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(Kellin's POV)

I smile as my last class begins; after this, I get to go home and talk to Vic, I think happily. We'd been talking every day on the phone, texting I mean. Mom would probably get suspicious because I never talk over the phone. We begin in the morning and do not stop talking until we say goodnight.

He doesn't come to the windows like he used to, I think it's because we have a way to actually communicate clearly now. No mixed signals or guessed meanings behind hand motions. We can actually say what we mean, and it's a lot easier than before. What class are you in? I smile slightly and glance around to make sure the creative writing teacher is writing on to he board so I can reply to him.

Creative writing, last class. Why aren't you in school? I hit send and pocket my phone as Jaime sits next to me. He's talking fast about a party at some guy named Jack's house and how crazy it will be and how many chicks will be wasted. In my opinion, it didn't sound too fun, but I nod and smile anyway. "You coming? I'll pick you up." He asks, resting his weight on his elbows. My phone buzzes but I don't pull it out right away.

"I might. Depends on what I have going on, I guess." I shrug, picking at my nails to seem occupied. "Something with Kelly?" He asked with an amused tone. I look up at him then, obviously unamused. He holds his hands up in surrender but my expression doesn't change. It isn't even funny to joke about her, that's how much she annoys me. Just the thought of her voice makes me feel uncomfortable.

"You don't seem too happy?" He questions, raising a suspicious brow. Oh, no, I think. If he finds out, he might tell her. "Uh, I'm just tired. I don't want to talk about her." He nods, "Argument?" I nod again and purse my lips for emphasis. He rolls his eyes and says something about girls and their attitudes, then turns around to talk to some guy named Christofer with black and blonde hair and spider bites. Chris smiles and replies something, then shakes his head.

Maybe they're discussing the party? If I break up with Kelly, he could take her. Yeah, he might be her type. He seemed a little on the hippie side though. Maybe she was into that. I push her from my mind and grab my composition book. I look at the daily prompt that's scribbled into the white board. Write about something that makes you smile, in poem form. Oh God, I suck at poetry.

I have a neighbor

Oh, sacred neighbor

We sit beneath the big willow where no one will ever see,

I have a neighbor

Oh, sweet neighbor

Who's darkest secrets are only known to me.

I stop there, looking down at what I've written and then think about erasing it all and writing about Kelly. But she doesn't make me smile, I think. Why would I lie? I remember I have a message from Vic and pull out my phone to read it. Idk I've been homeschooled since I was little and I never changed it. Coming over today? I smile a little and tap my pen on the desk in thought. Should I go? I wondered if his parents knew about the other day. Then I thought, why would they?

Sure, I will. Want me to? I keep my phone on my thigh, hoping his reply came soon. The screen dimmed a little and I clicked it, growing a little impatient. Yeah :) bring a snack and I'll bring sodas. I smile a little and bite my lip, thinking about a little picnic with Vic. Sure :)

God, I think solemnly as I slip my phone back into my pocket. Get a hold of yourself, Kellin.

_______

My mind was all over the place when I got home. Vic told me to get snacks and I didn't think much of it then, but when it came time to decide, it was hell. Does he like cookies? No, what if he doesn't like sweet stuff? Well, maybe he does. Or he could like candy better, wait, maybe chips. Yeah, chips.

I breathed out in relief at my sudden decision and grab a big bag of Doritos, which was supposed to be for my lunches. I bit the inside of my cheek in thought but then decide this little picnic thing is more important. My phone is buzzing in my pocket, longer buzzes signaling a call instead of a message. I sigh and frown at the thought of talking on the phone, but answer anyway without looking at the contact.

"Hello?" I say quietly as I walk to the living room. "Why did you tell Jaime we were arguing?" I knew right away that it was Kelly, shoving questions down my throat and annoying the piss out of me already. Why am I so stupid, I think as I massage my temples. "To get him off my back. He was being nosy, that's all." I say as I pick at my nails.

"Oh, I see," She sighs in relief and I roll my eyes. My hand is sweating from the heat of phone. If I wasn't on it, it wouldn't happen, I scowl. She knows I hate being on the phone. "Couldn't you have texted me this?" I ask, then realize it does sound a little rude. Kelly makes a sound like she opened her mouth to speak. "Fine then." She doesn't hesitate to hang up right after she says it.

I furrow my eyebrows and look down at my screen, blood pulsing in my ears. Why is she so dumb? I put up with her on a daily basis and I can't have two seconds of peace. I stand from the couch and head for the door, praying my parents will be home late so me and Vic have more time together. I smile at the thought. I don't know why he makes me so giddy and whatever, but I like it.

He's just so intriguing. So different and closed away, so full of unspoken ideas and theories. Vic is a book that only a few people have had the chance to skim through. But I sort of want to read the whole story, know little details and phobias and little things that make him smile. He just seems so overlooked.

He's waiting under the tree like he said he would be, perched against it with a tired look in his mocha eyes. "Hey," He speaks. Vic sounds sleepy and I tell myself not to think about how cute it is. I wriggle the bag of chips a little and he smiles slightly. I furrow my eyebrows and sit, turning to him to get a better look at his expression. "You seem down?" I say questionably.

"No, no. Just my mom. Want your soda now?" He asks quickly. Reaching beside him and retrieving two Cokes. I nod and take it, pop the tab, and take a short sip as he does the same. The silence is comfortable, Vic looks like he's thinking. "I was thinking today," He says, like he can see what I'm wondering through my small smile. "About?" I ask, opening the chips for us rather noisily.

We both laugh a little before he continues. "You, actually. I can't figure you out." I tilt my head in a puzzling manner and eat a few chips as he taps his chin. "What?" I ask, sipping my drink again. He brings his legs up to sit on them and drums his fingers on his knees. Figure me out? What does that mean?

"You're just really different than I thought. My parents told me you were just as snobby as your people," He says. "But no offense," I laugh and wave him off because I know how snobby my people are. It was no secret that my parents had their noses in the air, no matter where they went, even at home. It drove me crazy and I was relieved someone else noticed. "None taken." I say. "Okay. But yeah, and it annoyed me that they'd never met you but were telling me about you and now I'm talking to you and you're all nice. You aren't snobby like them, I guess. I can't figure out why you didn't turn out like them." He says this in two long breaths.

I stare at his lips as he speaks, telling me that I'm different and not bad like my parents. They're moving fast but it's like I can see each movement. How he occasionally grins during his words. He's so cute, I think. "Thanks," I say. "I try not to be. You aren't either, but I'm sure your parents aren't assholes." We both laugh and snack a little, crunching and sipping filling the air instead of words for a while. It was peaceful, usually I'd be stressing over school work or Kelly or something. But I'm at peace right now, I'm actually relaxed. I'm breaking routine, I think.

"Thanks by the way," I say suddenly, my words rushed and muffled by soda. "For?" He asks, his voice the same. He glances at me and pushes his hair out of his face and I look down to stop my blushing. Once I feel at ease, I look up again. "Well, you know how I go by routine? Everything in my house and everything I do had a cycle or way to do things?" He nods, seeming to understand. "Well, this is breaking the routine. So, thank you, as weird as it is."

He sends me a warm smile and the dog barks in the distance, this time he looks from under the tree. "Uh," Vic mumbles. I sit up and follow his gaze, my stomach dropping when I see his father is home. "When he goes inside, just go then. I'll text you." He says and glances at me. His nose ring catches in the sun and I smile a little. We grab our things and wait for the door to shut. Once it is, we let out relieved sighs. He looks at me and let's his shoulders drop, we both grin.

We both stare at one another for a second, then I stand to go. My parents cannot know that I'm hanging out with Vic, they'd kill me. "Thanks for inviting me. It was fun." I say politely. "Wish it could last longer." Vic leans against the trunk of old tree again. I nod and smile, blushing slightly at his choice of words, the way the sound from his mouth. I should stop, I'm going to creep him out. "I'll text you." I say, then walk home quickly with the nearly gone bag of Doritos.

I wish it could last longer. Oh Jesus, I do too. I come up with scenarios in the house as I put the chips up, like how soft his hair would be between my fingers or how his lips would feel on mine. Why did Vic Fuentes, of all people, make me feel like this? My throat and cheeks are buzzing like I want to squeal but I don't allow myself to. Poor Kelly, I think. But even though I know it's a dick move to not tell her that I don't like her and possibly like my neighbor who I'm forbidden to see or speak of unless it's rude, I have a feeling she would not understand. Reason, being, neither do I.

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