Chapter Thirteen
Rubbing my eyes I reach over and grab my phone off my nightstand. I squint at the brightness for a second before flopping back down against my pillows.
Will.
I wait a few minutes for another text to come in, scrolling through various apps on my phone, but end up sighing when none comes. I push my covers back before getting up to change for my run. After throwing my hair up into a ponytail, I slip on a fleece headband, some gloves, and my sneakers. Then as I'm walking out the door my phone beeps again.
You.
I furrow my eyebrows at the screen, but then shove my ear buds into my ears and stuff my phone in my sweatshirt pocket. I take my usual route around the perimeter of campus. Wisps of hair fly out of my ponytail and I have to constantly push them back with my glove covered hands. My breath comes out in white puffs in front of me as I continue to run through them, each step in sync with my heartbeat. I turn the corner heading back to the girl's dorm building. Then stopping in front of the door, I let out a breath, slowing my heart rate back down. After pushing open the door I pull out my head phones and another text flashes across my phone screen.
Be.
I shake my head and walk into my dorm still seeing Stephanie lying in her bed scrolling through her phone. She gives me a little wave as I grab my shower bag and robe heading to the bathroom on our floor. After showering I go back to my dorm and see Stephanie's bed vacated which means she went to the student lounge to get coffee. Throwing on a sweatshirt and some jeans, I sit back down on my bed shaking my wet hair with my hand. Unlocking my phone another text comes in.
My.
I hear a knock on the door and I wait a few seconds thinking I imagined it, but then remembering Stephanie went out, I go over to answer it.
"I don't know why you don't justâ" I start as I open the door, but then stop seeing Trent standing there holding a starburst package with the word valentine scrawled out in thick black marker across the label. Trent grins at me and I open and close my mouth, the word 'yes' caught in my throat, but before I can say anything Trent yanks me forward and into his chest. He wraps his arms around me and nuzzles his head into the crook of my neck.
"Mmm...Vanilla." He mumbles and I smile against his chest. After a few seconds he finally pulls back and hands me the rectangular candy package. "So I was thinking..." He strides past me and into the room.
"Sure, come on in," I mumble causing him to turn around and send me a grin.
"Nice place you go here by the way." He glances around before plopping down on my bed. He lies back with his hands folded behind his head, his legs stretched out, and only his sneaker covered feet dangling off the side.
I raise my brow. "Um, that's Steph's bed."
"Oh crap!" He leaps up, panic etching across his entire face, and I burst into laughter.
"I'm kidding." I smile and He sends me a mock glare, wagging his finger.
"See, I do know you." He sits back down on my bed tracing the teal, floral comforter with his finger. I guess judging by Stephanie's light pink one it's easy to tell who's whose. "Anyway," Trent sighs leaning back on his hands while I rip open the pack of starbursts. "I want to take you somewhere."
"Oh do you, now?" I inquire throwing an orange starburst at him because they're my least favorite. I wish I could say I like all starburst equally because they're my favorite candy, but sadly I don't.
"Yes, I do," he grins picking up the starburst and I go over and sit down next to him. "I actually have a place in mind." I nod chewing on a strawberry starburst, trying hard not to get it stuck in my teeth before swallowing.
"What place?" I ask and he throws the small orange wrapper at me.
"It's a surprise," He grins and I jut my lower lip out in a pout.
"But its Valentine's Day."
"Exactly." He pokes my nose and I let out a groan rolling my head back to face the ceiling. "Hey," Trent scolds nudging my arm. "Stop groaning, I bought you starbursts."
"Yes, I know," I smile clutching the open pack to my chest. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He grins before standing up. "Shall we go?"
"No!" I squeak jumping up from the bed and receive a funny look in response, but I just point back to the bed. "Just wait." With that Trent lays back down as I walk over to Steph and I's closet. "Close your eyes," I command pointing a finger at him and he chuckles.
"Why?"
"Just do it."
"Fine, fine." He complies slinging an arm over his eyes causing his red jumper to rise up and a slice of his stomach to show.
I stare at him for a few seconds making sure his eyes are actually closed before turning around. I slowly pull my sweatshirt over my head revealing the black bra I have on underneath, since I wasn't expecting to be leaving my dorm all day, and grab a grey sweater out of my closet. I go to put it on, but then in the mirror I see Trent lift his arm up a little.
"Trent!" I yell turning to him and he chuckles quickly covering his eyes again. I hastily throw the sweater over my head and pull it down. I adjust the arms in the mirror and watch as Trent slowly pulls his arm away from his face. I shake my head at him in the mirror and he gives me a sheepish grin.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself."
"Yeah, sure," I say and he chuckles make it more difficult for him to sit back up, but he gets there eventually.
"Are you ready now?" He scratches the back of his head and now it's my turn to give him a sheepish grin.
"Just one more thing..." I slowly pull the hairdryer out from under Steph and I's desk and head towards the door making Trent groan and flop back down on my bed.
What? It's not my fault it's cold outside and I can't go out with wet hair.
****
"Come' on, slow poke," Trent teases as he continues to drag me along with him down the sidewalk. Other people walk past us and when they see our intertwined hands small smiles form on their faces. On any other day they would be giving us judgmental looks, but because today's Valentine's Day they think it's cute. I find myself sighing at the thought. The way of the world. "Here we are," Trent says as we stop in front of a window front.
"Whoa." The word falls past my lips before I can stop it when my eyes land on the huge three layer cake in front of us. It's bright pink and has the words 'Happy Valentine's Day' scrawled out in perfect cursive with white icing and a huge red heart cake topper.
"I know." Trent grins and I see it in the glass before he turns to me. "Come' on let's go." He lightly tugs on my arm pulling me away from the window and inside the building.
The bakery's packed with a long line of people. Some are couples and others are people probably buying last minute Valentine's Day treats. It has a black and white theme with black and white tile floors and small two person tables. Then lining the sides of the registers are glass cases full of baked goods. All kinds of cookies, brownies, cannolis, and cake slices all lined up with labels. There are two people working the registers wearing black aprons and you see them scribbling down orders and opening cardboard cookie boxes. Trent squeezes my hand and I squeeze his back inhaling the sugary sweet smell.
"So what are we getting?" I ask glancing up at him and he opens his mouth to answer, but I hold my opposite hand up, stopping him. "Wait, don't tell meâIt's a surprise."
He chuckles and leans down planting a quick kiss to the top of my head and I face forward again, hoping to hide how flustered the simple action made me. We wait in line for another few minutes, watching people leave happily with their baked goods, before making it to the front of the line. When the woman asks what we want Trent speaks up.
"Can we have a slice of vanilla cake and a slice of red velvet cake, please?" The women nods and goes off to get our cake while I raise my brow.
"What? No chocolate?"
Trent grins and pulls me closer to his side, "Now why in the world would I get chocolate?"
I smile and shake my head at him. Then the lady comes back with our box and Trent reaches into his pocket. I go to put some money down on the counter too, but Trent swats my hand away making the lady smile. Then she sends us off with a 'Happy Valentine's Day' before moving on to the next customer.
Trent grabs our box and some plastic forks while I grab some napkins and we head over to an empty table toward the center. I glance back over at the the pink cake that's in the window and can't help but wonder who's going to eat it when the day's over.
We both sit down across from each other and Trent sets the box between us. I unbutton my peacoat now feeling a little warm as Trent flattens out the box so it's flat against the table.
"Okay, so here's my plan," He says sliding the vanilla slice closer to me and leaving the red velvet closer to him. "I thought that since we've known each other for awhile and now know each other as individuals," he pauses as he turns the box around so that the red velvet cake is now in front of me and the vanilla is in front of him, "we should try each other's flavors."
"Mmm..." I nod thinking about the idea and lean back in my chair. "That is very insightful of you, Mr. Montgomery."
"Why thank you, Ms. O'Conner." He flashes me a grin before reaching over and picking up a fork. "Ready?"
"Ready." I nod, picking up a fork as well.
"On the count of threeâone, two... three!"
I plunge my fork down into the deep red cake and make sure to also get some icing before bringing the small piece up my lips. I glance back over at Trent and he waves his fork at me, that contains a small piece of vanilla on it, as if saying 'cheers' before we both put them in our mouths. The velvety cake sits on my taste buds for a few seconds before I swallow it, letting out a content moan.
"For the record," I point my fork at him, "I never said I didn't like red velvet."
His green eyes sparkle under the lights of the bakery. "I've already told you I like vanilla." I give him a small smile and look back down at the cake in front of me. I scoop up another piece of cake and put it in my mouth before looking back over at him.
"I have a question," I say after swallowing and he nods putting another piece of cake into his mouth, urging me to continue. "If we never met in the grocery store and you never found out my favorite cake flavor would you've still thought it was vanilla?"
"Yes," He answers without hesitation and my mouth drops.
"What? Why?"
He chuckles at my shocked face before meeting my gaze again. "Because," he moves his fork in a circle gesturing to me, "everything about you just sort of screams vanilla."
"Huh," I slump back in my seat contemplating it. I guess that's true.
"Well, what about me?" My eyes find his again. "What flavor would you have used to describe me?"
"Mmm..." I lean forward staring into his bright green eyes, scrutinizing him for a few seconds. "Honestly," I lean back in my seat again, "carrot cake."
"What? No way," Trent scoffs shaking his head. "I'm way cooler than carrot cake." He scrunches his face up."Who even likes carrot cake?"
I let out a laugh. "It's not a bad cake. It's just not the best cake."
"Well, since you do know me," He leans forward on his elbows, "you can obviously see that I am the pure definition of red velvet."
"Yeah," I agree smiling. "You kind of are." He glances down at his fork for a second before looking over at mine.
"Speaking of which," He reaches over and swipes a huge chunk of red velvet cake.
"Hey!" I yell as he happily chews before wiping the corner of his mouth with his thumb.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself." He places a hand on his chest. "Red velvet will always be my first love."
"Oh?" I raise my brow swiping a piece of vanilla cake from him. "Then what's vanilla to you?" I put the cake in my mouth, savoring the flavor, as a grin stretches across his lips and he holds my gaze.
"My new found addiction." I freeze, swallowing the piece of cake that's in my mouth as his eyes amusingly scrutinize my reaction.
"Alright, well," I clear my throat before slowly sliding the cardboard box around, so the vanilla cakes by me. "I think you've had enough."
He only chuckles. "I don't think so."
****
We spent almost four hours in the bakery just talking about every random thing you can think of. After we finished off the cake slices, we bought some cookies, and then some brownies, and then some cannolis, and eventually we had to leave before we bought every baked good they had available. After walking up and down a few streets, window shopping, we make it back to campus around four. The skies complete white, covered by clouds, and there's no one walking around outside. I blame the cold weather.
We start walking to the girl's dorm building as the wind picks up and I involuntarily move closer to Trent. When we reach the building, Trent turns to me, intertwining both of our hands, and bringing them up between us.
"You know I've never had a valentine before."
My eyebrows go up in surprise. "Really?"
"Really." He inclines his head down and with the seemingly empty campus, it feels like we are the only two people in the world.
"Well, am I a good one?" My question is mocking and it only makes an amused grin break out across his lips.
"The best."
"You're not so bad yourself. I mean you bought me starbursts and cake and cookies." My laughter only turns the smile on his lips into a full grin as he readjusts his grip on my hands.
"You really put a dent in my wallet, that's for sure." I scoff and slap his chest with our conjoined hands, but now it was his turn to chuckle.
I catch something white in the corner of my eye as it flurries past us and I glance down only to see a white speck on my boot. I look back up at Trent to find a few on his shoulder and before we know it, it begins to snow.
White flakes tumble down from the sky and assimilate into the ground. I smile pulling back from Trent a little and tilt my head up towards the sky. A few flakes flutter down on my face and into my hair. They feel cold against my skin, but melt away before it becomes irritating. I look back at Trent only to see he's been staring at me the entire time. He grins at me and I give him a small smile back. Then another gust of wind blows past us making my hair fly into my face. I reach up to brush it away, but Trent beats me to it. He reaches over to one side and tucks the strands behind my ear, then does the same to the other before dropping his hand back to his side.
"Why do you always do that?" I ask curiously looking up into those green eyes I've come to know. He smiles and reaches down, picking up both my hands again and pulling me back to him. The snowflakes have now accumulated in his spiked up blonde hair and on his shoulders.
"Because I like to see you." He leans his forehead on mine. "All of you."