Home > Not Even Close (A New Generation Series)(6)

Not Even Close (A New Generation Series)(6)
Author: Elizabeth Reyes

The funniest thing about Xochitl’s utter annoyance and suspicion of Matt was that it was absolutely genuine. Just like all the other times she got unnecessarily worked up over something so trivial. Though hearing Xochitl say Matt was trying to impress her, took a little from Vannah’s giddy mood.

The one thing Vannah had harped on most when she and her sister spoke about her going away to college was that she would not be getting caught up in a relationship. Unlike her boy-crazy sister, Vannah was determined to focus on her academics. As far as she was concerned there’d be plenty of time later for relationships. While she wasn’t opposed to enjoying her college years and having a good time here in there, she wasn’t looking to get involved in anything or anyone who might distract her from the big picture—accomplishing everything she was so determined to achieve in the timeline she’d set out for herself.

In hindsight she knew now this was why her insides would tighten up each time she saw Matt’s name on her phone screen. She’d met him the very first day of school and every conversation she’d had so far was just the opposite of what she meant by having a little fun. His invitation tonight was a perfect example. Instead of inviting her over for a beer and some pizza at his place which might lead to some harmless fun—most importantly—nothing serious. He’d already mentioned not being much of a partyer and he didn’t strike her as someone who’d be into harmless fun without it resulting in something more serious. Her sister Nena had already burst into laughter when Vannah had mentioned having had lunch with her new friend Matt that first week.

“Oh, but you’re not getting caught up with boys, right?” Nena had teased.

She wasn’t.

Despite the distinct feeling she got from Matt that he was hoping their friendship, and their hanging out turned into more. So far, she’d made herself clear about not wanting to get into anything serious with anyone. Even tonight if he did invite her back to his apartment she’d pass on the invitation.

Maybe if he was into just the fun thing, she might consider it. He was attractive enough and the more she hung out with him the more comfortable she felt around him. But that was just the thing. She was certain things would get awkward should she allow for anything more physical and then balk at anything serious emotionally. She just couldn’t allow for such distractions. But she could go for a good ole meatball sandwich with a friend, even if it was from Subway.

 

 

Three

Insanity

Byron

There was no mistaking it. Here it’d been over a week since he’d last heard that sweet laugh at his brother’s signing, almost as long since he’d even thought about it, and he didn’t even have to look to know it was her. Before he’d heard it, he’d been standing in the line at Starbucks, as usual lost in thought about things he wished he could just forget about. It’d been over a year since his mother’s untimely death and if anything, instead of getting over it he felt more bitter any time something inadvertently reminded him of her. The morning had started off like so many others ever since he’d accidently been once again forced to remember. He’d been in as foul a mood as he so often was, yet now the corners of his lips were already twitching upwards in that way that’d been so foreign to him for too long.

He’d question whether or not it was actually her but there was something too distinct about the sweet laughter that there was just no mistaking. Against his better judgement he glanced in the direction of the laughter. Almost as instantly as he’d started to give into the temptation of possibly talking to her this time, the idea was squashed. Their eyes met for just a second, but it was long enough. Long enough for her to obviously recognize him as the creeper from that first day because just like that day, that sweet smile instantly flattened at the sight of him.

Byron turned away immediately, to his surprise he was up next at the counter and he moved forward. It took him a second to remember what he had every morning but then he did, and he placed his order. Annoyed that he hadn’t thought fast enough to not order anything and just walk out ASAP, he was tempted to just walk away now. Instead, he stood there, feeling inexplicably awkward as fuck as he waited for his drink. Like that first day the laughter had lessened considerably. Byron wouldn’t dare look her way again.

Not only had she clearly remembered him and how he’d been gawking at her that first day, but there was a dude with her this time. There were others with them at the table she sat at—girls—but they were all a blur the moment his eyes had met with hers. Like the first time he’d seen her, even as she’d laughed so unabashedly there was still that air of nervousness in those big brown eyes when they’d met with his. He’d like to think she was just shy, or like him she’d felt so oddly struck she wasn’t sure what to make of it. But there was still the very real possibility that he’d just crept her the hell out again.

Byron hadn’t even realized her laughter had him smiling big and goofy again, until he saw the guy with her, and his smile instantly deflated. She’d been smiling big at the very moment as she wiped something off the guys lip with her finger. It’s when she noticed Byron staring at her again, and her smile flatlined as well. Albeit not so instantly this time but the unease in her expression hadn’t been missed.

All Byron needed now was to be caught glancing her way again. For all he knew she may’ve already alerted her boyfriend about Byron and where she recognized him from. Maybe the other girls with her were the same as the ones with her the day of the signing and they were all whispering about it now too. If Byron did get caught looking over there again it’d be all her boyfriend would need to make a show of looking out for his chick. Byron was in no mood to start off his day with some freshman punk getting in his face over a girl he didn’t even know.

It felt like an eternity, but they finally called out Byron’s name and order. He took it and stalked out of there without so much as a glance back. For a moment as he drove to work, he wondered if the guy with her was who she’d stood in line for so long to get things signed for. Beast’s remark about the little girls getting things signed for their daddy’s and boyfriends hadn’t been forgotten.

Annoyed that he’d let this girl, this complete stranger, take up even another one of his thoughts, he shook it off before he even got to work. The rest of his workday went on smoothly and he’d all but forgotten about that morning’s petty incident.

Until he got to the gym.

Byron headed to 5th Street after work for a much-needed workout. He’d been trying to get in there as often as he could to work off some steam since Beast insisted it was the best way to do so. Though Nine was always quick to point out better ways to work off steam.

Admittedly Nine did have a point and Byron did work off steam in other ways often enough, but it never gave him the same feeling of accomplishment a workout at the gym did. He’d been about a half-hour into it when he heard it. That now exasperatingly familiar laughter

“No fucking way,” he muttered refusing to look up or around for her.

What were the odds he’d be running into her again on the same day? But after hearing it again he was almost certain. Almost. Because unlike that morning when there was no question about it, there was something slightly off this time. The genuine sweetness he’d been so inexplicably sucked into before, was a bit more smoldering this time.

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