The Girl he Wants

8- K-i-s-s-i-n-g

    The last bell rings, and Elizabeth reluctantly exits her Anatomy class with her notebook tucked under one arm. She knew nobody in the last class of the day, so she is glad to leave and especially happy to be heading home.

   Elizabeth makes her way through the booming and bustling hallways, only to exit the high school and head in the direction of the student parking lot. There, she should find her brothers and the car that they share.

    As Elizabeth glides away from the back doors of the school and walks atop a sidewalk, she stares at her gray converses, avoiding the gazes of other students passing her by. She is about to break off from the sidewalk and tromp on the gravelly parking lot when someone touches her shoulder and stops her dead in her tracks.

   When she whirls around, she meets the familiar green eyes of Jay. He stops in front of her, his casual gaze locking on hers as he digs his hands in his pockets. "Hey."

   "Hi." Elizabeth replies.

   "Did you make it to your classes fine?" He asks, combing a hand through his messy, dark brown hair.

   "Yeah." Elizabeth nods, and then in an annoyed tone, "No thanks to you."

   Jay's eyes dart away from her angry ones. "Yeah..."

   Receiving no apologies or excuses, Elizabeth is infuriated. She doesn't even say anything, but storms away from him and his plain expression. Somehow, he manages to catch up and say, "That's not all I wanted to say, though."

   "Yeah." Elizabeth vaguely responds, not turning around. Then, to Elizabeth's astonishment, Jay grabs her wrist.

   Elizabeth spins on her heels and stares into his eyes in bewilderment. She yanks her wrist away harshly, holding it by her side. "Don't touch me like that."

   "Okay." Jay's hands shoot up in innocence. "I just wanted to tell you that Asher is hosting another party this Friday."

   "And that pertains to me how?" Elizabeth bites her tongue as soon as she realizes how rude she sounds. Her anger simmers down slightly, but some frustration still remains in her, boiling her blood.

   "Well..." Jay shifts his weight awkwardly. "I just wanted to let you know in case you wanted to go."

   "Thanks." Elizabeth answers him, finally calming down. "I'll think about it."

   "Yeah." Jay replies, hopping off the sidewalk as Elizabeth does the same. Teenagers disperse throughout the crowded parking lot, the sunlight beating down on each of them. Cars slowly roll out of the gravelly lot in a disorganized and rushed way. Though Elizabeth doesn't know why, Jay walks alongside her, even when she mentions that she sees her brothers and their car.

He just trudges with both his hands in his pockets and keeps up with her slow pace. Finally, after long minutes of the only sound being the gravel crunching beneath their feet, Jay says, "Well, I guess I'll leave yah to it."

   Awkwardly, Elizabeth replies, "Okay."

   "I better see you at the party on Friday." Jay mumbles, turning away.

   "It's only Monday." Elizabeth faces him, her voice carrying with the warm wind.

   "And bring your swimsuit. It's a pool party." Jay tells her, flashing a smile to her over his shoulder wickedly.

A chill runs down Elizabeth's spine as she replies, "A pool party? Really?"

"Yep, it is. Bikinis are required in order to come, though." Jay nods, winking.