didn't want to talk, but she wished he would open up just a little more so she could actually feel like a friend to him.
"Oh, you're back. I was just about to leave. The theme was all I really wanted to discuss. I already have the DJ booked and an area picked out." She said as she straightened out the magazines she had all over the table. "I'll see you in class tomorrow." She said smiling at him as she left the booth.
As soon as she was out of sight he let out a sigh. He was grateful that he didn't have to tell her he needed to leave. He already knows that his little walk-out hurt her feelings. He'll make it up to her tomorrow somehow. Victoria is the only one who he can talk to that won't demand things from him. Well, now Victoria and Warren...