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Iris listened silently. The only looks she'd ever gotten were when she got a good score on a test that everybody else had failed. Those looks were either admiration or loathing. But either way, she did her best to ignore them. Arrogance wasn't on her plan and she had discovered long ago that the way to deal with the haters was to ignore them. When she'd first heard Caden's accent, she hadn't minded at all. In fact, it had made him more interesting to her. Somebody out of the ordinary. Someone who was different. Different than all the other people at college, and even in town. But the fact that some people did mind, and didn't bother hiding it, made her both feel sorry for Caden and want to shout to the world that being different wasn't something to stare about. But she was also sad that she'd helped in Caden's... well... less-different-ness. She wanted him to be able to stand up to the starers, not try to get away from them. 'But,' she thought, 'I can't just tell him that. Besides, after you lose an accent, you can't get it back, right? Right.' She actually wasn't sure about this, but pursuaded herself that it was true. "I'm sorry you had to go through that." She said sincerely and quietly. There was so much she wasn't saying but she couldn't say it, so that would have to do. |
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Caden just chuckled quietly, pulling out of the parking lot and driving off. "Heck I mean it's like--i'm glad we're friends, truly but I think I might like you and I don't know." He started, realizing what he said and snapping his jaw shut as he drove with slightly widened eyes. |
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She was looking out the window as the city when he said those words. Iris froze there, looking out the window, but not seeing the buildings and cars and people that sped past. She had the weirdest mix of emotions tumbling through her head. Shock, fear, excitement, amusement, foreboding, joy, and many more she couldn't name. The fact that she had been wrong about him not liking her was one of the best times she'd ever been wrong in her life, and she couldn't help smiling. She hid her face from him and was silent, both the happiest she'd been in a long time, and the most confused. . Okay, so she knew he liked her. But did she still like him in that way? What was she supposed to do? She'd never been great at talking about herself and her feelings. Was she even supposed to tell him? Did she want to tell him? If she did, what would he say? Did she want that kind of relationship yet? Iris could picture her mother's face lighting up when she told her that she had a guy. But that made her not want to do it because the only thing her mother cared about was if she found someone, and if she actually did her mother would only pester her more. . Iris sighed, staring out the window. She felt tears in her eyes from conflict, and couldn't stop one from trickling down her cheek. She wasn't crying from sadness or joy, she was just so torn and confused. She also felt like she'd been thinking about this for so long that, now that it had actually happened, she was overcome with fear and anticipation. Iris didn't know what to do, so she kept looking out the window, dreading the moment when she'd have to talk to Caden. |
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Caden was silent the rest of the ride, seeming to speed up to get out quicker. Why had he said it? Our of all things he could've said, why say that? -Great job Ortiz, just messed up everything. Real great.- They eventually pulled into the parking lot, Caden staying stiff as he waited until she was gone. He sighed, propping his elbows on his knees and holding his head in his hands. The man ran his hands over his face, staring at the floor. |
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Iris hurried away from the car and was glad Caden hadn't tried talking to her. As soon as she was up in her room, though, she felt guilty. Why couldn't she have said something? Now he was probably never going to talk to her again. Iris was about to text him that she was sorry when she realized she didn't have her phone. Or her purse. Or the groceries she'd just bought. She sighed and jogged back down the stairs and out to the parking lot, hoping Caden was still there. |
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Caden was still there, still with his head in his hands before he glanced up and Saw Iris- immediately straightening up. He unlocked the car, opening the trunk from the drivers seat panel. "Forget somethings?" He teased, grabbing her purse and phone and handing them off. "Need help with these?" Caden asked, gesturing at the groceries. |
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Her eyes thinned in concern when she saw Caden hunched over, but was reassured when he stood and got her things. "Thanks," Iris said, not meeting his eyes as she took her purse and phone. She looked at the two bags of groceries and replied, "I think I got it." She hefted them both, and, a little awkwardly, began carrying them up to her apartment. After only a few yards, her foot found a crack in the cobbles and she lost her balance. Iris recovered, but she lost her grip on one of the bags-- thankfully, not the one with the eggs or milk-- which fell to the ground and scattered its contents. "Crap," she muttered, hurrying to gather the fallen things. |
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Caden was there in a heartbeat, grabbing the items which had spilt and stacking them neatly back into the bag before holding it back out to her. He was quiet for longer than he needed to be, but the silence wasn't even awkward it was seemingly...comforting. "Better get going, it's getting kinda late." He informed, offering just a glance of a smile before turning and heading back to the car. |
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Iris felt her cheeks burn when Caden came to help her. But she gave him a nod of thanks and took the bag, balancing it on her knee so she could grab the other one. She bit her lip, torn on whether she should go back to her room or go over to him. Finally, her cowardly side won the fight and she turned and made her way up the stairs to her room again. She set the bags down and began unpacking them, keeping an eye on her phone in case Caden happened to text for whatever reason. She still didn't totally know what to do with herself, but putting away the groceries helped with her confusion. |
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Caden went and leaned against the hood of the car, mad at himself for not making a move. It was a perfect opprotunity, he was helping her, both were just looking at eachother--and what does he do? Sound like an idiot and say 'oh it's getting late' actually no, it's noon which is why the sky's black. Get a grip Caden, get a grip. He took the few bags of groceries and made his way to the dorm, unpacking them before flopping down on his bed. |
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Sunny
