The next day at school all eyes were on Lumi and not in a good way. Word had spread that she was not only trying to get with Freddy but Ren too. The two most attractive males from the senior class.
"Hey girl." Jade approached Lumi who just came out of the girls restroom.
"Oh hey…"
"Why so down? Did someone say something to you?" She asked, fully aware of the situation. She looked around to see if anyone was bold enough to be staring at them. There were a few people looking.
"No I just hate stupid rumors."
"I can't believe everyone thinks you're some kind of a thot now. Just because Ren carried you off the track? If only they knew he put cold towels on your forehead in bed and brought you some medicine the next day." Her expression went from concerned to flirty.
"Shhh!" Lumi said while looking around. "I don't want anyone knowing anymore about my personal life than what's already out there."
"What do you think it meant? Is he trying to be friendly after all these years?" She asked over and over. Lumi just shrugged and wondered. He never cared before. Or did he?
"Don't let it get to you. Hey, your favorite class is next. Let me walk you…" Jade trailed off.
"Hey Lumi!" Freddy shouted with a smile approaching the girls.
Lumi almost groaned. She knew she needed to steer clear of Freddy and Ren for a little while. She did not want the whole school to think she was a slut or thirsty. Why is this happening to me? Freddy started talking to me first and Ren…who told him to carry me to the nurses office?
"Hi Freddy." She said back.
"Missed you yesterday. Can I walk you to your next class?" He asked chipper.
Jade smiled at her friend as she slowly backed away and headed on her way. Lumi looked for help but it was not received.
"Sure…why not." She lied with a smile.
She turned around and he followed beside her as they walked down the flowing hallway.
"I'm glad you're feeling better. I was really worried."
"Thanks."
"Are you still on for our date? What about Friday night?" He asked when they arrived at her art class. Before she could object he confirmed their remake date once again eager to take her to his favorite dinner spot.
"Awesome, I'll pick you up after school. See you then!" He hopped away to jump in with a group of guys passing by.
"Oh my god." She moaned to herself and walked into the classroom.
Art was over and she was getting ready for study hall aka her break period. She spent most of it in the library drawing sketches and listening to music. She had found a nice spot to relax and set some of her sketchbooks on the side of the table while digging in her bag for her pencil. Someone, a female, had come by and accidently bumped her books making them sprawl out on the ground. Lumi assumed it was an accident until she heard the girl snickering with her friends as they exited the library. Lumi tried not to gasp since it was so quiet in the room. She pushed away from the table to bend down to grab the books when someone crouched down beside her to collect them all in one swipe. Ren. He stood up looking down at the book on top opened to a page with a drawing of a beautiful gown on it. Lumi took it from his hands promptly. She kept her gaze down as she whispered "Thank you."
He saw what had happened and he had heard about the rumors spreading around school. The females in their school were vicious which is why he always kept his distance from them. He wanted to make sure she was ok but didn't know how and thought it was best he should keep his distance from her again for the time being so he just walked to the librarian's desk.
What the actual fuck? Is this how it's going to be now? I didn't do anything. She pondered in her head. I almost made it through high school without any drama. Lumi sat there quiet and alone in her thoughts for the remainder of the period. When the bell rang she packed her backpack and pulled out her cell phone ready to text Jade or her father. When she exited the library she saw Ren standing there
He was standing with his back up against the wall pretending to read the book he had just checked out. He was going to leave but then he remembered he promised he would not leave her again. So he waited for her to come out. Lumi was looking at him when he looked up back at her. She broke their gaze first and started to walk away but he started walking next to her but not too close.
"Are you ok?" He asked. They continued down the hallway. There weren't many people on this side of the school. It was where the nerdy people hung out. Her eyes squinted a little confused.
"Totally." She said sarcastically.
"You can tell me if people are picking on you."
She stopped and looked up at him. He didn't look away. She did not like being toyed with. He's been freezing cold for years and now this? What is going on? Although she did enjoy seeing him and having their small moments together recently.
"Ok I'll just shoot a flare in the sky when the next dilemma occurs. Keep on the lookout." She said before storming off.
Before she could get out of reach he grabbed her phone from her grip thankfully she had no lock on it. He quickly put his cell phone number in and saved his contact.
Lumi gasped and turned back to him demanding her phone back.
"Hey, give that back…!" Before she could continue he tossed her back her phone. She barely caught it checking to see what he had done with it.
"I'd rather you text. Oh and you should really lock that thing." He said while his back was turned and he walked away from her in the opposite direction.
"I won't! Mind your own business!" She shouted towards his back. He waved a hand up in the air and turned the corner out of her site.
What is with him? Were her last thoughts before going to her next class.
The next day at school Lumi tried her best to avoid Ren and Freddy all day in which she was unsuccessful. Freddy was extremely good at finding her in the crowd and Ren was just everywhere. During lunch Jade and Lumi overheard some girls whispering about Lumi and her looks.
"How can anyone like her? I mean look at her." A girl said to another.
Jade stood up from her seat but Lumi pulled her arm down.
"Let it go."
"No, they're just jealous!" Jade said loudly causing them to all glare at her.
Lumi sighed and put her lunch bag back into her backpack.
"Wh-what are you done eating? We just started."
"I'm not that hungry today."
Jade looked shocked as her friend got up and walked away. She quickly grabbed her lunch and ran after her.
Ren saw them from afar as he was eating with his usual group minus Freddy. Oliver saw the two storm out as well. He shook his head.
"Poor Lumi."
Ren stopped and looked at Oliver. The redhead boy stopped stuffing his face when he felt Ren fixated on him.
"What? Haven't you heard?" He asked with a mouth full.
"No, what?" Ren replied.
Oliver swallowed and then scratched his head debating to tell Ren. Oliver knew Ren always hated hearing about these kinds of matters. And with everything going on lately Oliver was still unsure how close Ren and Lumi truly were.
"You didn't hear it from me but Freddy's just playing with the girl."
Ren glared at Oliver for more information.
Before Oliver could take another bite of his lunch he continued to elaborate. "Chloe and some of the cheerleaders made a bet with Freddy to see if he could get Lumi to catch feelings for him. He was supposed to dump her big time."
Oliver finally taking another bite from his food.
"I heard they have a date tomorrow night." He said while munching.
Ren got up immediately grabbing his backpack and started out of the cafeteria.
"Aw come on man, I knew I shouldn't have said anything."
That night after Lumi finished her homework she stopped in front of her vanity mirror and lifted her shirt to her chest. She looked at her stomach. It made her frown. "Maybe I should try to lose weight…" She groaned as there was a knock at the front door. She quickly pulled her shirt down and went to answer it. She thought it was her father coming home from work but it was not. It was Ren.
"What do you want?" Lumi asked with her head tilted at him.
"You haven't texted me," he replied.
She chuckled. "Why should I text you?"
He was starting to get annoyed with standing outside the door and he knew her father wasn't home yet since his car wasn't in the driveway. So he pushed past her to enter her home.
Lumi's jaw dropped at his bold move and then closed the door behind her.
"What do you think you're doing?" She asked, upset.
"I was going to ask you the same." He towered over her.
When she went to take a step back the door was behind her blocking her escape. She tried her best now to look away from him to show she wasn't nervous.
Ren could smell her sweet scent coming off her as he stood closely realizing she had just finished showering. Her hair was still a tad wet. He softened up a little and took a step back.
"I heard you have a date tomorrow with Freddy." His voice was more gentle.
She was irked and confused why he would come over to confirm this.
"Yeah and?" She said back. Although she didn't really want to go on the date.
He sighed. "You shouldn't."
"Why do you care?" Why does he care? It's none of his business who I date? She asked herself.
He looked down and realized because he cared for her. He didn't want Lumi to ever get hurt again and he knew he had hurt her in the past but he didn't know how to show her yet. There was a knock at the door making Lumi jump closer to Ren. She barely grazed him before he took another step back. Lumi turned to open the door because she knew it was her father this time.
"Hi Dad." She said with a smile to cover up her previous conversation.
"Oh Ren. Nice to see you." He said with awe.
Ren's lips curved up the slightest.
"Staying for dinner?" Lumi's father asked.
"No, I was actually leaving. See you at school tomorrow Lumi." Ren said as he walked out the front door.
"So are you two friends again?" Her father asked hopefully.
"I don't know." Lumi replied. She was confused. Very very confused.