cherry stems (Book 1)

Chapter 2

Lee

The book itself wasn't as damaged as I thought it would be, considering it was pretty bad. The last 100 pages literally were steeped with a dark magenta. It left a sticky residue on my fingers, but I couldn't help but not set the book down. I know I was supposed to replace this, and in the end, throw it out, but I was thinking about keeping it for myself. Reading the first few pages got me hooked, and I was currently on chapter 3. It was giving me vibes of the most overhyped fairy tale everyone's seen on Disney Channel, but more adult-rated.

"Hey, dude, when are you going to join us?"

I hold the page between my fingertips before looking up at my brother. He was covered in sweat from all the running he's been doing for the past 45 minutes. Looking at him made her words ring into my head, and I couldn't help but let a small smirk creep up onto my face as I squinted to stare at him.

"I think I'm going to pass today. Got something else to do."

He scoffs, tossing the ball into the air for it to fall straight back into his hands. "Why do you even have that chick's book anyway?"

My finger ended up folding the corner of the page as a space holder since I didn't have an actual bookmarker on me. I don't think she'll mind anyway considering that she won't be getting this back. "Cause unlike someone, I'm going to replace it."

"I don't understand why you're going out of your way to replace it. That book is probably 10 dollars. She could replace it herself, so why don't you put it down, and come play a round with us."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Being well off probably clouded his mind, making him think that everyone else is well off. College students are fucking broke, always struggling to either get a meal, pay rent, or paying for transportation just to get to class. I realized this growing up with my friends that not everything is lollipops and chocolate in reality. That we were lucky enough or parents had money to put us in here and keep us fed.

"As I said, I'm good. I'm just gonna continue reading until I have to get to class."

"If I didn't know any better, you're whipped," he spits out like that was a bad thing in the first place.

"I don't fucking know her, how the hell can I be whipped?" I seethed, not even bothering trying to get back to the book as he stood in front of me. He was just going to continue bothering me because that's what Nate did. He annoyed people without getting the fucking hint that he's annoying.

Somedays, I wish I wasn't his twin.

"Can't you go and leave me be? Looks like they're waiting for you." I nod my head in the direction of our friend group, most of them off their phones now and making small talk as they look in our direction. Looking at them made me realize I should just go to a different spot near my class if it meant I could get away from Nate.

"Yeah whatever man, don't get your panties in a twist." I watched as Nate ran off to the rest of the group. I'll leave in 10 minutes. Maybe I would be able to see her coming out of her class.

Interesting, Lee.

Tomma. What a pretty name. 

That was the first thought that popped into my head when her name left her pink pillow lips. She was feisty too, with the way she was talking to me before she realized I wasn't Nate. It may or may not have piqued my interest in her as a person. Not many people dare to even talk badly about us to our face, so just the fact she called Nate an idiot made my heart flutter a bit.

Fluttering heart? Isn't it too early for that?

Something swelled inside me, I don't know how to explain it? If you can explain it to me, go right ahead.