Lost In A Daydream

“Colton? Are you drunk?” Asked Victoria looking bewildered seeing his furious, red eyes glaring back at her. Colton clenched his teeth with more fury, catching hold of her arm in a tight grip.

“How could you go with Pete when you can’t even talk to me properly?” He growled furiously. Victoria gaped at him with surprise. How did he know that she had gone out with Pete? Was he watching them?

“I just went to his house to meet his pets,” said Victoria, looking at Colton who seemed to be getting all the more furious. A few people passing by stared at them with curiosity making Victoria feel a little uncomfortable. 

“Lame excuse! You want me to believe you?” asked Colton furiously. 

“Don’t believe me then. I’m not answerable to you, Colton,” she said extracting herself and rushing off to Sofia’s house. Colton staggered home. It was just afternoon yet he was done for the day. The drinks didn’t drown his heartache or depression, he was still hurt and extremely jealous. When he would be in his senses, he would blast Pete and warn him off Victoria. However the next day, despite his warning Pete, he didn’t take Colton seriously. 

“Is she your girl?” asked Pete with a laugh. Colton looked uncomfortable.

“Not yet but she’ll soon be,” said Colton, looking away from his smirking face. Pete raised an eyebrow at him with disbelief. 

“Aren’t you against relationships? Are you playing with her?” asked a smirking Pete. Colton’s eyes turned red with fury and he grasped hold of the collars of Pete’s shirt. 

“I’m not playing with her,” Colton said furiously. Pete extracted himself from Colton’s grip. 

“Then what is it Colton? Don’t tell me that you are head over heels in love with her? I can’t believe that, “ laughed Pete. 

“I lo.., I mean I like her very much. I want to give our relationship a chance,” said Colton, looking a little offended. He couldn’t tell him how much he loved her. No one would believe that the mighty Colton Glenn was actually in love. 

“Even I like her very much. Even I want to give our relationship a chance,” challenged Pete. 

“What the f*ck, Pete! She’s taken, find yourself another to play with,” warned Colton. 

“If she would have already been your girl, I wouldn’t have approached her but she isn’t . So it’s fair that I too try my luck with her,” said Pete. Colton couldn’t control himself anymore. He punched Pete angrily. Pete too punched him back. 

“Stay away from my girl else I’ll murder you, Pete,” he threatened. 

“She’s not your girl yet. F*ck off Colton,” said Pete, pushing him away and climbing into his car to escape a furious Colton. After he left, Colton stormed off to work. He was pissed off with his life. He knew that he had started developing deeper feelings for Victoria but her attitude towards him aggravated him. It was true that they started on a wrong footing but couldn’t she like him a little? He loved her so much while all she could do was fight him. Was he so hateful that she had to befriend his rival, Pete Douglas?

Since childhood, although they were friends, Pete tried to compete with him in every sphere. Afterwards, when Pete had gone off to Australia, Colton hadn’t kept in touch. Now when he returned, Colton noticed that nothing had changed between them. Pete now wanted the same girl whom he liked. That rivalry was still there between them, more so from Pete’s side as always. 

The whole day Colton was restless thinking about what Pete would be up to. Was he back for good or would he go back to Australia in a few days? He prayed that Pete would return back forever. He didn’t want Pete to stay here and interfere in whatever relationship he had with Victoria. 

Victoria walked up to the pharmacy to get some medicines. She was nearly done when she felt as if she was being watched. Turning her head, she saw Pete, standing beside her and watching her with avid interest. “Hi! We're meeting again!” said Pete when their eyes met. Victoria was actually startled to see him here. It was weird that he stood there watching her silently without making any effort to talk. 

“Hi! What are you doing here?” asked Victoria. 

“Just came to buy some medicines for the pups,” he shrugged with a smile. 

“Oh, are they sick?” She asked with concern. 

“Nope, but you need to keep a few handy,” said Pete. 

“Right,” said Victoria. 

“Won’t you come down and see them today?” asked Pete, hopefully. 

“No, Pete. I need to go to the bank and then to my sister’s college,” said Victoria. 

“I could drive you there. I’m totally free,” said Pete. 

“Oh? You don’t work?” She asked him. 

“I do but I’m on leave,” said Pete. 

“Okay, I guess I could take your help. I’m new here and don’t know half the places,” said Victoria. 

“I’ll be glad to help,” he said. “Come with me. I’ll just take out the car,” he said, leading her towards his house. After five minutes, he drove her to the bank and then to Sofia’s college. Throughout the way they talked of their favorite music, favorite food, about Victoria’s family, about her college, about her choice of career, and so on. Finally, he dropped her off at Sofia’s house where a furious Colton stood at the entrance door, watching them. Pete gave him a victorious glance and drove off. 

“Where were you?” growled Colton with fury. 

“I had work. What’s it to you?” she asked him. Colton caught her arm. 

“Can’t you talk normally for once?” he asked with fury. 

“Of course I can. Only if you talk normally but you’re always growling at me,” pointed out Victoria. Pete was so different from Colton. While he talked about so many things, Colton only growled at her with fury! Colton was quiet hearing her words. Was he always angry? He had to control his fury from now on.

“I’m sorry,” he said, rushing off to his house, looking offended. Seeing her with Pete hurt him more than anything else but it seemed as if his behavior irked her most. It was better that he left her in peace. Victoria felt a little bad for him. She had been treating him rather badly the last few days ever since he had said those words to her. She knew that he had apologized and had been trying hard to make her forgive him. He had been trying to woo her also but she usually held grudges for a long time. She just couldn’t completely forgive him no matter what. 

“Colton,” she called out. Colton froze mid-stride and slowly turned to look at her. Victoria saw the pain in his eyes for a split second before it disappeared. “I’m sorry, “ she said. Colton smiled warmly at her, his heart doing a somersault. 

“Lunch?” he asked hopefully. Victoria nodded. Relieved, he held out his hand and Victoria walked towards him. She placed her hand in his, making his smile widen further. 

“It’s a date,” said Colton, tightening his hold upon her hand in case she fled upon hearing it. 

“No, just lunch,” said Victoria with a smile. Colton grinned.

“It’s a lunch date,” said Colton. Victoria laughed which made Colton place her arm around her and lead her to his car.

“I’m not dressed up  for a lunch date,” protested Victoria. 

“Don’t worry, you look delicious,” whispered Colton, pulling her closer to his side. “I could have you instead,” he added, making Victoria push him away with a laugh. Colton’s whole body tingled with excitement. He couldn’t believe that he was going on a date with Victoria after all! He had been wanting to for so long. 

They climbed into his car and he drove away. “Where are we going?” she asked him. He smiled, his eyes lighting up for the first time in a long while. 

“We’re going to a favorite place of mine,” said Colton. 

“A bar?” Asked Victoria. Colton groaned at her answer. 

“No, you’ll see,” he said with a shrug, driving away. 

“A favorite restaurant of yours then?” She asked curiously. Colton smiled but didn’t answer her. All the way, Victoria tried to guess where they were going and all the time he just shook his head. 

“Try harder, love. It seems like you don’t know me at all,” he said with that same warm smile on his face. It made Victoria’s heart skip a beat or two. 

There was an understated excitement in the close confines of the car, something she had never experienced with Pete before. She knew now why his actions had the capability to hurt her more than anyone else’s. It was just because she liked him the most. Her whole body seemed alive with excitement just at the prospect of going on a date with him. So was this just liking? Or did she fall in love with him already? She compared the casual friendship she shared with Pete to the heated exchange she always had with Colton. They say that there’s a very thin line differentiating love and hatred. Did she cross the line and fall in love with him?