The Bad Boy of Mine

Chapter 18 ll I think I would like chicken for my lunch, thank you very much.

Upon hearing my words, Chris' face momentarily darkens, but he recovers almost immediately, he smiles a polite smile.

"Apology accepted."

I smile, "Thank you." And I wrap my arms around his torso for a hug. I can feel his chest muscle ripple through the fabric of his shirt as he returns the hug, his warm arms wrapped around my shoulder and back. The skin on my arm and back tingles.

As I stay under his arms, something clicked inside my brain, emancipating those troubling questions again. Grrrrr, don't you dare give me a headaches, frustrating questions. Suddenly, I feel very uncomfortable in his embrace, I squirm. Chris pulls away.

"You alright?"

"Yeah." It feels so weird and uneasy to talk to him right now. "I need the washroom." I scurry away as fast as possible.

I need to clear my thoughts. Do I like him, more than a friend? Do I? I'm on the verge of crying out of frustration. Heavy loads of frustration weigh my shoulder down. Arghhhh, my head start to throb.

Taking long strides, I speed to the washroom and splash my face with the cold water.

My consciousness drifts back to the time when I laid in his arms at the party.

Stop!

Get him out of your head, think!

I drag my body out of the washroom and find myself a seat outside one of the wards.

I heave out a deep sigh, my hands on my knees, my head in my hands. Why is this bothering me so much? Why am I denying myself?

I like him. I have admitted it once, now twice.

All of a sudden, I became aware of a comforting hand on my shoulder. A gasp escapes from my throat.

"Hey," he crouches down onto his knees in front of me, "What's wrong?"

You! You is wrong!

I look up, preparing myself to release my inner frustrated self at him, when I was temporarily struck immobilized by the concern within the bright blue eyes. The intensity- oh god.

"I- I- Can you-"

"What's wrong?" Those eyes are giving me heart palpitations. We stare at each other, concerned blue eyes to stupefied hazel ones. There's something within me that's calling out for my limbs to stretch out and pull myself into his arms. Okay, Zoey, you sound really needy right now, you need to stop.

"I'm just overwhelmed."

"With what? Homework? Surely not, you're like the female version of Jacob."

Trust him to make me laugh so easily, "No, not homework."

"Then what is it?" He sounds wary. I hesitate. Hell no am I going to tell him what's going on in my mind. Think, Zoey, think! A risky idea pops in my head.

"Remember that day, at the party?"

I can vaguely see his sharp intake of breath and the widening of his eyes.

"Yes, what about that?"

Bad idea, I'm so going to regret this. Is this what I would really want to tell him? Am I ready to tell him all of the hatred I feel towards my parents? Is this what I'm willing to forsake in order to not tell him that I'm thinking about him?

"Can I talk about it at your house, laters?"

I can see confusion fleeting through his eyes, but he nods eventually.