Chapter 38: Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

"Would you stop pacing? You're creating a draft." Stephanie waves her hand in the air and I stop mid stride, but the need for movement has me fidgeting with my hands.

God, why did I agree to this? My relationship with Trent has developed into something pretty platonic up until now. Well, that is except for some occasional flirting. Or was it flirting? I'm not really sure.

"Earth to Lacie!" Stephanie's voice screams past my thoughts and I turn my attention back over to her.

"What?"

She flicks her curly hair over her shoulder before slumping back against the wall beside her bed, right under the window. "Would you stop being so nervous? You've known this guy from months now. We've already established he's not a psychopath... well," She brings a finger up to her lip, "I guess he could turn into a psychopath."

"Steph!"

"What?" She shrugs as if shrugging away her thoughts before flickering her gaze back up to me. "I'm just saying college guys can be unpredictable."

"Oh god," I groan and return to pacing as nerves continue to churn around inside my stomach.

"Okay, okay." Stephanie gets up off her bed, walks right over to me, and plants her hands on my shoulders. Not only stopping me from walking, but also forcing me to meet her clear blue gaze. "Repeat after me: Trent is not a psychopath."

"Trent is not a psychopath," I repeat with a nod of my head.

"He is just a guy."

I inhale slowly, "He is just a guy."

"Everything is going to be fine."

I nod again, willing myself to believe the words. "Everything is going to be fine."

"And I like him."

"And I like him." I finish before my mouth drops open. "Wait—what? No, I don't!"

Stephanie barks out a laugh as her arms fall back down to her sides."Whatever you say." She sighs before slowly pivoting on her heel.

"I don't," I say firmly, but she just flops back down on her bed and picks up her cell phone.

"Yeah, yeah."

I open my mouth to protest further, but then my phone beeps. I pick it up off my bed and see it's a text from Trent saying he's outside the dorm building. Crap.

I turn towards the wall and assess myself in the mirror one more time. I run a hand through my hair glad that it looks like its semi-straight, semi-wavy self. I have on the green sweater Stephanie told me to wear, claiming it brought out my eyes, dark jeans, and my combat boots.  I added just a touch of mascara and some lips gloss seeing as I didn't feel the need to try too hard because it's just Trent.

I just need to keep reminding myself of that small fact because it's true. It's just Trent.

Nodding to myself, I turn around and grab my black peacoat off my bed. I throw it on before stuffing my cell phone in my back pocket and heading towards the door.

"Okay, well, wish me luck."

"Good luck!" Stephanie calls back just as I close the door behind me.

I make my way down the hallway and down the steps. I push open the door and am met with a gust of cool wind while Trent remains standing a few feet away tapping away on his cell phone.

I stand there for a second and contemplate turning around and heading back inside, but just when I'm about to a few girls come up behind me laughing as they exit the building, causing Trent's head to snap up. A smile quickly graces his lips as he spots me and pockets his cell phone. The wind sways the blond spike at the top of his head as he begins making his way towards me. His unzipped jacket flaps against his black sweater covered chest and instead of his usual sweatpants, or basketball shorts he's actually wearing a pair of jeans.

Before I know it he's standing right in front of me and flashing me with his full blown grin. "Hey."

"Hi," I greet back as the dorm building door officially snaps shut behind me and his green eyes travel down the length of me before slowly making their way back up.

"You look..." The pause immediately has doubt flooding into my system, but then he reaches up. His eyes drop down, then up again, as he scratches the back of his neck and that's when I realize that Trent Montgomery is actually nervous—because of me. "Great."

I stare back at him for a second too long, my mind still reeling from my own internal revelation, but then I'm back to being the flustered one. "Oh, um," I reach up and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, "thank you."

His grin falls back on his lips and I find myself giving him a sheepish one back before he finally clears his throat.

"So, um," he flicks his thumb over his shoulder, "are you ready?"

"Yeah," I nod and pass a glance down at myself before looking back up.

"Alrighty then, um..." A jolt of warmth flows through me as he gently grabs onto my hand and my eyes immediately dart back up to his. He smiles down at me, tentatively readjusting his grip, before allowing our hands to settle between us. "Then let's go."

I allow Trent to tug me along in silence as we start heading towards the parking lot before finding my nerves getting the best of me again. "So, uh, where are we going anyway?"

"Well," Trent glances over at me quickly flashing me with a sideview of his grin. "You're finally going to try the world's best cup of hot chocolate." He turns back to me again this time throwing me a worried look. "I hope that's okay."

"That sounds good." I nod with a smile before a blast of cool wind blows past us and I involuntarily step closer to him. When we reach the parking lot Trent tugs me over to his car and over to the passenger side before dropping my hand and turning to face me.

"I know it's a quick walk, but I figured it'd be quicker to drive. Plus, your lips are turning blue and I can't allow you to get pneumonia before you try the hot chocolate." He winks and I shake my head.

"Glad to know you're so concerned about my health."

"Oh I am." The smile just won't leave his lips as he opens the passenger side door for me and I nod in a 'thank you' before getting inside. Trent walks around the front before hoping into the other side. He buckles his seatbelt and pulls his keys out of his pocket, but then the second he puts them into the ignition country music starts to blast from the radio. He quickly turns it down and I turn my head to the side, throwing him an accusing look. He follows it with a gesture of surrender."That was because of Zack I swear."

"Yeah, okay," I tease, turning my attention towards the window.

"I swear," He repeats and checks behind him, before starting to pull out of the parking spot. "I'm more of an alternative guy."

I let out a little laugh. "I believe you."

We sit in silence for the two minute car ride before Trent parallel parks along the sidewalk in front of the little café. I unbuckle my seat belt and open my door before stepping out onto the sidewalk. Trent follows and jogs around the front of his car to meet me.

"You're not going to let me fulfill my gentlemen duties and open the car door for you?" He asks as we start towards the entrance.

"By the time you get out of the car and walk all the way around to my side and open my door we could have already been inside the building." Is my rambled and hand gestured response, making him chuckle as he pulls open the handle to the café door. "Thank you," I say when he lets me go in first and he chuckles again, only this time with a shake of his head.

"So you'll let me open this door?" He flicks his thumb over his shoulder, gesturing to it, and I nod.

"Yes because it's chivalrous, but doesn't waste time." He just shakes his head again, but smiles at me nonetheless before nodding towards the tables on the opposite side of the room.

"Go find us a table. I'll get the drinks."

"Okay," I nod and go to take a step forward, but then reach into my pocket. "Oh wait, I have money." Trent shakes his head, stepping into the short line, and waves me away. "But—" I start, holding out the money, but Trent just closes my hand.

"Just let me be chivalrous." He turns me around and lightly pushes me in the direction of the tables while I let out a laugh.

"Fine, but I'll pay next time," I say over my shoulder as I make my retreat.

"Okay." Trent agrees, his chuckles falling behind me. I choose a two person table by the large glass window. I drape my coat over one of the chairs before sitting down, seeing it's already pretty dark outside. "Here you go," Trent says placing a styrofoam cup in front of me before sitting in the seat across from me with his own cup clutched between his fingertips. He shrugs off his coat and places it around the chair behind him before taking the plastic lid off of his cup. Then he reaches over to do the same to mine and steam flutters out immediately, revealing just how hot the liquid is. "So," Trent starts, dramatically rubbing his hands together. "Tell me everything."

"Everything?" I ask with an unsure waver to my voice and he nods.

"I want to know everything about you since I've known you for months now and just recently found out you have a sister." He settles a hand around his cup and tilts his head towards me. "I'm still not over that by the way."

A smile breaks out a across my lips as I lean back in my chair. "Well get over it, Montgomery."

"Not until," He leans his forearms on the table, "you tell me your favorite color."

I sigh. "We're really doing this aren't we?"

"Yes, yes we are." He nods as a grin stretches across his lips. "Plus, I need more puzzle pieces." He winks and I slowly shake my head to keep from rolling my eyes.

"Purple."

"Hm," he nods and leans back in his chair. "I kind of pegged you as a green, or blue kind of girl, but I can see purple."

"Okay," I let out a little laugh at his analysis and circle a hand around my cup. "Well, what's yours?"

"Red."

"Oh," I nod, raising my brows. "Well, I actually pegged you as a green kind of guy, but I can see red."

He laughs at my teasing tone before continuing. "When's your birthday?"

I tilt my head to the side. "July twenty-third."

"That's cool," he nods, "mines in March." I nod and pass a glance down at my cup of hot chocolate. It's no longer steaming, but it's probably still too hot to drink. "So your sister is younger?" Trent asks making my eyes flicker back up to his and I nod. He lightly blows on the top of his cup. "What's her name?"

"Layla." A smile automatically stretches across my lips at the thought of her. "What about you?" He meets my gaze again and I hold my cup with both hands as I sit up at little straighter. "Do you have any siblings?"

He shakes his head and once again comfortably leans back in his chair. "Nope, just me, myself, and I. And my parents, of course, but my dad travels a lot, so it's really just my mom and I."

"Oh," My eyes flicker down to my cup for a second before I bring them back up, "well, what do they do?"

Trent leans on his forearms again."My dad's a construction project manager, in which he bounces around from project to project, and my mom's an elementary school teacher."

"That's cool," I nod, "I don't see how that makes you want to be a gym teacher though."

"The correct term is physical education." He grins mockingly before his expression turns serious. "But nowadays child obesity is becoming a big issue and with technology kids aren't going outside enough, so I think it's important that they get some physical activity, even if it's just for a an hour a few days a week." I blink for a second taking in his statement.

"Wow." I lean back in my chair a little surprised.

"What?" He asks, his eyebrows quirking in curiosity.

"That's actually... really nice."

"Nice?"

"Yeah." I nod as a smile curves my lips. "You want to help kids. That's very nice of you."

His grin makes a reappearance."Glad you've finally realized how nice I am."

I shake my head. "That's not what I meant."

"I know..." His voice lowers before he nods to my cup. "I think it's time."

I raise my brow. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." He nods and I pick up my cup.

"On three?" I ask and he brings his own cup up to his lips.

"On three," He nods. "One, two... three!" I tip the cup into my mouth and allow the hot liquid to slide down my throat. I let it sit on my taste buds for a few seconds before bringing the cup back down to the table.

"You're right," I admit and Trent grins.

"See I told you, chocolaty goodness." I let out a laugh glancing back down at the cup, but then I look back up only to see that Trent's staring at me.

"What?"

He shakes he head. "Nothing." A closed-mouth smile forms on his lips, but he still doesn't say anything.

"What?" I pry again and he chuckles to himself before meeting my gaze again.

"You're cute." My eyes widen a little in surprise as Trent continues to chuckle. "I'm only being honest." When I continue to just stare back at him though he leans forward, placing his arms back on the table. "So... what's your favorite food?"

I roll my head back up to face the ceiling. "Oh god."

****

We pull into the campus parking lot with my stomach full of hot chocolate and my mouth still tingling with the warm taste of it. Trent gets out of the car and I follow suit, falling into step beside him as we head back to my dorm building. The sky is completely dark now and I curl my hands inside the sleeves of my coat to block them from the now even chillier air.

"So I was thinking..." Trent starts and I glance over at him. "I think I almost have you figured out now."

"You do?" I ask and he nods.

"Yup."

"Almost?" I reiterate his choice of words and he nods again.

"Yeah." We both fall silent after that as our breath comes out in white puffs in front of us. Once we reach my dorm building Trent steps in front of me. "There is one thing though that I'm not so sure about." My eyebrows pull together and I open my mouth to respond, but then Trent ducks his head down and before I know it his lips are on mine.

It takes my mind a second to register what is happening, but then my whole body buzzes with a new found warmth and I find myself gripping the edges of his jacket, practically holding on for dear life. Trent responds by wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me closer, holding me against him. He deepens the kiss and I can't help, but smile a little tasting hot chocolate. That thought is quickly replaced though by Trent. His smell, his touch, his lips on mine. I'm completely wrapped up in him and my stomach flutters at the thought. When we finally pull away, breathing heavily, I'm instantly reminded of the chilly air around us and Trent leans his forehead on mine, his green mingling with the stars above us.

"Goodnight, Vanilla," he whispers.

"Goodnight, Red velvet." I whisper back and he grins before stepping back.

I go over and open the dorm building door and send Trent a wave before stepping inside. I make my way to my dorm and open the door only to find Stephanie in the same position as I left her.

"So do you like him now?" She asks without looking up at me and I lean my back against the door. I bring my finger up to my lips, still feeling the warmth there, and a small smile breaks out across them.

Maybe...