The Distraction I Needed

It's been two weeks since our little incident. Two weeks since I last spoke to Christian. Two weeks since I last saw him.

That's a whole 14 days. 14 freaking days without talking to or seeing him.

But it's not like I missed him or anything, it's just funny. Before all this, I always saw Christian. It was like he followed me everywhere I went. But now, I don't even know whether I should be happy or concerned.

One night, I asked Billie about his whereabouts.

"Has Christian gone back to CSTI?" She was on her bed, pressing her phone while I was at the doorway.

"No. Why?" She responded without looking from her phone.

"I haven't seen him. Was wondering if he went back." Because that would be the only plausible explanation.

"He's still here. Still saw him after class today."

Oh. "Alright." I nod gently.

"This is the first time you're asking for him." She chuckles and glances at me. "I thought you'd be delighted if you haven't seen him."

"No, no. I am. It's just that it's been 14 days since I saw him last. Was wondering what was wrong."

"He's alright."

"No need to tell him I asked of him though. It'll just get to his head and he'll start acting like a jerk all over."

"Right." She nods. "For the sake of my sanity, I won't."

"Thanks." I smile at her and leave her room.

Is he avoiding me? There's no reason to avoid me right?

Unless it's because I slapped him.

"I'm sure Christian isn't like that." I closed the door of my room and huffed on my bed.

"Was it because we slept together?" I mumbled. "Why am I making a fuss about this?" I sit up. "He may be busy for all I know. Maybe he's working on projects and assignments."

I was starting to seem like a lunatic talking to myself. "But if he was, why did he have to take them now?"

A knock comes through the door. "Yeah?"

"Ian and I are going out for dinner. Wanna come along?"

"I'm good. You two go enjoy yourself."

"You sure? We're going fancy tonight"

"I can just order in." I declined. "I'm tired today."

"Suit yourself. Bye."

"See you later." I hear her receding footsteps and I sigh.

I grabbed my phone on the table where it was charging and ordered pizza. A large one at that. Tonight, I'm going to forget all about Christian, and have a mini movie night.

Billie would probably be home late or she might not even come home at all. So why not make the most of it? I'll stay curled up on the couch, with my large pizza watching movies all night.

I got everything set for the movie and everything, just remained the pizza.

The doorbell rings and I walk towards the door.

"Finally."

I opened the door and I froze. It wasn't the pizza guy. It was Christian. And he stared at me wide eyed.

"Christian?"

Isn't this the dude I said I haven't seen in 2 weeks?

"Lesley. I thought you had night class today."

"I did, but it got canceled." Wait. I furrowed my eyebrows. "How did you know I had night class?"

"Billie told me. She said I should drop off her textbook that she left at my place." He holds up the textbook.

"Oh."

"C-come in." I stepped aside for him.

Why am I suddenly nervous?

I closed the door and turned to him. "Billie isn't home at the moment." Why did that sound so formal? "She might not be home today."

"Where did she go?"

"She has a date with Ian."

He nods and looks around. He sees the big duvet on the couch and glances at me. "You getting ready for something?"

"I want to have a little movie night. Been long since I had one."

"Oh." He nods.

The silence came and it became awkward. The atmosphere was really weird. We just stood there saying nothing or moving.

"Are you avoiding me?" I suddenly asked.

I do not know where that confidence came from.

"What?" He stares at me, a little taken aback by my question.

"I mean, it can't just be a coincidence that we didn't run into each other or see each other for 2 weeks. It wasn't like that before. No matter what, we always saw each other everyday."

"I-it isn't like that."

"Is it because I slapped you?" I ask.

"Les-"

"I'm sorry." I interrupted him. "I don't know what came over me and I don't know what I was thinking."

"It isn't-"

"My mind was jumbled then. It was in the heat of the-"

"Lesley." He held my hand and I immediately went silent.

"I was busy." He states.

"You were busy?"

He nods. "Our professor gave us each two projects that we have to finish in under a month. I'm not avoiding you." He explains.

"You're not?" He let go of my hand.

He shakes his head. "Why would I want to avoid you? I've just been tied down by school work. That's all."

"So you're not mad about the fact that I slapped you?"

"I'm not."

"You're not mad that I overreacted about the whole night thing?"

I don't know what made me like this. I don't know why I was even asking these questions. I felt really vulnerable.

"You didn't overreact. I understand how you felt. And I'm sorry if I acted like a douche."

"Why did the professor have to give you projects then?"

"I know right?" He chuckles. "It's like he read my mind. Knew what I needed."

"What?"

"He gave me the distraction I needed."

"From what?"

He stares at me for a moment then smiles. "It's nothing. It's too stupid for you to know. No need to worry about it." I nod.

"It's awkward isn't it?" He asks, changing the subject.

"Yeah." I nod. "Never thought I'll ever be in the same room with you and be this awkward."

He laughs softly. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's not your fault. I'm sorry for hitting you. My mistake."

"Didn't know your little hands were going to hurt that hard."

"Is little Christian hurt?"

"Yes, he is. He hasn't been slapped since high school."

"I'm sure it's one of the hearts of the girls you broke."

"It wasn't any of them."

"Huh?"

"It was you. You're the one who slapped me in high school."

What?

I was dumbfounded. How could I be the one who slapped him in school and now?

"I've only been slapped twice in my life." He continues. "One in high school, and one two weeks ago. And they were both from you."

W-what?

"Now that I think about it, you've always been violent. What was the reason you slapped me again?"

I remember. It's not something I can easily forget.

"You probably deserved it. Noting your personality, you probably did something stupid which caused my hand to meet your face hardly."

"Wow. What a nice way of constructing it. Like I said, violent."

"Oh buzz off." I roll my eyes.

The doorbell rings and I open the door.

"Pizza's here." I turned to him. "Wanna stay and have movie night with me?" I ask him.

"Promise you won't be violent? Both physically and verbally."

"I'll try."

"Hey!"

"That's the best I can do."

He jumps on the couch and grins. "Then let's get this movie night started.'