Secrets

Chapter 6 ✧

The familiar roar of a motorcycle creeps up behind in the empty school car park and I immediately turn around eager, too eager, what is wrong with me? I haven't seen him since his outburst and I just don't know where we stand. We lock eyes as he crawls up to where I'm standing on the footpath turning off his bike in one swift motion.

"Hey..." Easton says in a low voice seeming a little embarrassed about what happened the other day.

"Hi...how are you?" I say in the same low tone.

"Better, better...you okay?" he asks, reverting his eyes from me to his bike, like he's almost scared to hear the answer.

"I'm fine, I told you I was fine," I explain referring to the other day.

"I just wanted to make sure..." he trails off looking everywhere and anywhere but at me. He's probably making sure no one is around seeing us avidly converse with one another.

"Is that all?" I ask wonderingly and his head snaps back to me.

"Well, no. I actually wanted to ask you if we could have a tutoring session for French since the test is on Monday?"

"But it's the weekend, the school library will be closed."

"Do you think we could study at your house?"

"I'm not sure..." I trail off in thought, thinking about how my parents would react to finding out that I'm somehow linked to Easton Wright. They would be mortified. They'd take one look at him, leather jacket and all and I'd be shipped to some private girls school run by nuns. "Do you have time now? We could just go in the library."

"No, I've got things to do," he explains. Things...I wonder what those 'things' are.

"My parents are going away this weekend on a wine tour and Theo will most likely be out all weekend so I suppose you could come over." I can see a grin emerge on his face, which makes my nauseous feeling return.

"Cool, thanks..." Easton says directing his grin towards me. "Should I come over tomorrow night around 7?"

"That should be okay, Theo will be out by then." Easton begins to shift on his bike motioning to turn on the engine when I stop him in his tracks with my plea. "Just don't bring your bike."

"What?" he questions, chuckling to himself.

"Unless you want everyone to find out. As soon as my neighbours see your bike in front of my house and it won't be too long until the whole town knows, including your friends and your tough guy act will be gone."

"Right, that makes sense..." he trails off before igniting his bike. "I'll see you then," he says flashing a toothy grin before riding down the street.

After a brisk walk home I open the door to the smell of Beef Stroganoff, Theo and I's favourite meal that mum makes. I catch the sight of my father flicking through the newspaper, Theo looking uncomfortable sitting across from my father and my mother slaving away over the stove.

"Where have you been missy?" my mother asks while carrying out the dinner plates.

"Studying at the school library," I state while taking a seat at the table. Once we have all sat down we join hands saying grace before enjoying our meal.

"You know your mother and I are going away this weekend," my father remarks randomly during our meal and I see Theo's eyes light up instantly. "I expect you two to abide by the same rules despite us not being here which means no parties, no having friends over, home by 10pm. Have I made myself clear?"

Theo and I murmur a yes in response before both excusing ourselves from the dinner table and going up to our rooms. The thought of disobeying my parents is prevalent in my mind as I lie on my bed aimlessly. How can I defy them and have someone over? And a boy too! I would have never in a million years even thought about doing something like this but it's for him and I want to help him. He seems so eager to learn as well, how can I deprive him of that? It's my duty as his tutor to tutor him.