The paranoid girl again founded herself in the big cafeteria. She sat down in embarrassed from the glares she was getting. But at the same time, she cursed herself for acting like a fool. She straightened up a bit, keeping her phone on the table, trying to ignore the stares.
However, Olivia was sitting up at a table, and looked at her way, laughing with her friends.
Regan didn't care about being talked behind back as long as they wouldn't say it directly to her.
The crowd in queue shifted a bit and Vesper came, holding a tray with two sandwiches and orange juice.
"Hey did you get bored?" She asked smiling. "The queue was long."
"No problem, I know."
She sat in front of Regan since the table had only two chairs. Regan hoped that she would eat her meal peacefully, without having to hear Olivia's provoking taunts or being mocked around by someone else. She couldn't stand both things.
She thought of Vesper, about the fact that she hadn't seen her hanging out with anyone else. Vesper looked friendly and outgoing. Meanwhile, Regan didn't consider herself as these, she thought herself as dull and boring
However, she hadn't seen Vesper talking to anyone in class too. Regan was new here but was Vesper so? After all, Vesper should have gotten some sort of other company.
"Do you have any other friends?" Regan suddenly asked out of thoughts.
The other girl frowned and Regan regretted saying that. Was it rude?
Vesper's face softened again within a second, like the ice that's melted when you pour hot water directly, "Of course I have," she said as she took a bite of the sandwich, "and I have even moreee then friends," she added and her lips curled upwards in the process, "they're just not in this school."
Her behaviour felt creepy but Regan shrugged it off, "That's cool," she replied not finding anything better to say.
"Have you ever had any friend?" Vesper asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Oh, I've had, were I lived before," Regan replied. The truth was, she had had some sort of 'friends' but they were just fake friends who used her to do their homework and assignments.
"Well, well, well, two weirdos of our school, hanging out themselves," a familiar voice nearly startled Regan. She looked behind to see the rude jerk that you already know.
Regan sighed in frustration, preparing to leave. She didn't want to waste time with these pricks. But as soon as she was going to stand up, a blonde haired guy appeared from nowhere and stepped near Vesper. He placed a hand on her shoulder and with his other hand, twirled her hair. Regan's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, she hadn't really thought that Vesper had a boyfriend.
"How are you doing, cupcake?" He asked, his voice teasing.
"Get lost, Nate," Vesper retorted in an attempt to say it angrily but it seemed as if she failed.
"Oh, come on cupcake, we were good yesterday," the guy called Nate said," perhaps we meet tonight?"
Regan wanted to leave but she was also curious for Vesper. It wasn't like she really cared that Vesper had a boyfriend, it was just that she didn't want him to get in their friendship. She glanced around, seeing how everyone's attention was on her friend and the guy. She feared that if she would stay there any longer, the attention would shift at her in some way.
"You fool dare take my boyfriend?" Olivia suddenly growled, her features twisted into a scowl. Vesper only smirked, fueling her up even more.
Regan's eyes widened at what she heard, but she didn't do anything. Now, the cafeteria was in silence, everyone seemed to relish the drama that was being stirred.
"Nate, come on!" Olivia persisted, placing her hand on Nate's arm.
"Why?" Nate retorted.
"Because you're my boyfriend and she's just a fucking loser!"
Nate didn't respond. He took Vesper's hand and they both walked out of the cafeteria to who knows where. Releasing her anger, Olivia shoved a chair and yelled at everyone to mind their own business. The crowd did so, but started to rant and whisper about it again.
Regan quickly disappeared from the scene and went outside. She couldn't shake Olivia's words about Vesper the rest of the classes, it was the only thing she could think about.
Vesper, on the other hand, skipped and Regan wondered if this affected her friend's grades. She really hoped that Olivia was lying about that boyfriend thing.
"And tomorrow you will have your grade test on physics. Remember that this test covers 60% of your grade." That's what the teacher said before leaving.
Finally it was over and everyone started leaving. Regan got her bag and noticed how Vesper still had her things in her desk.
She really hoped Vesper wasn't someone who would steal other boyfriends. Even though Olivia was a rude jerk, it was a terrible dishonor to steal someone's lover.
She stormed out of the classroom and in her way home.
Before opening the door of the car, she heard a shout behind her back.
"Regan! Regan! Wait!
"Yes, Vesper? She asked, turning back, slightly irritated.
"Is this your car? It's beautiful!" Vesper complimented, pushing her bangs away from her face. The wind wasn't doing its best job on her hair. As for Regan, she didn't really care. She'd rather have some rocky hairstyle, than a sleek and silk one.
"Of course she's gonna cheer. Had a lot of fun with her boyfriend," Regan's mind said.
"Thanks, I'm going home."
"Well I'll come in then," Vesper said and rushed to get in Regan's car when Regan wasn't even inside. What would she do? She wasn't going to say an excuse to make her leave or something.
She sighed in frustration and got inside.
Vesper turned on the stereo, putting on some songs which Regan didn't like, but she didn't spoke or complain.
She took a deep breath and put the car in drive. The start of the drive was silent, with no one of them speaking. Vesper kept glancing at Regan, tapping her leg on the car's floor impatiently. Regan didn't look at Vesper at all, she was focused on the road.
"Hey, why are you so quiet?" Vesper asked after five minutes.
Regan glanced at her, her expression bored, "I guess you're the one who has to say," she replied, her voice cold.
"Say what?"
"Come on Vesper, don't play dumb. What was that all in cafeteria?"
"Interrogating everything, aren't you?"
"I'm not interrogating. What was that thing that Olivia said?"
"Olivia bullied you yesterday and now you believe in her lies?"
"It's not about-"
"Do you really believe that I stole her boyfriend?" she cut her off.
"I'm not saying I believe anything okay? It was just....weird."
"Okay then. Nate isn't my boyfriend. He's just...a friend. But he acts that way because that's his type. And he broke up with Olivia one month ago but she can't get over him so she keeps trying to pick fights. What a sick person she is!"
"And why did you skip classes?"
"I told you I had some business to do."
Regan gave her a "don't lie" look.
"I wasn't with Nate okay? Beside he's just a funny guy who wants to start gossip, we're just friends," she said annoyingly.
"She said she had no other friends at school."
"We don't hang out with Nate at school cause you know...Olivia. That's why I told you I don't have any other friends except you in this school," she answered just like reading Regan's mind.
"But what she said kinda doesn't make any sense. She's lying probably," Regan's subconscious said.
"Okay just shut up!" Regan shouted, earning a confused and angry look from her friend. She meant to tell this to herself but said it out loud.
"You lack brains, that's why."
"Sorry, Vesper...I was thinking about something else. I believe you though. I know that Olivia is a drama queen."
Vesper's expression softened and she grinned, "That's my girl!" she shouted, shoving her shoulder playfully.
"Sooo, since you ride that good... aren't you going to give me a ride along the city or going straight at home and die of boredom?"
Regan's face fell.
Because she wanted to go home and didn't like wandering around.
But since she was supposed to be a friend, Regan agreed.
"Ok... I'll make a tour around but only 10 minutes."
"Deal!" she he yelled.
"She's trying to make you forget about Olivia's words."
"Would you just shut up?" Regan yelled internally at herself.
Their ride was supposed to be ten minutes but it lasted an hour because Vesper bought some clothes and wanted Regan to accompany her.
Regan returned with her again after convincing her that her aunt was going to get mad at her for coming home late.
She was quietly happy for finally getting rid of Vesper, even if that didn't sound right. She knew she was being a bad friend now, but she really didn't have to go shopping when she didn't want to. And yes, she could have told that earlier but she didn't want to annoy Vesper.
Taking a glance at her, she was smiling happily looking at her new clothes she got.
Most of clothes that Vesper bought were provocative and preppy kind. She had a great income. Regan thought she bought maybe most for her sister, and she probably had some party to attend or just something else.
She parked the car near her house and waited impatiently for her to leave.
"Thank you Regan! See you tomorrow! Oh and don't forget to reply my texts!"
"Goodbye," Regan called back. She drove the car near her house, parking it in front of the house. She sighed in relief, being home finally. Her new house was beautiful so why should she be bored?
But then again this wave of discomfort hit the girl as soon as she stepped out of the car.
That feeling of something watching her.
Monica wasn't home yet and she was glad because her aunt would worry if she saw Regan coming late.
A part of Regan wanted to believe Vesper, but the other part didn't. She couldn't trust Olivia either. Her doubtful nature, wasn't helping her trust issues. She knew that after all she couldn't trust anyone.
Soon after, it was her aunt who came home. She had been shopping as well.
"Hey, I met your best friend out there," she said as soon as she came into the living room and Regan could tell she was tired but knew it was from shopping because Monica was a workaholic and didn't really get tired from work.
"She was such a nice girl."
"Oh, yeah. Vesper," Regan replied. It was weird how Vesper got to know her aunt without Regan even telling about it. But since they were neighbours, it was already obvious.
"I'm glad you got out of your social shield and made a good friend," Monica said, giving Regan the bags to carry them upstairs. Regan nodded and went upstairs. She didn't want to talk about Vesper anymore, because if she did, her mind would probably bring up all what happened in cafeteria and she'd spill it all to her aunt.
She entered Monica's room and placed the bags near the closet. Then, she went to her own room and thought to start studying for the physics test. As she sat on the desk, a heavy, alluring smell hit her nose. She noticed it was a beautiful red rose, placed on the bedside table. She couldn't help but wonder how the scent was so vivid, when it was just a rose. But then, she remembered that she hadn't placed it there.
But she also remembered that Monica liked roses and probably she still thought that red was Regan's favourite color. As Regan thought about it, she fell lost in thought. She didn't really like red, but her aunt always said that when she was little, she was obsessed with red. She wanted her room painted red, her clothes red, her hair red, everything red.
And of course, Regan didn't remember any of this. The scent of the rose was so intoxicating that it started to make her feel dizzy. She picked it up and placed it somewhere else, then focused on her studies.