Chapter Thirteen

Honestly? I swear I have the weirdest roommate. I am going to the store to pick up a few things and Fernando texts me a few seconds ago and asks me to get a Venus Flytrap. I was going to ask why and then the thoughts occurs to me to ignore his request and tell him there weren't any. Why do we need a Venus Flytrap?

I sigh and shove my phone back in my pocket and continue walking.

Oh no. Not again... Well, I can't ignore her because that would be rude and that was not how my parents raised me, but I don't want to make this harder than it already is. I can feel my heartbeats running in my chest and my breathing getting faster and heavier.

Just keep walking. Smile, be pleasant. Don't do anything you'll regret.

"Mr. Prior," she says nervously. She gives a tiny smile. She looks away quickly. I plan on responding, but she walks away before I can even open my mouth.

"It's nice to see you," I say before realizing I just did something I might regret.

Makenna spins around for a second to look at me before throwing me a halfhearted smile. Her bright eyes are the only thing that gives me hope that she's not too upset with what happened the other day. The rest of her, her mouth, her posture tells me that she is. I feel like it's my fault, but I will follow the law.

"You too." And with that she walks away and disappears down the makeup aisle.

Huh, I think. I've never seen her without makeup, but I bet she still looks just as beautiful. No! Stop it! Just get what you need and continue on your way.

After I finish shopping, with too many thoughts of Makenna, I put the bag next to me in the passenger seat. I take out my keys and am about to start the car when my phone buzzes. It better not be Fernando to bother me with this Venus Flytrap shit. He can buy his own Venus Flytrap and then keep it on his side of the dorm.

But the text is from Rick. Wow! I haven't heard from him in a long time. I scan his text and smile.

Hey! I was going to be in town for a while now that school has gotten out and I was thinking we could hang out.

I shoot back a quick response. Sounds fun. Let me know when.

I haven't seen Rick since we graduated high school. We still correspond over email and Facebook, but the messages have gotten fewer the busier we've become. I don't know if Noah has mentioned anything about the two of us talking occasionally, though it's not a big deal if he did or didn't. It will be fun to catch up regardless.

I get back to the dorm and unload some snacks in the refrigerator and some in the cupboards.

"Did you get my text?" Fernando asks. I don't look at him as I take out an apple.

"Yes." I sit on my bed and take out a textbook and read on. Fernando scoffs lightly and I smirk at my book. I am in the middle of reading about genetics when my phone buzzes again. I find a good stopping place and pick up my phone.

Are you busy tonight?

Well, it's Saturday, I write. And I have been invited to a frat party...

Hahahahaha. I've always admired your sense of humor. But seriously, are you busy tonight?

No I'm not, considering it's Saturday I have been invited to no frat parties. Not that I would go if I was invited. Not my thing.

After a few more texts have gone back and forth, Rick and I agree to hang out later. I have three hours until I have to get ready, so I continue reading my book.

"How are you?" he asks when we sit down at one of those tables in the food court. Rick sits with his hands clasped on top of the table and looks at me with very focused eyes. This is his 'I'm-excited-to-be-here-and-talk-to-you' look.

"I'm doing well," I say. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. It's nice that's school's out. When do you get out?"

"In the next few weeks," I say. "My professors are getting the finals ready."

"Nice," Rick says. "How is student teaching?"

I consider for a split second not to mention my predicament, but then I decide to go ahead with with. I explain everything from the beginning. Starting my student teaching in Ms. Matthews' class, meeting Makenna, attempting to help Makenna, and developing a stupid crush on Makenna. And then trying to deal with my stupid crush on Makenna up to now.

"Why is your crush so stupid if you like her?" Rick asks.

"Because she's a student," I explain. I thought that was rather clear.

"But you like her. You see, when I was younger, I was completely in love with Twilight. Come to think of it, I still am. And that was great. I took the books to school with me in middle school to read during SSR, I wore T-shirts and I had a Team Edward lanyard, I had the key to the cottage. I had Bella's engagement and wedding rings."

I was never interested in Twilight myself, but my mother was. Her and Rick talk about it the same way. With the brightest eyes I've ever seen and the sweetest, most genuine smiles.

"I had everything Twilight related. Posters? Check. Edward cardboard cut out? I had it," Rick continues. "Until one day I went to school. I proudly had my book on my desk, I was wearing my lanyard, and I had a shirt that said 'Team Bella.' I was really happy. That's when the hate came. I was teased constantly for liking something that it was "cool" to hate on. I felt bad about myself for liking it. It made me different, it singled me out. I don't know if you've dealt with this, but being teased for something you like is terrible.

"Finally, one day, the teasing stopped. It was the same day I stopped wearing my shirts, I left my lanyard at home, I put my book in my desk. I didn't want to be seen with anything Twilight because everyone would make fun of me."

"This is a very sad story," I say. "No offense, but why are you telling it to me?"

"My point is," he says, "that I didn't stop liking it because I was bullied, but I learned to turn down my enthusiasm whenever I heard the name Alice. Let me tell you something else, no one is hating on you because of your crush, they disapprove of any teacher/student relationship that could start."

This is a tiring conversation to be having so often."I was going to wait until she graduates," I say. Rick smiles and leans back in his chair and tosses a fry into his mouth.

"This isn't a healthy dinner," he says.

"We're college students. There isn't really a thing known as healthy dinner." He smiles and tosses another fry into his mouth and I take a bite of pizza.

Shortly after, we finish eating and begin walking around the mall. We start talking about my sister's upcoming wedding, which is over a year. Rick and I have both been asked to be in the wedding party and are wondering what would be a good wedding gift.

"I'll look it up," Rick says, pulling out his phone.

I stand next to him as he types and does his research. I am about to take my phone out too and help, but a quick glance towards the other end of the mall has me dragging Rick by the sweater into some random store.

"What are you doing?"

"Shh. Just stay here for a while."

"What new medication are you on?"

"I saw Makenna," I whisper. "Do not leave the store or I will tackle you and you don't want that." Rick looks at me seriously for a second before breaking out in laughter. Usually his laughter is contagious and I like to laugh, but now is not the time. I already saw her earlier and it was awkward.

"Okay, bro," he says, "if you want to hide from her, you should probably check which store you duck into." I raise an eyebrow and take in the store around me. I just had to choose Sephora. I sigh.

"You have two choices," Rick says. "Stay here and hope she doesn't wander in or walk outside and hope she doesn't see you." I sigh again and subtly nod behind him.

"Too late," I whisper.

I try to smile convincingly, but I have doubts that it works. She smiles a tiny smile and continues walking in the other direction with an older looking girl that I don't recognize. It must be her sister.

"That was her? The smaller one with the blue headband with a bow?"

"Yeah," I say sadly.

"She's pretty." I look at him. "What? Just because I'm gay doesn't mean I can't acknowledge a girl's beauty."

"Not that. She looked really sad."

"Two more weeks," he says as if that explains everything.