Speak Now

Chapter 12: A twist in my date night

"I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.
   -Anne Frank

♤♤♤♤♤

"Hey."

I almost jump out of my skin with alarm at Adrian's silence approach.
His hair is wet and sticks to his forehead, but he seems cleaner and smells like my favourite perfume.

I sniff suspiciously and Adrian laughs,"I put on your perfume. Hope you don't mind. I was sure to choose the least feminine one."

He steps around me to see what I'm doing.

"Sandwiches." He smiles goofily,"Yum. And wait. Are they COLOURFUL?"

I laugh,"Rainbow sandwiches. My mom's invention. They're pretty good."

Lifting the plate of sandwiches, I start towards the living room.

"Could you bring that jug of lemonade and glasses?" I ask. He nods and follows me.

When we're both settled in, chewing on our sandwiches, my hunger subsides and I become more aware of Adrian's presence. He devours his blue sandwich with a vigour only a jock would have.

"So..." Adrain starts. His eyes were homing on the TV system, where a bunch of cables and wires were tangled. A playstation rests gathering dust on the trolley. I used to play when I was a kid, but stopped a few years back.

"So" I say. I put down my plate and start on my glass of lemonade.

"Why didn't you come to school today?"

The lie bubbles out of me,"I overslept."

He arches his eyebrows,"You're the most punctual person I know. Also you texted me you had a headache."

Shit.

"Er that too."

"You're lying."

I bite my lips and look away. I wish he would leave. It's easier to lie when no one thinks you're worth calling out on the lie, but it's harder to fool your friends.

"And your mom wouldn't let you skip school just because of a mild headache and you seem fine to me."

"I'm better." I shoot back, and realise my voice sounded sharp.

"Sorry."

He stands up, and I'm afraid I've upset him but he makes his way to me. Kneeling down, he looks me in the eye. Heart hammering, I stare back.

That's when he takes my hands into his large, brown ones. I think I'm going to hyperventilate any second but all I do is stare at our clasped hands.

"Madeley."

I look away.

"Look, I know something is up with you. You don't talk. You avoid people. You work alone at school. Of course, there are introverts, and then there's you."

A moment of silence, weighed heavy by unsaid words, passes like a gust of wind.

"You don't choose to avoid people. You think you need to. You're afraid."

Before I can think of an appropriate reply, I hear the entrance door creak open and my mom's voice echoing as she talks on her phone.

"....and no way I can expect John to withdraw the proposal. Boss would think...yeah I know..."

Adrian leaves my hands and shoots back, discomfort visible on his face but it's soon gone when my mom appears. Her eyes widen when she sees Adrian but she only smiles and nods to me before making her way to her room.