Chapter 8

Since none of us had ever went grocery shopping before we asked mom to accompany us. She’d also wanted to see how I was settling in and check if the apartment was safe enough. When I asked Luke how come he never did grocery shopping before but had been living alone for the past three years he just laughed at me. But mom being the angel she was told me that Luke’s mom made sure to do his grocery every week and that was how she also knew what to buy for us.

We were back before lunch and mom made us dinner before going home to Dad after rating Luke’s place good enough for me to live in.

Before I knew it we were already a month in at Varsity. I had seen Lila once or twice at the canteen but she made it her number one goal to avoid me. A week ago I had found rather private pictures of her in Luke’s phone. When I asked her about them she accused me of being an asshole like my friend Luke and went as far as to say I was an accomplice in a blackmail Luke had on her to sleep with me.

Like the goodand loyal friend to Luke I was I hadn’t believed her and decided to ask Luke myself. He didn’t deny it and said he was just trying to help me. To an extent I understood him. This was just who he was the caring friend doing whatever he thought would help me and not thinking about how he was hurting other people in the process.

So I’d set him and Lila up to meet under false pretense. Of course I was there to stop them if they decided to kill each other. I made Luke delete all the pictures while Lila watch in exchange for me to forgive him and that had been that.

I was leaving the lecture theatre when I bumped into some one. Good thing my book and papers were in my bag or this would have been too cringe worthy especially since it was a guy that I bumped into. “Look where you’re going idiot”

The voice sounded familiar but he was gone before I got to see his face. If only I could have just kept on walking then all would have been okay. But as I looked down where he’d dropped his backpack I saw an iPhone. The screensaver was of the rain forest and it was locked so they was no way of finding out who it belonged to. I was about to take to the lost and found box when it rang.

“Hello”

“Hey who is this. Why do you have my brother’s phone”

“I literally just picked it off the floor a minute before you called. Let’s meet at the canteen so I can bring it to you”

“Cool I’ll be then in 5 minutes how far away are you”

“I’m closer. How will I see you.”

“Just looked by the door for a bunch of good looking people”

And she hung up on me. The girl whoever she was was rude. I was helping them by returning the phone but she just had to give me attitude. But no less I went to the canteen. It had been partly my fault that her brother lost the phone. I took the chair closest to the door and like she said in exactly five minutes six people entered. A sense of déjà vu went through me. Fuck coincidence.

Amongst the overly dressed people was none other than Jason. I was half tempted to hide but they’d probably just call the phone and find. I could leave the phone on the table and leave but I decided to raised my hand and wave in their direction.

I saw recognition flash on Jason’s face as he came closer.

“Well what do you know it’s the pretty boy. I should have guessed when you bumped into me” he was laughing as he said this. A girl was standing next to him and with the resemblance they shared I gathered she was the girl I’d talked to. Behind them was another girl with unnatural pink hair. I recognized her as Talia the girl from the club had been clinging to Luke like a kaola.

“You know this creep Jace?” She asked turning her nose up at me. She didn’tseem to like me very much provided I did see her tongue kissing her own sister a month ago. The other girl also started to recognize me. It was obvious no of us wanted to be here. Jason was the only one who was smiling friendly at.

“Here’s your phone.”

“ Thanks man. We should totally have a repeat of last month again.”

“Jason I don’t think that’s a good idea we don’t know him”

“I do know him Lia. Look I’m having a thing at my place you should join”

“Your sister is right Jason it’s not a good idea. It was great seeing you again though I need to leave”

“Okay how about you take my number and call me if you change your mind”

The exchange with Jace and his entourage of friends weighed heavy on me. I knew that I should have deleted his number but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Even with the knowledge of how weak my mental state was I told myself I was stronger. I knew what was at stake.

Deciding to just leave it be I left the cafeteria after finishing my lunch. I didn't want to pounder anymore about what had happened. I tried calling Luke but he didn't pick up. Not much surprise there. I guess he was spending the day with one of his many escapades. Because Lucas Stone didn't do girlfriends.

Lila was waiting for me near my car. I hadn’t noticed her until I was right in font of my car. My mind was still stuck on Jace much to my dismay. I wasn't in the mood for another one of her fights with me. Really the girl was just not my fan and I had accepted it. She acted so high and mighty when she was the one who was using me to get the dirty pictures of herself from Luke. And even after helping her get them back from him she was still bitter towards me as if I was the one who took the pictures well she could go to hell.

I ignore her presence and opened my car before driving off. I had nothing to say to her and she could take her stinking attitude to someone else. I didn't even look back at her to see if she was still standing on the parking lot or not. My phone rang and her picture flashed on the screen. I had taken it the day we went out for ice cream. She had looked so beautiful with her concentrating on not spilling the ice cream and messing her outfit, I couldn't resist capturing the moment. She had also told me it was a good picture and let me keep it. But now the memory just brought a bitter taste to me. It was all in act concocted by my best friend.