Project: Love Games

Chapter Forty One

Going back to school has been weird. It's like everyone knows including my teachers. It's interesting how it all spread online so quickly. I spent the last of my break trying to relax from the soreness and bruises. Mrs. Alicia gave me some time off and I am grateful.

"How about..." The tip of his finger slowly glides down my back and I feel a chill from his touch. "This?"

"What about it?" I mumble dreamily.

"Is it tender there?" What, your touch?

"Huh?"

"Does your back hurt Dri?" He chuckles as I don't respond. Truth is it was throbbing in pain before he distracted me. "Are you falling asleep over there?" I wish.

"I'm wide-awake Lan." I mumble once again.

"Me too." He jokes. I giggle at him, turning around to sit up.

"So, how is debate going?" I put my feet in his lap and relax my back on my headboard.

"Ah, it's going alright. It's been a bit hard to balance working at the restaurant again and practicing for debate but I'm trying to save up for something. I'm also getting ready for competitions coming up...I'm just ready for the year to be over so I can finally pick a college."

"What is your dream college?" I tap on my stomach waiting for his answer.

"Believe it or not I think it may be UofM now." He doesn't look my way as he smirks at his answer like he's shy about it. "I've been looking deeper into it for the debate seminar and now I think it's my new goal. Yeah, I applied—but that was because it's known as this amazing school and I just wanted to see if I could get in." He shrugs it off.

"So now you want to stay in Michigan? I thought you were a down south type of guy, maybe even Cali." I smirk.

"Yeah, it'd be great to go where it's warm year around—but I'm starting to realize how being somewhere with four seasons is unmatched." He shrugs.

"I've always seen myself as homebound—I guess I wouldn't mind getting out of my comfort zone." He looks ahead as he rubs his hand up and down my shin.

"What're you thinking about?" I ask after a few moments of silence.

"Life after high school. How will things be a year from now? Will I like my college? My debate team?" I cross my arms as I try and think that far ahead as well.

"You know I always told myself I'd date once I started college. We see how that turned out." I snicker. He laughs lightly but it seems forced.

"Yeah well..." He shrugs to finish his sentence.

We sit in silence for a bit, and I sigh at the comfort of it. Opening my eyes again I see him looking right at me and I shift uncomfortably. "Um—what's up?" I ask timidly.

"Nothing." He keeps looking at me and I pout in response.

"What?" I whine. "Does my face look that bad?" I know the swelling went down and I thought the bruises were healing but now he is making me feel self-conscious.

He grabs my had and clutches it. "You're still beautiful Alexandria." He kisses the back of my head and I smile at the gesture.

Thinking of my face makes me think of the day after the accident. "Hey Lan, what were you going to tell me the other day?"

"When?" He picks at his nails, and I twist my lips wondering if I'm overthinking things.

"Before Madison interrupted us."

"Oh—that? It was nothing. I forgot already." He picks at the palm of his hand as if it's more interesting.

"Okay—just thought I'd ask." I sigh. "You know, maybe while you're here we should prep for PLG. Our idea and outline are due in a couple of days." I suggest.

"How could I forget about PLG." He says dryly, obviously being sarcastic.

"If you're not in the mood I get it." I frown at his tone.

"No, it's all good. We have to remember why we're here in the first place, right?" He shrugs.

"Right?" I raise a brow not knowing the right thing to say.

I'm back with another double update 🙂 I'll be back next month. 🤧 I swear I'm taking so long because I have to catch back up on chapters before I post them. Follow, vote, comment, it's all appreciated 💕