Perfectly Imperfect

10

Things had calmed up with Mom by Friday. I wasn't staying much time and I sure as hell didn't want to spend it angry with her. She tried to bring it up, but I kept changing the subject. I'd been hurt, but I knew she didn't mean it, she thought I was over Chris.

I thought so too.

In class, Michael assigned us to work in pairs. There were five of us, so one of us was bound to work alone. I turned to my right, trying to find Caitlin to ask her to partner up with me, but before I could approach her, Tyrell stepped to me.

Gosh no. The guy is a complete dog, always trying to hit on someone. I rather work alone than work with him.

"Hi gorgeous, I was looking for you." His tone was sly and I almost roll my eyes. Go away, dude.

"Hi," I tried not to cringe at him, but I was sure that as my lips curved up, you could tell it was a fake smile.

He didn't falter. "Do you have a partner?"

I glanced behind him, where I'd spotted Caitlin's blond hair a moment ago. She was talking animatedly with another guy, grabbing his arm being totally flirty. Good grief. There goes my partner.

Fidgeting with the strap of my backpack, I turned to him to tell him that I was working on my own, when a large hand landed softly on my shoulder.

"Shall we leave?" My heart flipped. I'd recognize that rough voice anywhere. I could have hugged Chris for saving me from Tyrell's sleaziness, but that was bound to be awkward, especially since I'd been trying to avoid him as best as I could.

Tyrell's lips set in a straight line. He bobbed his head before turning away. I breathed out relieved. "Thank you," I murmured still gazing at the retreating back of the red-head before turning to him. Chris was pinching the bridge of his nose, clearly regretting his intervention.

My stomach churned uneasily. "You don't have to do this." I glanced at Tryell again. "I can partner up with someone else." I lifted my shoulder feigning nonchalance.

We both knew that there was no one else, though. Either we partnered up or one of us had to work alone. "You could work with him." In my opinion, that solved the whole dilemma and I really didn't mind working on my own.

Chris bushy brows creased, as he pressed his lips in a tight line. "No," he said as I took out my phone to find a place to take my photos. I looked up in time to see determination in his eyes. "Let's go." He walked away as I stared after him.

Why is he so freaking obtuse?

Just as he was about to cross the street, he turned to me. "Do I have to go back and carry you?" his voice tone sounded light, even amused, but his eyes showed another story, it was clear he was having second-thoughts on this.

Then again, if there was anything I knew about Chris is that when he said something, he meant it. Not wanting to be carried away like a sack of potatoes, I hitched my backpack's strap up my shoulder before going his way

This is going to be a long day.

Chris' green eyes were intense as he looked at me. "You don't want to ride this?" he gestured to his stupid bike. His eyes glinted amused as he held his helmet on one hand.

Ignoring his smirk, I crossed my arms. "I want to visit the aquarium." I'd thought about snapping a few pictures of the undersea. Riley had been talking about Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. I always loved his books, more so because he was such an advanced writer for his time, and I thought this was the perfect time to do it.