SETH
Two things I absolutely hate. Someone tries to take my seat and tries to steal my girl.
This guy was doing both.
He didn’t seem to be getting intimidated by my glare, most took cover or steered clear away from me.
“Get up,” I told him. “You’re in my seat.”
He frowned. ”Your name’s not written on it, dude."
He reminded me of a big blond cat. He was heavier than me, meaner looking, and maybe a few inches taller too. His glare matched mine, and I wasn’t about to back down if he thought I would.
Now that we were having this macho stare-down, I recalled seeing him getting out of the car from the parking lot this morning and one of my teammates mentioned that there was a new transfer from Wayne Creek High, one of the prestigious Ivy League schools in this town.
Boy looked like he ate four kids for breakfast and then two for dinner.
I tapped the corner of the desk, grinning, ”Look for yourself.”
His gaze moved to the desk where I’d carved ‘Seth’ in tiny letters. I smiled, “It’s my desk.” I dug my hands into the varsity jacket, “Move it.”
“What is going on there? Mr. Monroe, you’ve already disturbed my class by being late. Take your seat now.” Mrs. Martinez bellowed.
“But ma’am he’s in my seat.” I pointed at my desk.
Mrs. Martinez huffed, “Are you in kindergarten?”
The blond guy sniggered. The rest of the class followed.
“But I’ve been sitting there since—
“Go sit at the back. There’s an empty desk right there.” She pointed at the far back of the classroom. Then she stared at me from above her specs as if to say ′Do not argue with me, boy.′
The guy in my seat smirked and then turned to Emily, disregarding my presence like I was an annoying fly buzzing over his food.
Why wasn’t she saying anything to him? Couldn’t she tell him to move his ass?
Emily passed me an apologetic look.
Honestly, I was super pissed. I’d been looking forward to this class only because I got to spend more time in school with Emily.
The empty seat that Martinez wanted me to take was next to Savannah.
There was a reason no one sat next to her.
Savannah had a lice city in her head, with proper infrastructure, and everything. The lice seemed to have made home since middle school and wouldn’t leave, that’s what the rumors said.
I ain’t sitting near her.
Nope.
Last time Bryson Sully sat next to her, and the poor guy was scratching his head for a week straight. I couldn’t take the risk of having the lice camp in my head.
I picked up the desk and placed it near the window. I could do without having to sit with anybody, besides I had a clear view of Emily’s desk from here.
It was hard to concentrate on the class because I had my eyes trailed on Emily and the new guy. She was talking to him cheerfully, nothing about her posture told me that she was meeting him for the first time.
That had the wheels turning in my head.
Who was this fucking guy and why was Emily acting so familiar with him? I wasn’t the type to get jealous so easily, but I found myself hating every second of this. My hands were balled into fists.
Sitting through the class watching this guy getting all chummy with her was resulting to be torturous.
* * *
EMILY
SETH: I’ve got practice baby. I’ll be late but I’ll make it up to you when I’m home
I received a text from Seth’s that evening and I tried not to feel disappointed as I made my way towards my car when I heard someone calling out to me.
It was Carson.
“Hey.” He smiled. “Are you busy right now?”
“Not exactly,” I said and then instantly regretted it.
“Cool. I was wondering if we could...maybe chill at a coffee shop or something? You could show me around this part of town.”
Seth wasn’t going to be home until later tonight. It was only five p.m right now. It’s not like I had anything to do at home either.
“Okay.”
I took Carson to a cute coffee hangout place that made bomb chocolate cakes and even better coffee.
Carson took a sugar-free cake, low-calorie, and everything healthy. I, on the other hand, wasn’t going to care about the diet of all things.
There was one point in time in my life where I’d tried to go on a strict diet. I’d starved myself to fit into a dress, only to be hospitalized for a week. It was a nightmare, to say the least.
It still happened sometimes when I had a sudden urge to go on a diet. Maybe Carson could give me some tips.
The cafe was a cozy place with black leather seats and old record players. It had the 80′s vibe. Before I met Seth, I used to visit this cafe all the time.
“That guy from our class...what was his name? Monroe?”
“Seth,” I said.
“Yeah. Seth. Is he your boyfriend?”
I was stunned for a moment. I never thought Carson would ask me this question. I began stirring the coffee a little too hard, messing up the beautiful palm frond design
“No. He’s not.” Unfortunately.
He smiled, and I could see the relief crossing his features. “I see.”
“Why?”
Carson shrugged, “I don’t know. He was just giving off that territorial vibe.”
I laughed, but my insides had turned into mushy goo. “He’s very possessive about his things.”
“You mean you?”
I slapped his hand. ”I’m not a thing. I mean, his desk. He has his name written on it for a reason and you took that from him.”
“I think he was pissed for more than just the desk, Emily, but whatever. If you say so.”
Carson took notes from my books, and we chatted for a bit. Any kind of uneasiness that I had in the morning when I met him dissolved. I could see us becoming good friends despite the night at the party which was a disaster. I mean it was a disaster for me, Carson had been clear that he had a great experience. He was holding onto that memory.
I was going to let the past stay where it was. In the past.
Carson ran his hand through his short blond hair, “let me go get our coffees.”
When he returned, he passed me my cup, feeling his fingers brush mine, and I think he did that on purpose.
“You wanna grab dinner after this?”
I rolled my eyes. “The donut hasn’t digested yet so don’t talk about dinner.”
He grinned, “then wanna come over to my place? I’ll promise to fix your previous experience.”
“Carson, if we’re going to be friends, you can’t make any sexual jokes or pass innuendos. Deal?”
“Oh come on, Em. We gave each other our firsts, surely I’m allowed to tease you about it.”
“Nope.”
“Fineeee.”
My phone buzzed. I picked it up to find a text from Seth.
Seth: Hey! Where are you?
Seth: I’m at home waiting for you
I checked the time on my watch and it was already eight p.m. I climbed to my feet, slinging my handbag over my shoulders. Carson didn’t seem happy that I was leaving.
“Carson, I’m going to head home. Thanks for the coffee.”
“Hey, can I text you later?”
“Um...okay...sure.”
* * *
I parked my car in the vacant spot and noticed Seth’s old Ford truck was parked there too. The truck was bright red and vintage, aesthetically pleasing to look at, but the engine made a lot of noise and I knew how embarrassed he was whenever he needed to get something fixed.
When I suggested him use one of my dad’s cars, the spare Jeep, he denied it right off the bat. Seth had a lot of pride when it came to taking things from me. He’d rather spend hours fixing the car.
Just last week, he was underneath his truck with his toolbox, wearing a wife-beater and ripped jeans, looking delicious as always. His body was drenched in sweat and his callous hands were covered in dark grease
I had spent the better half of my time staring at him fixing a goddam car, something I would never do if it wasn’t him because it was just far too entertaining to watch a hot guy flexing those muscles, getting all invested and dirty over his big boy toys.
I smiled at the memory, walking into the house. “I’m home,” I called out.
Seth was in the kitchen. The scent of garlic bread and pasta wafted the air making my stomach growl.
I gasped when I noticed what was in front of my eyes.
A table was set for two. A bouquet of roses adorned the center with candles surrounding it. Two plates on either side of the table, a bottle of wine, and flutes.
It was so romantic.
My bag plummeted to the floor as I walked into the dimly lit room.
Seth looked completely out of this world wearing a white shirt over denim, his unruly dark hair half-tamed and his emerald eyes luminescent, looking breathtaking.
I felt like I’d won a date with a movie star.
He stood up when he saw me walking towards him. “Hey.”
“This is all…”
“Do you like it?”
“Of course! I love it, Seth. How did you think of doing all this?” I went to sit on my side when he pulled out the chair for me like a gentleman.
He gave me that dazzling smile, “Well, we can’t go out into town together since word might get out and your father would get suspicious of us so I thought I could do something for you at home.”
“This is brilliant. Thank you. I wish I had time to properly get ready for this date.”
Oh my god. Is this a date? Am I dating Seth?
“I mean…it’s a date, isn’t it?”
He laughed, “Whatever you want, Emily-Mae.”
“Can I go upstairs and change real quick?”
“Nah, you look super sexy in jeans.” He winked, and I felt like I was stabbed repeatedly by some cupid. “Your ass looks fine in it too.”
“Aw. I could kiss you right now.”
“We’ve got time for that too baby, but later.”
Am I dreaming? Am I really sitting at my kitchen table with this gorgeous jock from my school who I had a major crush on? If this was a dream, I didn’t want to wake up from it.
Seth was my date slash chef. He served me a massive helping of pasta before settling down opposite me. We talked a little while we ate the pasta. I was a bit stuffed with the coffee and cake that I had with Carson before but I wasn’t about to complain.
I wanted to tell Seth about Carson but I wasn’t sure how to tread through that conversation and I didn’t want to spoil our romantic dinner.
The landline phone started ringing. I ignored it until it started ringing again.
Who was calling on the landline when I had a freaking phone?
I sighed, “Let me get that.”
I padded into the living area and answered the phone. No one was on the other end so I slammed it down.
“Sorry…don’t know who that was,” I said almost skipping into the room and then stopped when I saw the darkness clouding his features.
My phone lit up and went blank.
Why did I have a feeling he’d just checked my phone?
It had moved a few inches towards his side. I remembered placing it near my plate and Seth knew the passcode to it.
I took my seat again and picked up my fork. “The pasta is just soooo—”
“Where were you this evening, Emily?”
“I was with—”
“And who the fuck was that guy you were sitting with this afternoon?”
My heart stopped. The phone screen showed me some texts.
Carson: Hey gorgeous! I enjoyed this evening with you. Thanks for that coffee date
I dared a glance at Seth. He was seething, a vein was about to pop.