I Knew You Before You Noticed Me

Chapter 11

I like to think I'm a decent person. At least, decent enough not to bail on someone who had asked to hang out with me. But Marella was really testing this assessment of my character.

She was asking so many questions. Did I think Linh and her could become friends? (Sure, I guess). How often did I hang out with people? (Not a lot, but I edged around that one). Why did I dye my hair? (Ha! Wasn't making that mistake again).

I'd managed to sneak a text to Biana, begging her to help me. If anyone could give me advice on how to avoid as many questions as possible, it was probably her.

I watched as her text appeared. Just hang in there. It'll mean a lot to her.

Oooor, maybe not.

"Tam?"

I blinked and shook my head. "Right, sorry. What'd you say?"

Marella cleared up her emotions well, but I caught the flash of hurt on her face. With a pang of guilt, I resolved to try my hardest to pay attention to her. Biana was right--I couldn't just ignore her.

Not that that was what I was doing.

"I asked if you wanted to catch something to eat?" she repeated, fidgeting with one of the braids in her hair. I shrugged and followed her to a nearby café. We ordered, and Marella found us a booth by the window.

"Ask me something," she said suddenly, taking a sip of her frappuccino.

I sat back, as if trying to get as far away from the demand as possible. "Uh....what?"

"I've been talking for a while," she explained. "So it's your turn. Ask me something."

"Um..." I said, racking my brain for any question at all. "Do you have any siblings?"

Wow, I thought as soon as the words came out of my mouth. Real creative, Tam. Good job.

Marella shook her head. "I don't actually. My mom was diagnosed as bipolar after she had me, and she wasn't sure how that would affect her kids. So, she didn't have more." She gave me a small smile. "So yeah, no siblings."

I nodded, not quite sure how to respond. "Right."

I barely stopped myself from dropping my head onto the table. That was not the right response.

My phone buzzed in my back pocket, making me jump. I saw the time and cursed. "I gotta go. Linh told me to be back to help her with dinner."

"One more question before you go," she said, grabbing my wrist. The unexpected contact made my heart pound painfully against my ribs. "What's the real reason you dyed your hair that way?"

"That--is a very long story, and I really have to go." I gently pried my wrist from her grip. "See you at school?"

Marella covered up her disappointment in a flash. "Yeah, see you!"

I gave her a quick wave, grabbed my bag and jogged out the door.

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........I literally have no words for how bad that was. OH WELL!!