Dark & Light

~Chapter Five~

Paige's POV

***

"Paige!"

I looked up from reading boring biology to notice a guy with messed blond hair and a cheesy grin plastered on his handsome face walking quickly towards me. My heart skipped a beat.
"Hello, Jack," I said, as my throat felt very dry. A feeling of dread was already pitted inside my stomach.
"Hey Paige, watcha doing?" He asked, glancing down at my open textbook and notebook page scribbled with notes.
"Doing biology homework," I answered.
"Is bio one of your online classes?"
"Yep."
"Why don't you just take all your classes at our school? Instead of just math and Spanish? Taking online ones must be difficult and boring."
"It just works better for my afternoons to be at home. And it's fine. What are you even doing here?" I added to change the subject.
"Looking for you. Looks like I find ya." A smiling flash of his perfectly white teeth accompanied his flirty answer.
What on earth, this boy. "How did you know I'd be here?"
"I know your routine. Thursday afternoons are for studying here at McDonald's right near to where you live." He winked, while I was wondering how the heck he knew my routine down to the little details.
"What do you do? Stalk girls? Stalk me?" I placed my hands on my hips.
"I like to call it secretly following. Following you, especially."
"That's just creepy."
"Nah. You should be loving it cause I'm doing it."
"Why would I love one of my classmates stalking me?"
"Because it's not just any classmate doing it. Jack is."
"I hate when people speak of themselves in the third person, ego-boy."
"Look, you gotta admit you wanna be stalked by the very special and cute me."
"Excuse me? I'll do no such thing."
"You'll admit it soon, anyway."
I bit my tongue so I wouldn't start yelling. "Sorry, but I won't." I couldn't resist giving my eyes a slight roll at his obvious arrogance.
"I gotta go anyway." I stuffed my notes and books in my backpack, slipped it over my shoulders, and grabbed my strawberry milkshake I hadn't started drinking yet.
"You're leaving early," he commented with one of those knowing half-smiles many girls swoon at the sight of.
Holy creeps this guy really have been stalking me lately. Even knows I don't leave anywhere near around four in the afternoon.
"Yeah, well, I have stuff I gotta do," I responded trying not to scowl.
I stepped out of my seat, ready to go.
"What about my help in math?" He questioned, while apparently exasperated at my lack of attention.
"Mrs. Johnson is helping students who need it after school." You don't even need help. Its all a deceitful front. You got an A in class yesterday! I heard you say so.
I stepped forwards making my way to the door but before I moved even a couple feet, Jack grabbed me on the arm.
"Hey, let go!"
Jack put a finger on my lips, and whispered in my ear: "Shhh. You want to tutor me, don't you?"
He smiled. His grasp on me wasn't as tight so as to hurt me; it was more playful than rough. But still it did make me feel slightly uncomfortable.
"Just let go of me. Get your hands off my arm."
Grinning, he leaned down and closer to my face. "Sure thing. Just know I like you Paige." He expressed the oh-so-secret revelation of his in such a way as if he expected me to squeal in excitement at his confession.
"Just take your hand off my arm," I demanded again.
"Don't you like it?" His voice expressed surprise.
Instead of responding, I pushed on his stomach and as I tried to shove his hand off my arm, I forgot what I was holding in that same hand.
Strawberry milkshake suddenly spilled and splattered all over Jack's varsity jacket he had been proudly wearing.
Well, oops.
He immediately let go of me, looking down at his now-not-so- clean self, cussing me, and the milkshake soaking his front, out.
Ignoring his inappropriate profanities, I stifled a laugh at his predicament and managed to say "I'm sorry" to the cutie in distress.
His head raised up to look at me, visibly upset as he did so.
"You-"
I raised my hand in warning. "Don't dare swear at me. Its disgusting. And I'm sorry about your jacket, but...that kinda happens when you forcibly grab a girl."
I spun around victorious, leaving Mr. Self Proclaimed Amazing standing as mad as hornets and soaked in strawberry milk, and stalked out of McDonald's trying my utmost not to laugh out loud.

***

Hey Paige!

It was a text message from Chris. We had exchanged phone numbers last Saturday, figuring that would be best as tutor and student. How about as friend and friend too? My annoying inner voice had questioned me at the time. I hadn't answered that persistent, nagging little voice either since.

I quickly typed and sent a message back.

Hey Chris! What's up?

After a few moments, there was another message from him that popped up on my iPhone screen.

I might be busy this Saturday. I wanted to let you know and ask if any other time for tutoring works.

Sure thing! Lemme see...would Monday work?
After school*

Yeah that's good, where at?

How about Christy's Cream and Coffee shop? I bet Christy will give us lots of on-the-house study snacks ;)

Okay! And haha sounds good :D

Awesome, @ 4 this Monday?

Yes that's good :)

So, how were you today?

Pretty good. Wby?

Good. Just tired. xD

Oh, I'll let ya go then! You can't miss getting your beauty sleep.

I mean...like well you don't need lots of sleep to look good.

Actually...errrr never mind. I'll let you sleep lol.

Did he just text all that? What a sw-what, wait, stop. Just text back, and don't think about what he just said, I told myself.

Haha thanks, and LOL. You saying I'm not pretty without lots of sleep? ;) Jk hehe. Well good night Chris!

Nah, not saying that at all! XD Well uh, goodnight and gbu!

Goodnight! Gbu?

God bless you* :)

Oh...you one of those Christians Chris?

Yeah I am, you could say. You?

I wouldn't say I am, no.

Ah, okay. Well see ya Monday!

See ya ;)

I turned my phone and night light off and got under the covers of my warm paisley comforter in my fuzzy leggings and button up pajama top.
Hmm.
Mr. Self Obsessed and Mr. Phone Obsessed. I'd rather take a phone obsessed boy than one in love with himself any day.
Wait a sec.
Did I really just tell myself that?!
What on earth! Where are my thoughts even going these days?!
Shaddup, Paige. Fact is, you just don't want any boy.

Okay??

***

Heyo everyone!

What is your opinion of Jack? How he's acting around Paige and her (perhaps assumed xD) opinion of him? What about Chris in comparison?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks so much for reading!
BTW-the support I have received for this novel has been amazing so far! Thanks to everyone who is reading, voting, and commenting-your encouragement for this work has really inspired me to keep up regularly updating and write out Dark & Light in detailed, hopefully well-written, form! You all really rock!! :D

Xx,
Veronica