The Exception

Chapter 14

*Selena's POV*

School this morning was rather uneventful. It consisted of classes that seemed to drone on forever. Time went by sluggishly as I hoped for the day to be done. My brain was practically already fried and the day wasn't even halfway over! However, the long awaited time had come. It was finally lunch time.

After receiving my tray of food, I practically collapsed onto my chair. I was soon accompanied by Nicole.

"Oh man. Will this day ever end?" She lamented.

"I know! I feel like we should have been done already. I can't take in anymore information or I just might explode!"

Nicole, glancing backward, soon returned her gaze back towards me.

"So, have you talked with Josh any?"

"Not really. But you remember what I told you last night?"

"Uh huh. His 'overly friendly' behavior at the diner?"

"Yeah!" I confirmed, "He's such a mystery."

I glanced backward to where Nicole was previously looking to find Josh placing his drink down at a rather isolated table.

Following my gaze, Nicole uttered softly, "Everytime I've noticed him, He sits there by himself."

Watching him as he walked away to go get his food from the bar, I soon got a bright idea.

"Hey, what if we sat there at the table? Since he sits by himself every day, I'm sure he must want some company at least."

"Yeah, why not?" Nicole agreed.

Therefore, without debating it further, Nicole and I headed straight for his table and sat down with our food. We chatted for a little bit, but soon quieted when we saw that Josh was headed our way.

'Don't act too obvious. Just pretend like you didn't know he was sitting here' Nicole advised.

'Right, of course' I responded, still slightly anxious.

Keeping him in my peripheral, I talked with Nicole more. However, without breaking his stride, he grabbed his cup and continued walking in the other direction. I was utterly shocked. I turned to Nicole who wore the same expression as I.

"Did you s-"

"Yeah, I did." She replied, cutting me off.

My previous shock now turned to anger. "What's his problem?"

"Maybe there was a reason?"

I didn't listen to Nicole's attempts to calm me down.

"He says he wants to give us a try. He ignores me. He randomly decides to talk to me like we know each other well. And then he avoids me? Am I doing something wrong or is he just trying to mess with my emotions?"

"Who is? And why are you guys sitting over here?" At possibly the worst moment ever, Jake joins the party.

Oh great...

"Nothing, Jake. Forget about it." I said in an attempt to divert the topic.

"If he is playing games with you, he needs to understand that you deserve better than that. Mates are supposed to make you happy, not make you question what it is that you are doing wrong."

Wow, he's awfully perceptive...

Placing his food down on the table, He took a seat across from me and Nicole.