Swept Away

Chapter 12

*unedited*

I was casually sitting in the school library, miding my own buisness and getting a head start on my homework when I heard someone siddle up next to me. Glancing up my eyes were met with the sight of Austin in all his blue-eyed glory. Ever since lunch the other day when he came over to "just say hi, can't a guy say hi to a fellow classmate?" he'd been popping up all over the place. Not as much as a certain dark haired fellow I knew, but we'll get back to him later.

"Hey, Garger," Austin was on every sports team imaginable. You name it, soccer, footbal, swim-- once it was there he was signed up for it and usually a captain or something. As a result of this he had this habbit of calling everyone by their last name. And I mean everyone.

"Hi, Austin," I replied somewhat hesitantly.

"What'chya up to?" he asked nudging me arm with his elbow.

I shut the book in front of me knowing that if I gave him my full attention, then I could get rid of him faster, "Nothing really. It was just some homework. What's up?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"You just did."

He just stared at me so I ammended, "Uh-- I mean sure. Go ahead."

He nodded and I could see his Adam's apple bob, "Um. So... you know how that winter formal is coming up?"

I nodded not getting where this was going.

"So I wanted to know if you would want to--

Before he could finish his sentence we were quite rudely interrupted by the sound of a chair being scraped back against the floor. After all the commotion Zion in the flesh plopped down on the chair and straddled it.

"Hey, sweetcheeks."

Would he ever call me by my name? I mean at least Austin over here called me by my last name.

 "I'm sorta in the middle of something here if you don't mind," I glanced at Austin who had his eyebrows furrowed adorably.

He took a breath and nodded, "Okay-- hey buddy," he turned to Austin, "can I borrow her for a second?"

I frowned, "No he was going to--

"Don't worry about it, I'll uh-- just catch you later ok?" he was already getting up and despite myself I could feel my mood drop. I had been anticipating what he was going to say. And if I was correct he was going to ask me to the dance. Why? I had no idea. But you don't question things like this.

"Uh-- ok. Catch you... later," I nodded and watched his retreating back. Once he turned around the corner of a book shelf I turned my now stormy gaze to Zion, "What? What could you possibly want now?"

"Ouch. Now, now Angel. I thought we were getting somewhere here. Why the hostility? Lover boy will be back I'm sure of it."

"Lover boy?"

He shrugged only slightly amused by his own joke-- which was a first.

"Good one," I mummbled sarcastically.

I could've sworn he said, "Not really," but I wasn't sure. My heightened senses had long since left me.

"How can I help you Zion?"

He wet his lips before continuing, "So, you're keeping your curiosity at bay?"

I rolled my eyes. I didn't want to talk about his stalkerish tendencies right now.