Chapter Twenty
"So, how are you doing dude? Ya know, with the whole Victoria thing going on?"
Reid closed his locker in the guys change room and looked at his best friend, Tyler, "What do you mean?" He asked, keeping a wall up on his emotions.
"WIth her ascending and then the whole meeting on the weekend, the Doubleganger thing…" Tyler raised his eyebrows at him.
Reid shook his head, "I dunno, man. As good as I can be. My head is spinning." It had been three days since Victoria had told Reid and Caleb about her connection with Pogue and Reid had been struggling.
He had been trying really hard to keep things under wraps in front of Victoria but inside he was spinning out. All he could think about was Pogue saying he was the only one who truly understood what Victoria was going through. Reid felt like he was out of his depth.
The looks that Pogue and Victoria seemed to be sharing all the time... They were driving him mad. It also didn't help that Pogue seemed to be getting back to his old self again. He was not nearly as moody and he seemed to be less likely to jump down Reid throat, which in turn pissed Reid off way more. Especially cause Reid knew it was bull shit, he knew Pogue was still….Whatever he was towards Reid. Reid felt Pogue's eyes watching him, and was convinced, deep down, that Pogue was just waiting for Reid to mess up in some way.
Reid kept trying to focus on the fact that in three weeks he and Victoria were taking off, heading into the sunset. Reid felt confident it would take the edge off. Distance would help it all.
Tyler nodded, "Mine would be too man. How is Victoria holding up?"
Reid scoffed, "She says she is fine, like it's no big deal." He shrugged, "She never really talks about it with me. I don't know what to say when she does. It's crazy man, like she just woke up one day in love with Pogue."
Tyler looked at him looking shell shocked, "Did she say that?"
Reid shook his head, "No, but sure as shit feels like that. ... I dunno... I feel like I am losing it." He shook his head. Not saying what he meant, which was he felt like he was losing her.
Tyler shook his head slamming a hand down on Reid's shoulder, "Dude, it's fine. You and Victoria are perfect together, you'll make it through this together."
Reid nodded, "Right,"
Tyler shook his head and looks at Reid with concern, "Reid." Reid looked at his best friend, "This is Victoria and Pogue we are talking about. Not some randoms. Give them some credit. Besides, if Victoria was gonna leave your ass she woulda done it by now." Tyler slapped Reid on the back and walked out onto the pool deck.
Reid took a deep breath. Shook his head and walked out onto the pool deck following his friend.
Victoria was waiting for him as he came out of the locker room. Reid smiled at her as she smiled back at him, "Hey baby," She said brightly.
Reid smiled, sometimes it was like she was her normal self, not all moody and distracted. "Hey yourself." Reid wrapped an arm around her neck and pulled her close to him, taking off down the hallway guiding her with him, before Pogue came out of the change rooms as well. If she knew that was why he was doing it, she didn't give any sign, she just fell into step with him, and at that moment things felt almost back to normal.
"I'm glad I caught you before next period," She said, "I was wondering, if you were free tonight, so I could take you out on a date?" She smiled up at him, her long black hair tied up high in a ponytail.
"On a date?" He asked looking down at her.
"Yeah, dinner, movie, maybe milkshakes after, very all american teenager."
Reid chuckled, "Yeah, ok." He nodded, "I'll see you tonight?"
Victoria nodded, lifted up on her toes and kissed him on the cheek and took off down the hall.