Being Neighborly

Chapter 32

The rest of the day went by in a blur. I couldn't concentrate in my classes. I didn't register the small talk I made with several of my classmates. I barely noticed Tristan silently watching over my the whole day.

KC. KC. KC...

How did Katy know about KC? How does she know anything about my life back in California? I don't really talk to people about my past, with the exceptions of Nicole, Nate, and Tristan. But even they don't know about KC. Or at least they don't think they do.

"Girl, are you listening?" Nicole waves her rainbow nails in front of my face. I blink at her, clearly showing that I was in fact not listening to a word she had said. It was the end of this dreadful school day and the only word I could hear echoing through my head was...

"Um hello, earth to Leila," Nicole drags me away from my locker, throwing what she assumes are the books I need for tonight into my backpack, and closes the door. "I was asking you if you wanted to come over and study with me and Nate? We have midterms coming up and I'm trying not to fail and you're a genius."

"I'm not a genius," I finally speak. We make our way down the hall of students towards the back lot. "But sure, I will come over and study with you guys. We can make flashcards and quiz each other."

"I was thinking more putting skittles at the end of each paragraph to motivate us to read," Nicole smiles.

"I have a better idea," Nate appears on my right, lugging his soccer equipment over his shoulder in a duffle. "Instead of skittles, we use slices of pizza. Or cupcakes. Let's bake cupcakes instead of studying."

Nicole and I laugh at his suggestion. This was just what I needed: an afternoon of nonsense with my best friends.

"We can decide our studying methods later at your house. Let me text my aunt and uncle to let them know I won't be home."

"It looks like you have a better offer," Nate says, pointing across the paring lot to the back corner. I don't even have to look to know who he is referring to. But I look anyway.

Tristan is leaning against his car, waiting for me to join him so he can drop me home. Or interrogate me when I should be the one interrogating him. Either way, I definitely do not have a choice of my afternoon plans with the way he is staring me down.

I sigh and turn to my friends and say, "Raincheck on that study date? Hopefully tomorrow I won't be kidnapped."

"Sounds good," Nicole agrees, giving me a side-hug goodbye.

"Yeah, catch you later! But don't expect any leftover cupcakes tomorrow," Nate says, cupping my shoulder and giving it a squeeze before joining his sister on their walk to find their bus.

Begrudgingly, I make my way over to Tristan. The closer I get, the more his face softens. Finally when I 'm close enough, he walks over to the passenger side to open the door for me. He's being uncharacteristically gentlemen-like, but I'll take it. He does owe me.

Once we're both in the car, I expect him to start the engine and our silent ride home together. Instead, we just sit there for what seems like forever. All the other cars and buses have left, so now it's just the two of us in the empty parking lot.

"I want to apologize."

"Excuse me?" I sputter out, completely taken aback.

"Okay, look," Tristan turns his body towards me, wafting his cinnamon scent in my direction. "You seem like you've had a pretty shitty day after Katy ambushed you this morning and I obviously didn't exactly make your day that great to start with. You just need to respect that everything I do does not need to be known by you, even if it involves your uncle. That business is between him and me."

"That didn't sound like an apology," I say quietly, trying to figure out what kind of business he could possibly have with Uncle Luke in the first place. But I can table that for a time when I'm by myself.

Tristan huffs a little and then leans over to kiss me. Again, I am taken aback but I'll take it.

"There's your damn apology."

"As nice as that was, I would like to HEAR an apology for being an absolute jerk," I say as seriously as I can, but can't help cracking a smile.

"Okay fine, I am so very sorry that I was maybe a jerk to you this morning, but like I said that's my business that you do not need to know."

"That sounded a bit sarcastic, don't you think?"

"I think you can accept some sarcasm from your boyfriend."

"Oh, so you heard her say that, huh?" I say, laughing. Tristan shakes his head a little and starts the car.

"How could I not? Her shrill voice was practically screaming it to the whole classroom," he says, laughing a little as well. "Also, not sure if this is something we should discuss..."

"What?" I ask. Is he going to transition this into asking me out? Oh my god, my heart is racing. Shit, why am I such a girl?

"Who's KC?"

Damn it.