Shiver

Chapter 9

January's POV

"Just read your book, nerd."

Oh look, there they go again. Lyra and Alex bickering again. I should really hate them.

Yet here I am, one of them being my best friend, and the other being my stupid ass crush. The whole ordeal is rather idiotic, with his cute, stupid face, and dumb, adorable smile. It's practically illegal!

"January, you're starring."

"Shut up shut up shut up shut u-"

With a stare that could kill, she made me shut my mouth. It's not worth arguing with her anyway. That would be like convincing a bull not to charge after you've repeatedly smacked it over the head with a bat and spat on its face. Though I can't say anything because I'm not any better.

Anyway, back to staring, because someone with that face is just begging to be stared at. What with his doe eyes, blue of course. Was there even a slight possibility that he might like me back? Probably not. 

It wouldn't be horrible if he was just a pretty face, but he's nice too! Isn't that blasphemy?

"Uh, January?"

Dear God, please don't tell me I said that out loud.

"Can I ask you something?"

The heavens have opened up on this day, bless the land and all that is holy. Oh wait, he's still waiting for an answer isn't he?

"Yeah?"

"I need to ask you something after class." With that, he turned back into his seat, head buried and a book, most likely written by Brandon Sanderson. Nerd.

Wait a second.

He? Needs to ask me? Something? To which he didn't detail what it was about. Oh no oh no oh no.

What if Lyra told him about me liking him and wants to reject me? I looked over at the rat herself, only to see her raising her eyebrows at me suggestively and shrugging her shoulders, returning to her book.

What if I got in trouble and he's involved somehow, what if he's telling me he has a girlfriend? What if-

Wow okay, I'm calm, it's all good.

It's not.

Spending the rest of my free time worrying, the bell rang, and I dashed out of my seat, only to be met with the devil himself in the still abandoned hallway. Awkwardly scratching his neck.

"So, about what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Yeah?" I can feel the heat in my already tomato red face rising.

"Uhh.... well... uhm..."

"I swear to god Alex, if you do not spit it out I will take that pretty heavy looking book in your hand it hit you over the head with it."

He smirks, a very throaty guffaw exiting his mouth. "Why am I not surprised?"

"About what, exactly?" The blood in my cheeks still getting warmer, my stomach feeling as if I need to throw up, and my legs tensing so much that they hurt.

"Well... uhm..."

"Not this again. Come on Alex, what is it?"

"Well, uhm, I kind of."

"Yes? Please hurry. The bell is about to ring, I have math, and you know he will kill me if I'm late."

"Fine, fine. I like you, okay? Like like you, like you."