Chapter 4 UNAVOIDABLE

Vanessa's POV

I don’t know what annoys me more. The fact that Seth Ellis is Caleb’s best friend, or the fact that I'm going to be seeing his face more often. Probably both.

“Why do you look like you would fight someone the moment we walk into the café?” Josey asks.

I turn to her as the glass door of the café slides open, and we step into the air conditioned space.

“Let’s grab something to eat first,” I say in a cranky voice.

“Don’t forget to add the one from this morning,” she reminds me with a little grin.

“Look at you still remembering,” I say.

Students are everywhere, laptops open, drinks on tables, everyone catching up. The second we walk past the front tables, I feel the heavy stares burning right into my skin.

Yeah, I had classes today and I’m not hiding in my hoodie right now. I’m wearing a casual mint blue two-piece set I changed into after swim practice, and my hair is still packed up in a messy bun. I am completely visible.

A girl in the second row nudges her friend's arm, pointing her phone in my direction. And just like that the whispering starts.

"It’s the swim team captain..." I don't even want to hear the next word.

“Here they go again,” Josey murmurs.

I force a warm, fake smile as my eyes meet anyone who is looking, until we finally get to the counter. Josey's fuchsia pink acrylic nails tap against the glass counter as she looks at the display.

“Hmm, what should we grab? I’m hungry, but probably not as hungry as you, since you’ve not had anything to eat.”

Uriel waits for us to place our order, ready to write it down with her pen and paper. She’s always so nice and bubbly.

“So, am I getting you girls the usual this semester, or have you got new taste buds?”

This time, I smile genuinely at her. “Something else please, I haven’t had a bite all day.”

“A chicken pesto wrap and a small tub of mixed fruits please,” Josey says immediately.

“Maybe I will go with a tomato pasta salad and a cold pressed green juice this time,” I add.

“Noted,” Uriel says, clicking her pen. “Welcome back, girls.”

In two minutes, we grab our food and slide into the empty seats on the left hand side. It's quite, which is exactly what I need.

The second Josey hears about what I caught Seth doing, she chokes loudly on her chicken wrap.

“What? Damn, such a bad boy,” she says, wiping her mouth. “But that early in the morning? Wow.”

“I know, right?” I take a sip of my green juice, dragging it out through the straw. I choose not to add the rest, apart from the fact that he would be assisting Coach because I would have to talk about my shoulder.

“Like, I’m still surprised that he's friends with Caleb." And to make it worse, I get to see him every day now because he assists the coach.” I blow out a breath.

“You sound like you completely despise him,” Josey points out, raising her eyebrows.

I roll my eyes and take another deep sip of my juice, trying to look unbothered.

“You’re doing that thing,” Josey says, pointing a finger at me.

“What thing?” I ask.

“The thing where you try to avoid a conversation.”

I squint. “I started the conversation, so what do you mean? And I don't know him, so why should I like him? I don’t want to talk about him anymore, let’s change the topic.”

“Hush, okay Miss, take a chill pill Josey says moving her hand over her chest in a calming gesture. Do you want another juice?”

“Get out of here,” I say, laughing lightly.

“This new semester is going to be absolute chaos,” Josey says, her expression turning dramatic. “I can feel it. I already have a massive stack of fabric swatches and mood boards for my upcoming Fashion Management modules.”

For a girl who could barely make toast without burning the kitchen down, Josey could organize a full styling campaign faster than anyone I knew.

“I know you’ll kill it,” I encourage her. “At least you don’t have to be all over the cameras with everyone watching if you get it right or wrong.”

“BUCS is coming up, you know the school hasn’t had the real spirit of the event in years,” I continue, leaning my head back.

“It’s going to be all riled up, posters will go up around campus, and Sterlingview might turn into a completely different place once the championships get closer. The swimming team gets all the attention, the university’s social media will definitely become unbearable.”

And my mother becomes even worse, I add silently in my mind.

“Oh that sounds like hell, Josey sighs." Just breathe, remember I’m here for you. And I’m going to be styling you for all the formal athlete events, so no one should dare touch my work.”

I laugh. “I have a tutor by the way, and he’s quite cute.”

“Oh, I guess you will finally get a taste of some proper academic discipline,” Josey teases, winking at me with a dirty glint in her eyes. “With your hands tied up behind a desk.”

I lean over the table trying to poke her. “It’s my grades I’m getting up, Josey, nothing else, you dirty minded individual.”

“You love me, girl,” she sings, dodging my hand and laughing.

My phone buzzes heavily on the table beside us. I pick it up, seeing a notification from the swim team group chat.

New member added: S.ellis

I see the faint name on my screen, and then the typing bubble pops up.

Coach Benny: We have a group meeting immediately after practice tomorrow, try not to leave. See you all and keep to time, we have a lot of work to do.

I stare at my bright screen, I see Cassie, Olivia, Jasmine, Yolanda, and Roda react to it with a swim emoji within seconds. I start typing.

Me: Noted 🌊

As the captain, I’m expected to respond to the group chat as a leader. It’s another rule from Coach Benny, and a completely unnecessary requirement, by the way

I’m about to drop my phone when a new notification pops up.

S.eliis reacted with a thumbs up.

My fingers tighten around my green juice cup as I stare at my message, now marked with a thumbs up. Seriously?

I feel the need to wring his neck. What the actual fuck is he playing at?

“I absolutely hate your man’s best friend,” I say out loud to Josey. “And don’t even ask why. Just swallow it.”