**Chapter Nine**
"You sure you'll be able to do it?" Cam asked me as we walked outside.
I told him about my plan to get over Drew. It's not that great of an idea because you can't let feelings go so easy. Talking with Juliana made me feel guilt. Like it was wrong of me to be having this secret crush on the person she was dating. She didn't deserve that. Especially because Juliana was so nice. There's never been a point where she was ever mean to me. Yet here I was, crushing on her boyfriend. It wasn't right.
Nodding, we stopped walking as I stuck to my guns. "Yep, it's the right thing to do. At least the guilt would go away." That was my main concern and not hurting Julie.
Cam was impressed. "Alright, should be easy since you have motivation." He always supported me.
I giggled. "Hopefully, but it's so hard," I admit. "Drew is..."
"Drew is what?"
My cheeks turned crimson as Drew's voice rang behind me. With my back turned, I hadn't realized he was walking this way. Hopefully, there wasn't anything else he caught. That could be bad and make things even more challenging. What would he think about hearing that I've been talking about him? This would surely bring up questions I couldn't possibly answer.
Turning around, there Drew was with his shaggy, curly hair. Those eyes bore into me, waiting to hear a response to his question. My mouth couldn't bring itself to open the more I stared at him. I was like a deer in the headlights and Drew looked like he loved every minute. The gleam in his eyes was bright, as a small smile crept across his face. The gulp I held in my throat released, though my nerves were still there. We're supposed to be getting over him, Anna!
Cam, taking the note, decided he would excuse himself. "Hey, I'll catch up with you later, Anna." He wasted no time getting out of there. Such a bad friend!
Drew watched Cam walk away before talking to me again. "What exactly is your relationship?" Why does everyone ask that?
My nerves got the best of me, making it hard to respond, but I did. "Well...he just knows me well," I say.
"Better than me, I suppose," he says, which stuns me.
My eyes look at him with a softness. "Drew..."
"Do you like gelato?" He looked back at me with a light smile.
He changed topics rather quickly. I wanted to know what he was thinking, but he wouldn't tell me. He didn't even give me the chance to ask him. Or to even clear things up. He thought Cameron had something going on with me as Juliana did. It wasn't the case and but I was supposed to be getting over him. Not falling back into the trap. Gelato did sound yummy, though.
Looking down, I nod my head at his question. "Yes-yes I do," I stutter a bit.
"Well, what're we waiting for?" He smiled brightly.
Following behind him, it didn't take long for us to get to the gelato spot on campus. I'm so new here that I didn't even know this place existed. It was only open on Mondays and Thursdays, so that may be why. Luckily, it was Monday, and we were getting to have some together. My plans to get over Drew wouldn't waver, but getting gelato hurt nobody. I'm sure Juliana wouldn't be upset about this.
However, what he said before switching conversations stayed in my head. Even after we sat down with our gelato, I kept thinking about why he would say such things. It almost had a hint of anger in his tone. Like he was upset that Cameron knew me more than he did. Even if it is true, why would Drew get upset about that? None of it made sense.
Eating his dark chocolate-flavored gelato, Drew started speaking again. "I heard you went out with Julie yesterday," he says.
I nod, avoiding eye contact. "Yeah, she's very persistent when she wants something done," I giggle.
He agreed. "That sounds like Julie," he says before chuckling to himself. "Why do you never look at me when you're talking? Do I scare you?"
That startled me, but I still didn't look at him. I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, eating some of my gelato as well. "Um, no...but I guess you make me nervous," I admit.
It perplexed him why I would be nervous simply having a conversation. We've known each other for so long. There wasn't much reason for me to be nervous. At least not to him. To me, it was because of my crush on him that made things hard. He wouldn't know that because I'll never tell him. Now that I'm trying to get over that crush, one glance at those gorgeous eyes would reel me back in. I just knew it.
"Is it the tattoos? The jewelry?" He questioned.
I shake my head. "No-no I like those things," I say.
"Then is it my hair? You always stutter too," he was pointing out all my flaws.
Still, my head shakes. "No...maybe I'm curious why you suddenly want to talk to me," I fiddle with my spoon.
Then he went silent. It's probably something I shouldn't have asked, but admittedly, I'm curious. Before, back at home, Drew barely even looked my way. He'd always say hi of course, but that's as far as it would go. Now he wanted to have conversations with me. He wanted to go to the skate park once a week and teach me tricks. We were sitting here eating gelato together for crying out loud. What changed?
As I glanced up at him, his face changed to a soft expression. He didn't know how to answer what I just asked. I'm not even sure if there was an answer to said question. We were older going through college. That may have something to do with the sudden interest. However, even the things he's been saying have been weird. Could we even be friends?
Leaning back, his eyes shot up at me as mine looked away again. I hear him chuckle again before I felt his fingers gently grab my chin and turn my face toward his. Those eyes capture my every being like they always do, and my cheeks go hot. He's touched me before, but somehow this felt different. There's no clear sign of how, but it was. Maybe he realized that too, releasing his fingers.
Looking away, Drew shrugged. "I'm at a different time in my life," he says. "I'm not as angry and getting into trouble as I used to."
"You were angry?" Now I look at him.
He nods. "Very, and I don't think you would have wanted to be my friend then," he admits. Friend.
"I see..." I trail off. It's not surprising that he said friend, but jeez, I was hoping for more.
This time, he smiled. "But now I feel more comfortable talking to you because I know I won't lash out for no reason."
It's not the answer I wanted, but it felt good knowing that he wouldn't talk to me out of protection. Though knowing he only saw me as a friend solidified my reasons for getting over my crush. We would never be anything more than what we are. That was fine as I'm able to relax when talking to him now.
Smiling to myself, it felt good to have his honesty. But I wanted to know more. "Is that why you missed so much school?" I question.
"What are you watching me?" He teased.
I was, but I won't tell him that. "No, but you are Dillon’s brother and we're only a grade apart," I explain. "It's hard not to notice."
Luckily, he agreed with me, but he still didn't want to talk about it. "This is the most you've talked normally to me." He switches topics. I'm going to get a lot of that.
"I'm awkward. Sorry." I apologize.
Drew shook his head with that beautiful smile. "Don't be sorry for being you. I like it."
That made my heart pound in my chest. Drew liked something about me. He actually liked my awkwardness. This was no time for me to get hung up on this kind of stuff. Juliana would kill me for getting flustered about how I am at her boyfriend. She obviously thinks Cameron is the one I like. If she saw my reaction to being around Drew, her opinion would definitely change. That's why no matter if he liked my awkwardness, I'm getting over him. I'm getting over Drew!
I bit my lip nervously. "Drew..."
"You wanna be friends, Annabelle?" He cuts me off yet again. Does he know what I'm going to say?
Still, it caught me off guard, and I wasn't sure how to answer it. "I thought we already were." I giggle nervously.
He laughed too, looking back at me. "Yeah, but now we are officially." His wink at me sent chills down my spine. "I have to get going, but you think I can show you something tomorrow?"
I nod. "I finish classes at 3:30," I say.
"Perfect, see you then Annabelle," he rushed out and my heart flipped.
I had plans with Drew tomorrow! How the hell will I get over him now?