Vision Read Free

administration office to finish paperwork and get
directions to classes. I felt like pure evil, smug, and exhilarated
all at once.
    Sienna’s boyfriend was extremely hot.
    And while he was off limits…
    I couldn’t stop smiling.

CHAPTER THREE
    It was difficult to focus. Why was he so
disconcerting? Images of his tall, lean, muscular frame in khaki
pants and a dark blue fitted button-down, estranged from an Emporio
Armani catalogue, looking at me through his impossibly thick
lashes, consumed me. Everything was thrown out of context somehow.
Stuart was so familiar and so breathtaking I couldn’t get
perspective. Certainly, we had never met…
    Sienna’s boyfriend, Layla. Not an option.
    “Hey! How were classes?” Sienna bounced over,
joining me as we walked to the car.
    “Good. Mostly just an overview today, but I
already have a reading assignment. How was psychology?” I tried to
match her energy level, but I couldn’t come close with my inherent
introverted nature.
    “Mostly rubbish but I’ll survive.” She linked
her arm in mine, an intimacy I was not quite familiar with, but I
found comforting from Sienna. I should get used to the concept of
friends. Contact with people. Interaction. People other than me in
the world.
    And there he stood by the car - his part
knight, part cherubic features prepared for torture – namely, mine.
Adrenaline coursed through my veins, my face growing hot as we
approached. One leg was crossed over the other, his brow creased as
he read a book. Sienna was by his side instantly with a little hop.
“What’s so interesting?” She poked his side.
    “Aristotle. But I’m wondering why I chose
philosophy now.” He glanced up, found my eyes, and said
nothing.
    “So why did you choose Philosophy?” Without
trying, my timbre still bordered on sarcasm disguised as playful,
even though nothing he said earlier mattered. I figured out my
defensive posture was a mere cover for the overwhelming swooning
sensation he gave me. I was terrified to display anything remotely
resembling flirtation.
    Also, it was slightly disturbing how, on some
level, it was like he knew I was coming, that he knew me. But that
was impossible since I barely knew me. But something about the
sound of his voice when he said, ‘you must be Layla,’
seemed…definitive, certain. And damn if I could read him to save my
life.
    “Oh, my destiny is pre-determined,” he smiled
sideways, “This is just me biding time.” He snapped the book shut,
signifying the end of our chat. After opening our respective doors,
he hurdled himself over the car hood like a stunt man. Landing like
a cat, he winked at me, making me self-conscience about Sienna
already sitting in the car.
    “Family business?” I asked. He responded with
a questioned brow. “Your pre-destiny?” I clarified.
    The ends of his lush lips turned upward, but
he chose not to engage further.
    Why can’t I read him?
     
    “Stuart is cute,” was how I struck up a
nonchalant conversation later when we were upstairs, in an attempt
to pry without getting caught. “How long have you been together?”
Now my voice was too animated.
    Sienna grinned from ear to ear, straightening
her posture as she answered. “I guess he’s hot, isn’t he. We met a
few years ago and became fast friends.”
    I forced a big smile. “Yeah, he seems great.”
A pang of envy knocked my insides, and I quickly chastised myself
for going there for the hundredth time in one day.
    This time she seemed to read me. “Oh, did you
think…we aren’t together, together, just great friends.” Her eyes
grew wide waiting for my reaction.
    “Yeah, right.” I said in disbelief, and
relief. “You’re not dating?” That was a hard sell, watching how she
threw herself at him earlier. But when I thought further, they
hadn’t kissed the way two people would who had been apart during a
big portion of summer. And they hadn’t held hands or shown intimate
affection, typical of a romance.
    Was she