“You definitely weren’t a Boy Scout with that mouth.” She rolls her eyes but doesn’t push me off as we continue down the hall. Something about the way my arm hung lazily around her felt normal as if this was the only place my arm should be. It’s only been a week and I’m acting like I lost my mind.
Is it delusion? Is that what it is?
Am I becoming…Jace?
I cannot be him. I’m supposed to be the levelheaded, quiet friend. Not the one that randomly carries girls’ bags and follows them around like a lovesick—
“Is there a reason that you’re following me, Boy Scout?” Cleo’s voice filters back into my ears and I realize that instead of being in the main hall, we’re now in the parking lot in front of a white Audi.
Quickly, I come back to my senses.
“We have to discuss our project.” I scratch the back of my neck, mentally cursing myself for the feeling of my ears heating. Why am I getting so red over one girl? She’s not the first I’ve been with…so why do my ears feel like a hot tamale?
Cleo doesn’t seem to notice my spiraling as she rocks back and forth on her heels, her dress swooshing slightly with the added air.
“Well, what days are you available? I was thinking about us going to different venues for each interview question to add something different to our video.”
“I’m free Monday and Wednesdays.” I shrug, trying to play it cool like my bodyisn’thaving the most visceral reaction to her. I’m sweating freaking bullets just looking at the woman.
Cleo rummages through the tote bag on my shoulder and pulls out a small red notebook. “Sounds good to me, I’m free every day after 4 p.m. except Saturdays because of football.” She says, taking her bottom lip between her teeth.
“On Wednesdays, I’m free all day…Ohand I’ll be at every home hockey game so if we can’t meet during the week, we always have later on those nights.”
“So does that mean that you're free tonight?” I question her, leaning in close. She smells fruity and sweet, almost like the Pina Colada Slurpee from 7/11. Hmm…maybe I should get one of those too. Jace will probably want one, and maybe Deli if she and Derek are over tonight. Shit… but then I’d have to ask Brax and Alec if they want some too. Charlie–
Cleo hums quietly staring up at me, her head tilting as if to question me. She’s closer to me than before, and if I just take a step closer, we'd be nearly kissing.
“You okay?” She asks, amusement dancing across her features.
“I’m fine.”
“Hm… to answer your question, no. I’m not free tonight, Creeper.” She smiles, gently tugging the bag from my shoulder, it sags as she does so.
“Too busy thinking about me?”
“Too busy figuring out how to safely stay away from you,” she mutters, but I have the hearing of a bat.
My lips curve into the biggest shit eating grin I can muster as I eye Cleo up and down, noting how she shifts her weight.
“Princess, if you want to be in my presence, all you need to do is tell me.”
“Good thing that I don’t… Now get up, I have to meet my cousin.” She shoos me off the passenger door before stalking over to the driver’s side.
She rolls down the passenger window seeing as I’m still standing in the same place staring at her like a lost puppy.
“I’ll see you on Wednesday for the project, Wilder. Now please stop looking at me with those eyes” she chuckles, the sound melodic to my ears as she pushes the car into gear.
“Fine. But don’t think about me too much–Actually wait.I didn’t get your number! How are we going to talk about the project if I don’t have it?” I ask, tilting my head in confusion as she smiles.
“Figure it out.” She chuckles before driving off.
I’m left stunned and my heart does a weird stutter thing that I’m not going to think about right now because all that my brain can focus on is the small smile on Cleo’s face before she drove off.
If it’s a game that you want to play Cleo Jones, understand that I never lose.
ten
Blake
