Chapter 32

Don't go," he whispered, holding onto my wrist.

I stood there as I could feel how rapidly my heart was racing. I stared at the green bushes as I stood there like a statue because I didn't know what to do. I wasn't facing him, but my back was towards him. I didn't want to turn around to look at him because I felt embarrassed, but I did. I turned around and meet his hazel sparkling eyes. My cheeks and ears were heating up. I slowly diverted my glance at his hand holding my wrist. I was tongue-tied when he softly held my wrist, making me blush. No guy was ever touched me like the way he did before. All of a sudden, I heard footsteps approaching our way.

"Sophia! There you are! I was looking for you everywhere," my mom called.

He immediately let go of my wrist and looked away in embarrassment.

"Sorry mom," I replied while looking at her in hopes that she didn't saw what happened.

Then, she diverted her glance over at Bradley

"Oh! you're with Bradley," she said while staring at him with a smile.

He turned around and gave her an awkward but polite smile.

"I didn't see you there, so I just wanted to make sure that you were okay," she said, looking back at me with concern.

"I just needed some fresh air because it was getting crowded there," I told her. "But, don't worry mom. I'll be back inside."

"Alright. Don't stay out here too long or you'll get sick. See you kids back inside," she said to the both of us.

"We will," I answered.

After she left, we turned back to look at each other, but then we looked away. I felt my cheeks burning with embarrassment and shyness. I bit my lips and glanced at my painted toes. I didn't know what to say. Every time I tried to say something, nothing would come out of my mouth. After a couple of minutes in silence, he cleared his throat, breaking the awkward tension.

"Uh.. I think you should probably go inside since your mom is worried about you," as he scratched the back of his neck.

I noticed that his ears were slightly red. I slowly walked towards him. I suddenly hit him on his chest with my fist. I guess I didn't want things to turn out awkwardly between us.

"Ow. What did you do that for?" he hissed as he rubbed his chest.

"B-because..." I stammered. "You're freaking weird!"

"How am I weird? All I said was you should go back inside," he said loudly with a confused look.

"You know exactly why. The next time you touch me I won't go easy on you," as I put my fist up near his face.

He chuckled as he looked entertained.

"Are you threatening me?" he asked with amusement in his voice.

"I'm not threatening you. I'm giving you a heads up, as i faked a smile.

He began to slowly approach towards me as I stood there and stared at him walking over to me. He leans in closer with his hands inside of his pockets and looks me into my eyes. He had this smug smile on his face.

"W-what?" I stammered as I leaned back, moving my head to the side but still glancing at him.

"Nothing at all," as he smirked, stepping back.

He walked payss by me and stopped by the front of the door. He turned his head over and glanced at me in the corner of his eyes.

"By the way," he said huskily.

I stood there and stared at him with confusion.

"you have toilet paper hanging on your pants," he snickered.

I quickly turned around and it was a piece of toilet paper inside of my underwear, but it was sticking out through the back of my pants. I immediately grabbed the toilet paper and crumbled it in my hand. I felt so embarrassed.

"What an unattractive creature," as he chuckled.

He turned his head back to the front and slowly walked back inside the building.

"You're so annoying!" I replied loudly as I blushed from embarrassment.

"Thanks for coming today! I appreciate the help!" as Christina expressed her gratitude with a friendly smile.

I stood there and glared at Bradley who was just staring at me with amusement.

"I hope you have fun Sophia," Christina said sweetly.

I snapped out of my stare battle with Bradley and looked over at Christina innocently.

"It was really fun!" I said in a squeaky girly voice.

I do that whenever I get nervous. I could hear Bradley snickered when I did that.

"I'm so glad that it was a success. Once again, congrats on your new book again," my mom replied, giving her a hug.

"Thank you so much, Christina thanked me with excitement.

Beep Beep.

"Oh the taxi is here. We should get going," as I opened the taxi door.

"Okay, get home safely. Text me when you get home, Christina replied.

"I will. Nice to meet you George and Bradley," as my mom smiled.

My mom and I waved goodbye to Christina and George with a smile in front of our taxicab. Bradley stood there awkwardly with his hands inside of his pockets, glancing and smiling smugly at me. We got inside our taxi and went home.

I sat in English class with my elbow on the table, propping my cheek in my palm of my left hand. I was half asleep. Yesterday I was helping my mom all day with her work and pull an all night to finish my homework and essay. I couldn't stop thinking about what happened between me and Bradley. Was he playing around or was he being serious?

"Sophia, can you explain to me why Macbeth killed Duncan?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and got startled when she called my name causing people to titter..

Uh... because he killed him?" I nervously answered.

Suddenly, everyone in the class looked back at me and laughed while Mrs. Jones looked unamused with her arms crossed.

"Repeating what I said isn't going to help you pass my class, so please pay attention," she grumpily replied.

After that, she continued to lecture as I heard some of my classmates snickered. After the boring hour was over, the English teacher dismissed the class. I packed up and quickly walked out of the class. I walked to my locker and shoved my English textbook.

"What were you thinking about so much that you got picked on?" Bradley sneered.

I turned around and shot him with a fake smile.

"I was thinking about you," I replied in a serious tone, trying so hard not to laugh.

"Really?" he queried with a confused look on his face.

You know you're lying. You probably were daydreaming about wanting to kiss me," he teased.

I looked at him with disgust.

"Yeahhhh okayyyy like I said you wish I was," as I looked up and down at him.

We sat at our usual tutoring spot. I opened the window, allowing the breeze to blow inside the room. The curtains were slightly blown by the warm breeze. The weather was quite nice. It was sunny and warm. Whenever I have to stay after school, I would crave for some snacks and don't like my stomach to growl. So, I brought some pretzels from the lunch lady and saved them for after school.

"Why are you eating that pretzel like that?" as he stared at me.

"What? I'm too lazy to use my hands," I mumbled as I chewed the pretzel with my mouth.

"You're so much unattractive in so many ways."

what?"

21

"You look like a camel."

i shrugged my shoulders and continued to chew on the banana pretzel while writing down the notes. Suddenly, he leaned near the side of my face and bit off the middle of the pretzel while I was eating it. I dropped the pretzel on the table and felt my cheeks heat up. I hit him on the chest as he groaned in pain.

"Why did you do that for?!" I nervously yelled.

"I was hungry and it looked like you were enjoying it so I wanted to know what it tasted like.

"What the hell do you mean? It's a freaking pretzel."

"Well I never tried that pretzel before," he shrugged with an amused look.

"You're so freaking annoying. Well. Anyhow, do you understand this part of the problem now?"

"Uhh..." as he scratches the back of his neck.

"Okay look if you take this number and put it on the other side, then it should help you remember the step easier," I explained.

"So like this?" as he leaned in closer.

I turned around to find him extremely close to me. Our faces were inches away from each other. We were so close that if I moved in a little closer that we could kiss, which I will not allow it to happen.

"Y-yeah," I stammered, avoiding eye contact.

In the corner of my eyes, I could see a sly smile in the corner of his lips. Sometimes, I just wanna smack that smirk right off his face. It's so annoying. Although I still couldn't forget what happened the other day, he played it off like it was back to normal. He wrote the notes down onto his book. While I was waiting for him to finish writing, I reached inside my pocket to find my phone but it wasn't there. I began to panic. I cannot lose my phone!

"Oh shoot. I think I left my phone inside the algebra class or my lockers. I'll be right back, i replied, standing up.

"Don't take too long. I'll be waiting for you darling," he teased.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance as he snickered. I quickly left the library and straight to my algebra class. I walked inside the empty classroom and grabbed my phone that was underneath my desk. Luckily, no one stole it or else my mom would of killed me. I put my phone inside my pocket for safety and walked down the hallway. All of a sudden, I heard a noise from one of the classroom. I mean everyone is usually home by now unless they have practice for their sport clubs. I walked pass by an opened door, hearing mumbling inside the classroom. That's odd. Everyone is usually home by now. I shrugged my shoulders and was about to walk away until I heard a familiar voice. I quietly walked over to the door and peeked through the creek of the door. Kyle and Anne were inside the room. They were standing pretty close to each other and everything seems so intense between them. I couldn't hear what they were saying but I saw this odd expression and look on their faces. As I was going to walk inside the room and say hi to them, I saw something that made me feel numb.

My smile suddenly disappeared. I was about to walk away until I heard a familiar voice. I quietly walked over to the door and peeked through the creek of the door. Kyle and Anne were inside the room. They were standing pretty close to each other and everything seemed so intense between them. I couldn't hear what they were saying but I saw this odd expression and looked at their faces. As I was going to walk inside the room and say hi to them, I saw something that made me feel numb. My smile suddenly disappeared. I was speechless.