Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Zach's POV

Awkward was the best way to describe the atmosphere. I didn't like Noah getting all in her space which was borderline fucked up. But I couldn't help the horrible feeling that pumped through my chest. I didn't even like her. Why should I care if she was smiling like the entire universe was alight just because she saw Noah? That smile tho. It was too dangerous. Too infectious. I couldn't stand it. I think it was safe that she was directing it at Noah and not me.

"I thought I'd never see you again" she murmured into his shirt before pulling away. Were those fucking tears glazing in her eyes? And why did her voice have to go so shaky, making me wish that I could soothe whatever ache she was feeling? This was so pathetic. I clenched my fist, this was not me at all. I didn't care how anyone felt, especially not her.

Noah smiled like he'd won a lottery ticket. "I know right. This feels like destiny doesn't it".

Destiny? Could he be more cringe? Vega seemed to be buying the whole drama, and I was almost glad when her friend, was it Andy or Andria cleared her throat, breaking off the weird staring contest they had going on.

"I'm sorry to crash this up, but this whole thing is kinda awkward, who's he to you". She asked looking at the cute guy beside her for support. She was a hundred percent right on the awkwardness stuff. My skin felt like it was trying to crawl off my body.

Vega whipped to face her. "This is Noah. We were friends back in grade school." She introduced him to her. The girl smiled at him, winked, and proceeded to add a lower lip bite. Noah doesn't go out much, so I knew these kinds of situations freaked him out.

"You're hot Noah, what's the secret?" She asked, eyes blown wide open. Noah scratched at his mop of hair, eyebrows drawing together in concentration.

"I truly do not know how to answer that. I never get compliments, they're all reserved for my bro here". He pointed to me with shaky hands. Andrea does not look like she's buying the innocent act. But It was not an act.

"Shut the front door, you're catfishing for more compliments aren't you." She gasped out, looking at Vega for support.

Vega deadpan."He uses a broken mirror"

A smile tugged at my lips, she was annoying but I liked her sense of humor.

"And she's right. But I'll have you both know that I don't even look in the mirror these days. Y'all are so fun. How about I treat you two out so we can bond or whatever". The little piece of shit. I brought him here and he was just going to abandon me and go with her. He doesn't even check to see if I was ok with it.

Vega grabbed his hand enthusiastically and I already knew her answer before she blurted them out.

"We are up for that. We never turn down free food". Her friends nodded in agreement. They got up, picked up their bag, and followed Noah out of the cafe like the rest of us didn't exist in whatever universe they were. I have never been disregarded by the other gender the way Vega does to me. It was new, bother-line irritating. It made me question if I was still attractive enough. Could I still pull anyone? I watched them go until they disappeared out of my sight.

"That didn't just happen," I said to myself, but the other guy must have thought that I was talking to him.

"I know right. It's like we were invisible to them for that whole minute".

I didn't ask for his opinion, but I'd take it with a grain of salt.

"Alright babe, I'll see you later ok". My head snapped to the guy I'd come to hate for no reason at all. He laid a kiss square on the other guy's lip. Was I seeing double right now or did that just happen? What the fuck. Wasn't he supposed to be Vega's boyfriend? My eyebrow furrowed, and I couldn't stop the question from tumbling out.

"You're gay" I stated because it was fucking obvious. "I thought Vega was your girlfriend". My words came out accusing. Was he cheating on her, the bastard?

"Am Bi. She's my girlfriend, and he's my boyfriend" he answered smoothly with such a thick accent, that it made me envious for only a second. I see the boyfriend suppressing a smile. What was his name again, I clearly remembered Arielle calling him Jake? Markus left the table with a smug smile, and I'm left with the Jake guy who wore his amusement like an award on his face. I can't believe this. This must be some twisted fucked situation.

"You're sharing your boyfriend with your best friend? ". Did I lose some fucking brain cells?

He got to his feet and we were almost the same height. He crossed his arms.

"What's it to you. I mean, I don't mind sharing my boyfriend, so it shouldn't bother you." He paused, looking thoughtful. "Or maybe it's because you like Vega" he drawled and I scoffed because that was the most absurd statement I'd ever heard. I don't like Vega and I don't date nerds. A nasty voice in my head reared its ugly head in denial.

"Look, if you like her, just ask her to be your girlfriend. You're a great guy, I bet she'll dump Markus to be with you". He sounded too fucking scripted.

"Why will I want to date someone like her. She seems pretty messed up to me. I can't believe she'd share a guy with you". Jake frowned, forcing me to peep through my words. That was not a nice way to put it.

"Don't be a hypocrite, Zach. You have no right to judge. We all know about your track record, so let's not pretend that we're saints here. Excuse me". The Lazers shooting out of his eyes was scary. I tried to apologize, but he walked out in a huff before I could get a word out of my mouth. Today couldn't get any worse.

******

I thought I'd be free of the complicated girl when I got home, but hell to the no, I got no respite. I watched with a dark look as Noah face-timed with her, cackling with tears in his eyes. I couldn't understand why he chose to come to my room to have a conversation with her. They'd also been going at it for hours, forcing me to watch them being soppy with each other. Noah was just the worst. I also felt off every time I heard her giggle, and I'm almost tempted to look into Noah's phone, only just to catch that radiant smile. Why was she even talking to him?

"Gotta go Vega. I'll see you tomorrow yeah"

"Let me guess, your jerk of a brother is there making faces at you isn't he". Her voice filtered through the room, rubbing me in all the wrong places. Noah chuckled, making me feel grim.

"You're right Vega, you were always good at the guessing games, can you guess what his facial expression is now," he asked, giggling and I lost it. I swore, strode over to him, and snatched the phone from his grasp. Vega looked shocked to see me, but I didn't give her time to get over it.

"Can y'all quit all this yapping? How can you call him by this fucking time when everyone's trying to sleep. It's the middle of the night for godsakes. Quit being such a desperate..."

I didn't get to finish my sentence, because she flipped me her middle finger and ended the call. Ok, that fucking pissed me off. I growled, throwing the phone into the wall. It crashed on impact, scattering all over the floor. Noah didn't even look surprised.

"Jeez. I just got that one last week".

"I don't care. Learn how to make calls at normal human calling time, you're not a freaking vampire". I gritted out. How could she just end the call, without even talking to me? I felt a migraine cropping up.

"Why are you being such a dick about this. If she doesn't like you and you don't like her, that doesn't mean I can't like her right".

"You can't, so stay away from her. Stop calling her". I ordered, not knowing why I got so aggravated whenever Vega's name came up.

He watched me skeptically, eyes widening in realization. "You do like her don't you" I rolled my eyes, but he doesn't believe my indifference. "Let's see who gets her first then. Who do you think she'll choose between us. I'm her best friend remember".

He was fucking right, but he was also missing a point.

"She already has a boyfriend dimwit".

His frown deepened, matching mine.

"I forgot for a sec, but it doesn't matter. I can get her to break up with him."

"Don't kid yourself. You're already in the friend zone. If anyone stands a chance, It'll be me".

"She doesn't even like you, remember".

"That's what she thinks" I breathe, looking toward Noah. He doesn't like the look in my eyes and he was right not to. Vega was my new prey. I'll hunt her until I get my bite. I smirked at the image in my head. This will be fun.