Vanessa

Whelp, there's no coming back from that disaster of a fight with Matt. With the toss of a single verbal grenade, any shred of friendship that had been left between us had been blown to smithereens. I had witnessed accidents that were prettier than the mess I had managed to get myself into. Of all things, why had I called him a loser? I knew how much the labeled bothered him. The way he hung his head after Troy or Scott would taunt him with the insult only went to show that he believed it to be true.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, I thought as I lightly banged my forehead against the locker. Any hope of rekindling our bond had died and been buried six feet under. And I had made sure to spit on the grave.

Groaning, I hoisted my backpack over my shoulder and walked down the hall, slowing slightly as I passed by the library. I could just make out the golden gleam of Kayla's hair sticking out from the side of a bookcase and masculine fingers curled around the wooden oak. Her head bobbed repeatedly and I didn't need to see the two of them directly to know that they were engaged in a heavy make-out session.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes before continuing to make my way out of the school and into the bright sunshine. Who did Matt think he was anyways? "I found this awesome new TV show. You should stop by some time." Please. I had no intentions of curling up with him on the couch, watching television, and then have him turn around and make kissy faces with Kayla behind my back. No thank you. I wasn't anybody's side piece.

I didn't need him or his stupid friendship. So what if I had lied when I told him I was fine but I would be fine. Eventually. He wasn't the only one that could go around making out with whomever he felt like. I wasn't his. Never was. I was eighteen and it was time for me to start going out on dates and having a secret rendezvous of my own under the bleachers just like everyone else my age. I was tired of letting my feelings for Matt hold me back.

I was awesome, intelligent, and could easily find someone to replace him. Time for Operation HOT GUY. My lip curled into a smile as I remembered Addison's idea to date someone even better than Matt. Well, now it was time to put that plan into action.

I turned my face up towards the sky to bask in the warmth of the sun's rays hardly being able to contain the excited glee that erupted from my throat. I couldn't wait to start conspiring with my best friend. If anyone knew the ins and outs of the male brain, it was Addison. She's going to be so proud of me.

"I'm so disappointed in you." Addison let out a long sigh as she set a mountain of French fries in front of her before sitting down at her kitchen table. "I can't believe you two got into yet another argument."

I lowered my gaze to the gleaming marble top as I tucked my hair behind my hair. "It's not my fault he had the audacity to make a mockery of me by still trying to date me while pursuing Kayla."

She dipped a fry into ketchup before stuffing it into her mouth. "Yea, I don't think that's what he was trying to do," she said in between mouthfuls. "I think he genuinely misses you."

I picked up a chicken nugget from my plate and took a bite before immediately spitting it out. "Hot," I exclaimed fanning my tongue. "Look Addie, it's my choice on whether or not I want to date him and it's my choice on whether or not I want to hang out. And right now, I don't."

She rolled her eyes. "I can't with you, V. You are so exhausting. So, what did you tell him then?"

I could feel my face grow hot as I recalled exactly what I had said. "Um, I don't remember," I mumbled, looking away from her interrogative stare.

Addison narrowed her eyes. "Vanessa," she warned. "What did you say to Matt? Spill it right this instant or I swear to God I'm going to tell Alex you had a sex dream about him last night."

"Why do you always have to threaten me with him?" No way would I confess what I had called Matt to her. She would hit the roof.

I reached for another chicken nugget, blowing on it this time before taking a nibble. Addison smacked the meat from my hand then grabbed my wrist and twisted. "TELL ME!!!"

"Ow! Ow! Alright," I shrieked pulling my hand from her grasp. "Sheesh." Avoiding her gaze once more, I mumbled, "I told him that I didn't want to date a loser."

Addison jumped up from her chair and my life immediately flashed before my eyes. "VANESSA," she yelled. "What's the matter with you?!" She walked away from me, taking several deep breaths before sitting back down and calmly continuing on. I didn't know whether to be frightened or impressed by her ability to drastically change her demeanor so quickly.

She placed her palms flat on the tabletop, her sights never leaving mine. "I'm sorry. I'm going to need you to repeat that. You said what to him?"

Shaking my head, I dragged my hands down my face. "I don't know, Addie. It was all kind of a blur. I think I said something about him leaving me alone and then commenting on his male pride."

Addison gasped. "Oh my gosh, Vanessa. Have I taught you nothing? You never call out their male pride. Don't you know? It hurts their male pride."

I shrugged helplessly. "So what do I do now?"

She gave me a long look, her green eyes solemn. Swirling a soggy French fry through the last streaks of ketchup before discarding it to the side, she sighed. "Unfortunately, I don't think there is anything you can do. You called him a loser. You uttered the one word that has more power to hurt him than any other. I really think that this time, it's over for you two."

A soft sob escaped from my mouth. "I don't want it to be over though."

Addison leaned in to give me a hug pressing her forehead against mine. "I know. I don't either. Now tell me, what were you saying about Operation HOT GUY?"

Vanessa

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door to the library. Through the paned glass, I had spied Kurt doing his homework at a table in the far back. It was now or never. It had taken every ounce of courage I had and several motivational speeches and minor threats from Addison to even get me to this point.

Apparently no matter the guy, if he was cute and I was sober, I was a nervous wreck. You've got this, Vanessa. It's just Kurt. It's not like it's Matt. If I really gave it some thought, I reasoned that if I was capable of being friends with the guy I was desperately in love with then I could handle a measly hi to Kurt.

However, that didn't mean that walking over to his table didn't feel like I was completing my death march. I paused a foot away from his chair but his eyes remained glued to a glossy photo of a sparkling lavender- colored geode. I realized that he hadn't been doing homework but rather reading a magazine.

I coughed to get his attention but as soon as one of my hands moved to cover my mouth and left the hold on the stack of textbooks I had been carrying, they all came tumbling down out of my grasp and crashed onto the floor.

Both the librarian and Kurt swiveled their heads to look at me in unison. "Shh," the librarian called sharply, pressing one bony finger against her thin lips.

"Sorry," I whispered. I slid my gaze over to Kurt to find him studying me. "Um...hi," I stammered out as I scrambled to gather my books from the ground. Breathlessly, I moved my sights back onto him. "Uh...is this seat taken," I asked referring to the one across from him.

"Go for it." He pulled out the chair next to him and gestured for me to sit. He eyed me curiously as I set my reading material down on the table and made myself comfortable. "Vanessa, right?"

"Yea." A nervous chuckle escaped my lips before I clamped my mouth shut.

He nodded. "Kurt Whitman." Please. As if I didn't already know. He tipped the magazine so I could see the picture he had been gazing at. "Pretty, isn't it?"

Flecks of amethyst gleamed from within the hollowed-out stone and I imagined the piece must have been quite mesmerizing in person. "It is."

He flipped the page to a photo of another geode except this one had a burnt orange hue to it. "Do you like stones, Vanessa?"

"Oh...ah...I guess so." No one had ever asked me that question before but with the way they glittered, what was there not to enjoy I supposed.

Kurt nodded again. "Would you be interested in coming over to my house tomorrow afternoon?"

What?! Wow, he's quick to make moves. It had taken Matt three years to confess how he felt but Kurt wasted no time. I could hear Addison's voice whispering in my head as I contemplated my reply. If you don't ask Kurt out, I'm going to tell Alex you have a massive crush on him.

"Sssure. Sure," I answered my voice trembling slightly.

"Great." Kurt tossed the magazine aside and stood up raising his arms above his head for a stretch before hoisting his bag onto one shoulder. "Shoot me a text and I'll send you the address. You should have my number. I believe some of those flyers are still floating around here some place."

At the mention of Addison's revenge, my face went crimson but before I could muster a response, he was gone.

While I wouldn't admit it to Kurt, I had in fact retrieved his phone number from a flyer that was still thumbtacked to the wall in the girl's second floor restroom. As I scribbled down the digits, it made me smile to remember the extensive length Addison had gone through to have Matt's back. She really was everything I wished I could be.

For now, I was working on it. Sighing, I began drafting a message to Kurt asking for his home details. Saying "hi" to him had been a massive step for me and if I could do that, then maybe I could summon the courage to chat up some other guys. You'll get there, Vanessa. Change doesn't happen overnight.

Although I sure wish it did. I would have loved to wake up the following morning with dry palms and even breathing as I anticipated my get together with Kurt this afternoon. What even was it exactly? He hadn't used the word date. For all I knew, I could show up to his home and find out that I had agreed to attend a science club or maybe some kind of a bible study. I did hear once that his mom was an avid churchgoer and often made peppermint bark for the annual Christmas bake sale.

As I stood on his front step shifting from foot to foot and waiting for him to answer the door, I conjured up all the different possibilities for why I was there; none of which resulted in a goodnight kiss.

"Vanessa," Kurt exclaimed through a toothy grin has he appeared before me from the other side. "Come in!"

I unbuttoned my black fuzzy coat as I stepped into the front hall. His home was small but cozy. The smell of cinnamon wafted in from what I presumed to be the kitchen and a string of lights twinkled from above the fireplace mantel. There were several religious portraits hanging on the wall behind the couch and a cross nailed above the entrance to the dining room.

"Hi," I replied meekly. "Where should I hang my jacket," I asked looking around for a coat hook.

Kurt took the garment from my hands. "We can just toss it on my bed. That's where we're headed anyways. There's something in my room I can't wait to show you," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

Gulping, I grasped onto the railing. His bedroom? There's something there he wants me to see? Wasn't it a little too soon for that sort of thing? I made eye contact with a picture of Jesus on the wall leading up the staircase. I felt the tension ease from my shoulders a bit. He's Christian. He's probably not going to maul you on the first date.

I followed him upstairs and through the first door on the left; the sight that greeted me instantly having my jaw fall to the floor. What in the world? Dozens of shelves adorned all four of his walls and as I focused on the contents displayed on them, Kurt beamed at me.

He spread his arms widely, gesturing all around him. "Vanessa, I would like you to behold my rock collection." Hundreds of minerals glimmered and glossed in the light. Some were speckled and others were plain but they were all in various hues. The last time I had been surrounded by this much stone, I had been hiking in Cave Avalanche.

"Wow," I breathed.

"Impressive, huh?" he said reaching for one of the larger grey ones on an eye-level shelf.

Gob smacked by how anyone could want to own so many rocks is more like it. "Um...it's something alright," I replied picking up a brown spotted one and flipping it over a few times in my palm.

"Careful!" Kurt's eyes bulged out as he snatched the stone from me. "That one is extremely rare."

"Sorry," I muttered.

He clasped my shoulder as he stood behind me looking around his room with awe on his face. "You're the first girl I ever let see this, Vanessa."

Oh, I bet I was. I plastered a smile onto my face. "So cool," I said weakly.

Kurt took my forced enthusiasm as the perfect opening to launch into a thirty minute monologue detailing his favorite aspects about each rock. He picked up a glazed red stone and spoke for another while about how he had acquired that one.

The rock wasn't the only thing glazed in that room. My eyes burned and I could feel them gloss over as he concluded his lengthy speech by fingering terracotta layered piece with the proud look that rivaled the one a mother might give when bragging about her child that had just been accepted into Harvard.

"This one's my favorite. It's a sedimentary rock. Do you know what a sedimentary rock is, Vanessa?"

"Yes," I lied. Please spare me another Ted Talk.

"You see how it has this nice smooth appearance to it," he asked moving over to my side and holding out the object for me to see. "Observe how vibrant these colors are. You can't find a piece like this just floating around in nature. Oh no, you have to spruce it up yourself."

From there, he decided to regale me with tales about his rock polisher. "You see, Vanessa," he explained. "Some rocks start off really dull but when you run them through this beast, they shine up real nice."

I wonder if he would be any less dull if I stuffed him into that thing for a cycle or two. "So cool," I replied echoing my phrase from earlier. Take a shot for every time I uttered that phrase in the past hour.

"Anyways," he announced blowing out a breath and dusting off his palms on his jeans. "I'm sure you've heard enough of my gabbing. What do you say we watch a movie?"

I perked up slightly at the mention of this. "Perfect." Maybe he would be less boring if I could get him to talk about something other than rocks.

"Awesome. I think you're really going to like this one."

We settled onto the couch and I was curious as to what he had in mind. However, what he didn't tell me was that the movie was actually a documentary on the Discovery channel. And that it was about more damn rocks. I was treated to another hour of hearing about the different kinds of minerals and how they were formed. The most action happened when a shot of an erupting volcano spewing hot lava everywhere splashed across the screen to launch into a segment on volcanic rock.

I was just about to text Addison begging her to call me with a fake emergency when the film ended. "Wow," Kurt said sitting back and shaking his head. "That was so good. It's my favorite movie."

"So cool," I squeaked out.

He turned to face me. "What's your favorite film?" He gave me a half-smile. "It's only fair that you tell me since I shared mine."

That's it! That was not a movie! "Oh shoot," I cried springing up from the sofa. "I just remembered it's my turn to cook dinner tonight. I have to go. Bye Kurt."

In a flash, I had my jacket on and was out the door before he could spot even one more fact on the world's biggest geode.

From the other side, I took a deep breath as I leaned against the door. Rocks. Are you kidding me? Freaking rocks. Wait until Addison hears about this one.