Secretly Married (English)

Chapter 15

Phoebe avoided Kent's homeroom all day so that she wouldn't encounter him, Harley, or even that Elisa. She knew she had to talk to Kent sooner or later but not here in school while everyone was watching.

When she finally got home, she waited for Kent in the kitchen. She looked at her phone and saw the many text messages and missed calls from him, but she didn't reply. She wanted to do this face to face. She knew she had to be firm about it.

She heard his car pull over in the driveway, and she felt panicky. How was she going to start the con- frontation? What if he started hugging her again and looking at her with his piercing eyes?

In a state of total panic, she got up and started walking toward the stairs. He was on his way to his own room as well when she bumped into him. Their eyes met for a few seconds before Phoebe decided to ignore him and go on up to her room. She then felt his hand on her arm.

"Phoebe," he said.

Why was it that he only had to say her name and she was willing to let down her guard? She stopped walking but wouldn't meet his eyes still, not because of anger or anything but because she didn't know what to say or how to say what she wanted to say.

"Phoebe, whatever you saw, it didn't mean anything."

"But—" She looked at him, and his eyes bore into her pleadingly. "Why did you have to take her to school in your car?"

"Phoebe? Are you jealous?"

He looked at her again with those eyes. She couldn't distinguish if this was all real for him or just one of his acting exercises. She didn't want to be persuaded that easily.

"No . . . I . . ."

"But why did you react that way?"

Phoebe could no longer speak. She didn't want him to know how much everything affected her.

"I just—I don't like Elisa. She's such a bitch!" "Phoebe!"

"Why? It is true. She's such a prima donna, acting like she's such a big deal when she's not." "Phoebe?"

"What? And then you even opened the door for her and held her hand! I mean, come on!"

"Phoebe, it's not like that."

"Then what is it? Tell me! 'Cause it's really annoying to watch."

Kent explained how Elisa took his car keys and only promised to give them back ifhe opened the door for her. After he explained, Phoebe felt so stupid and guilty for trying to make things even between them by going out with Harley, when in fact there was no score to even out.

"What about you?" "What about me?"

"You went out with Harley!"

Phoebe couldn't look at him. She couldn't tell him that while she was with Harley, all she could think of was him. Because if she did, he would have the upper hand. He would know just how badly he affected her.

"That—that was nothing," she stammered as she started climbing up the stairs. She heard him following her.

"You're not jealous?"

"No!"

"You're not? Really? Tell me the truth, Phoebe." When they got upstairs, near her bedroom, she looked at him and could see that it was taking all of his strength not to show his ego. Here he was, humbling himself, but still she found herself denying her feelings.

"I am not! Why would I be jealous? You're a playboy! You're just an actor, playing roles wherever yougo..."

Kent looked positively hurt. He looked at her one last time, as if he were on the verge of crying, and then turned to go. Phoebe felt so guilty for what she'd just said. It was the jealousy and the anger talking.

When he finally reached his bedroom door, Phoebe ran toward him and hugged him from behind. "I'm sorry, Kent. Yes, I'm jealous. That's why I went out with Harley in the first place. And now I

realize I shouldn't have."
Kent turned around, and Phoebe loosened her

hug. This time, it was Kent who hugged her.
"I'm just so confused because I don't know what we are."

"We're husband and wife."

"But you don't even treat me that way!"

Kent looked at her then. "Well, how would you like to be treated?"

"I don't know . . . Just don't pretend like we don't know each other in school."

Kent sighed heavily. "I just don't want you to get caught up in this mess. I mean, look what's happening now."

"I know, but . . . I don't want people thinking I'm just some fan."

"Fine. We'll have lunch together from now on. And we'll go to school together."

Phoebe smiled. "Promise?"

Kent kissed her on her forehead and said, "Yes, promise."

*later*