What Love Craves

Chapter 2

Blake

I got out of my car and, without hesitation my eyes, scanned the parking lot for Tabitha's vehicle. It was nowhere to be found. I grabbed my backpack, slung it over my shoulder, and closed and locked my car. Along with everyone else, I started walking toward the front of the school. Girls smiled and waved as I walked by, but none caught my eye like Tabitha.

"Hey, Blake! Wait up!" Hunter yelled, trailing behind me. I stopped long enough for him to catch up, then started walking once he was beside me. "Thanks for waiting. Is she here yet?" Hunter turned his head left to right, scanning the parking lot. 

"No." I sighed, nodding at the group of girls who said hi to me as they walked past. Each of them gave me a flirty smile, inviting me to talk to them, but I wasn't interested. I wouldn't have hesitated to walk up to them a few months ago, trying to get a date with one or more of them, but something had changed. 

"Man, I'm sure she'll be here soon. Don't sweat it." Hunter stuck out his fist for a fist bump. I didn't feel like a fist bump, but I also knew he wouldn't let it go. I held up my fist, allowing him to initiate the bump. As we continued to walk to the front of the school, I couldn't help but glance over my shoulder, hoping to see Tabitha walking up behind us. 

I glanced over my shoulder one last time, and that's when I caught Harper staring at me with her love-struck green eyes. I turned around and mumbled, "Why the fuck did I turn around?" I tried to pick up my pace, but it was too late. I felt a light tap on my shoulder. 

"Hey, Blake." Her green eyes shined. "I was wondering what you were doing this Friday night. Everyone's getting together for the annual start-of-school party. I was wondering if you'd want to go with me." She twirled her auburn hair around her index finger. I didn't want to be cruel, but at the same time, I didn't want to go with her to the party in case Tabitha would be there. "So how bout it?" She lowered her hand, moving closer to me. 

"I don't know if I'm going or not, but thanks for asking." I forced a smile, watching the brightness in her eyes fade. I didn't want to hurt her even though it was Harper. She had a reputation for being one of the mean girls in school. Guys didn't care that she could be a raging bitch because they knew she'd put out without having to beg her. Yeah, I'd thought about having sex with her a time or two because she was hot. Then, Tabitha started school a few weeks ago, and that all changed. "I've got to get going. I'll see you around." I turned, keeping my focus on the front doors. 

"Wow, man. You realized you just turned down a guaranteed fuck." Hunter opened the door to the school and walked in, glancing over his shoulder at me, shaking his head in disbelief. "I know it's Harper, but still..." He fist-bumped me. "I'll see ya later at lunch." He turned right to head to his locker. 

I continued walking straight down the main hall to my locker, fighting the urge to look over my shoulder to see if Tabitha had entered the building yet. I didn't want another incident like Harper if I turned around. It was no secret I could have almost any girl in the school if I wanted, but that didn't appeal to me anymore. I knew Hunter didn't understand. Most guys wouldn't understand this sudden change over a girl they'd never talked to. That's it, today; I'm going to talk to her once and for all. 

"Hey, Blake," another soft-spoken girl said, walking by. I lifted my hand in a wave while still facing my open locker. I didn't want to have another incident like the one with Harper earlier. I knew I was partly to blame for this mess. Girls were constantly trying to get my attention with flirty smiles, coming up and talking to me, hoping I'd ask them out. I used a lot of them to keep me distracted from the real problem. Not even all those girls could keep my mind distracted long enough. The pain was always there. Constantly tapping me on the shoulder, letting me know it wasn't going away anytime soon. I took a deep breath, closed my locker door, and started walking to History class on the other side of the school. I walked past the bulletin boards filled with sign-up sheets for everything imaginable, from cheerleading to the Glee club. Girls were knocking each other out of the way to look at paper for cheerleader tryouts. I shook my head as I passed them, not having the heart to tell them they had a slim chance of making it on the team. Harper happened to be the captain, and there were rumors around school that she'd put the girls through hell during tryouts. If you could take what she dished out, you were more than likely picked. The cheerleaders had a reputation for being the mean girls of the school. Harper was their leader and often instigated things. 

I walked into History and walked past Tabitha's empty seat, wondering why she wasn't at class yet. Mr. Austin was due any minute and loved nothing more than marking kids late. A few minutes later, Tabitha walked into class with Sophie. The minute she entered the classroom, Sophie's eyes met mine, then leaned to the side and whispered something to Tabitha. Tabitha shook her head and walked to the left of the room to take her seat while Sophie went to hers in the middle. Tabitha flipped her long, wavy blonde hair over her shoulder, and all I could think of was what it would be like to run my hands through her hair as I kissed her. I leaned forward, stretching my hand out to the side toward her shoulder, when Mr. Austin walked into the room. I pulled my arm back, knowing I'd miss my chance to talk to her. Then, I realized I'd see her again in English, so all hope wasn't lost just yet. 

Mr. Austin decided to let us use our books for the test, which I was beyond grateful for because I got zero studying done at home. I was fully expected to fail the test, but now there's hope I should get a solid "B" on it. I couldn't help but steal glances at Tabitha during the test, and I mumbled that she was so beautiful. Her head shot up, glancing around from side to side as if she'd heard what I said, but I knew it wasn't possible. I had mumbled it under my breath.