To be with you

Chapter 2

"So whats your name?" he asks me as he slides the final book onto the shelf. I mentally deliberate whether I should tell him. He clearly finds this whole situation a joke, whilst all I can think about is my precious reading time being wasted. 

"Why do you want to know?" I ask turning and examining him curiously. He's seriously good looking, there's no denying it. Running his hand through his messily styled hair, he shrugs and offers a playful smile. 

"Wow! You're really uptight aren't you! It's only your name I'm asking for." He chuckles shaking his head. He stares back at me curiously and finally hands back the book he'd stolen from me earlier. "I'm Miller by the way, we haven't met because I'm new to town, my family just moved here" he explains. 

I nod in understanding.This confirms my suspicions that he's new. In our tiny town of Fairmeadow everyone knows everyone, and unfortunately being born and growing up here means that nothing in my life is private.It also kind of makes it hard to reinvent yourself in High school and make friends, when everyone still knows you as bookworm. Instead I've had to succumb to the bright and compelling stories of fictional worlds where my best friends are the figments of my favorite authors imaginations.

"Oh. Well I guess it's nice to meet you Miller. I'm Eden" I offer him an awkward smile and turn to leave, but he quickly puts his hand on my arm and I turn to look at him expectantly. What does he want? He probably wants to make friends, but I know there's no point. Once he starts school and realizes what a nerd I am, he'll probably ditch me for the popular kids. It's not like it hasn't happened before, it's become a way of life for me.

"Where are you going?" he says quizzically."I thought when you tell the cute girl that your new, she's supposed to jump at the chance to show you around?" he smirks. Oh, so he's that kind of guy. The type of guy who believes he's God's gift to women, uses compliments to get what he wants and thinks that his good looks means everyone is supposed to instantly like him.

I shrug him off and scowl "I'm sorry, but your wrong. You'll just have to find your own way around" I shrug off his hand and stalk away, leaving him behind me. I clutch my book tightly against my chest and give a small smile to Mrs flounders the librarian as I make my way towards the door.

"Bye Eden" she smiles kindly, and her eyes flicker over to Miller then back to me, a small smile forming on her face.

I glance behind me, to see Miller following close behind. He smirks again, and something flutters inside me. 

"Bye" I mutter and quickly exit the library. Luckily Miller doesn't follow. As I out step onto the street, I greet the sun as it warms my face and loosen my hair again, letting it fall around my shoulders in long waves. Strolling over to my bike, I set my book into the basket at the front and get on. Just as i'm about to start pedaling home looking forward to the freshly baked cupcakes Mum always makes at the weekend, a pair of hands settle over mine on the handle bars and I look up into the face of Miller again. 

I roll my eyes. "what do you want?" I ask frustrated, moving my hands from underneath his as I feel my face growing pink and embarrassed. I'm surprised to find that he looks sheepishly embarrassed and not the cocky jerk he did earlier. My frown falters and I peer up at him inquisitively. 

"I... err... kind of don't know how to get back home. I decided to come for a walk, but I don't remember which streets I took to get here." 

I sigh, but give him a small smile. "Whats your address?"

"25 Brookwood Lane, do you know it?" He asks hopefully.

I stare at him in shock. This means he's living down the same street as me. My mind stumbles through a rush of thoughts as I realize that I hadn't even realized that there had been a house for sale, or more importantly that someone had bought it. I continue to stare at him dumbly, processing what he's just told me. 

"Really?" I ask still shocked "that's the same place as me" I stutter.

"Oh! Well that's convenient. Guess that makes us neighbors then" He grins bemusedly at me and nudges me playfully.

I roll my eyes but chuckle. "Yeah I guess it does. Welcome to the neighborhood" I grin. "You may as well come back with me then, i'll bike slowly so you can keep up"

"Or you could squeeze into that basket there and i'll bike" he laughs and nods towards my basket currently occupied by my book. 

I give him a dead pan look. "Ha! As if that's going to happen. Come on, if we hurry up the cupcakes may  still be warm by the time we get back" I mutter distracted at the thought of my mums delicious cupcakes again. 

He whips his head towards me staring at me with wide eyes. "Did you just say cupcakes?" He questions seriously. 

I nod my head slowly, a confused smile making it's way to my lips. 

"Well come on then... what are we waiting for? I don't mess around when it comes to cake!" he exclaims and starts walking ahead of me. I chuckle and bike to catch up with him as I consider that maybe I judged him to quickly back in the library. 

"Do you like chocolate chip?"

He gawks at me incredulously, his deep brown eyes sparkling. "What kind of dumb question is that! Who doesn't?" he caries on walking, then breaks into a jog. "I'm sorry Eden, but cakes are just to important, and frankly your biking too slow. Catch up if you can!" he teases and runs ahead. 

Then he stops, and swivels him body in my direction with his head tilted to the side as he bites the inside of his cheek. "You just remembered you don't know where you're going didn't you" I laugh at him. He nods shyly again, and I feel the flutter return.

I bike past him, glancing at him over my shoulder to grin and shout "Well it looks as though you need to catch up now... come on!"