AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You too,” I mumble, keeping my head down, ready to bolt out of here. The science lab should be my safe space and these guys are ruining it for me.
Matthew jogs after me, his long legs cutting the distance between us in two strides, grabbing my arm to halt my escape. “Tomorrow then? Same time?”
I pause and look up at him. Really look up at him. His face is intense, his eyebrows pinched together.
“Sure, same time.” He’s relieved. “I’ll see you then.”
And as my short legs move me away from him, I swear I hear him say, “I’m looking forward to it, New Girl.”
CHAPTER 2
“You’ve been studying together for what? Two months? And you’re just friends?” Bianca looks at me disbelievingly, and I sigh. We’ve been through this daily, ever since Matthew inserted himself into my life.
I pull my hair back away from my face and lift it off my neck. The weather is heating up and the air around us is uncomfortably warm. “They need to invest in better air-conditioning. It’s only October and I’m boiling to death.”
Bianca folds a makeshift fan out of a piece of A4 paper, thrusting it at me when she’s done. “Here, use this. And then focus!”
I wave the limp fan in front of my face, barely moving any air at all. “Focus on what? I’ve told you everything. We meet every few days and go through his science classwork. Though mostly he doesn’t really need my help; I think I’m just there to help him focus.”
Again, she raises eyebrows. She’s not buying my story. Too bad it’s completely true. “But why would he need your help?”
Ouch. My feelings must be all over my face because she reaches over, pulling me into a side hug. “I don’t mean it that way. I just mean, how are you helping him with a class you’ve never taken? He’s two years older than us!”
I’ve pondered this many, many times since Matthew asked for my help and have gotten no closer to understanding it. “All I know is that it’s pretty straightforward biology work, which is like what we’re doing this term, so I’m just there to guide him through it.”
When she continues to look confused, I offer her a shrug. There’s really nothing left to say. “We’re friends.”
“Hmmmph.” Then her eyes brighten. I’ve seen that look on her face before, and it means nothing good. “Maybe he has a secret crush on you and he’s going to ask you to the school formal at the end of the year?”
Now I know my best friend has gone mad. There’s not one part of the sentence that’s in the realm of possibility, and I tell her so. In no uncertain terms.
“It could be what’s happening,” she argues as the bell rings, signalling our release for the day. “I know you are oblivious to these things, but you’re gorgeous. With your big blue eyes and your wild curly hair, the boys all look at you. And Matthew? He’s like a different person around you.”
I stop walking. “Different how?”
She shrugs. “He’s more real, less like a person on show. And he watches you all the time. When you’re around, it’s like his eyes are glued to you.”
We start walking again, my head spinning. Surely what she’s saying isn’t true. We’re just friends. There’s no way he thinks of me like that.
“And why wouldn’t he? You’re a catch!”
I link my arm through hers and squeeze her to me gratefully. It’s her job as my best friend to pump me up and it’s one she takes seriously. It’s just hard to believe a word she’s saying when I’ve spent most of my time in high school feeling invisible, while Matthew has been all too visible. I’ve grown up with only my mum and grandmother—after my dad passed away when I was seven—and they’ve tried to instil in me a strong sense of self, a belief that I’m enough as I am, but the daily grind of being a teenager wears down even the most confident among us. And Matthew thinking that I’m new to the school, after we’ve co-existed for years, hasn’t helped any.
“Thanks, B. You’re the best friend a girl could ask for.”
She hugs me. “I’m happy to be your cheerleader, Nat. Because girl, you’re amazing!”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Matthew’s deep voice in my ear has me yelping while Bianca grins a knowing smile at me.
“Where did you come from?” I put a hand over my thumping heart, unsure whether it’s his surprise appearance or his causally strung arm over my shoulders that is the cause of my arrythmias. I should be used to his displays of affection by now; whenever we’re together he’s always finding an excuse to touch me. But still—come on, it’s Matthew! I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to having him around.
“Where are we going?” The three of us are walking down the hallway, attracting all the attention, which Matthew seems oblivious to.
“We”—I point to me and Bianca—“are going to find chocolate.”
He laughs, unperturbed by my cutting him out of our afterschool activity. “Can I come?”
I’m saved from answering by the arrogant voice of Dave, Matthew’s most annoying friend and teammate. Since Matthew and I have become friends, he’s gone out of his way to tease me, to make me feel uncomfortable, and it looks like today is no different.
