Curiosity Killed the Cat

Chapter 4. New Concerns

Exactly ten minutes after returning to my dorm, Nadine bursts through the door. Her expression shows shock as her eyes reach mine. "Hey, I thought your shift ended at five." Nadine looks around quickly as if she's searching for something.

"No, it ended at four. Georgia and Jaz said you texted the group chat and said you were going to stop by Billie's and talk to us after you met up with Kelvin." Nadine pauses in her eye search.

"Yeah, we got sidetracked I guess. Look, I'm going out with him tonight so don't wait up for me, mom. Ahh here you are!" Nadine snatches up her swim bag that's tucked under her bed. "Are you two going swimming?" I half laugh but am more interested if everything is okay with them after the fight.

"Haha, sort of." Nadine quickly pulls her long, dark hair into a messy bun before grabbing her dark gray hoodie. "Is everything okay with you and Kelvin?" Nadine pauses in place again looking unwell. "Yeah, good, great actually. Catch you later alligator."

"See you in a while croc-" SLAM! The door closes and Nadine is gone before I can finish my sentence.

Perhaps it's just me and I'm sleep deprived but something feels off with my friend.

The next week before Kelvin's party feels just as off if not more. Nadine had been distant and spent almost all of her time with Kelvin. Even Georgia and Jasmine said that something was going wrong with her. Whenever she had a new boyfriend she was never this distant.

My first thought could be that she's just been dealing with a lot with her father and ill mother. But somehow Nadine's spiraling seemed to revolve around the Golden Boy.

Today in biology I expect Nadine to walk out with me like she usually does but ends up walking out with Kelvin.

"Laney?" A voice stops me from behind just before I walk out of the lab today. Turning around I'm shocked to find that voice being Wesley. "Well, this is a first? What can I do for you?" I smile mocking the boy.

"I wanted to talk to you?" Wesley and I walk side by side out of the science building. "About?" Suddenly he stops, stepping in front of me. His face is serious yet soft. "Look, I wouldn't come to talk to you about this unless it concerned you," starts Wesley. His eyes search mine for a second as if he's trying to find something important in them.

"I'm worried your friend, Nadine, isn't good for Kelvin." Wesley pauses before speaking again. "He's been lashing out lately and it hasn't just been at me." I nod slowly. "So, you're saying my best friend is the problem?" He shakes his head quickly.

"No, Laney, that's not what I'm saying at all." Something about this man saying my name out loud does something to me. Butterflies. Stop it, focus. I blink quickly, trying to focus.

"It sounds like exactly what you're saying, Wesley." Wesley eyes me carefully, doing this thing with his eyes. Reading me carefully like before. Maybe me saying his name did the same thing to him that he did to me.

"Look, Kelvin is like a brother to me, always has been since we were in diapers. His parents have been more of parents to me than my parents have ever been to me. Specifically my dad. I just don't want him to get hurt." Wesley suddenly looks away as if he just said too much.

"Look, I understand your concern but mine is just the same as yours. I don't want my best friend to get hurt. But they're adults just like you and me so we should try to respect what kind of relationship they have. No matter how different they act." Wesley licks his dry lips before nodding slowly.

"Have you ever been in a relationship?" I ask out of curiosity. His face looks a tad panicked. "Yeah," he says. "So, you know how distant people can be when they're in the beginning of their relationship." I explain trying to convince myself more than Wesley. "That would be true if it's genuine," Wesley says slowly.

I'm quietly watching him, trying to decipher what he actually meant. "Are you still going to Kelvin's party?" His head tilts to the side a bit with a hint of interest. Before I can answer, Georgia and Jaz find me.

"Hey, there you are, we've been texting you trying to reach you." Georgia and Jaz stand on each side of me. "Sorry, I just got out of class."

"Oh, hi!" Jaz looks over at Wesley who's leaning against a tree. Wesley tips his head down at her and Georgia. "I'll see you around, Laney." There it is again. His raspy voice speaks the five letters of my name. "Yeah," I answered solemnly.

As soon as his back leaves the old tree he was leaning on, Georgia pulls me closer to her and Jaz. "He reminds me of someone who'd shoot up a school." Wesley must've heard that since his head turns around a bit.

"Say that a little louder, why don't you." I roll my eyes. "Ehh, I don't see it. If you ask me he's just as hot as Kelvin, if not hotter." Jaz gazes at him as he walks across the campus' fielding grass. "I mean he wears black all the time and that long black coat," smirks Jaz. "It's giving Bruce Wayne." I joke.

"Okay, well let's get to the cafeteria before all of the good, cold chicken nuggets are gone." Georgia leads the way as we head to go eat lunch. I suspect that Nadine will be out eating with Kelvin.

With all the concern surrounding the two's new relationship, I couldn't help but think about Wesley and his broodingness. Of course he was annoying and all, yet I found myself attracted to him. Perhaps if he was ugly, I could dislike him more.

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Chapter posted: 4/17/2022

Hey guys sorry for not posting for a while. School has been haptic. Let me know what you guys thought about this chapter. Do you think Welsey, Laney and her friends are overreacting about Nadine and Kelvin?