A/N : Hey guys! Merry Xmas eve! <3 Hope you all had fun and lots of goodies 🎄
I know I'm updating after almost 20 days (sorry!) In case you're wondering why, I was writing my finals and then I had a hard time getting back to writing. But in the mean time, we got 94k reads! And we're almost at 4k votes!! Thank you thank you thank you! I owe it to you guys to finish this book & I am going to. Inspiration hit me hard yesterday & I wrote like 5 chapters at a go!  So if this starts bad, I'm sorry (i'm kinda insecure and also I'm writing after a long time) But it gets better and there's gonna be twists & stuff. Okay now I gotta stop twaddling! Enjoy the story and keep those votes and comments rolling! That stuff makes my day like nothing else ♥️

PLAYLIST : I Hate U, I Love U - Gnash

     I took out some books from my backpack and shoved them in my locker and closed it. When I turned around to leave, it didn't take me a minute to spot Derek and Shayna a few lockers away from mine.

     Derek leaned against his locker without a care in the world with his hands on Shayna's waist and Shayna was giggling at whatever he'd just said. I don't know why, but I couldn't look away. So I ended up staring at them, not too long to appear creepy but it was longer than a casual glance.

     What am I doing? Remember the list, Vivian!

     Derek lifted his head up and before our eyes could meet, I finally turned away. I still noticed him wave at me out of the corner of my eye but I chose to ignore him. He'd think that I didn't see him. With a sinking feeling in my heart, I dragged my feet outside and saw Cabe.

     "Hi." I said.

     "Hey, ready to go?" he asked.

     "Yes, I am."

     Cabe and I were going to go eat lunch off campus. When I called him yesterday, he said that he wanted to meet and talk. And I said we'd meet in school the next day. So here we are.

     Frankly speaking, my heart wasn't in it. But going with him meant I didn't have to witness Shayna and Derek cuddling and making out in lunch. I wasn't yet ready to accept the fact that they were dating.

~~~

     A few minutes later, I was sitting with Cabe at a table in Taco Bell, eating a burrito, trying to figure out Cabe's deal. Why all the sudden interest? Not that I was complaining. We talked for a while about school, football, his college applications and other neutral stuff.

     "Viv," Cabe said.

     "What?" I asked.

     He left his chair and came to sit on the one beside me. "I missed you."

     "I missed you too."

     "Really?" he asked. Maybe that wasn't the reply he expected.

     I looked straight in his eyes. "Yes." I couldn't believe I was saying that. Cabe was the only one who could take my mind off Derek. And right now, I wanted to get rid of every thought of Derek.

     Cabe moved closer to me, his hand sliding up my leg from my knee. We were in the corner, partially hidden from the rest of the people.

     Before I knew what was happening, Cabe's face smashed into mine and we were publicly making out in the back of Taco Bell.

     This was exactly what I promised myself I'd never do. But I also promised myself that I'd never fall for a guy who didn't even care about my existence.

     I broke the kiss for a second to catch my breath and to look around if anyone's noticing us. No one in the diner seemed to care about two teenagers making out. So we started kissing again.

     The sound of approaching footsteps made me spring back from Cabe. I quickly adjusted my clothes and looked at the person interrupting us. I gasped.

     Believe it or not, it was Derek! He stood in front of us with his hands clasped and an embarrassed look on his face. The last thing I wanted was to see Derek, and here he was!

~~~

     The three of us stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say. I broke the silence by saying, "What are you doing here?"

     Derek arched an eyebrow at me. I returned the gesture by arching my eyebrow. If he was trying to tell me something, I totally didn't get it.

     "Uh, I'll just go," he said finally. "You guys continue with whatever you're doing."

     Cabe chuckled and I rolled my eyes. "See you around, Vivian." With that, Derek turned on his heels and left.

     I pressed my lips into a thin line and grunted. Why was he here? He was supposed to be in school with Shayna. Didn't he get it that I was trying to stay away from him?

     An arm wrapped around my back. "How about taking this someplace else?" Cabe's head dug into my neck.

     I felt ticklish and slid away from him. "Not now. Derek ruined it."

     "We can go to my house," Cabe persisted.

     I threw my backpack over my shoulder. "I have to get back to school. Sorry. I'll see you later, okay?"

     His face fell. "Fine. Whatever."

     I knew Cabe was disappointed. But Derek appearing here messed up my head. Why was I screwing myself over and over for something that never was and never will be? Seeing Derek makes me forget everything else.

     I wasn't being fair to Cabe. I linked my hand with his and made him face me. "I'll call you, okay?"

     He smiled and gave me a kiss. "Okay."

     I wasn't sure if I was going to.

~~~

     After my last class, I walked to the parking lot. When I came to Tiffany's usual parking spot, it was empty. Damn! She left without me.

     I groaned that I didn't have my own car. I felt paralyzed without one. I was waiting for the day Gina goes away to college. Then I could have my own car.

     "Vivian," a voice bellowed behind me. I spun around to see Shayna coming, alone. I smiled inside not seeing her with Derek. They're not yet to the stage where couples just can't stay away from each other. I'm mean! Oh god, I'm mean!

     "Hi, Shayna."

     "Where's Tiffany?"

     "Haven't seen her all day."

     "Yeah? She told me she and Nate fought. And it's big this time." She paused. "Well, you know, bigger than the other big times. And then she disappeared."

     "You'd think I'd have gotten used to this by now. It happens all the time."

     "I know right. Anyways, how are you getting home?"

     I shrugged and bit my lip. "I don't know. I can't find Gina too."

     "Come on," she said, taking out her keys and pointing it to her car. "I'll drop you home."

     "Thanks."

     She rolled her eyes. "You don't have to thank me, Vivian." I smiled in return. We got in her car and drove out of the school.

     "So," Shayna said. "What do you think of Derek?"

A/N : Thank you for being here! Please don't forget to vote and comment if you like the story :) Next chapter on December 28th. Until then, xoxo!

# How was your Christmas? Did Santa get you your book boyfriend? I'm still waiting for mine 😝

This chapter is dedicated to twitch666 Thank you so much for your immense support on this book <3