Twice The Trouble

Chapter 53: Yearning

Sophia

My brown eyes darted from the tall blond to the tall black-haired male.

With barely masked confusion,I asked them: "What are you two doing here?"

"I wanted to make sure you were alright," answered Liam, his hands inside his pockets.

"Okay," I said slowly then I glanced at Lucas, whose face was flushed and his raven hair tousled.

I tilted my head to the side and folded my arms in front of me. "Lucas?" I prompted him.

He rubbed the side of his neck as his brown eyes flickered to mine. "I...uh..."

"We can talk later," I told him. Then, to Liam, I said: "Thanks, Li."

I made to leave but the two boys suddenly chorused: "Sophia, wait."

"Guys, you can just message me, okay? I really need to hurry to my class right now."

Besides, what could these marshmallows have to speak to me about? They seemed intense.

"Pie!"

My fingers twitched. I brought a hand to my face and sharply exhaled, muttering: "Fudge no."

I hastily told Liam and Lucas: "See you later, guys," before I spun around for an urgent retreat.

"Pie, wait!"

"Stop calling me that!" I quickened my steps, not even sure where I was going.

"Sophia!" Liam called out, which made me throw him a frown over my shoulder.

I kept my gaze in front of me and resumed my escape. "What, Liam?" I shouted.

"Isn't your next classroom in the other direction?" he asked me.

Halting in my tracks, I stood in the middle of the hallway, mentally cursing my stupidity.

I heard Lucas inquired Liam: "How did you know that?"

"Trade secret, dude," said the tall blond, his humility palpable.

Before I could figure out my next move, I felt someone's hand encircle around my right wrist.

"Let go of me, Dale," I snapped at him.

His hazel green eyes were focused on my face. "Pie, it's been two years. Are you still mad at me?"

"What do you think?" I didn't struggle from his hold; his grip wasn't causing me any harm.

Dale let out a heavy sigh. "Look, I didn't mean to lead you on. But you have to know, it's your own fault, too."

"Excuse me?" My voice was full of indignation.

"It's not entirely my fault you saw something that wasn't there," he told me.

I scoffed at him, unable to tame my curdling anger. "Gee, I guess I shouldn't have made all those assumptions, huh?" My words reeked with bitterness. "It's not like you tricked me into thinking that you saw me as more than a friend, o-h-h-h-h no. You waited for me every freaking morning at the school gate, walked me to and from class, invited me to lunch every noon, gave me all those mixed signals whenever we did a school project or assignment together. I do have to agree with you, Dale. I read too much into every sweet gesture you did for me. So for that, I'm sorry."

Dale winced at my directness. It's as though my tirade was like a punch in the gut for him.

"Pie, I'm sorry," he told me as he stared into my eyes.