I love him, I love him not...

I love him, I love him not...(Ghost story) - Part 2

Dear Diary

That Keith is SO full of himself! Who does he think he is? Yeah, okay, he's cute. Stupid blue-eyed, blond hair babe. So freaking what? He shouldn't just read my personal stuff. It was kind of hot the way he helped me pick up my stuff though...no. He is NOT getting away with that. -Who does he think he is?- I just realised I already wrote that. God, there must be something wrong with me. Ack, Andrew's trying to read over my shoulder! Bye x

As Belinda came out through the library doors, she felt someone's eyes latch onto her. She shivered once before spinning slowly around to see who was there. His blue eyes held her for a moment before he looked away, red blossoming over his cheek bones. She was held in place as though he was still staring at her but she could tell that he was failing to meet her gaze.

"What do you want, Keith?" Belinda said, her voice ringing clearly, shocking her more than him.

"I-" Keith seemed to be having trouble talking, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed repeatedly. He tried again, his voice a little cracked, "I came to apologise for earlier. You were right, I shouldn't have read you're book. I know I shouldn't have but..."

"But what?" Belinda said, half furious, half amused, but totally curious. "You couldn't help it? And since when do you forget to do your homework? You're really smart, you've never missed a deadline and you don't cheat. And that homework was due in yesterday."

"You didn't honestly think I was looking at your homework, did you?" Keith asked incredulously. "Come on, why the hell would I forget to do the homework?"

"B-but you s-said-"

He waved passively, as though brushing aside her concerns. It made her angry.

"Just what do you want?" She cried, her eyes filling with angry tears. She hated him for making her cry. Hated him. "I didn't do anything to you! Why are you bothering me?"

Keith hesitated for a moment, as though wondering what he could and should tell her. And that made Belinda's mind flash through several possibilities before settling on the most rational. She saw a red haze settle over everything before she turned to him coldly.

"You're talking to me because you have to, aren't you," she said coolly, giving nothing away. Keith looked relieved, nodding vigorously. She understood!

"Yeah, I do! Listen-"

"Well you can tell Emma I'm not playing along," She said in that same icy-calm tone. "She can go jump off a cliff if she thinks that just because the hottest guy in school pretends to be my friend she can get to me."

Keith looked startled before his expression contorted. It took her a moment to realise he was trying not to laugh. How dare he, she thought angrily before she turned and stalked in the other direction, intent on getting away from him. She couldn't believe this. He was laughing at her, just like the rest of them. She had been right and she hated that it had worked. It had gotten to her, like nothing else could.

"Belinda, wait," Keith said, catching up and grasping her arm gently. She refused to turn, refused to look at him. He sighed and planted himself between her and the exit. "Belinda, come on. Honestly, I just want to talk to you. I know I said I had to talk to you, but I think we got our signals crossed or something. I just meant it was like a compulsion. I really feel like I have to talk to you."

Belinda gawped. She couldn't help it! He was talking as though he liked her. But that couldn't be right. He was the most popular guy in school, what could he possibly want with her? She took a deep breath before detaching his hand from her arm. She could feel the way her hand shook and she saw the surprise that flashed across his face as he felt it too.

"Thanks. Really, thank you. But I don't like being followed around. Maybe next time you can talk to me because you want to, not because you have to."

Belinda left, leaving Keith to stare after her. She had to be the first girl he had met who didn't giggle and flirt. He had known she would be difficult to talk to but he had had no idea that she would point blank refuse to listen. He let out another long sigh before retreating through the school, his mind now firmly on what he could do about Andrew.