We nearly complete the project when I look at the time.
"Holy shit," I yawn, "it's nearly ten thirty." I watch James' eyes glance down at my midriff as my shirt lifts up as I stretch. Not particularly disturbed by his looking I tell him I was going home. "Can we continue this tomorrow at the library? After school?"
He finally stops staring and looks me in the eye. When he does there's an awkward silence as this was the first time we looked each other in the face since the incident in the hallway.
"Um, sure I guess. Why not here again? I could whip up some food for you." James leans back in his chair, not breaking eye contact. I rub the back of my neck.
"Yeah, um, I'm gonna have to decline. Can we work on this in public? With people around?" I shrug and look away.
"Why? Afraid I might do this..?" When I turn my head to look at him he's moved in close, both hand gripping the arm of my chair, face inches away from mine. I gulp and try to murder the butterfly's in my stomach.
"Yes. Because I am terrified you might do that. I can't be seen like this with you in public. People might assume..."
He moves in a little closer, nose almost touching mine, breath tickling my cheek.
"Well, if they assume then they would leave you alone, ya know? But okay, not in public then, so why not in privacy?" James closes the gap between us but we barely graze lips before I turn my head and he instead kisses my cheek. It was a soft kiss that left my cheek on fire. I bite my lip and close my eyes as he sighs then sits back down in his chair.
"Fine. Go. I'll just meet you at the library at three tomorrow." When I open my eyes he's looking at the computer screen. More silence, but this time there's tension. What kind? I can't tell. A mixture of frustration, anger, and...a feeling I can't quite place. I grab my bag and stand up.
"Um...goodbye. I guess." While I pass him on the way out I touch his shoulder lightly. He exhales and I shut the door behind me.
The ride home was one of silence. Usually I would play my CD's or plug my phone into the aux and jam, but tonight I say in silence as I thought and thought about what had happened within those couple hours at James' house. This boy made passes at me that I semi-successfully rejected. This boy was the leader of The Reds; the top gang at school. This boy defended me to his gang after I had made him bleed. This boy has already given me protection from any harm even though I wasn't a girlfriend of any of The Reds. This boy has some sort of interest in me. This boy is driving me wild.
