Taking It

4.8

4.8

Taylor picks me and Cassidy up for school the next day, having gained our permission to borrow our car until he manages to get his own. Cassidy's only term and condition is that he takes us to school, she'll find her way home with Austin. Taylor's only term and condition, besides using the car, is that he gets to drive me home. I agree of course because Brooklyn doesn't drive in the snow and I wouldn't dare try to ride with Cassidy and Austin.

"Why did I see Taylor this morning?" Brooklyn inquiries as I settle across from her in the library. I look up from the comment Mrs Palmer left on my beauty and the beast trope.

The most interesting take on beauty and the beast that i've received this year. Have you thought about my offer?

Needless to say, I hadn't. It's not my first priority right now, and honestly I'm sick of that story. It's a retelling of the past and my present is pretty great right now.

"Because he's dropping Cassidy and I off now until he gets his car." I answer, stuffing my story into my writing portfolio. "If you stick around after school, you'll see him then too."

Excitedly Brooke taps her feet against the carpeted floor and lets out a soft squeal. "Does this mean Chaylor is setting sail now?" Huge glimmers of hope sparkle in her brown eyes and a rock settles in my stomach.

"No." I reply curtly, crushing every ounce of hope. "Not yet at least." Clicking my pen I bite down on my lip. My stomach twists at the thought of going out with Taylor tonight.

While he claims it's just as friends going to go see a movie together, a scary one at that, I still cant shake that it's actually a date. Not that i'm opposed to it in the slightest. The more time I spend with him the more willing I'll be to raise our sails and head into the rocky waters to lovers cove.

"Not yet as in soon?" Brooklyn arches her brow and leans forward. Her auburn tresses fall over her shoulders. "Please tell me it'll happen before this weekend?" She begins to plead, leaning more forward.

I shrug my shoulders. "We'll see."

She drops the subject and we strangely only talk about our school work for the next hour. Occasionally she would bring up the topic of Alec's slumber party and question if we should do something else, something bigger, but is quick to reject that herself.

For a bit I watch her. I watch as she scribbles in her notebook, just to erase. I watch as she chews at her bottom lip, swelling the flesh just a bit. I watch her until the bell rings and her head pops up. When she realizes that I was watching her she flinches, shoving her glasses on to her face.

"Are you okay?" I inquiry, neatly putting my things away.

She nods her head, scrambling to put her work away. Scooping her books into her arms I quirk my brow just a bit. There's something off with her, something she's definitely not telling me.

"Are you sure? You know you can tell me anything right?" My eyes follow her as she scoots from her chair and fiddles with her things, making sure they're in order.

Brooklyn meets my gaze, a look that says she's crumbling to the ground in her brown irises. As soon as I take in the look it's gone and it's replaced with her usual elated gaze.

"I'm fine." She grins, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Really. If anything was wrong I would definitely tell you. Come on before we're late to class." She jerks her head to the entrance, and exit, of the library.

I gaze at her for a bit longer before sliding my things off the table and standing up from my chair. With a sigh I tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear.