Chapter 35 Duck!

Chapter 35 Duck!
Melanie's POV

I was distracted at school the next day. Snippets from my conversation with Ross the previous day kept playing in my head. Along with memories of the wonderful day I spent at William's place.

I'd had a crush on Conner for a long time. That wouldn't suddenly go away because his twin brother happened to come along and just happened to be my mate. How ridiculous was that?
Besides, the mate bond wasn't as strong as I thought it would be. Granted, I had no wolf and so couldn't feel it but William seemed fine. Not insanely drawn to me in any way.

He didn't drool over me or act uncontrollable. His eyes didn't even fill with love or lust when he looked at me just..some sort of tenderness or maybe pity. Honestly, it kinda saddened me. A little drooling would've been appreciated.
The mate bond had to be false. A glitch. Maybe brought on by my inert wolf or something.

In any case, Ross was wrong and I wasn't being stupid.

I kept my distance from William at school. I didn't want a repeat of the incident with Bree and her girls in the hallway and besides, we didn't need anyone knowing about our friendship. I feared if Conner found out, it would make him desire me less. Or well, hate me more.

I’d hoped that Eva, Bree and Tilly had forgotten about the dodgeball incident but from the mocking looks they kept shooting me, they hadn't. I caught a few sniggers of derision and someone drew a huge dodgeball on the whiteboard during second period.
As I dropped my books into my locker in between class periods, Bree yelled out loudly,

“Duck!"

I flinched and hunkered down immediately. Everyone in the hallway burst into laughter.

My cheeks coloured a deep red as I hid my head in the locker. I remained there until the hallway cleared out. I blew out a shaky, grounding breath as I finally closed my locker.
Then nearly peed my pants from shock as I saw William's face.

He rested against the locker next to mine. I didn't know how long he'd been standing there for.

" Jeez! What is wrong with you?” I gasped, holding a hand to my chest.
" Me? Nothing. What's wrong with you?” He smirked.

I groaned and looked around, hoping no one was watching us right now.

" There's no one here. They all had a good laugh and wandered off.”
" You saw that huh.” I dropped my head down in embarrassment.
“Yeah. You're not doing a good job of applying all I'm teaching you." He tutted disapprovingly.

“Pretty hard to do when you already have a reputation in the entire school, no?" I scoffed in annoyance.
“I know….”
" Do you? Do you really?” I raised my voice at him and then shut my eyes to calm myself down, " Just…forget about it."

He said nothing for a while. Just stared at me with those grey eyes before cocking his head to the side and saying very gently,
" You're wearing your hair down.”
" Um,..yeah.” I shrugged like it meant nothing.

“It looks nice." He smiled.
“Wh…Um…it does?" I held a curly lock self consciously.
He reached out and gently pried my hand away, " Don't ruin it. It's perfect. I'll see you in the next class.”

I watched him walk away, forgetting how to breathe for five full seconds.

A goofy smile occupied my face for the rest of the next class. I hated that I couldn't turn to look at him because he was sitting at the very last seat on my row. But I could feel his gaze on me the entire time.

My last period for the day was free so I headed to the library. I kinda hoped William would come as well but it was unlikely he would skip his class.
Twenty minutes into library time, I saw a figure walking towards me.

I felt a leap in my chest as I recognized William and I smiled. But then he got closer and I noted the different gait and demeanor. My heart fell for only a second before it perked up again.
Conner was coming to meet me.

He got to the table and flipped his bag onto it unceremoniously. Then he took a chair across from me.
" What's up tutor girl?”
" It's Melanie.” My voice had gone gaspy again and I tried to keep the blush from my cheeks.
" Don't care. There's been a change in plans.” He folded his arms across his chest.

“Oh? Counselor Dawson spoke with you?"
“Not from the counselor. From me. We can't have tutoring sessions at my house any longer.” His eyes narrowed at me as if expecting me to challenge him.

“You were the one who suggested,...."
“Yeah and I'm unsuggesting it. From now on we meet somewhere else."

"Is...is there a particular reason...?"
His lips pulled back into a mean sneer, " Do I need a fucking reason to not want you at my house anymore? I can't risk having you seen there. So we have to meet somewhere else."

That stung, “ Oh. Ok? Where do you propose?"
“You're the fucking tutor, you pick." He flicked off an invisible speck of dust from his football jacket.
“Ok um….how about here? After school. We aren't allowed to stay past school hours but I'm sure if I ask Mrs Quincey….."

“Alright cool." He got to his feet. “I'll be back here when the closing bell rings."
“Today? Can we make it tomorrow ?I got to my feet as well, " I'll need time to get the necessary permissions from Mrs Quincey and the counselor."
" Then I suggest you hop to it, bunny rabbit. I haven't got time for you tomorrow.” He turned on his heel and walk
ed away.

He is kind of a jerk, I thought to myself.
A jerk I was in love with.