Only for me | Draco Malfoy

20.

I couldn't help but look over Draco's face in silent surprise.

Not only was I surprised that Draco had complimented me, but I was also surprised that his compliment had been so brief but had made me feel so much.

The first was mild confusion. I knew Draco had this annoying sense of duty to keep me alive and kicking, which he shouldn't have worried about in the first place. But I'd never had the impression that Draco saw me as anything more than that.

The second was a sense of insecurity. Even though Draco returned my gaze with honestly, I couldn't help but wonder if his compliment was just another attempt to distract me from my own thoughts.

But the third was the most surprising of all, because I couldn't help but wonder if the small swirl of tingles snuggled deep in my stomach were butterflies, as the books I used to read referred to them.

In any case, I couldn't bring myself to tell Draco he was wrong. I knew what type of girl I was and what things boys noticed about me.

The ringing of the bell jolted me out of my daydream, and I became painfully aware that I had been staring at Draco's face for the previous minute. He didn't seem phased, as he stared back at me. I lowered my gaze to the ground, watching as the ash from my cigarette danced around the small gravel as the wind blew gently.

I also felt something I hadn't felt in a long time: self-consciousness.

As the silence between us was broken, Draco cleared his throat.

"Are you going to the cafeteria?" My lungs let out a deep sigh.

Lunch was the only time during the day when I had to be close to Ryder. Everything about him made me itch. It's as if his presence pricked every sensitive part of my soul. In the worst possible way.

"Could we go get food?" Draco asked, and my gaze returned to him with interest.

"If you like." I noticed that Draco seemed to read my thoughts before I had them.

"Like what?" I questioned.

"Whatever you want, Angeline." He responded with a small smile, and just seeing it made me want to return one.

"Okay, fine." Instead, I shrugged.

Draco looked as if I had just told him he had won the lottery, and I could tell he was getting closer to saving my poor, tortured soul.

I couldn't tell him how wrong he was yet again.

He jumped to his feet, using his hands to dust the dirt off his dark jeans from sitting on the concrete. He looked down at me and offered his hand to help me up. I considered taking it as I looked at it, but he seemed to notice my hesitation and shoved it back into his pocket.

I dragged myself up the wall, grabbing the hem of my short skirt, and followed him into the parking lot.

I couldn't help but notice Draco's relaxed demeanour. He walked as if he knew his worth and place in the world. It was almost soothing. Though I doubted I produced anything of the sort any longer, it was possible.

As we climbed into Draco's car and the car was turned on, I noticed the occurrence with which his eyes travelled to me. In some ways, it made me feel guilty. Almost as if he was worried about my every move, as if I would strangle myself with the seatbelt if he wasn't there.

I quickly realised that the songs playing on the expensive sound system were the same ones he had put on my playlist. I couldn't stop the small chuckle that escaped my lips as the song I had been so taken with in his car yesterday began to play.