Forsaking Lilly

Chapter Thirty Three

We spent most of our time, after that, walking. We walked shoulder to shoulder around downtown, going in and out of all the little shops and business. Around one or so, we went to this place called Jamba Juice and got fruit smoothies and sat a while to just joke around.

I wont lie, I was really enjoying myself. There was something about being there with Cooper, having him near me and smiling. I could not place it but I knew, without a doubt, that I had never had this much fun with him before. It frightened me, it frightened me terribly. A little piece in the back of my mind told me that I was entering dangerous territory with Cooper. Yet, sitting there in that smoothie shop with him, laughing as he told me about an embarrasing child memory of his, I didn't care if it was dangerous or not. I wanted this. I wanted to be here, with him.

" Soo, Calla," he said casually, an amused glint in his eyes," is ditiching how you pictured it?"

" Ssssh," I made the noise with frustrated emphasis, " someone will hear you, twit!" He took another sip of his drink and laughed, the sound of it making my stomach flutter.

" So! What are they gonna do, slap handcuffs on our wrists and drag us away?"

" They might," I countered, crossing my arms and trying my best not to smile at him. He sighed and sat back more in his seat, his head tilted back with a peaceful expression upon his face. I thought he looked beautiful like that.

" Well, I dont care either way. This is the best day I've ever had, Howl. There's no way anyone could fuck it up." I chuckled, setting my elbow on the table and my head in my hand.

" Such bold language," I teased, faking to sound offended.

" Aah, shuddap. Like you've never swore." I laughed out loud then, no longer able to hold it in.

" Can't argue with you there."

" Of course you can't," he said matter-of-factly. We sat there in silence for a moment, him with his head tilted back in bliss while I just tried not to stare at him.

The cease in conversation was actually quite soothing. I listed to the strange music played by the smoothie joint and let my mind drift off to else where. My first thought went to school. I wondered if anyone missed us there, or if anyone had noticed our absence. Right after I thought it, I felt silly. Of course someone would notice, teachers took roll for a reason! I hoped that my drama teacher would forgive me for missing my first day of rehearsal, lord knew that I reeally had wanted to go.

" Hey Calla," Cooper said, tilting his head back down to look at me. I met his gaze, which was strong, familiar, and kind.

I smiled, " What?"

" Thanks for hanging with me today." His words caught me off guard. Not because Cooper didn't say thank you often, because he did. It was just that, the way he said it, it made me feel..

" I know that you don't seem to like going and doing things with me most of the time, and that you probably feel like I smother you. I just want you to know that I enjoy spending time with you like this, even if you don't. So thank you." I didn't have the words to say.

And that was utterly crazy because my mind was shouting a million things at me. Things like: that's not true! Tell him how much you enjoy moments with him! Tell him he's wrong! Despite my desperate thoughts, I just smiled. It was a smile I was used to making, a smile that said that everything was fine even though it wasn't. " You're welcome, Cooper," I said and then we sat in silence some more.

The ride home was silent, neither of us really having much to say to the other. Every once in a while I'd feel Cooper's eyes on me, but I just kept my gaze fixed outside my window. Every time I felt his gaze, I had the urge to turn and look at him and tell him exactly how I was feeling. I fought that urge hard.