Chapter Six

When I wake up, I feel simply amazing. I don't know why. I just feel happy to be alive. Then I remember that I'd made a friend in my first class.

I am having lunch with Trent and Kim. Trent would always be eating with Kim even if I was leaving the school. I don't think I am anymore due to Sebastian. I would have to tell Trent and Kim. Not right now. I'm going to enjoy my subpar salad.

"So, are you excited for Christmas break?"

I smile at Kim. She is the one talking to me. I don't know why she's asking this question; It should be apparent that I am. I reply nonetheless.

"Yes."

I've always wondered what I sound like speaking. Why am I thinking of this now?

"Me too. I'm so excited to meet your parents!" Trent replies to this.

"They are very excited to meet you too." He gives her a kiss on the cheek. I smile at their cuteness.

"You also will be meeting Everett, Aubrey and her husband Sam, and their baby Ana."
"Oh. I'm so excited!"

After our lunch I go to my classes. Sebastian is in a class I have today. When I see him, I sit by him again and can't help feeling delighted.

Throughout the whole class we are laughing and talking quietly. At the end of class, he asks me the same question.

"Okay. We should really hang out sometime. Maybe we can go to the beach together some time?" I smile at this.

"Yes." That's all I say.

"Great! How about Saturday?" I think I'm doing something on Saturday. Oh well. I'll cancel whatever it is.

"Saturday sounds great."

We part ways with this. I make it to my dorm. After I finish my homework, I feel homesick. I shudder and pick up my phone. Video chatting mom and dad makes me feel more at home. They don't answer. I then lazily scroll through my phone. I spot Sebastian's profile. I decide to text him.

'Hey...'

I just sit staring at the text stream. I have nothing else to do. I give up on him and start watching a show. I have a mini TV in my room, so I put something random on. After a few episodes, I feel a ping. I instantly pick up my phone and check it. It's Trent. Disappointment sinks in. I glance at Trent's text. Something about...who cares. I go back to the show in bitterness. I feel another ping. I don't look at it. It's probably Trent again. I finish the episode I was on and then check the text. It's from Sebastian. A smile lights up my whole face before I even read it.

'Hey'

I roll my eyes. He couldn't have said 'hi' or something different? I respond hurriedly.

'So how's your day?'

I hit the send button before I can overthink it. After I send it, I overthink it. Why didn't I say something more natural? Why didn't I say 'how has your day been' or something flowy? I sigh. He responds almost instantly.

'It's been very okay. How's your day?'

I cringe at the formality of the conversation. Why can't I text...naturally? That's when I decide to add some spice into our conversation.

'My day has been VERY boring. Sometimes I wish I had more eventful days...'

'My days have been busy. I'm not doing anything right now.' Then he surprises me. 'Want to hang out right now? Just for a little while. We're both allegedly doing nothing.'

That's when I smile for real. My cheeks are almost sore from how wide my smile is.

'I can.'

'Okay. Do you want me to pick you up? We can go out to dinner at the same diner we went to last time.'

'That sounds really fun. How about you pick me up in like half an hour?'

'Sounds great. See you soon.'

What just happened? We're going to hang out again. I let out some sort of noise, though I have no idea what it sounded like. I quickly take a shower and get changed into a nice pair of jeans, a cute top, and some cute shoes. I sit on my bed nervously. I get a ping informing me that he's here. I happily skip to his car. I sit in the passenger seat and smile when I see him.

"Hey."

"Hi." He didn't just say hey back this time. Yay.

"I'm so relieved that I don't have to eat salad for dinner. That's what I would be eating if we weren't going to the diner."

"I'm glad. Nobody wants to have to eat salad for dinner. I think the diner is my favorite place to eat."

"That's weird." He looks at me quickly and I realize I just randomly said that.

"What's weird?"

I blush. "Oh, uh...well, I haven't gone to many diners or anything, so I don't have a favorite place to eat."
I have only gone to a few restaurants with my family, and the ones I ate at weren't as good as my mom's cooking. She's a great cook.

"You mean that the place I took you to last time isn't already your favorite?"

"Ha. I mean...sure. I really haven't gone to enough diners. From what I remember of the ones I went to before, this is my favorite."

"Yeah. You're not going to find a diner much better than this one."

I smile at this, "Hmm, maybe I'm spoiled now. Now when I go to a diner that's mediocre, I will think it's bad because I've gone here."

"Maybe you should just never go to a diner that's worse than this one."

I laugh at this. "True."

We arrive at the diner. We sit in the same place as before. This time around I notice that he seems to be very familiar with the place, indicating that he comes here a lot.

"Okay. What's your favorite type of food?" He says this to try to start a conversation.

"Breakfast food is the best."

"Breakfast food is good."

"It's great." I sigh dreamily while looking away from him for a moment. He taps my shoulder after a while. I look back at him.

"Were you paying attention to me?"

I giggle. "Nope. Very sorry. I'll pay attention now. What were you saying?"

"Now you'll never know."

"Meh." I shrug like I don't care. I kind of want to know. "So, what's your favorite type of food?"

"Well, breakfast food does beat all."

A smile falls upon my whole face. I sigh dreamily.

"Oh Sebastian. Your name is long."

I see him chuckle.

"Yes. I told you. You can just call me Seb."

My nose wrinkles in distaste.

"No. I just can't. I hate to break this to you, but Seb i-"

I cut myself off so I don't say anything rude. He looks at me imploringly.

"Seb is...?"

"I just don't like it. I mean, it's a fine nickname. I just don't like it."

I shake my head at myself for being so awkward and for actually saying that out loud. His shoulders shake yet again from laughing. I frown at him. After a few moments he calms down.

"I actually agree. I don't mind it, but it is a bit lame."

I laugh at this comment. "Anyways." I say this lightly to try to change the conversation.

"Hmmm. Okay. Anyways."

For some reason I start laughing like a maniac. He looks at me quizzically.

"I don't know what came over me. I guess I'm insane." A grin spreads across his face.

"What's the fun of sane people anyway?" He pauses. "I'll be right back. I need to use the restroom."
I feel a bit uneasy for some reason. When he said all of this, he had a strange look in his eyes. I nonetheless smile and say, "Okay." He leaves. He comes back a few moments later. When he sits at our table, he pulls his phone out and sets it on the table, clicking it on. The whole table begins to vibrate. I look at him. I speak to him slowly.

"Are you going to answer that?"

He doesn't react. I look everywhere but at him. I pick at my food. It had come a little while ago. The phone keeps buzzing. Finally, it stops. I look up to see him staring at me. He looks upset. I smile at him.

"What's wrong? Why didn't you just answer the phone?"

He sighs. "It was nothing. We should get going soon."

"Yeah." I hurriedly finish my food, noticing he's already done. The car ride back is quiet and awkward. I don't know why. Sebastian seems to be acting differently. Just glancing at him scares me slightly. When we stop at my dorm, I face him. Not really paying attention to what I'm doing, I give him a soft kiss on the cheek while saying goodbye. I do it all before he can blink. I frown as I get ready for bed. There was something off about him during the last half of the evening. I lay softly on my bed, and slowly fall asleep.