Repulsive Attractions {Rowan POV}

Chapter 4

         {See bottom for warnings}

"See ya mom," I called out over my shoulder as I slung on my backpack.
From the kitchen, I could here my mom's warm voice chide back.

"Love you! Try not to have too much fun!"

I groaned, rubbing my face as I grabbed my car keys from the counter, tugging open the front door.

"Trust me, I won't."

She chuckled dryly as I shut the door behind me, striding quickly to the car to unlock the doors. The air was freezing, the sharp breeze numbing my fingers and making my eartips red. With a satisfying click, I wrenched open the door and hopped inside, reeving the engine before heading to Eden's house. He lived just down the street, which was just another reason why the whole Kelsie thing yesterday bothered me. My hands tightened slightly around the steering wheel as I pulled in his driveway. Really, now was not the time for that.

I pulled out my phone, sending Eden a quick text.

'Im outside'

Barely a moment later, my screen flashed again as a message bubble appeared.

Eden: k ill be down in a sec. Mum made me change

I squinted a little at that, a small frown curling the corners of my mouth as I reread the message. Change? What had he been wearing before that was so bad to make him have to change? Maybe he'd worn just his underwear. Or nothing.
My mouth went a little dry and my stomach did a weird little flip when I thought about that. What the hell..
Anyway, I'm not surprised about that.. his parents were pretty strict..

The pop of the door being opened grabbed my attention as Eden hauled himself into the passenger seat.

"Why'd she make you change?" I asked, giving him a sympathetic sideways glance as his expression tightened a fraction.

"Pink jumper- Lillian's hair bow. It screamed faggot to them."

The way he said it so flippantly, as if it was a word he heard everyday, made my chest feel tight.

"I bet," the words falling out of my mouth before I really thought about it, "it would look cute."

Eden didn't seem particularly phased though. He just reached for his pocket.
"I have it here," He said as he plucked it out and pinned it in his wavy blond hair. "Pretty cute, huh?"

The bit of confidence he had on his face almost made me smile. And, of course, yes; it did suit him.

"The cutest."

I glanced over at him to find him staring back, and I felt almost unable to look away. The air seemed to get thicker and I found myself looking at him longing than I usually do.

Eden gave a little cough and I almost jolted, feeling a wave of embrassment as he turned away.

"School. We should go - to school."

"Wait a second," I muttered, my eyes slinking back to his hair, his eyes, his quirked lips and scrunched little nose as he eyed me back warily. "I think..."

"You think?" He replied, his tone a little anxious.

What the hell was I doing?

I leaned back a bit, running my hand through my hair absent-mindingly as I finally got words out.

"I think - I think I - uh, that we should go to school."

Smooth going there, sherlock.

I held back a cringe as he kept his quizzical expression trained on me.