Behind the Mask

Chapter 8: Love Struck

Chapter 8: Love Struck

The rest of the week was pretty uneventful; everything seemed to fall into a routine. I didn’t see James; well I was also trying to avoid him. I didn’t want to face those bubbling feelings he had caused to surface. But I still ended up here, I am not sure what brought me here but I knew I needed to come. It was just something I couldn’t stop thinking about.

I wasn’t even sure why I was here. After what happened with James in the library he probably assumed I revoked my promise. But for some reason I felt I should go, some part of me wanted to go. Something about James made me do outrageous things and I wasn’t sure if I liked or loathed that.

I didn’t dress up in any manner, not like I would for a date. I just wore my comfy jeans and an ACDC shirt that was beginning to fray at the edges. Unlike Cameron it seemed James could care less what I wore he still tried desperately to get my attention.

I leaned against a ticket booth up front, looking down at my watch it was only 5:30. Ugh, why was I even here again? If you got technical about this some would call this cheating on Cameron, but half of me cared about that the other half could care less.

Grr, it was all just one big mess that appeared to want to mix together making it harder to make sense of it all. I tapped my converse clad foot on the ground impatiently. I give up he wasn’t go to show.

I picked up my small floppy messenger bag that was nearly all covered in pins. It was a Frankenstein creation of Alice and I’s. When she and I were ten we started collecting those inspirational pins. Whether we found them at a flea market or lying on a street corner we picked them up, collecting them all onto an old black fabric messenger bag. 

I sighed, good memories. Tossing the bag over my shoulder I pushed of the booth I began for the exit, when I saw a familiar mop of hair. I froze; I couldn’t seem to control the butterflies that fluttered in my stomach.

I almost just brushed past him not even trying, but again that small part of me won out. It seemed to be ruling my decisions lately. I took a deep intake of breath, no turning back now.

“James,” I called falling into step with him. He turned to me clearly surprised. “Your late.” I smiled as if nothing had happened last week.

“Isabel?” He asked baffled.

“I go by no other name.” I laughed putting as much of my usual bravado into my words as I could.

“I didn’t think you would show up.” His usual swave, cocky nature emerged. “Ready to go my Lady?” He asked giving me the crook of his arm.

“Why thank you sir,” I laughed taking his arm. We began to walk, acting like snotty aristocrats. He had the British part covered but once I added in a mockery tone we got even more stares of bewilderment.

“Pip pip cherrio!” I said way louder than necessary. The smile seemed to grow on James’ face.

“Nobody says that, you know that right?” He asked arching an eyebrow.

“Mostly but we’re Amerrr-uu-cannnn.” I laughed saying American in a deep southern drawl. This only made James laugh even harder. We were both so involved in our hysterics that we nearly mowed over a woman.

She gave us a very nasty look which only made us laugh harder. Everything was light and easy hanging around James, with Cameron it seemed to all be about the physical aspects of a relationship.

“I’m not technically an American Isabel, not quite a citizen yet.”

I braced myself against a lamppost clutching my side as it burned in pain from my endless laughter. James leaned next to me inches from me. My laughter was cut off by our proximity.