Figuring You Out

Chapter Forty-Four

"Hi," I hear, from a distinct voice behind me, I turn in the aging library chair and beam as I see Red's freckled face.

"Hey," I reply, smiling as his hands drift over my shoulders as he sits beside me, "What's this about then?"

He smirks and slides over a stapled booklet to me, I narrow my eyes sceptically at him, before reading the words typed in bold on the front of the page- Foundation Tier, Maths, Calculator, Paper 1.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah," he smiles, "Do it by the end of the day, I'll mark it and we'll see if you're ready or not,"

I huff in moderate disapproval but nod, "Ok,"

"Good," he smiles, "Now I have a French lesson to get to, so I'll see you later, ok?"

"Ok," I say, giving a brief look to each side of me and seeing its all clear tug him by his shirt so his lips met mine in a swift kiss, he responds but pulls back quickly.

"I thought you wanted to keep this low-key," he mutters, scratching his head and giving a nervous glance each side.

"I do," I say a little deflated, "Doesn't mean I don't want to kiss you though,"

"I gotta go,"

"Ok," I smile, watching him leave before turning back to the desk and un opened paper. I fiddle with the corner, folding it up and down before finally swallowing the stupid lump of fear in my throat and opening the first page. I smooth down the spine and dart my eyes across to the first question bracing myself, "Here you are!" a voice exclaims loudly, followed by a scolding from the aging librarian, I turn and see Leah, dressed in a black jumpsuit stomping over to me like a deranged animal, so I lower myself back into my seat.

"Come on," she demands, now standing to my side, the closeness making her makeupless face focus with her statement gold hoop earrings still dangle from her tangled hair.

"You know, I'm actually kinda busy, right now, so if you don't-" I begin, typing something into my calculator.

"I really don't care," she states, defiantly, folding her arms across her chest, smudging blue paint from her rolled up sleeves to her chest, "And the answers 42 by the way," she muses, her painted nail tapping the first question. I roll my eyes and twist my body fully to her.

"Alright, what do you want?" I snap, turning over the paper.

"For you to come with me," she says, smiling and extending a hand to lean on the back of my chair.

"And as I said, I'm busy,"

"Yeah, doing maths," she grimaces, disapprovingly, I scoff and make some notes on the side of the paper, "Look, come on, I promise you won't regret it and if you do I will never draw you away from your maths again," she says sarcastically.

"Fine," I snap, shutting the paper and sliding it neatly into my bag and slinging it on my shoulder as Leah smirks smugly, "And I'm not doing anything illegal,"

"You know, I'm kind of offended you think that little of me," she smiles, cheekily, pushing on the handle of the art cupboard and leaving it open for me to step into. I step into the darkened room and she clicks the light on, which is only when I see Liam sat on a stool in the middle of the room. He stands just as I turn on Leah, but she has already slipped out of the room and is locking the door. I bang on the door and shout through the glass panel, "Leah, I swear to God,"

"You two are not coming out of this room until you have sorted things out,"

"Hey, I have a business class," Liam shouts, now joining me at the door, rattling the handle.