The Other Side Of Fear[1]

Chapter 4

The next day at school was a killer. I strolled into biology with a pounding head and placed myself way at the back of the room in the corner. The students piled in, all of them glancing my way as they came and I continued to study the door for a member of the group from last night to enter. I prayed at least one of them would be in the same biology class as me but unfortunately not one of them appeared.

I kept my head down and pretended to study my textbook when a deep, sexy voice disturbed me.

'Bethan,' Archie was smirking down at me.

'Hi Archie,' I smiled, my cheeks burning a little.

I was feeling a little self-conscious considering I had slept in and dashed out of the house without a single bit of make-up on.

'I think I'll join you,' he smiled and perched himself down next to me.

'Thanks,' I smirked. 'I was thinking I was about to be a loner for the next hour.'

'Well it's your lucky day,' he joked, taking out his textbooks from his backpack. 'So, what's your story?'

'There isn't really one to tell,' I shrugged, caught off guard by his sudden question. 'I just moved here from New York due to my Dad's job and I literally hate it here.'

He laughed out loud. 'Hate is a strong word.'

'I know but coming to a place like this from a place like New York is a huge change,' I told him honestly, realising I had just insulted the place he had probably spent his whole life in.

'I think you just need to give it a chance,' he shrugged. 'It's small and nobody ever really leaves here but it'll grow on you I think. Especially during summer, the tourism here in The Falls is crazy.'

'I'm guessing "The Falls" is what the younger generation call this town,' I said and he nodded with a smile. 'I never expected it to be somewhere people would summer.'

'Well people visit here for the lake and the waterfalls,' he said.

'The waterfalls,' I repeated. 'I've heard of them already, they sound cool.'

'They are cool, they're just down the stream bank,' he smiled. 'It's packed there in summer but throughout the rest of the year when tourism is dead, it's a cool place to hang if you want some privacy.'

He stared into my eyes as he finished this sentence and I blushed.

'It sounds like a place I need to check out,' I said quietly, pushing away the stomach flutters.

'I'd love to show it to you,' he smiled.

'Yeah, maybe,' I smirked.

'Oh maybe?' he laughed. 'Are you playing hard to get with me, Bethan?'

'No!' I blushed, covering my face and giggling along with him.

'Maybe a normal date first then?' he said gently. 'Then maybe we'll do the waterfall for our...third date.'

I thought about his offer and couldn't help but break into a smile. He was certainly very forward but it was charming. He was confident and he knew he was hot and I knew he could literally have anyone he wanted. I was wary of the fact that Kady had warned him off from me and I guessed he probably had a history of being a bit of a player, but I was a strong girl and never let myself get in too deep with guys anyway.

'Okay,' I agreed. 'That is, of course, if dates one and two go well...you might not even get to a third...or even a second for that matter.'

'Oh trust me, I think I'll get to the third,' he winked.