Behind The Camera

Chapter Three.

Me and Pel was sat down in a booth in the corner, discussing the writings of traditional romance stories in the styles of Shakespeare and comparing them to the modern writings of this era. But it just didn't seem like Pel wanted to be here, I thought we had finally sorted something out, or maybe I had got him all wrong and he was exactly who I thought he was. "Are you okay? do you like want to leave or something?" I ask, tapping my pen on the table to get his attention. He slowly drifts back to reality and looks at me gone out. "You've been staring into space for the last five minutes, is my company that bad?" I mutter, looking down. Pel moves from his seat and sits next to me, grabbing my hands. He opens his mouth to speak but nothing comes out. "Seriously, what's going on?" I ask, getting frustrated and stressed. "I-I I am not used to being out with a girl, or a female for that matter" He states, looking down. "Seemed pretty comfortable hugging that girl earlier" I mutter, pulling my hand away from his. "That was my sister, known her a good few years now so id assume to be comfortable around her" He chuckles, his eyes connecting with mine. I roll my eyes. "Why you bothered about my sister anyway" He asks, changing the conversation. "I'm not, i'm just stating like you said you're not comfortable around females but you seemed like you was comfortable earlier which is why I said what you said and then you said what you said so I sai-" I get cut off by a pair of lips on mine.

WHAT IS HE DOING?! my mind is going mental, why is he doing this? did he like me? or is this what he did? did he spin the "'I don't date girls so i'll act shy and then make a move'. It felt so wrong, but I knew it felt right. His lips felt perfect on mine, and before I knew it I was kissing him back, my hand coming up to cup his cheek. But then I realise what i'm doing and pull away, looking at him. "Has anyone ever told you that you ramble on when you're nervous" He chuckles, biting his lip, looking down at me. What is this feeling, why do I feel like i'm about to explode cause i'm so hot, or the feeling that makes me want to melt away, far away. "Look I know what I said but I just feel comfortable with you, you don't scream at me, you don't look at me like I am this massive person, you just act yourself and I like that" He breaths, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. I look down. "What do you mean look at you like a massive person? you're just Pel, a guy at college who dances but apparently likes Shakespeare" I chuckle. "Shakespeare could probably dance, maybe i'm the next Shakespeare" He chuckles. "Shakespeare has moves" I reply laughing, "But Pel, you can dance, like you can actually dance" I state, moving my arms around. He laughs and honestly it feels like my heart skipped a beat. Where's Stacey to turn around and say "I told you so" how did she know this before me? I swear she knows me better than myself. I feel something wet on my cheek and look at Pel who's got his finger in his mouth licking whipped cream. "You didn't" I mutter, "Oh I did" He chuckles, but I cut off the chuckle by mimicking his actions and putting whipped cream on his face. I laugh at his as he tries his hardest to use his tongue to lick it off his own face. "Wait" He says, before I grab a tissue for the both of us. "I just want to document the cool kids" He smiles, before taking a photo of us both. "That looks horrendous" I mutter, wiping the cream of my face. "You look cute actually" He corrects me, sending me the image through text. I roll my eyes at him. "Do you think we should make a move? I feel like its getting late and I don't want you missing your beauty sleep" He murmurs, his lips connecting with my cheek, kissing away a piece of whipped cream I had clearly missed. "Before we go anywhere I need to talk to you about what just happened" I whisper. "I kissed you" He whispers back. "I'd kiss you again if it felt the way it did before" He whispers, his lips dangerously close to my lips, I close my eyes and suck in a breath. "But, I feel like stealing two kisses in one night isn't right, so how about we make it a repeat tomorrow lunch time" He whispers in my ear. I smile to myself, looking down, trying to compose myself. "Okay, i'll agree to that, let me just go to the toilet and i'll drive us back to campus" I state, standing up from my seat and pulling my jumper back down. "Okay" He replies, looking at his phone.

The walk to the car was quiet but comfortable for once. I was still processing everything that had just happened and I didn't quite know how to take it. I knew that Stacey would know the answers and give the best advice, but I also knew she would love the gossip which I wasn't looking forward to sharing with her. "I don't need a lift, I don't live on campus, but I will meet you here tomorrow." He breaths, looking down at me. "If that's the case then let me drop you at home, I wouldn't like to think of anything bad happening to you" I state, unlocking my car. "I'm going to a dance studio, its around the corner, so don't worry too much, just text me when you get back to campus so I know you're safe yourself" He whispers. I nod my head, mesmerised by the way the streetlights hit his face, he looks so good right now. "I'll text you later then?" I whisper, he just smiles at me, slowly nodding his head. He opens my car door for me, as I slide into the drivers seat. "Promise me you will text me when you get back" He whispers, crouching down on his knees to be the same height as my in the driver seat. "I will, as long as you text when you get where you're going, are you sure you don't want me to drop you off?" I ask. "Seriously its around the corner, there's no point, but I will text you, just don't look at it whilst you're driving" He mutters back, his face hardening, I nod my head. "Okay, I'd better go, campus parking is shocking" I chuckle. "See you tomorrow.." He whispers. He stands up and gives me a small smile before closing the door and leaning against the lamppost, pulling his phone out of his pocket as I start the car. I look over at him one last time before pulling off.

---

The drive back to campus didn't take as long as I thought it would. I didn't get as lost as I thought I would considering Pel had given the directions to the milkshake place, as I pull into the campus I grab my phone, expecting to see a text from Pel to say he had got to the studio okay, but there was no message. I roll my eyes but text him to say that I'm at the campus and thanks for a good night. I take a slow stroll to the dorms building, but spot a few guys hanging around in the quad, probably drinking or getting high, but what catches my eye is Stacey in the corner with someone, all she was doing was talking to them, but it didn't look right, she wasn't cheating on Sam was she? she wouldn't do that, she loved him too much. I shrug the thought off and carry on walking, I could always ask her about it later if needs be.

Once I get to the dorm room I change into my pyjamas and grab my laptop, sitting on the bed. I grab my phone and check my messages, seeing if Pel had replied, but nothing. I didn't know whether to call him to see if anything had happened to him, or just to check if he was okay, but then I thought maybe he was just busy doing whatever he was doing. Just as I put my phone down on my dresser Stacey walks through the door. "Oh there you are, I was wondering where you had got to" She states, kicking her shoes off and jumping on her bed. "I met Pel" I whisper. She looks at me, her eyes saying "tell me more". "We kissed, he kissed me, but we kissed" I whisper, her eyes going wide. "You're joking right" She chuckles. I shake my head "No" I whisper. "Oh god Tee" She mutters. "What's wrong with that? You was telling me earlier to stop being in denial" I mutter, pulling my laptop lid down and looking at her, giving her my full attention. "I just, maybe its not the right time to start dating" She whispers. I look at her wide eyed. "What does that mean?" I ask. "It means that you've always been about your work and your grades and now you're intrested in some boy, I just don't want to see you distracted" She mutters. "Stacey, a boy isn't going to change my goals, you and Sam are fine with this whole dating and studying" I mutter. "Me and Sam are different" She yells back, getting annoyed. "Well I wonder how Sam would feel about you and another male in the quad" I mutter, flicking my hands through my hair quickly. "Are you implying that I'm not being honest with Sam because that's a low move even for you" She yells back. "I'm just saying maybe you should keep your opinions to yourself" I yell back, standing up from my bed. "Yeah well maybe I will, don't come crying to me when things go wrong" She mutters, walking out of the room, slamming the door on her way out.

I let out a scream. It's not normal for me and Stacey to argue, we have always seen eye to eye on everything, we have been through everything together, nothing has ever got in the way of that, specially not a boy. Maybe I should have heard her out, it's not like her to change her mind so easily. I sigh, and sit back in my bed, my head in my hands, blinking away the tears. I pick my phone up and text Pel again.

"Can we talk? if you're not busy.. Feel like I've got no one"

I lie back in my bed, my phone on my chest. Thoughts spinning around my mind. Why would Stacey change her tune so quickly.