❝We are, but we aren't❞
•

I paint silently to myself, my head nodding to my music as I sat outside of the cafeteria. Everyone planning on the Founder's Day parade, and since Caroline and Elena are constructing the Miss Mystic Falls float with Bonnie, I chose to volunteer and paint the banner.

I hum to my song as I stand dipped the brush in the paint again, spelling out 'Miss Mystic Falls' in bold letters before I notice a shadow cast over the banner. I look up and see Tyler, causing me to pull out my earphones, "Um, you're blocking my light." I tell him and he sits across from me in the bench, placing a light stack of papers in front of him.

"Want to help me on the float for the Battle of Willow Creek?" He asked me and I laugh and shake my head, "Come on, Jeremy is a no go and Matt is still avoiding me."

"And I'm not?" I retort, "We haven't spoke in days. You should be grateful I'm even letting you sit here or even giving you my attention because I should've punch you too."

"But look, we're speaking now. We practically forgave each other. Doesn't that mean we kissed and made up?" He wondered and I chuckled again, continuing to paint, "Rowan, please, I need you and your ideas."

I look up at him again, "You really think I'm just going to give in after a simple plead from you?" He bows his head, and I kiss my teeth, "I'm tired of you making me look stupid."

"I'm not making you look stupid."

I scoff and drop my paintbrush in water, "Of course, you're right, it's all my fault because Tyler Lockwood never does anything wrong. I'm the one making myself out to be the complete ass."

"What can I do to make you forgive me?" He wondered, inching closer, "Because I'm running low on friends."

"Yeah because you kiss their mothers and you try and force yourself on them at a Halloween event." I retort lowly and he clenches his jaw, before getting up out the seat. He begins walking away until I spoke again, "I still have to finish this banner and then I said I'll help the debate team and student council with their float since I'm the president."

He turns to look at me, a soft smile on his face, "This would only take a few minutes of your time." He reason and I bit the inside of my cheek, "And I could also help you with your floats and whatnot."

I sighed heavily, giving in since I knew I needed more help, "Fine."

He grinned widely, "Okay, how about after school, your house?"

"No, not my house," I decline, "The park by Town Hall. It's public, and there's enough room for us and your oversized ego."

He laughed loudly as he gave a simple nod, "Alright, deal."

I nod as well, but point my finger at him, "And we are to only construct ideas, understand Lockwood?"

He quickly nodded, "I'll try and keep my hands to myself, Ro. I promise."

I raise a brow, "Don't make promises you can't keep." I retort, knowing his promise wouldn't mean anything, seeing as he smirked right after.

"See you then." He stood from the school bench and hurriedly walked off, making me shake my head before putting my earphones back in.

Soon enough, I finished the sign and went to my other two floats, hearing all of their ideas before having stacks of paper in my hand. I wanted to cry, seeing as I had to carry it all home since I chose to leave my bookbag. It was soon time to head home, and I already began walking home, choosing to get a head-start on all my work until I heard a honk from behind me.

I glance back and notice Tyler drive up beside the curb to roll down his window, "Need a ride?"

"I prefer walking. My doctors say it's good for the mind." I told him, and I hear him let out a chuckle.

"Can't argue with that," He simply stated, "But isn't better when you don't have a tower of papers in your hand?" He noticed I didn't respond so he continued, "Aren't you going to the park anyways to 'construct ideas'? Let me drive you there since I think I have a very important meeting there with my oversized ego."

I refrained myself from grinning, "Actually, I'm heading home."

I could sense Tyler furrowing his brows, "What for?"

"I was planning on standing you up to go watch X-Men and eat a lot of vanilla ice cream." I explained, seeing as that crossed my mind, "It only seemed fair, considering."

Tyler laughed again, "Yeah, I think that's fair." I glance over at him, seeing him hold a smile, "I could drive you home."

"I live close enough to walk."

He then suggested, "I could then drive us to get something to eat, Mystic Grill is only a few blocks from here."

"Not hungry." I shrug, keeping my eyes straight ahead, even when he stopped his car abruptly. I was concerned, but I chose to not look back when I heard him jogging up behind me.

I turn to him, with a raised brow and he shrugged, "I like walking too- keep my muscles going." I roll my eyes and he smirked when I didn't respond, "Giving me the silent treatment now?"

I only hum to myself as if I were singing a song and suddenly he takes the stacks of papers out of my hand. I give him a look, "I can carry it myself."

His eyes go wide in pretend shock, "She can speak!" I roll my eyes, choosing not to argue with him as we kept walking, "So.."

I huff, "'So' what?"

"So how's that guy that Matt set you up with?" He suddenly asked, "What's his name...Noel? Nick? Nicholas-"

"Nate." I interrupted as he pretended to not know his name, "He's good. We went out the other day, not like it's any of your business or concern."

He froze in his tracks, "Are you serious?" He asked and I look back at him as his infamous smirk fell, "Did you guys-"

I shake my head in disbelief, "We only talked, Tyler, geez. Got some burgers and fries before calling it a night. Why do you care?"

"Because Nate isn't a good guy."

"And you are?" I retort, "Shall I count the number of times you screwed up since we met each other- oh wait, I don't have enough fingers and toes to count them all."

"Okay, I've had my share-"

"More than a share," I cut him off, "You were even given a standing ovation for your shitty ways the other day when Matt sucker punched for kissing his mom." I then go up to him and take my papers from him, "I can walk the rest by myself."

I turn on my heels and begin walking away, until I'm yanked back by my arm, causing all my papers to fall in between Tyler and I. I stare down at the paper and huff, "What the hell, Ty-"

Before I could even finish my yelling, his lips pressed themselves against mine as his hands rested on either side of my face. I stood frozen in place, unaware of how to react when I place my hands on top of his until he pulls away. I felt him still ghosting over me as I peaked through my eyes to see him with a dumbfounded look on his face, which probably resembled mine.

I close my eyes again and let out a soft breath, "You can't keep kissing me like that."

When I open my eyes, I see him nod, "I know, it's just-"

"I have to go, Tyler." I cut him off again, and scrap up all the fallen papers. He bends down to help me, but I stop him, looking his in his eyes, "Please...don't." I hurriedly finish grabbing all the paper and rush off, trying to get home as fast as I could, trying not to think of his lips that placed themselves on mine or how gentle and rush it was.

•

•

After spending hours all night organizing all my papers, I yawn loudly as I sat at the Town Hall, finish up the banners for the floats. I still was able to give a smile to a passerby who called my name and greeted me despite how exhausted I was.

I messed up the banners on multiple occasions, causing me to start over since my mind was trained on sleeping and my comfortable bed, so   when I let another yawn escape past my lips, my brush accidentally curved downward which made me curse lowly to myself as a shadow towers over me.

"'Mystic Highs Werewolveg'?" I hear and I instantly know that it's Tyler.

"I got distracted." I mumbled and he let a light chuckle, "What do you want?"

Tyler suddenly drops his things on the ground before he sits across from me, "We need to talk."

"Well, I wrote down some ideas that you can put in your float if you want," I said and reach for a small card of notes on it, "It's not much but-"

"I don't care about the damn float right now, Ro," He huff, ignoring the card that I held out between us.

I form my lips into a thin line as I put the card down and avoid his eyes, "So what do you want to talk about?"

"The kiss." He proposed, "Or us."

"There isn't much to discuss." I chuckled, "We kissed-or you kissed me again."

We sat in silence for a bit as I tried to go back to work, "Do you not like me anymore?"

"Who said I liked you?" I bluntly said, but I instantly regretted how it sounded when he looked away.

"Ouch, can't say that I'm not hurt by that." He mumbled and I sighed.

"Look Tyler," I pause, "What I meant to say was that I never really showed you any form of affection that should've made you believed I liked you in some sort of way."

"So these kisses-"

"Were an action made by you." I concluded and he clicked his tongue.

"And you kissing me back..."

I shrug, "Call it reflex."

He scoffed, "So I'm just making all this up in my head? I'm just fantasizing that we had something, is that it?"

I look down and take a moment to figure out my next words since I was just plummeting down a drain. I was trying to push him away from me because he wasn't good, he didn't do good, so most of my words were lies.

He suddenly placed his hand on me knee, making me meet his eyes. I exhale deeply because I know that he isn't a good person, but I can't resist him. He gives me a small smile, his hand not moving from my knee, "Despite my stupid ways of showing it, Ro, I really like you. I know my anger and my actions really screw up what I could have with you, but since I've known you, I wanted to do better for you."

I stare silently and smile slightly, "I don't want a relationship, Tyler."

He shakes his head, "Me neither."

"I want to focus on school. That's my main priority, alright?" I tell him and he nods.

"I'm fine with that," He agrees, "We could just mess around and don't let anybody know."

"Aren't we already doing that?" I wonder and he smirked after I did. He then moves in close but looks around the empty park before I grab his shirt and pull him in for a brief kiss, which felt like a lifetime before I push him away, "Now let's get going on these floats, shall we?"