Chapter 14

Ophelia

I have never in my life felt more self-conscience than I do at this moment. The events of this evening have been the opposite of what Mason said. He told me that this would be a friendly gathering of the guys and me going to a movie. It has turned into a date with Cole. He has managed to pay for my food and ticket, and he has held my hand since we left the pizza place. The turd even managed to talk me into giving him my phone number.

Throughout the movie, he has kept an iron grip on my hand. He laced our fingers together, and my inner girl couldn't help but notice how perfect our hands fit together. His hand is warm, and I can feel him running his thumb along with my finger. I feel my heartbeat rising every time I start to think about our joined hands.

I notice that when he doesn't think that I am paying any attention to him, he is staring at me. He has a smile or a smirk on his face, and it's beautiful. The boy could not bathe for days and never take care of himself, and he would still be beautiful. If only his treatment of girls was better, he could be the perfect guy.

"Don't think that I haven't noticed him staring at you," Mason whispers in my ear.

I turn my head and see Mason has a grin on his face that is more mischievous than anything. The last few days he has tried his hardest to talk up his best friend and I can tell that it is working. As much as I want to deny that I have any feelings for Cole, I know that they're there. Deep in my heart, I know that I am starting to crush on him, and it's killing me.

"I know he is. You promised a group outing. Did Cole not get the memo?" I whisper in his ear.

"Yeah, he got it. He doesn't care."

I feel Cole's grip on my hand gets a little tighter. I turn my head and look straight into his eyes. I can see irritation there. Is he mad that I am talking to his friend? He tugs me slightly so that I'm leaned closer to him. He suddenly lets go of my hand and wraps his arm around my shoulder pulling closer. That is when I notice that the armrest is raised so that he can pull me closer to him. He leans his head closer to mine and starts to whisper in my ear.

"I'm offended that you are paying more attention to Mason than you're me, Princess." I feel myself shiver under his breath. "Do I make you nervous?"

"Yes." I can only give him a one-word answer.

"Good." I feel his smirk as he whispers the one word to me.

I have no idea what happens during the rest of the movie because all my focus is on the arm wrapped around me. I notice that the credits are starting, and the lights slowly come back up. I turn to look at Cole, only to see he is already watching me. He hasn't moved a muscle and now that the lights are up everyone can see the position we are in.

I hear a scoff and turn my head to see Pearce looking like he could kill Cole. Cole smirks and wraps his arm tighter around me. Pearce walks over to the row in front of us and stands there staring down Cole. The tension is almost unbearable, and I want nothing more than to get away from it.

"Ophelia, do you want me to walk you to your car? I know how much you hate being out this late?" Pearce asks. Before I can answer Cole speaks.

"I'm taking her home since she's tired. Maggie and I are going to bring the car to her tomorrow since we have plans to hang out." His voice is low and sounds threatening.

I snap my head in his direction, but he doesn't look at me. He was too busy having a stare-down with Pearce. The two of them are wrapped up in a struggle for something that I can't place. I have never noticed the two of them fighting. But tonight, for some reason, they are at each other's throats. I look around at the other guys, and they seem to be avoiding my gaze. Is this all about me? I have made it pretty clear that I wasn't looking for a relationship, so why?

"I think that I will be fine on my own. Good night guys." I say and jump up quickly to leave.

Before anyone can catch up, I am out the side door running to my car. I never wanted to cause any problems within the group of friends. I thought we were all hanging out together and enjoying a movie. It seems that I was the only one that thought that. Pearce and Cole were using it as a chance to continue their pissing contest that I was unaware of.

I get into the SUV and pull off just as the guys make it to the parking area. I could hear some of the yellings for me to stop, but I had no intentions of getting swept up in their games. I thought that if we were just friends that I would be able to avoid all the feelings that I have right now. Confusion, hurt, sadness, and the crush I had on Cole were all the things that I didn't need to be focused on. I needed to focus on finishing school and moving on with my life. I pull into the driveway, and my phone goes off with a text message.

unknown: I said I was taking you home. You don't listen very well, Princess.

me: Cole?

unknown: Were you expecting someone else? I'm hurt.

me: No I wasn't. I just wanted to make sure. And you didn't really tell me, you were trying to get at Pearce.

I added his contact into my phone.

Mr. Conseited: Well, I would have thought that you were smart enough to pick up my meaning. By the way, did you save my number? What did you save it as, Mr. Sexy?

me: I didn't want to be a part of your pissing contest. And yes, I saved it as Mr. Conceited.

I walk up to the apartment and notice that the door is not closed all the way. I take my pepper spray out of my purse and walk into the living room. There sits my sister in my camping chair that I have with the card table. She has her arms and legs crossed, and she is shaking her leg with impatience.

"About time that you showed up. Done whoring yourself out to half the school?" She snarls.

"I wasn't whoring myself out. I went to the movies with friends." I sigh and close the door behind me.

"You were on a date with Cole! I heard what he said to that waitress!" She was red-faced and screaming at this point. I pulled my phone out and called Cole.

"Miss me, Princess?" He asks in a husky voice.

"Come to this address and fix the mess that you made." I hang up and text him the address. "He'll be here in a few to explain this to you. I told you that I had no plans to steal what you wanted. Let him tell you the truth."

She scoffs and sits and waits for Cole. Ten minutes later, I hear a knock at the door. I open it to see an apologetic Cole standing there. I motion him in. He walks over and takes Katherine's hand, and leads her out the door. I slam the door closed and lock it.

This was exactly what I was afraid of. Katherine yelling at me for something that wasn't true, and then Cole coming in to comfort her. As much as I don't want to be yelled at, I also don't like the two of them together. My crush has bloomed in my heart to the point where there is no denial. It's there, and it's crushing me daily. I just pray that all he does is explain things. As much as I hate his treatment of girls, I pray he at least continues his streak of no repeats.

I get myself ready for the night and lay in the bed trying to fall asleep. I know that it will be near impossible, but a girl can hope. I finally pull out a book and read, knowing that it is going to be a sleepless night. I lose myself in the book and hope for sleep to sneak up on me. It eventually does, and I fall into a nightmarish slumber with dreams full of Cole and Katherine together.