Chapter 272: Mind
Man, I was totally floored.
I’ve known Daniel for like, two decades, and this was the first time I heard him drop some serious shade, especially at a chick he used to be head over heels for.
What the heck happened to him? Bitterness?
Zoe was just trying to dig herself out of a hole. With her rep, getting shoved and hitting the deck could easily make her the talk of the school and the latest gossip fodder.
She needed a lifeline.
And Daniel? He was probably her go-to guy.
Zoe was stuck at the bottom of the social totem pole. One more hit, and who knows what she’d turn into.
So, when Daniel shut her down in front of everyone, she didn’t even try to keep her cool. Instead, she went full-on desperate mode, making herself look even worse.
Zoe probably didn’t see it coming that the Daniel she once crushed was long gone, and she wasn’t his number one anymore.
Nobody’s the same as they used to be.
So, when Daniel dropped those words, Zoe was left standing there, looking like she’d just seen a ghost.
I couldn’t help but sigh. At least she still had the decency to feel embarrassed, which meant she wasn’t completely shameless.
I checked my watch; twenty minutes till class, and it took at least twenty-three to hoof it from the gate to the classroom.
I was cutting it close.
No time to stick around for the drama. Clutching my books, I bolted.
As I zipped past Daniel, he grabbed my arm. "Jane, we need to talk."
He wanted to chat, but I wasn’t having it.
Zoe shot me a death glare.
She hated my guts again.
But whatever, I didn’t care.
Daniel’s erratic behavior was what really ticked me off, making me want to avoid him even more.
"I don’t think we’ve got anything to talk about. Back off. Move." I snapped at him. I yanked my arm free and took off without looking back.
Just as I slid into a seat in the classroom, the bell rang.
This class was all about the history of foreign art. Larry was up front, turning boring theory into cool, flowing stories from history.
Not even five minutes in, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a message from Daniel: [Trusting someone too much can lead to disappointment and despair. Many people and things are not as simple as you see. Be careful.]
I stared at the message, totally puzzled.
What was his deal? Was he trying to hint that Brad was sketchy? I didn’t even need to guess; the only person around me with trust issues and drama was Brad.
If Brad wasn’t trustworthy, then who was? Daniel?
Even if Brad turned out to be a snake, I’d figure it out on my own. I wasn’t about to let some random dude’s opinion sway me.
I never got why Daniel, despite being Brad’s brother, always seemed to be gunning for him.
After class, I bumped into Mindy on the path, totally by chance.
We hadn’t hung out in like three months. We kept in touch through texts and Facebook, and waved at each other on campus, but it wasn’t the same. We tried to meet up a few times, but something always came up.
We hugged like crazy, spinning around a few times, and I even gave her a playful slap on the butt.
We chatted for a bit and were about to grab lunch when I noticed someone leaning against a car, watching us.
It had been a while since I last saw him. Louis had put on a bit of weight, but he still looked better than when we first met, even more handsome.
He walked over with a smile, stood in front of us, and reached out to touch Mindy’s hair. His eyes landed on my face, and his smile grew wider.
Had Louis fallen for Mindy?
"Hey, Louis, long time no see. You’re looking even more handsome," I said first.
I had promised myself to help Louis move on and for Mindy to find her happiness. I wouldn’t meet with Louis anymore. If we did cross paths, I’d just nod and keep moving.
I had imagined seeing Louis again and thought about what to say. But when it actually happened, it wasn’t as hard as I thought, and I didn’t need any of my rehearsed lines.
Louis seemed more chill too, like he was letting go of some stuff.
That was good.
Louis smiled, looking genuinely happy. "Yeah, long time no see. Can I treat two beautiful ladies to lunch?"
His demeanor reminded me of the chubby kid who used to chase after me in middle school, always with that warm smile.
Since Louis showed up, Mindy hadn’t said a word, and her smile had a hint of shyness.
If Louis hadn’t touched her hair to comfort her, she might’ve found an excuse to bolt and cry somewhere private.
Did Mindy still care about what happened between Louis and me?
Didn’t she see that Louis touched her hair to make her feel better? Couldn’t she pick up on that obvious gesture?
What a goof.
"What do you want to eat?" Louis naturally took Mindy’s bag and held her left hand, turning to ask her.
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