Deadly In Love

Chapter 3: The Cat's Out Of The Bag

One day, around two weeks after the new year had started, I noticed one of Banner’s friends, Mark, on the other side of the aisle in the middle of the cafeteria. He was staring at me, whispering to Banner over his shoulder, who was towering over him, standing behind him. It looked like an argument from the way they quickly went back and forth, whispering something short. Maybe yes and no? But it doesn’t matter, because then Banner pushed Mark forward, and he rolled his eyes and walked over to me. I quickly tensed up and nervously pretended not to know he was there until he actually reached my table. I looked up as I felt him towering over me.

“Uh, hi, Lacy?” Mark said, standing a few feet away from the end of the long rectangular table. All of my friends stared up at him, and after they thought they knew what was going to happen, they all started giggling and whispering. As soon as I heard kissing noises from behind me, at the end of the table, I elbowed Tina, signaling them to stop. I was definitely red, I could feel my face heating up in fear. I didn't know what he was going to say. I had to think of what to say, but I just sat there frozen.

“Um, hi Mark. What’s up?” I finally said, glancing back at my friends. They were all staring in anticipation, most likely expecting him to confess to me. The only times they were ever quiet was when there was drama.  He looked back at Banner and mouthed something, and Banner signaled with his hands to turn around. Mark turned his head back to face me. He bit his lip and hesitated for a second, staring at us in silence.

“I heard you like Banner. He wants to know if it’s true.” Mark said. All of my friends broke out into laughter, and Tina whispered in my ear to tell him the truth, and said it’s the only way me and Banner will ever be together. I hesitated a second, but then shook my head. I couldn’t bear to be rejected. And, plus, it was kind of the truth. I was almost over him. I watched as he walked back over to Banner and whispered something in his ear and slapped him in the shoulder blade as he walked away.

Banner stood there for a few seconds but then sat back down with Mark. I suddenly felt a wave of regret come over me, and all of my feelings for Banner immediately came flooding back. As I got lost in my thoughts, not even aware of the real world, a tapping on my shoulder brought me back to reality.

“Lacy, why didn’t you tell him? Are you ever going to? And did you see how Banner looked kind of disappointed when Mark told him? And he looked like he felt sorry for him when he told him. He likes you!” Olivia, one of my friends, said. Everyone else nodded.

I decided to tell him. I planned to go over to their table, call Mark aside, and tell him that I liked Banner, and ask him to tell him. I told my plan to my friends and they watched closely as I walked over to their table. My hands were shaking. I felt pressure on my head. My thoughts raced almost as fast as my heart. I approached him, took a deep breath, and tapped Mark on the shoulder

“Um, can you come over here for a second.” I asked, motioning with my hand to come away from the tables, where nobody would hear me. He tapped Banner on the shoulder and followed me over to the area between the tables.

I could see my friends from over Mark’s shoulder and they were all looking over at us laughing, and excited. They didn't even know what I was saying, but they were excited anyway.

“Can you tell Banner something? Um, can you tell him that I like him?” I asked. I started to walk away quickly, but looked back at him. He nodded and raced back to Banner. He said something, loud enough to hear him talking but not loud enough to hear what it was. Banner smiled and looked over at me. His freckles moved upward across his face as he held back a grin, and almost dissapeared behind a red mask of blush that came rushing to his face. He had small dimples on each side of his red lips. I blushed at the sight of his excitement.