Say You Want Me

Chapter Ten

Oh…oh.... 

               “Players aren’t that big of a deal, so why fret about it?”

            “Well, Brent has got it on with a lot of girls in this school and I don’t want you becoming sloppy seventies or something like that…”

             “Ew! You're so gross.” I made a face and we both laughed, which attracted Brent’s attention.

            “What’s so funny?"

I looked at him and laughed again.

            “Oh, it’s nothing, just a ittle inside joke.”

            “Let me get on this?” Brent looked to me.

            “It’s something you’re better off not knowing.” Richard gave me a secretive smile.

Brent shrugged and I pitied him a little for having absolutely had no idea what was going on.

**

            I found him again waiting for me at the end of class, leaning against the door like a lanky cougar, a crooked smile on his face.

            “Will my fair lady be in need of a fine escort on this fine, sunny day?” He stood just as I approached the door.

I looked to him, reading the expressions on his face, imaginging how it all would be played out:

            “I’ll be fine, thank you. And who said I was ever your lady?”

            “I said so.” He raised an eyebrow.

            “Sorry, I’m not into possessive guys,” I countered.

           “Playing hard to get, are you? I can work with that.”

           “I’m not playing any games with you, Brent. I need to get back to my locker.”

            “Fine by me.” He let me through and as I walked on, I could feel his stare bore into my back.

I couldn’t help but feel a chill in the air, a tugging sense of doubt in my gut. There seemed to be more to Brent than what met the eye. Was he really the conniving, crafty guy I was making him out to be in my mind?

I paused and turned around to see that Brent was gone. Suddenly, hands were covering my eyes…my heart was pumping faster and faster….

I didn’t want any drama on the first day of school so I decided to play along.

            “Ah, a fine escort for a damsel such as myself would only make the sun shine brighter on such a fine day. Shall we?” I attempted a Mona Lisa-esque smile.

            “Let us depart, then, fair lady.”

He offered me the crook of his elbow and led me through the hallways, and with everyone’s eyes on us, I started to feel a little nervous, like a lab rat being observed by scientists.

            “Now which way is your locker?”

***

While on the arm of Brent, I saw Vivian and Tommy, it seemed were officially glued to each other’s sides. Brent told me that he had to go and went away. I felt a large pair of hands covering my eyes.

            “Boo.”

I turned around to see Christian, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

            “YOU SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?”

            “Aw, you’re so cute when you’re angry.” He patted my head.

            “You could have been an axe murderer or a kidnapper for all I could have known…”

He chuckled, amused at the fact that my panic was going on overdrive.

            “Uh, Christian? Actually, I was wondering if you could give me a ride back to my home? I forgot that my brother wouldn’t be able to take me today because of some after school thing…I know it’s only the first day of school and I’ve only just met y-”

He put a hand to my lips to silence my rambling.

            “I can take you, on one condition.”