Fall break was like a portal I fell through, and it landed me in a new universe. The following week was difficult since I and to get used to a different reality. Before, I was an outcast, but at least I still had friends. Now, I was a complete pariah. The Monday after break, I waited 20 minutes for them to come to the lunch table and they never came. The message was clear, so I left. The next day, our usual table was taken over by another clique and I spotted my friends at another table. Though, I'm not sure if I would still be considered their friend. I betrayed Vivian. I deserved this.

The only one I would interact with was Olivia. She would look at me and give me a weak smile when I pass. Olivia was never the type of person to hold grudges, but Evelyn and Vivian probably wouldn't like if she was still talking with the traitor. Our daily exchanges of silent friendly acknowledgement was enough to make me feel a bit less lonely.

Carson stopped following Vivian around, so the twins naturally stopped as well. Along with Vincent, they started their original lunch routine of visiting multiple people. I catch myself looking at Vincent when I pass through the cafeteria, his eyes shift no around every now and then as if he's looking and waiting for something.

During lunch, I tried to go to the library, but ever since that one librarian got mad at me for sleeping, I feel like I'm being too intently watched in there. Now, I sit outside at an empty table near the large dumpsters. It smells so rancid there, no one ever bothers to sit there. It's perfect, complete isolation. Besides, I usually had my face buried into my backpack anyways to smell anything. Plus, I usually spray a bit of body mist onto my backpack and air it off a bit so I fall asleep to the subtle scent of apples. I would never use perfume unless I wanted to murder my nose. I did encounter the dilemma of sleeping past the bell, so I have to set an alarm.

The week crawled into Friday so slowly. I want it to be over with so I can spend the entire weekend sleeping and wake up to everything back to normal. I know that's not possible though. A girl can wish.

A ring on my phone wakes me up, mistaken as my alarm. It's Vincent again. He keeps texting me everyday during lunch.

Vincent:Where are you?

Me: Bathroom.

I've been saying the same place the entire week. I purposely chose the bathroom since it's the one place he can't check.

Vincent: You're not in there.

Me: How would you know?!

Vincent: I asked a girl coming out. She said no one else is in there.

Me: I'm in a different one.

Vincent: The other ones are blocked off.

Shoot. I forgot that the deans block the stairs and doors in the cafeteria to prevent students from messing around in the halls while other classes are in session.

Me: Whatever. Just stop standing in front of the bathroom and harassing girls. People will think you're some kind of pervert.

Vincent: Tell me where you are and I'll stop.

Me: Stand there then.

Someone calls me and my phones starts ringing. It's Vincent. Why would he call me?

"Found you," Vincent smiles and jogs up to me from the corner of the school building. "Ugh, it stinks here."

"Yeah, just breathe through your mouth... Actually, that's nasty too since you're sucking up trash particles-"

"Why are you out here, Wendy? I don't see you at the usual table," Vincent cuts to the chase.

"I wanted some fresh air."

"I don't think this air around you is fresh." Vincent pulls his shirt color over his nose to block out the odor.

"Eh, but my naps aren't disrupted out here," I shrug.

"Does this have to do with me?"

I'm caught off-guard. I didn't expect Vincent to be so direct. "What are you talking about? I'm just sleeping. Can't I sleep?" I nervously laugh.

The truth is, it is Vincent. Not directly, but he's a bit related to why I don't sit inside anymore. Maybe if Vivian didn't like him, or maybe if he liked Vivian, everything would've been okay. Maybe if I wasn't his tutor, everything would've never got to this point. Maybe if I could've controlled my feelings better, I could've been a better friend to Vivian. I should've been honest with her in the first place. Is it too late now?

"I feel like I scared you off."

"Why would you feel that way?"

"I don't know. Maybe because of what happened between us in the mountains."

The memories rush back as a pink tint onto my cheeks. It felt so much like a figment of my imagination, I didn't think it over past the weekend.

"Let's forget what happened," I murmur. It comes out a bit choked.

"Why?" Vincent's expression becomes more serious.

"You're a really good friend to me."

"I'm not your friend... I'm not stupid, Wendy. You're trying to friend-zone me."

"I don't want it to be awkward."

"It won't be."

"Just treat me like a guy-friend."

"Fine, if that's what you want. But I can't promise that I'll see you as just my guy-friend."

He leans onto the table as I fiddle with my thumbs.

"I need help with the English essay," Vincent whines. "So, you better come to track practice after school."

"I suck at English and I'm struggling with the essay too. You're asking the wrong person."

"Perfect, we can struggle together."

"We should get to class." I sluggishly move off the bench and drag myself to class. Vincent follows me closely, walking me to class since his class was "nearby" mine, but I knew his next class was downstairs and mine was upstairs.

After school, I waited for Vincent like I promised. I sat in my usual spot, high up the benches that faced the track field, and did my homework. Below me, were a couple of girls I knew from my English class. I didn't know much about them, but I knew they would hang out with Vivian sometimes.

As I popped my head up to check on Vincent, who stopped to take a sip of water and grinned at me, I overheard the girls' conversation.

"Did you see that? Vincent smiled at me," the one in a deep purple crop top says as she flips her hair to the side.

"I heard he and Vivian had a thing," the other one in a black hoodie says.

"Shit. She wouldn't mind if he asked me out right?"

"I heard that weirdo friend of hers was flirting with him. That's why she sits with us at lunch now."

"Why would Vivian care? That girl has no chance with him anyways. She's ugly," she sneers.

"I don't know, but Tiffany told me that she started rumors about Vivian and freaked Vincent out."

"What a jealous bitch. She's so fucking fake."

"She's so jealous that even though she got Vincent to back off Vivian, she talked crap to Carson too. That's why he stopped following Vivian around."

"She's so fake."

"Yeah, right? She acts all quiet and innocent, but she's actually a snake."

"Crap, but now Vincent likes me. What if Vivian gets upset and blames me?"

"It's over between them anyways. Plus, Vincent's the one who smiled at you first."

"You're right. I'm going to talk to him."

Vincent finishes his last lap as they finish their conversation. Crop top quickly bounds down the bleachers as Vincent jogs to his water bottle. Her friend follows her quickly in pursuit.

"Hey, Vincent."

"Hey, Ally. Hey, Mia."

"We were going to wait for Bryan to drive us home, but he's taking forever at football practice. Mind giving us a ride?"

"Sorry, but I have other plans. Maybe ask Sam. He's finishing up right now." Vincent takes his water and starts to go up the bleachers.

"Let's go, Wendy. I'm hungry," Vincent whines. He goes up to me and I hand him his small towel to dry off his hair. I avoid the girl's glare by packing up my things and zipping up Vincent's backpack for him.

Their initial look was shock and horror since they realized they were taking smack about me behind my back while I was literally behind theirs. This expression didn't last long and soon it turned into a scowl.

"Actually, I forgot I had to stay behind for a thing. You should give them a ride. I'll see you tomorrow." Late thing I wanted was to get on anyone's bad side. My friends already hated me and I don't need anymore people to.

Before I can grab my backpack, Vincent already as it hostage and slings it over his shoulders. He grabs his backpack as well and starts walking off. I have no choice, but to follow him.

"Vincent, give me it. I have to go somewhere," I scold.

"I know you don't do extracurriculars, liar," Vincent teases.

I'm tugging at my backpack as Vincent keeps walking, but my strength is no match for his. Though, it does shift a bit. Maybe I'm getting stronger from wrestling things and myself out of Vincent's hold all the time.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow," Vincent calls back to the girls, who are rooted into their spots. They force a smile, but its obvious they're pissed.

"Vincent!"

"What?"

"I can walk home. My house is super close."

"I'm not taking you home yet."

"Oh, right. I forgot about the English essay. Let's just do it at school."

"I already finished the essay."

I glower my eyes at him as I slide into the passenger seat of his car.

"Then why did you want me to stay after school if you don't need tutoring anymore?"

"We're guy-friends. You have to hang out with me."

"Fine, let's invite Carson, Luke, and Logan."

"No, they're busy."

"I'll ask them." I pull out my phone, but its quickly snatched form me.

"Jeez, you're dense. I want to only hang out with you," Vincent frowns at his steering wheel.

"You said you're hungry, right? Let's go get food."

Vincent smiles since I gave into his scheme. He probably already knew I would hang out with him as long as I was enticed with food. As usual, I'm dragged off by Vincent to eat, before I follow him around as he run errands to buy his sister new socks and get groceries for Mrs. Miller.

By Saturday, I was completely exhausted, but I had a bunch of homework to power through. I kept my face buried in textbooks, but I sometimes went on my phone to check for texts from my ex-friends. Nothing. I saw their social media filled with things they did with another group of girls at school. Though I rarely ever went with them, it hurt this time to know that I wasn't invited. I wouldn't have gone, but I needed some validation that maybe they still like me.

Since I didn't have much homework left, I could chill on Sunday. Dad's home, running out to get some groceries and do some errands before the football game started. All day I was cooking and doing laundry. Wren would usually help me, but she has some plans with friends. I got bored and binge ate everything I cooked. Delivery it is.

While I laid on the couch from a food coma, the door bell rings. Sneakily, I peek through the window curtains to check if its an axe murderer. I only see what seems to be Vincent's motorcycle in the driveway. I don't even get to the door before it opens.

"Jeez, Wendy. It's dangerous not to lock the door." He has my giant stuffed octopus that I won up in the mountains in his arms.

"Oh, I forgot about the octopus." Vicente hands me the stuffed animal and I squish it tightly against my chest. "You could've given it to me after school, so you didn't have to drive all the way here."

"If I did that, I wouldn't have an excuse to see you on the weekend."

I hide my blushing face behind the octopus. I wish for once I could respond coolly. I'm too awkward.

"I'm going to be right back." Taking the octopus with me, I go up to my room to drop it on top of my bed. I didn't even notice that Vincent followed me until he plopped onto my bed.

"You're room's cute."

"Vincent!" I quickly grab the bra slung over my desk chair and hurl it into the closest and closing the doors to it. "You should've asked me before coming in!"

"You told me to treat you like a guy-friend." Vincent replies, not even a bit flustered.

I'm in a panicked state, trying to tidy up my room that has textbooks, pencils, and paper thrown around everywhere from yesterday's homework session.

"Is that a turtle?" Vincent rolls over to check out Wilbur.

"Yep, that's Wilbur."

"Is it a he?"

"Yep."

"Kinda jealous a guy gets to sleep in your room every night," Vincent jokes.

"It's weird if you word it like that!"

"I'm going to break Wilbur's winning streak and be the second guy to sleep here." Vincent grabs onto my octopus and closes his eyes.

"Vincent, you can't. My dad isn't going to like coming home to a stranger on his daughter's bed." I grab his arms and try to lug his off the mattress.

"I sleep in my guy-friends' bed all the time."

"This is different," I sigh.

Vincent yanks on me and pulls me on top of him. I stop myself from crashing into him by pushing against the bed beside his sides. His arm is sounds over my back and his hand is still holding onto my arm.

"Do you want me to stop treating you like a guy-friend?" he smirks.

"Vincent, my dad's coming home soon!"

Vincent hooks my waist and rolls my over his and onto the bed. We're laying on your sides, facing each other closely with our noses so close to touching.

"I never wanted to kiss a guy-friend until I met you. Matter of fact, I never wanted to kiss someone so bad like I do right now," Vincent whispers. His face leans closer into mine, until it's stopped by my hands that cover my face and an alarmed squeal escapes. "I'm just joking with you," Vincent laughs.

"Don't joke like that!" I angrily start to get off the bed, but I'm pulled back down by Vincent.

"I'm tired. Let's nap."

"I'm not," I argue, but Vincent holds onto my arm.

"Liar, you spent all of yesterday studying right?" Vincent mumbles groggily with his eyes closed.

I accidentally let out a yawn and Vincent grins.

"Fine, I'll just go and nap downstairs."

"I'm just your guy-friend. It shouldn't matter if we sleep on the same bed."

"It will be more roomier if I go to the couch."

"If you leave, I'll stop treating you like a guy-friend." Vincent yawns and rolls over so his back is facing me.

"Fine." I move closer to the edge of the bed and face my back towards Vincent. I look at Wilbur who's huddled under his shell.

If it wasn't for the fact that I'm so tired, I wouldn't have felt so comfortable on the bed. I try to stay awake to hear Dad come home, but it doesn't work. I'm asleep within minutes as I hear Vincent's breathing behind me.

Hey guys! Sorry so much it took so long to update this chapter. I'm sorry it's a bit of a filler :( I'm super busy with homework and stuff, so I really tried. Hopefully, once all my finals passed that I can work more on writing.