Heart Strings <3 ~Complete

Heart Strings Chapter Seventeen

Mr. Woods closed the door.

The drive had been mostly silent, Adam gripping my hand and Mr. Woods constantly watching us from the mirror and randomly saying, ‘boy, you scared me… But it didn’t last long!’ during the journey. Every time he did I felt the need to run out of the car, taking Adam with me.

When we reached the American style diner we were eating at, I could feel Adam’s growing anxiety. I squeezed his hand as we got out of the car.

‘It’ll be okay,’ I whispered.

‘I hope so,’ he replied.

Once we were in our seats and had ordered our drinks, (Sprite for Adam, Coke for me, tropical juice for Mr. Woods,) Mr. Woods clasped his hands together in front of him and smiled in a way that meant something was coming.

‘So, rather sudden?’ Adam was silent so I spoke up.

‘Yes, it was actually!’

‘How long have you liked Adam, Persephone?’

Thrown off, I attempted to change the subject, ‘everyone calls me Sephy.’ Mr. Woods didn’t hesitate.

‘Sephy, how long have you liked my Adam then?’

‘Well, I didn’t really realize my feelings until…’ I paused, sorting through my head for ideas. ‘until he kissed me.’ Me and Adam looked each other. I grinned sweetly, Adam followed my lead.

‘He kissed you!? When?’ Mr. Woods leaned in. Adam blushed.

‘Tuesday, after we went to the café I told you I was going to after school.’

‘And you didn’t tell me?’ he continued to grill Adam.

‘I was kind of surprised actually,’ I added, ‘but then I realised I liked him, and then, this morning, he asked me out.’ Mr. Woods’ eyes widened as his eyebrows rose.

‘Wow. Don’t you have a boyfriend Sephy? I’m sure Tabitha has mentioned that in passing...’ Adam looked at me sharply before glaring at his father.

I looked down, ‘I dumped Nick Tuesday night.’

‘After the kiss? How romantic.’ Mr. Woods half sneered. I looked up at him but his frown had been replaced with an innocent smile. He had turned to Adam.

‘When did you start liking Sephy then my boy? And not others of your own sex?’ Adam twitched.

I took his hand and grinned at him encouragingly, feeling like taking one of the forks in front of me and accidentally throwing it in his father’s direction.  

 ‘I don’t know. If I’m being totally honest, I think the feeling has always been there.’ Adam looked at me momentarily before turning back to his father. His cheeks were a light pink colour that seemed to glow on his tanned Mediterranean skin. ‘I used to mistake that feeling for how close I was to her as a friend, but, I guess, I don’t know, Tuesday, in the cafe with Sephy felt strange, you know? I realised I liked her, a lot.’

I could feel my skin burning with pride and embarrassment. It could almost be true. Adam was definitely going to pass his GCSE Drama exam. 

Our drinks arrived. I took a sip as soon as the waiter placed my coke in front of me closely followed by Adam and Mr. Woods. ‘Aww,’ was all he said. ‘You sure about that son? There are so many other girl’s out there.’ The emphasis on one specific word wasn’t lost on either of us. I felt Adam tense slightly.

‘No, Sephy is fine for me right now.’ His dad nodded.

‘Just know that there are. After all, there are so many fish in the sea. You don’t want to have experienced only one girl in your whole life. I haven’t been with your mum the whole time you know.’