I pull my unfocused gaze from the courtyard below and turn to walk toward the door. I grab my bag and pass the table. I can't help the lingering disappointment that she wasn't here. Maybe I should get her phone number, then I could have asked when she was going to be here.
I could have her number. It would be super simple to get. Hell, I'm sure after some sweet talking, I could get it from Wells, but I'd really like to do things the old-fashioned way with her.
Several minutes later, I cut through the courtyard and unexpectedly spot Zella across the way. She's lying out on a large blanket, leaning back on her arms, her legs stretched out in front of her. Her hair is braided and hanging back behind her. Her face is upturned to the sun, as if soaking up all the warm fall heat. I'm too far to make out her expression, but I'm guessing there is a smile on her face.
Two reasons lead me to that assumption: she's always smiling, and Cameron is sitting next to her. After the night in the library when I found out Cameron and Zella grew up together, I feel at ease in regard to their relationship. However, the past week or so, Cameron's gone out of his way to turn up the charm when I'm around. I'm about eighty percent sure he's fucking with me. It's enough to keep me on alert.
I really want to like the guy, he's a cool dude, but my mind is made up. I want Zella, and I don't want to fight against a childhood best friend. He'd have an unfair advantage.
I can't keep my eyes from her though. She's so beautiful. In the sun, she nearly glows. The way the light shines down on her makes it nearly impossible to look anywhere else. Fortunately, I don't need to look away in order to move a little to my right to a bench, one of many placed sporadically throughout the courtyard path.
Call it creepy—hell, watching her from afar is creepy as fuck—but I'm just close enough that I can study her without risking getting caught.
I'm lost in the moment when I hear a voice next to me.
"The creeper vibe isn't a good look on you, man."
Wells. Fucking Wells. This should be fun.
I tear my eyes from Zella, swivel my head toward him, and glare. He's sitting right next to me. I'm surprised I didn't hear him approach or notice him take a seat.
"Why would you think I'm a creeper? Can’t a dude just chill on a bench in the middle of the day?" I grumble my point.
He chuckles at my disdain. I give him the stink eye; I've got sunglasses on, so I doubt he catches it.
I turn my attention back toward Zella but make a point not to look at her. We are quiet for a few moments before he breaks the silence.
"I'm happy you are helping her find her parents." He looks out over the yard, talking to me but not directly.
"Does that mean I'm back on your good side now?" I smirk at the dig. I know it's going to take a lot more than helping a chick find her parents to bring my best friend and I back to where we started.
He grunts. "You're on the right track. Though, I'm still not condoning all the ways you are breaking the law to find the information you need."
Tipping my head, I give him that one. He does not want the details.
"Not that your feelings or thoughts matter in this; she deserves to know who her parents are and who she is. If the only way for her to find that out is with my help, I'll do whatever it takes." And I will. I fought it at first, opting for the "it's too risky" route, but seeing the look of hope in her eyes when she found out I was digging around was enough to push me all the way in.
I can feel Wells’s eyes on me; the side of my face starts to burn with his attention. I don't give him mine.
"She's too innocent for you, Ryk. I know you teeter on the line of right and wrong, and I know you'd never do anything to hurt her on purpose, but she's delicate. I see the way you look at her…" he trails off.
"And how's that?" I bite down on my anger. He's looking out for her. If anyone knows me, it's him, but I don't like what he's implying.
"Like you want to devour her. Fuck man, you're sitting on a bench watching her. When was the last time you sat on a bench watching the world around you? You hide out in your room or empty classrooms doing God knows what on that computer you are attached to. When was the last time you got to know a girl enough to have a crush on her?"
"Who said anything about a crush?" I quip. He's got a point though. This isn't my scene. I'm pretty much a loner.
He makes a dismissive sound. "You've got it bad, brother."
"If it wasn't for you recently hooking back up with Louisa, I would have said the same thing about you." I give him the side-eye checking to see how my words landed.
He sighs and gives a quick shake of his head. "I'll be the first to admit that Zella is attractive. There's something about her that screams for you to notice her."
The truth flowing from his mouth seeps in and hits every jealous bone within me. I'm not the only one who's interested. I've seen guys on campus turn and look her way. This isn't news to me.
Wells continues, "Even if it weren't for the fact that she friend-zoned me in the first five minutes of meeting her, I'm not right for her."
I stare at him. For one, after spending one dinner with them, I knew she'd friend-zoned him. However, I'm interested in why he doesn't think he's right for her.
He reads my mind, turns toward me and sighs. "You, on the other hand, are exactly what she needs. Be careful with her." With that, he stands, claps me on the shoulder, and adds, "Stop being a creeper and ask her on a date. She'll say yes." Then he walks toward the girl in question, leaving me to watch his retreating form.
I'm exactly what she needs? Why? I must say it out loud because he stops, looks over his shoulder, and says, "Because you would give her the adventure she desperately needs."
I sit there for a moment and chew on his parting words. Could I give her adventure? How does a guy, whose main source of entertainment comes from breaking down codes and firewalls and playing around in the deep web where he doesn't belong, bring adventure to a girl who's been sheltered and lied to her entire life?
I shake the thoughts away, stand to join them, and maybe take Wells up on his suggestion to ask Zella on a date. As I get closer to the group, Cameron walks toward me. He's got his backpack slung over his shoulder, so I assume he's leaving. I take the opportunity to set the record straight on where he stands with Zella.
As he passes me with a nod, I stop him. "Hey, so you and Blondie are just friends, right? Or is there something more going on?"
Cameron wastes no time before throwing his head back and laughing. Once he gets himself under control, he answers, "Don't worry. She's not the one I'd be interested in." He smirks and walks off in the direction I just came from.
Interesting.
So, that means he's not going to be an issue, right?
9
Zella
I carefully smudge the charcoal to add depth to the drawing I'm working on for my class. I'm sitting in my window in the tower switching between two of my favorite things: drawing and people watching. I don't have any more classes today, so I came to the tower about an hour ago. I'm about done with the drawing when the door swings open.