Vanessa’s Game
I noticed the first time Vanessa sidled up to Caleb during lunch. She wasn’t trying to hide it—if anything, she made a show of it, walking past my table with an exaggerated sway to her hips before stopping right in front of him.
“Caleb, right?” she said, her voice saccharine sweet. “I’ve heard so much about you since our previous meeting.”
He leaned back in his chair, a slow grin spreading across his face. “All good things, I hope.”
Vanessa laughed, a sound so fake it made my teeth clench. “Of course,” she said, resting a perfectly manicured hand on his arm. “Though I have to say, you’re even more… intriguing in person.”
I glared at her from across the room, my stomach twisting as she leaned in closer, her smile widening. Caleb glanced in my direction, his eyes flicking to mine for a brief moment before returning to Vanessa. His smirk didn’t falter, but the flicker of recognition in his gaze only made me angrier.
I tried to focus on my food, but my appetite was gone. Sarah, sitting across from me, raised an eyebrow. “Are you seriously going to let her get away with that?”
“She’s trying to provoke me,” I muttered, stabbing at my salad with unnecessary force. “I’m not giving her the satisfaction.”
“Maybe, but she’s definitely crossing a line,” Sarah said, her voice low. “You might want to remind Caleb which team he’s on.”
I didn’t respond, my chest tightening as Vanessa’s laugh echoed across the cafeteria. By the time she finally walked away, my hands were trembling with frustration.
***
The encounters didn’t stop. If anything, they escalated. Vanessa found every excuse to insert herself into Caleb’s orbit—asking for his help with something “urgent,” brushing past him in the hall with a coy smile, even showing up outside his locker with a cup of coffee she claimed was “extra.”
Each time, Caleb played along just enough to keep her interested. It was infuriating, and when I confronted him about it after school, his reaction only made things worse.
“She’s just messing with you, Emma,” he said, leaning casually against his car. “Don’t let her get in your head.”
“She’s not messing with me,” I snapped. “She’s messing with you. And you’re letting her.”
He raised an eyebrow, his smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’m not letting her do anything. She’s the one chasing me, remember?”
“That’s not the point!” I said, my voice rising. “You’re encouraging her. Do you even realize what she’s doing?”
“Of course I do,” Caleb said, his tone maddeningly calm. “She’s trying to make you jealous. And judging by this conversation, it’s working.”
I crossed my arms, glaring at him. “It’s not about jealousy. It’s about respect.”
He sighed, stepping closer and resting his hands on my shoulders. “Emma, relax,” he said softly, his smirk fading into something gentler. “I’m with you, not her. Vanessa can play all the games she wants, but she’s not going to win.”
I wanted to believe him, but the knot in my stomach didn’t unravel. “You shouldn’t even be playing along,” I said quietly. “It’s not fair to me.”
“Fair?” Caleb’s grin returned, though there was an edge to it now. “Life’s not fair, Emma. If Vanessa wants to waste her time trying to get to me, that’s her problem, not mine.”
His words left me speechless, and before I could respond, he kissed my forehead and climbed into his car. “See you later, princess,” he said with a wink before driving off.
***
The tipping point came at a party a few nights later. Caleb had dragged me along, insisting it would be fun, but I’d barely walked through the door before I spotted Vanessa talking to him near the drinks table. She was wearing a dress that hugged her figure, her smile dazzling as she leaned closer, her hand brushing against his chest.
Something inside me snapped. I marched across the room, my heart pounding as I ignored the stares of the other partygoers. “Vanessa,” I said sharply, my voice cutting through the noise.
She turned, her smile widening. “Emma! I didn’t see you there.”
“Funny, since you seem to be everywhere I turn lately,” I said, my tone cold. “What are you doing?”
Vanessa’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Just saying hi to Caleb,” she said innocently. “Is that a crime?”
“It is when you’re doing it just to get under my skin,” I shot back. “Don’t you have anything better to do?”
Vanessa tilted her head, her expression feigning surprise. “Oh, Emma, is that what you think? That this is about you?”
Her laughter grated on my nerves, but before I could respond, Caleb stepped between us, his hands raised in mock surrender. “Ladies, let’s not start a scene.”
Vanessa’s smile turned sly as she placed a hand on Caleb’s arm. “Don’t worry, Caleb. I’m not here to cause trouble.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” I muttered.
“Relax, Emma,” Caleb said, his voice low but firm. “It’s not worth it.”
The words stung more than they should have. I clenched my fists, the fight draining out of me as I turned and walked away, my chest tight with frustration. Behind me, Vanessa’s laughter echoed, a reminder that this battle was far from over.
And as much as I hated to admit it, I wasn’t sure I could trust Caleb to stay on my side.
