Riley's Box

Part 14

The strange thing was that Whit's friendliness continued the next day at school, too. It was as though he had been replaced by an alien! What was going on here? 

I soon realised what it was, though, that was happening here. 

Previously, Whit hadn't had much of a reason to exchange words with Jason and I. 

Now that the two of us were both on the student council, that matter had changed somewhat. 

"Why are you being so nice, Whit? You congratulated us on becoming members of the student council, yesterday. Today, you're offering us carrot-cake cupcakes. They're not poisoned, are they?" I asked the last part a little more quietly, as I eyed the cupcake in my hand with some suspicion.

Whit shook his head, as the corner of his mouth danced upwards slightly. 

"No, Riley," he said. "I'm being nice to the two of you because it's the right thing to do."  

That was fine and dandy but he hadn't seemed interested in doing the right thing, per say, for the past five years of school. 

Why was he starting now? 

Unless...no. He couldn't have had some secret motive behind it. I wasn't going to continue to have my suspicions. 

Instead, I smiled at him and gratefully accepted the cupcake. 

I took a bite out of it and discovered that...it was fine. Just a plain old cupcake. 

Perhaps Whit had really meant what he had said, after all. 

"I had some spare money and I thought the good thing to do with it, would be to buy some treats for the council," he explained. 

At that, I felt myself smile. 

"Well, it's especially kind of you, Whit," I replied. 

And delicious. 

What I mean to say is that the cupcake was delicious! 

Whit smiled at that compliment. 

"These are delicious," I added. 

"Well, they should be," he said. "They came from my parents bakery," he continued, straight to the point. 

Whit then began to articulately explain how the cupcakes were made and I found myself listening intently to every word. 

Jason just eyed me with narrowed eyes. I wasn't sure what his problem was! 

Anyway, I was more fascinated with the cupcake recipe, than I ever could have been with Whit Album. 

In fact, thinking that thought made me feel like laughing a little. 

"I think that I would like to learn to bake a little more this summer," Whit said then, drawing my attention back to him. "Of course, I have a lot to study, beforehand. Speaking of which, I should probably make my way to the library, by now," he said. He then met my gaze, "Want to come along, Riley?" he suggested. 

I wasn't about to skip out on the chance to make a new friend, even with the look that Jason was giving me. 

Seriously, what was going on with him? 

He couldn't still be annoyed over the whole head boy thing, now, could he? 

I pushed that thought out of my mind and stood up, dusting some of the cupcake crumbs off my jeans in the process. 

"Sure, Whit. Let's get going," I said kindly. 

Jason looked tempted to say something, as his mouth came slightly agape, but he soon closed it again. 

"I'll see you later," I told him with a friendly smile, before I made my way off with Whit. 

After a short while, the two of us wandered into the library and Whit soon commenced a search of the main bookshelves. 

"I always see you going in here. What are you up to? Do you plan to read every single book that's here?" I said to him. 

Whit quickly told me to quieten down, so I repeated myself- only in a whisper, this time. 

"I like to gain new knowledge, Riley. I think that the acquisition of knowledge is one of the most important things in the world, don't you?" he asked me. 

"I mean...I can't say that I disagree but oh. I get it now. You are  a nerd," I said. It was only half-teasing. 

In response to that, Whit gave me a perfectly timed roll of his eyes. 

"I've also been spending more time here because..." he trailed off. 

"Because?" I asked. 

If this was a show, then he would have had me on the edge of my seat! 

"Because Eric and I broke up," he mumbled, so quietly that I was almost certain that I had misheard him. 

I felt my eyes grow wide and decided to just confirm what I had, indeed, heard. 

"You did what now?" I asked him. 

"Broke up. Actually, Eric broke up with me," he said. 

I gave a slight shake of my head then, as a friendly smile toyed at my lips. 

"You shouldn't tell people that. Tell them that you broke up with him. That makes you look like the strong one," I said. 

I probably shouldn't have said it, but as I have mentioned before- I always speak my mind. 

"It's alright. As you can imagine, I've been trying to distract myself as much as possible. That is what has led me to this library. Books have become my solace," he said. 

Was I now in an Austen novel? 

"I like to believe that I can turn this little situation into a positive lesson, though, Riley. You can't trust everyone. And sometimes, the people that you want to be with end up not being the right ones for you at all. Oh well, at least I know that I am capable of loving both girls and guys now," he said. 

"There is that. That's good," I replied, with a reassuring smile. 

"That is what I'd like to think," he said. 

"I think you think too much," I said.  

The corner of Whit's mouth quirked up at that. 

"Maybe," he said. 

Well, he certainly responded to constructive criticism well. 

"Ah! Finally found the book that I need," he said with a smile, before he turned and led the two of us out of the library again.