In which I fall in love with my brother's best friend.
*****
"Don't pretend like you don't feel anything." His voice is low, sending shivers down my spine.
"What do you mean?"
"You know damn well what I mean."
"I don't know what you're talking about...
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"Derek?" I call.
"Uh, Melanie..." he falters as I walk closer to the door.
Once I open the door wider, I see him in my doorstep, scratching the back of his head as if in trouble.
"I was looking for the restroom, but I guess I went into the wrong way," he says.
"You almost scared me to death." I sigh, putting my hand on my chest. "The restroom is on the other side, by the way. But you can also find another one at the end of this hallway." I point at the direction I just told him.
"Right. Thanks, Mel," he says, but before he can walk off, Vaughn emerges.
"Hey, is everything okay?" Vaughn asks me. "I heard your scream just now."
"I'm okay," I say, wanting to laugh at myself for being paranoid. "I was just startled." Maybe I've watched too many horror movies.
Derek excuses himself and walks away. As always, he avoids eye contact with Vaughn.
I notice that Vaughn keeps watching Derek's back as the poor guy walks along the hallway. A frown touches Vaughn's lips. "Who's that guy, exactly?"
"Derek is a friend from high school," I say. "We also have some classes together during our first year here."
But his brows still furrow, as if my answer isn't satisfying.
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I make my way down the corridor of my campus after finishing my morning lab session.
Yesterday, Vaughn left my house earlier because he still had a class to attend in the evening. I felt bad that we consumed too much of his time -- not that he was complaining. But I just felt pity for him that Stacey kept bombarding him with questions -- it wasn't like my boyfriend was going to disappear at any moment.
I shake my head in disbelief, laughing. Boyfriend? What am I thinking? Have I already put a label for our relationship? I'm crazy.
