As she opens it, roses begin falling out from the locker to her feet. Aryan and I share a knowing, amused look.
“Your secret admirer?” I joke. She just rolls her eyes at me.
She inspects the roses with a slight smirk on her lips, her hands playing with the petals. “He’s not a secret, he’s a pain in my ass.”
She’s talking about Kai Kang, the boy who’s been pining over her for the last three years. He has declared his love for her on multiple occasions with flowers, compliments, and gifts. Yet, Victoria has never given him the time of day nor has she rejected him.
“Why don’t you finally reject him then?” I question curiously, while Aryan nods in agreement.
I couldn’t understand it. Every time he parades her with attention and gifts, she takes it and doesn’t reject him out rightly or even hint that she’s uninterested. It would have been a different case if he was pushing it and wouldn’t take no for an answer.
She shrugs without looking at us. “I enjoy the attention.”
Fair enough.
“Maybe you should give him a shot,” Aryan suggests innocently. Mine and Victoria's eyes snap instantly at his suggestion.
“I would destroy him.” She laughs huskily.
“He wouldsobe into that.” I giggle, feeling her playfully pushing me in response.
“Plus, he isverypretty to look at,” Aryan adds wistfully. Both Victoria and I can’t help but nod in agreement at his comment.
Besides the fact that Kai Kang keeps horrible company, I don’t know much about him. All I know is that he has bright red hair that blinds most people, tattoos littered all over his body, and is very attractive.
“Maybeyoushould give him a shot then,” Victoria suggests in a half amused, half snarky tone.Someone’s deflecting.
“No way. He isn’t my type.” Aryan laughs boisterously, shaking his head. “I don’t like boys who act like lovesick kittens.”
It’s true, Aryan’s type is a man that would often give him little attention, which isveryhard to find, mostly because everyone gives him attention, even girls who completely disregard the fact that he’s gay.
“Lovesick puppy,” I correct him politely.
He smiles at me and nods. “Yeah. He's too much of a lovesick puppy.”
“I find it endearing,” Victoria responds with a rare, soft smile on her face.
“Then why don’t you give him a chance?” Aryan’s question makes me coo toward him. He always tries to look for the good in others.
Victoria sighs. “Are you forgetting who his best friend is? How can I entertain the idea of giving him a chance when he’s friends with J—”
“Please, don’t mention her name; I’m having such a good day.” I cut her off quickly.
Both my friends laugh at the disgusted expression on my face, but I don’t find it amusing in the slightest. Just the mention of that girl’s name brings up bile in my throat and my chest tightens whenever I think of her, which is funny, because I manage to think of her quite often. It’s infuriating.
I notice Aryan and Victoria sharing glances toward each other and smirking. I’ve noticed that they do this a lot when we talk about the ‘devil who shall not be named’.
Victoria ruffles my hair and puts her arm around me in the same way I assume an older sister would. “Regardless. Being with him means I’d have to see her all the time. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
Excuses. Excuses. Excuses.
We can pretend that the reason she isn’t dating Kai is about me, but it isn’t. I’ve told her time and time again that I would be ecstatic if she chose to date him. Regardless of who his best friend is, he’s a nice kid. He has constantly defended me against his evil best friend and has often lectured her in front of me too.
Although if he’s so sweet, I’m not sure why he’s still friends with someone like her; maybe a long history? A feeling of obligation? Because seriously, who would willingly choose to be friends withher?
“You don’t need to stop yourself on my acco—” I don't get to finish my sentence because Victoria shoots me a stern look, telling me with her eyes to keep my mouth shut.
Of course, I do just that. I don’t make it a habit to ignore Victoria and her demands, no one does.
