Chapter 30: THIRTY

"Do I have an excuse for being in your car today?” I asked as I glanced around the parking lot. People were staring.

“I don’t believe we’re done with the programme now are we?”

I shook my head in disbelieve.

“Come I’ll walk you to your class.” He said, opening my door for me. He extended his gloved hand towards me.

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

“What, helping my incapable schoolmate carry her staff to class?” he asked innocently but there wasn’t anything innocent with how he was looking at me.

I gulped. “I suppose.”

I took his hand and my heart thudded.

He smiled down at me as we walked side by side into the school. I wanted him to touch me again. I kept staring at his hands – hands that fit perfectly with mine, like the pieces of a puzzle.

“Does your family know, about me, about us?" I whispered too low for human ears to hear, I knew he’d find no difficulty hearing me.

"You can’t exactly hide anything from a family that big," he confessed with a wicked grin. "And besides, Rebecca can’t keep a secret.

Annette was clad in a blue dress that clung to her body like second skin. Her knees kissed. She was leaning against the wall. I frowned. That ought to be unpleasant. How could she walk in that thing?

“Hey, Annette,” I said when we were a few feet away. “I wasn’t expecting you here.”

She stared at us without speaking.

"Ann," Bradley said graciously. His voice was unintentionally seduction, his eyes drawing her in.

"Um… good morning… Bradley." Her eyes were so wide you’d swear they were about to bug out of their sockets. "I’ll come back later." She said, glancing meaningfully at me and I concealed a groan.

"Okay." I sighed.

She stared at Bradley then at me and back at Bradley again before she could will her body to walk away.

"This should be fun." Bradley murmured.

"What?" I asked almost in a whisper.

"She’s just around the corner, waiting for me to leave.”

I groaned as I pulled the key out and unlocked the door. Bradley pushed it aside.

“After you, princess,” He snickered.

“Thanks.” I mumbled.

“I should take my leave.”

"No wait, why is she here?"

"I thought you didn’t like that I can read souls.”

“Only when it’s causing an inconvenience to me,”

He laughed.

“You don’t play nice.” He accused.

“I’ve heard that before.”

“She was here to apologise.” He told me.

“And now?”

“We gave her a new reason to be here.” He smiled wickedly. “She’d like to know if you find me attractive.”

“Oh.” I was disappointed. “I thought she’d ask if we were dating.”

He smiled my favourite lopsided grin, “she believes you have a crush on me and she feels sorry for you because she thinks I wouldn’t go for you.”

“Oh.” She was painfully right. Bradley could never find me the least bit fascinating.

“I don’t want to keep her waiting much longer.” He said. “I’d hate for school to start before she talks to you.”

“You’re enjoying this way more than you should.”

“I just can’t wait to hear what you say.” He smiled devilishly.

“Bradley Carter what are you hiding?”

He laughed. “Guess you’ll find out soon enough.” And then he was gone.

"I'll see you at lunch," he called over his shoulder.

“If I’ll still be alive by then,” I grumbled under my breath.

He laughed.

"Oh my Gucci, he called me Ann." she squealed the second she had my classroom door closed behind her.

"He did, didn’t he?" I contradicted, rolling my eyes. This was going to be a long conversation.

"You’ve been hanging around Bradley a lot lately.” She accused, her eyes narrowing on my face.

“He can’t stay away from me… literally.” I said, fighting the temptation of rolling my eyes.

"He’s cute isn’t he?”

“I know!” I shouted, skilling my voice to be outraged, fighting against the frown my forehead wanted to make. How do I act girly without looking weird. I must've looked so funny and stupid entertaining such childish conversations.

Her cheeks coloured in embarrassment. “I was wondering...”

“Hmmm,”

“If you’re not interested in him?”

“What?” I made sure my voice sounded as though that was the most outrageous thing I’ve ever heard.

She frowned at me, her face rigid with uncertainty. "You’re not?"

"Are you?” I said.

“Err… I do think he’s cute.”

“Huh… really?”

"Stop looking at me like I’m insane.”

"I wasn’t.”

She glared at me. “Bradley is not boyfriend material.”

“Oh.” I wanted to laugh but contained myself.

“I don’t think any girl from around here stands a chance.”

“Right.”

“Wait.” She cried. “I heard the kids saying he drove you to school today.” Her eyes were getting excited.

“That. Um…” I needed to think on my feet and fast. “We were... Uh... working on the programme for…”

“Ugh.” She interrupted me irritably.

I suppressed a grin

“What did you guys talk about besides Saturday’s programme?”

"Nothing worth sharing"

"You’re just so vague." She complained with her lips pouting.

I shrugged.

“Will he take you home?”

“Is this twenty questions?” I asked irritated.

She sighed defeated.

“So?” She said.

"Yes?"

"Are you two like… um… dating or something?" she hesitated. “… Secretly?”

"I like him… a lot." I agreed. .

"Oh.” She looked disappointed. “Does he know?”

“Yes.”

“He’s absolutely gorgeous, of course.” She frowned. “…but very intimidating. I wouldn’t know what to say to him.”

“He’s actually great.” I tried to smile but only managed to wince.

"Then I guess I should apologise about what happened last Saturday" she mumbled.

"I wasn’t meant to hear that so it’s my fault for eavesdropping… "

She raised her eyebrows, surprised.

I smiled in encouragement. “That’s why it’s never a good thing to listen to other people’s conversations.”

"Oh,” Still surprised.

"So girl, have you seen the way Inez looks at you?" I pushed in a whisper. I felt so weird talking like that. I was trying to sound like the girls my age. I frowned.

She snickered in disbelief. “Me?” she pointed her index finger at her chest and shook her head.

But I could tell she was interested. “I think you two would make a cute couple.” I tried not to cringe as I said that lie, trying to get the image of the two of them out of my mind – I wasn’t successful.

“You think so?” she was excited now, looking at me with wide childlike eyes.

“Yes.” I said. “What with you and your brown eyes and Inez with his blue eyes – you complement each other.”

She was practically jumping up and down in her seat. “He is kind of cute isn’t he?”

“Girl... are you kidding right now?” I pushed her shoulder lightly, like how the girls in the movies do it. “He is H-O-T.” I stretched in three syllables.

"Mm"

“I so think you should ask him out to dinner tonight.” I felt like I was in a foreign land. I couldn't believe I was having this kind of conversation. I was so bored and enervated to be pretending I was having fun.

“You think?”

“What have you got to lose?” I asked.

“I’ll be right back.” She squealed.

I nodded gladly, more excited at the prospect of enjoying my own company.

“Wait.” She stopped. “How do I look?”

“Amazing,” I pushed her lightly towards the door.

She bounced off happily.

I sighed. Bradley could’ve at least warned me this was about ‘us’ secretly dating. I couldn’t wait for lunch time. He was such a traitor. I was absolutely positive he was listening in on us.

Annette was back again looking grim. I sighed worried.

“What happened?” I asked through clenched teeth. Why didn't she take longer? She must've been gone for less than a minute and she was back. I cursed her internally.

“He said yes.”