Chapter 3

A Chapter by E. Kang

Reyna stared at Carter, racking her brain to see if the name "Amalynt" rang any bells. Carter chuckled, seeing her confusion.

"I'm kidding. I just made that name up. I go to the school nearest yours."

Reyna asked, "Pacific Coast High?" Carter nodded, and smiled. Reyna felt foolish for being gullible. Normally, she would've brushed off the joke, but for some reason, Carter made her feel like she had believed him if he had said something like, "pandas are pink." Tae cleared his throat.

"Reyna probably wants her reading spot back, so maybe you should take your sarcasm somewhere else," he said. It was clear Tae didn't like Carter, and he had no problem showing it. He didn't like the way Carter looked at Reyna. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something was weird about this stranger.

Reyna frowned at Tae, who avoided her look. What is up with him? Reyna thought. She opened her mouth to say something, but Carter cut her off.

"I was about to leave, so don't get your knickers in a twist." he said, smirking. As he brushed past the two of them, he winked at Reyna. When he was gone, Reyna glared at Tae.

"Why were you so rude to him?" she asked, "I mean, he never did anything to you!" She plopped down onto the beanbag chair and held out a hand for her food. Without a word, Tae handed her the food and sat down on the floor next to her. Reyna looked at him and thought he looked kind of nauseous.

"Why do you look like you're about to puke?" she asked. Tae looked at her, and it looked like he was contemplating something. Then he leaned over and kissed her. Reyna froze. A million thoughts raced through her brain, and she couldn't make sense of any of them. It was a few seconds before Reyna regained her senses and pulled away. Tae looked even more nauseous than before. He looked down at the floor, his face burning. Reyna was speechless. Had Tae been rude to Carter out of jealousy?

"I know you think you're in love with Trevor," he said softly, "but do you think you could ever give me a chance?" Reyna didn't know what to say. She stared down at her food, appetite gone. She could feel Tae staring at her. Why couldn't she think of anything to say? She took a deep breath.

"Tae..." she trailed off.. Her mind was frustratingly blank. Reyna didn't know why she said what came out of her mouth next.

"... Carly Prona likes you. She's better for you than I am. You know my feelings for Trevor can't be changed." Reyna said, bluntly. Why did I mention Carly? Reyna wondered. Tae's face was a mask of pain.

"I don't freaking care about Carly. I care about you. Why can't you see that?" Tae's voice was strained. Reyna got up from the beanbag, and Tae rose as well.

"I have to go," said Reyna. She got her bag and turned to leave. Tae stepped in front of her. He desperately wanted to make her stay, to make her stop loving Trevor, but words would not come. Instead of saying what he wanted to say, he said, "We're best friends. I know you better than Trevor does. Can't we--" Reyna cut him off.

"I'll call you when I'm ready to talk about this," she said. She then brushed past him and left the book store. Tae stayed rooted to where he was standing. He had never felt so numb in his life.

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