Handle With Clare

Chapter 11: I Rather Not Sing, Thank You

"He's the best," Peter said to me.

"Hey Peter! Want to throw the ball around?" someone called out to him in the field.

He looked at me as if getting permission. I didn't want him to leave me alone with strangers, but I also didn't want to be the girlfriend that I always saw on TV, too controlling. Instead of saying what I really wanted, I confidently said, "Go! I'll be fine." I flashed a smile at him to show that I was ok in reality all I wanted to do was hide in his shadow.

He smiled, then kissed me on the cheek before he ran off to join his friends. I stood and watched him, prepared to stay here in this spot until he returned to me. But after a minute of standing, lightheadedness took its hold, leaving me no choice but to sit down on a log by the fire.

I picked a log that was far enough from everyone else, then pulled out my phone to pretend I was doing something. I felt the log move slightly and as I looked up; I saw that someone had sat next to me. He smiled as he took out his guitar and started playing. "Hey, do you sing?" he asked me.

I glanced around to make sure he was really talking to me. There was no one else around, but I didn't understand why he would want to sit beside me. Just to make sure, I asked, "Me?" I wasn't used to people my age talking to me.

"Yes you. Do you sing? I love to play but my voice's rubbish."

I shook my head. The last thing I wanted to do was to have more people look at me more than they already were. I just wanted to dissolve without Peter by my side. "No, I don't."

"Oh, that's a pity. So you know Jake?"

"Actually, I just met him tonight. I'm with Peter."

"Ah, tall, dark, and dreamy Peter. It's about time he got a girlfriend," he mused.

"You mean he hasn't had a girlfriend before?" I hadn't had enough guts to ask him about his past relationships yet, because I knew he would ask about mine. I haven't quite made up a story about why I haven't had a boyfriend before. But the fact that he hadn't had one was fascinating to me since Farrah, who was only 15, had at least four relationships.

He strummed a few chords on the guitar as he thought. "I mean; he's been on dates but never had a solid girlfriend. We were on the same rugby team and he was never with any girl, not like us."

"Why's that?" I asked, begging for more information, seeing him as a well of knowledge.

He shrugged at me, then looked back at the guitar. "Don't know. Why don't you ask him. After all, you're with him," he grinned.

Ok mister smarty pants, thanks for nothing.

"Are you sure you don't sing? You look like a singer and I'm normally not wrong about looks."

I chuckled at him politely. He was too pushy, and I wanted him to leave me alone. I was perfectly happy being alone until he showed up. "I rather not sing, thank you."

He was quiet as Peter came up beside me. "Hey, I see you met Frank," Peter said with a smile.

Frank smiled at me. "Yeah, we talked. You found yourself a keeper, Peter."

Peter put his arm around me, then pulled me into him. I instantly felt more at home with him by my side, knowing that people would talk to him now instead of me.

"Yeah, I thought I did too."

I felt his lips press against my temple, and I resisted the urge to blush.

As Frank played guitar Peter nudged my neck, his nose tickling my skin. The simple gesture set my skin on fire, making me feel alive, something that I hadn't felt in years. Now I had it, I didn't want to let these feeling go. I needed to keep this feeling burning within me.