Piece By Piece

Chapter 8

                                                                             Chapter eight

                                                                  The Familiar Stranger

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Lex hasn't talked to me in a week, since the night of the party. He hasn't even made fun of me or insulted me once. I must've hit a nerve or something. I know that I should feel terrible for trying to get back at Lex, but all I feel is satisfaction and a little bit of guilt.

Josh, on the other hand, won't leave me alone. He walks me to class, sits with me at lunch, and is always really touchy and clingy. He's already pressured me into sex, but I'm not ready. And I honestly don't want it to be him who cashes in my V-card. I'm not sure how or when I'm going to tell him that he's not really my boyfriend or that I used him for revenge, but it needs to be soon.

My cell rings, interuppting my nagging thoughts while I brushed Sugar. I check caller I.D: Josh.

"Yeah?" I answer.

"Hey," he replies.

"Uh, what's up?" I kept brushing Suagr with the curry-comb, making sure to get every inch of dirt off of her coat.

"Are you free tonight?" He asks.

"Nope," I lie. I have nothing to do at all tonight, except finish working at the clinic.

"Oh...what are you doing then?"

I searched my brain for something decent to say. "I have to help my mom at her salon, and then I, uh, have to go to my Grandma's house."

"Can you not get out of it?"

"Nope," I repeat. "I promised my mom weeks ago. Sorry, maybe next time."

I could hear him sigh on the other end of the line. "Alright. Bye."

Click.

I closed my phone then shoved it into my pocket. "Boys," I muttered to myself and Sugar. Her ears perked up. "Be thankful that you're a horse and that you don't have to deal with testosterone-filled boys."

She snorted. I took that as an agreement. "That's my girl."

I brushed in silence until an unexpected voice said behind me, "You know, you're a really bad liar."

I jumped, dropping the curry-comb. I looked behind me only to see Lex standing there, a bag of horse feed in his arms.

"Seriously? Can you not sneak up on me like that? Please?"

"How long are you going to keep pretending that you like him?" He asked, ignoring my plea.

I was trying to get over the fact that he was actually speaking to me. "I thought it was the annual 'Ignore-Val-Week.'"

"How long?" He repeated through his clenched jaw.

I fluttered my lashes at him. "What are you talking about, Lex? I do like him."

"Yeah, and cows can fly." He progressed forward, then pointed his finger in my face. "What was that little stunt that you pulled at the party?"

Jealous much? "What are you talking about?"

"You sure as hell know what I'm talking about. I saw you at the party. Making out with Josh right in front of me. I know you saw me, too."

I blinked, cocking my head. "You know what's funnier than flying cows?"