Death of the Perfect Girl

15- The Protector

    Liam walked behind Poppy and Fisher with suspicion all over his face. His eyes were squinted and his brows were furrowed. He didn't trust Fisher one bit. Something was off. What was with his sudden interest in Poppy?

     Poppy looked back at him with a smile. "We're going to hang out in a classroom. Fisher's reading a book. If you want to come with-"

"Oh, I'm coming," he blurted out.

Fisher turned back to him with furrowed brows.

Liam glared at him.

They all began to walk again.

They walked into the classroom and sat down, Poppy sitting beside Fisher and Liam sitting in the corner of the room near a port to charge his phone.
Fisher took out his book and began to read, while Poppy curled up her legs and layed on the desk in front of her.

Fisher looked at Poppy.

She quickly looked away from him sitting up and taking out her phone.

He tried not to show the annoyance he felt on his face. He hated it when people stared at him, and her staring made him uncomfortable.

She suddenly stood up.

"Where are you going?" He looked at her.

"Vending machine," she smiled at him.

"Okay."

As she walked out of the room, Liam began to talk. "What's the plan here?"

Fisher turned to him. "The plan? The plan for what?"

"Is this some ploy to get her to sleep with you, because I can guarantee you it's not going to work. Poppy may be stupid enough to date you but she has self respect."

"I'm not trying to sleep with her."

"Then why did you ask her out?"

Fisher didn't know what to reply. If he said he liked her back, Liam would see right through it. Maybe the truth won't hurt.

"Come on, Fish. Tell me why you suddenly like her-"

"Because she likes me and no girl ever does," Fisher said shocking himself. He was honest. She annoyed the crap out of him, but the girl he liked didn't like him back.

"So, you're dating her for your own gain? For a friend?"

Fisher didn't know how to replay. Sadie would tell him to lie and be Poppy's Ryan Gosling in the Notebook, one of the movies he had binged about romance the night before. But his gut kept telling him to be honest.

Before he could say anything, Poppy walked back into the room and shut the door. She walked over to Fisher with red cheeks. "I bought you chocolate chip cookies."

Liam stared at them.

Fisher looked at the bag of cookies on his desk. Those cookies from the vending machine costed Poppy about three dollars. "You didn't have to-"

"It's ok," Poppy smiled at him.

He felt his heart sink. What was he doing to her?

She slowly sat down and opened her chocolate bar, staring at her phone.

Fisher stared at the cookies in shame. He couldn't eat them. That would be selfish.

Poppy turned to him. "You don't like chocolate chip? I knew it," she sighed. "I'm an idiot. There's this new one there I should've bought-"

"No...It's okay." He looked at her. "I love chocolate chip cookies," he forced a smile for her.

She grinned. "Okay."

He opened the bag and bit one of the cookies. "Hmmm. It's good."

Poppy giggled then looked down at her phone again.

Fisher looked at Liam. He was staring at them.

"Hey," Poppy touched Fisher's arm.

He turned to her.

"Are you going to the carnival this weekend? Saturday night?"

"I wasn't planning on it. My brother works in one of the booths and if I go he'll make me work."

"Then tell him you're hanging out with friends...or on a date."

Fisher felt heat fill his body. How did he not see that coming?

Poppy nervously put her hand on his, lifting each of his fingers, staring at his hand with a smirk on her cheek. Since after the day he had helped her, she always found herself wanting to hold his hands...touch his fingers. They felt a bit rough but cold and gentle.

Fisher stared at her with furrowed brows. What was her obsession with his hands?

"Liam and I were going," her eyes lifted to his.

"I don't want to take you away from Liam. It's your night."

"Liam," Poppy looked at him," would it be okay?"

Liam glared at Fisher. Then he looked at Poppy. She stared at Fisher as if she had been watching her guardian angel. Her eyes were wide and dazed. She really liked him. "Fine."

She smiled and squeezed Fisher's hand. "Great."

He tried not to roll his eyes.

"So, Saturday night. Do you want Liam and I to pick you up?"

"I'll get a ride with my brother. We'll be there early anyway."

Poppy shrugged her shoulders in excitement. "Okay," she grinned. "Then it's a date."

"Yay," Fisher cheered in a sarcastic tone. The bell rang and he quickly stood up. "I'll see you later. Okay? I have to rush to class."

"That's fine. Good-"

Fisher rushed out of the room.

"-luck."

"I don't like him," Liam stood up. "He's using you to get friends."

Poppy ignored Liam, standing up and stretching.

"Poppy, listen to me. This guy doesn't like you. When you realize that, you two will be married with kids."

Poppy giggled. "Could you stop it? I can't like a guy without you assuming he's bad."

"I know, but Poppy, this one is."

Poppy skipped out of the classroom.

Liam groaned.