Because of the fire.

chapter 16

"you going to answer?" Earl asked.

"yeah,yeah of course. Let me," i said getting up.

It was facetime so I went into the corner of my room and sat on my reed chair.
"kyle,hey," I smiled and waved into the camera.
Way to go stupid.

"Tracy, how are you?" he asked leaning closer. I thought he might just see through my soul with the closeness.

"umm, I'm good thanks. So what's up?" I asked.

He brushed his hair from his face. The mere action kinda made my stomach flip. Uh oh butterflies.
"umm, tomorrow is Wednesday so was wondering about the project.."

"oh.. I see.." i said, totally at loss of what to say.

"whose house are we meeting up. If it's at someone's house?" he asked.

I looked over at Earl who shot me back a blank stare, his hands up in the air. I removed the phone from my face and made it face up. I raised my eyebrows at Earl who finally started pointing at himself.

"Tracy? Are you there?" Kyle was asking.

I fixed the phone so that it was facing me again. "yeah sure, I'm here. Umm I think it'll be at Earl's."

"you spoke to him?"

I looked briefly at Earl, "well, not really but I'm sure he doesn't mind. Actually this other time he was talking about how his house is free. "

"ok then, that's great I guess," Kyle said.

"yeah, will text you the address."

"cool"

We both kept quiet for a while. Then I was about to just say bye and hang up when Kyle spoke, "Tracy have you already done your life science homework?"

"umm not yet but was about to," I swallowed.

"well, I don't know I was just thinking maybe if you can we could do it together like over the phone like this," Kyle explained not stuttering but he kinda looked nervous.

"oh, I'm sorry Kyle but I was doing some stuff. Can't do right now, hope that's cool, " i said and couldn't avoid feeling a bit bad about it.

"sure, no problem really. It's cool," Kyle said trying to sound cheerful.

"ok, bye," I said. No wave this time.

"bye, I'll see you tomorrow."

I hung up relieved that the call was finally over. I don't know why but I was feeling kind of nervous being on the call with Kyle while Earl was here.
When I looked over to where Earl was, he was already lying face up on the rug.

"about time," he yawned.

I smacked him on the shin playfully, "oh come on. Now, where were we?"

He got up, "the part where we got the homework done," he said smiling.

"I suppose that does make us a good pair," I smiled back.

"I'm sure we do, you even denied O'Malley the pleasure of doing homework together," he grinned.

"hold your horses, I mean you were still here. It would be rude for us to go on about life sciences that you don't even take, wouldn't it?" I put on my you-know-I'm-right face.

"so Miss smarty pants, why didn't you reschedule like later on tonight?" he smirked.

"you know what? Time out. Let's go," I said getting up and dragging him from the floor.

"whatever, you know I'm the best homework partner. You just can't deny," he teased.

"oh really. Imma tell Kyle and we'll dump your dumb self see how you do the project by yourself," I teased right back.

"oh, yeah?" he said drawing closer to me.

I could almost hear my heart hammering against my chest. I kept drawing back backwards not realizing what was taking place. Soon I was against the wall. Earl looked into my eyes and I struggled with everything I had in me to not break the eye contact.

"chill Tracy," he laughed and stepped away. "goodness you looked so scared," he added.

I chuckled nervously, "yeah, kinda was actually."

Deep down I knew what I'd felt had less to do with being scared than it had to do with butterflies. When we got down the stairs mom was cooking in the kitchen.

"Earl, are you staying for dinner? I'm almost done cooking."

"oh no, he's not staying, " I said pushing him towards the door.

"come on Tracey," he said batting his eyelids.

"oh no, those puppy eyes ain't gonna work," i said shaking my head.

He laughed, "ok fine." to my mom he called out, "goodbye Mrs Collins, looks like its going have to be for another day. Tracy here is bent on being stingy," he laughed.

I walked him out of the front door, "bye Earl"

He smiled, "bye Tracy. I'll see you tomorrow."

I walked back into the house.
"come help me set the table Tracy," mom called.

"ok mom, let me go and call Luke," I said rushing upstairs.
I almost bumped into him, "whoa, slow down dude."

"is Earl your boyfriend now Trae," he asked innocently.

"oh, no. What?!" i replied in shock.

"I saw you," he smiled cheekily.
Oh no.
Then the little devil bounded down the stairs in a singsong voice saying, "someone's got a boyfriend, someone's got a boyfriend... "