Not In The Same Way [1]

XII.

Chapter Twelve- His Side

"Bye Mom" I yell as she leaves off to work.
"Bye" she said simply and walked out the door.
"She's trying to get with a health inspector yet she smokes like if she stops it'll be the last thing she does" I said as I tied my shoes.

The buss arrived and i quickly went on. I went to the row i sit with Claire and Vereena.
"Morning" I tell her as i take my seat.
"Hey" Claire said as she leaned her head back.
"Hey, what time did you fall asleep?" I ask turning to her.
"eleven or so, my bio homework was more stressful than usual. It's fine" She shook it off.
"You could've texted me, I would've brought you coffee" I told her.

"It's fine. It's not like I haven't done it before" She yawned.
"Lay on my shoulder?"
"Very funny. I'm tired but not desperate" She told me back.
I loved when we did this. The jokes we did were so cheesy or so flirty. Sometimes even both. We arrived as school and we went our separate ways.

"That's the reason why you still take the buss?" Luke said pointing to the two girls with the cigarette. I took away the cigarette and put it out with my shoe.

"She is one of the reasons why i still take the buss. Hey actually i need you to do something for me" I tell him.
"For you or for the girl?" he smirks. I give him a look. "What is Archibald?" He asks.

"I'll pay for your gas but i need you to go grab a coffee for me" I tell him.
He gives me a questionable look. "When i went on the bus Claire was tired and since she doesn't really take care of herself i want to. So can you get the coffee?"

"You are head over heels for this girl. I'll get the cup of coffee. No need to pay for the gas. I have it by midway 1st period" He tells me.
"Thanks Man" I pat his arm and the first bell rang. "See you in fifth" I tell him and rush off.

"Hey, Luke stopped by first period and gave me coffee. Did you tell him too?" Claire asked as she placed her card.
"Of course I did. Did it help?" I asked.
"Whatever Eliot Archibald. Place your card" She murmured. I chuckle and we continued playing until the bell rang.

The final game ended the bell rang. "Claire, let me walk with you" I tell her.
"No" She said simply as she fixed her backpack.
"Yes" I smile at her.
"No. Stop doing that smiling thing. It's getting creepy" She said as she stared at me.
"You love it" I say stepping closer to her.

Flirt back Valentine.

"No I don't, weirdo" She shook her head.
"Just admit Claire Valentine. You're in love with me" I tell her.

She starts laughing.
"That's funny, really. Oh i'm starting to feel bad, alright i'll starting to feel bad. I'll set you walk with me" She smiled at me.
"You know you're really cute when you smile" I told her.
"Just shut up before I change my mind" She tells me and we begin to walk.

As we were walking I kept smiling at her. There's something about her that whenever i'm around her I smile. I can't help it. I just want to show her. Show her that not everyone leaves. Show her that I care. Please Claire let me. There's something about her. I want to show her more. I don't know how I feel about her, but i know that i need her.

We made it to the room and Vereena handed us the bags.
"Thanks" I tell her as we took our seat. I scooted my seat closer to Claire and i put my arm on the chair.
Claire looked at me and I just smiled at her. She gave a small smile in return. My smile grew bigger when I saw her smile.

"Okay, if you guy are going to act like this i can hang out with the twins" Vereena said Causing Claire to scoot away.

As the time passed the bell rang.
"Hey, is it okay if I come over?" I hear Claire ask.
"What?" I ask in shock.
"Because Spencer is going to the house with Kai and Scott and V are hanging out so..." She explains.
"Yeah sure" I smile at her.
"Don't make it weird. I gotta go, see you after school" She said and walked off.

I went into my fourth and saw Luke already sitting there.
"So, did you finally tell her?" He asked as I took my seat.
"Tell her what?" I ask.
"That you're in love with her" He told me and I choked on my saliva. "I'm sorry?" I ask.

"Eliot it's so obvious. Look what you do for her. How you act around her. Your body language" He explained.
"No. I'm not in love with her" I deny.
"You keep telling yourself that" He smirked at me.

I'm not in love with her.

I'm not in love with her.

How can I be?

It's Claire Valentine.

She's annoyingly adorable.

Also she never lets me show my emotions.

But she has her reasons.

She has such a beautiful soul.

She has this thing where when she knows she's wrong but she doesn't want to admit it.

She moves her hands a lot and picks at her nails.

She also does this thing where when she laughs too hard she puts her right hand on her stomach and her left to cover her mouth.

She's always mean to me.

But i get it.

But the way she makes me feel when she does smile at me.

The way she makes me feel when she does let me in.

"I'm in love with her" i say letting out a breath.