chapter 21

After exiting the room, I immediately dialled Chris's number.

"Hello," I said.

"Hey Shannon. Are you okay? You don't sound well."

I wiped my face with my palm. "I'm not okay."

"What's it, baby? What has happened?"

"Can we meet?"

"I'm going to the campus right now," I said. "Can we meet at Somi's cafe?"

I got there before he did. He walked in when I was sipping my iced tea. We spent a lot of time talking about normal student issues for semester tests were starting in a week and the atmosphere was changing. Most students were becoming serious and during the night, there were few people in clubs and bars around Campus.

"Why are you so nice to me?" I asked Chris as I gulped the last of my iced tea. Chris couldn't even finish a cup of iced tea because he preferred coffee. It was the third I'd drank since I entered the cafe.

"Because you deserve it," Chris took my hands in his, smoothing them gently. My blood raced. "You're the most lovely and beautiful girl I've met. You deserve everything nice and no one has the right to treat you like crap. I repeat, no one."

That took my thoughts to Clyde. He didn't treat me like crap but it was something close to that. He hadn't been so nice to me since I became friends with Chris. Maybe he was jealous. If he was, that was reasonable but that didn't give him power to decide who I became friends with. 

My relationship with Clyde was going too far and I needed to put a stop to it before we ended up in bed together. Ew! I didn't want that to happen because it wasn't right. I'd always done the right thing. But, who cares about morals anyway. On the other hand, sleeping with Clyde would be advantageous. Maybe it would make the feelings disappear.

I had to get a distraction. And the opportunity had presented itself inform of Chris. He could help me get over Clyde and move on.

But wasn't that selfish? I was being an opportunist. Using Chris to get over Clyde? I was turning into the kind of girl I'd always despised. Anyway I had feelings for Chris too so it wasn't so bad.

"No one should treat anyone that way," I said and we sat in silence for sometime after that.

"So, what are we?" He asked. I hadn't really thought of that. We we're mostly friends. I didn't want to think we were friends with benefits because I had never been a fan of that.

"I don't know," I said, not sure of how he felt.

"Let's get out of here," He placed money on the table and stood up. Since he'd already paid, I followed him out.

"Thought we were going steady," Clyde stated as we walked past a tattoo artist shop. I laughed at the old phrase. "I'd be so proud to call you my girlfriend, Shannon."

Girlfriend?

I felt that he was taking things so fast but I'd rather go fast than throw away the chance of being Chris's girlfriend. I didn't care about his fued with Clyde anymore, all I cared about was the fact that he was a very dashing and sweet natured young man.

I liked his cute face, thick eyebrows, lush lips and the beard that spread on the sides of his face. His piercings and fake grey hair looking amazing on him. All I wanted was to grab that face and take it closer to mine. He loved dying his hair and all colours looked suited him. Whether it was black, grey or pink. His skin was also flawless. He had natural good looks and that's a rare breed nowadays. There are lots of fakes.

I stopped walking and looked at his eyes for any trace of a lie but couldn't find any. Chris looked completely honest. I knew he was telling the truth. He'd never lie to me.

"I like you, Chris." I smoothed his arm. We were at the end of the street. "And I would love to be your girlfriend."

"Really?" He inquired. "Are you sure about that?"

I just smiled and he pulled me into his arms. I felt like I was home, where I belonged. Chris was going to be there for me.

What about Clyde?

I pushed that thought out of my mind quickly. This was a Chris and I moment and I didn't want it ruined because of someone I wanted but wasn't allowed to have. Someone whose name wasn't supposed to ever come up in my mind.

"Look at me," Chris ordered in the sweetest tone ever, releasing me from his strong arms. I wished he could hold me again.

I looked into his eyes and saw the intensity in them. My eyes trailed down to luscious lips that I wanted to kiss so bad. They looked so delicious.

"I told you its her," I heard someone say and immediately looked up.

"Hi Miles," I greeted trying to hide the awkwardness by smiling.

"You," he scolded,"You're so mean. Do you know what you've put Clyde through? Of course you don't and I think you don't even care. Never come near him again. He's been through a lot in his life so please don't increase his stress. Just keep away."

"PDA is disgusting," Rick commented. "And if I were you, I wouldn't trust this scoundrel."

"Good thing you're not me," I yelled after them. "Leave me alone, you freaks."

"Do you trust me?" Chris asked, when we were alone. He caressed my cheek and I touched the back of his hand.

"Of course," I smiled, looking into his beautiful brown eyes.

"Do you feel that's the right thing to do?" He asked.

"Is there something I should know?" I inquired, feeling a little bit suspicious. I wasn't ready to handle any surprises. 

"Yes," he smiled. "You should know that you're so beautiful and I like you so much."