These hallways are cramped, and ultimately, so is my head from studying for SATs. The school year has flown by and before I even know it, summer break is almost here.
What am I going to do this summer?
Just the usual. Sit at home, study, visit my parents once or twice, study, drink coffee, study, and play with my cat and... STUDY. My life revolves around school and I actually have no problem with that. I've always thought of myself as a teen prodigy. I'm the only 17 year old I know that has never had a boyfriend or have even kissed a boy. People annoy me and I like to keep to myself. All I need is an iced coffee in my hands and a nice book to call my day fun.
"But you have to come!" My best friend and roommate, Lila, is begging me to go to the school dance with her.
Lila Trenton has never had a problem attracting boys. She's basically a perfect 10. Besides being extremely smart, Lila has deep blue eyes that could hypnotize you if you let them. Silky blonde hair down to her perfect ass. Her smile is perfect, her stomach is flat, and her whole appearance just screams "sexy cheerleader" at you. I'm not sure why she tags me along places. She has more friends than I can count, but I've known her all my life and care for her deeply...
"I have to study for SATs, you know? I don't really like to dance, Lila, you know this..." In my defense, I dance horribly. I look like a dying cat when I dance... I also hate being the center of attention amongst friends, what makes you think I'd dance in front of people I don't even associate with?
"Oh pretty please?! It'll be fun! And SATs are almost a week from then. Please, Eve!"
"Ugh... fine. But I won't do much dancing. I'm only going for you, so you're on my hit list if you leave me hanging, Trenton!"
Her squeal of joy catches me off guard.
"Yay! I'll pick something out for you from our closet at home! This is gonna be so much fun!"
At the dance, there's the usual. Bad punch, awful dancing, and the senior class crying into each other's shoulders even though there are still three weeks of school left. Graduating this year seems like more of a relief than something to cry about. I'm eager to leave this place...
I turn my head to the right, and Lila's making out with Justin. A guy she's been talking to for about a month. He seems to make her happy... The moans from her bedroom at 2am confirm my thoughts to say the least.
I turn my head to the left, and there he is.
Christopher Hudson.
All the girls in school drool over this boy. He has loads of friends and is extremely popular, but above all, he's quiet... I never hear rumors about him. He likes to keep to himself. Personally, I think that's a wise choice, considering all the gossip that spreads like wildfire in this school. He seems to put up a tough exterior. But, those are just my personal observations of course...
But, if there's anything that I'm positive about is that the boy is gorgeous. He has rich jet-black hair and eyes a sexy honey golden color. He's tall with a muscular build to him. It's no wonder all the girls fall head over heels for the kid. Nonetheless, there he stands with his hands in his jean pockets and his mouth set in a straight line. He looks lost in thought.
We momentarily make eye contact and I feel electric. His eyes widen, in shock and I look away quickly. Thank God for these dim lights... I can feel the burn on my cheeks.
Me? Blushing? Over a BOY? Seems impossible. Maybe I like him... Or maybe it's the spiked punch.
I immediately get rid of the thought. It was just eye contact, jeez. Pull it together, Evelyn. I sneak another peek at him face and he's staring at me, rather blankly. Never having caught the attention of a boy before, I blush immediately. I feel like a 3 year old. A man shouldn't have this much of an effect on me. I suddenly get the overwhelming urge to leave. Why did I even come here? Lila's sitting on her little boy toy's lap and I'm over here blushing over EYE CONTACT. I want to go home. Now.
I walk up to Lila, feeling almost too uncomfortable to break up her little- make out session with Justin.
"Hey Lila... I kind of want to go home."
"What? Are you sure? We were having so much fun!" she pouts at me, but I refuse to let her puppy eyes take advantage of me.
"I'm um, really tired. I want to get some rest... You don't have to take me home, I'll take the car. Have fun, sweetie."
Justin agrees to take Lila home. If she even makes it home.
Justin gives me a toothy smile, "See ya, Eve. Don't drown in your books."
"Bye, Justin. I'll try my best." Justin has a very contagious smile. I suppose Lila and him are a perfect match. Both of them are beautiful human beings and obviously have no problem with PDA.
Public Displays of Affection...
Lord knows I would never be able to do that. Too shy as it is already.
When I get to Lila's car, a figure to my right wakes me out of my reverie. I turn to see who it is. Thanks to my overprotective mother, I always carry pepper spray... Hey, you never know.
"Who's there?! I'm not afraid to use this!" Oh who am I kidding, .I'm tripping over my purse trying to find the damned thing. And then I see him.
Fuck...
"Careful, there, sweetheart. Don't hurt yourself."
His voice is deep and silky as ever. I get this hot sensation in my stomach. What's this...? His amber eyes pierce right through me in the street light and I'm momentarily paralyzed by them.
"Are you okay? I'm afraid your deadly weapon has come up short..." For a brief second, I'm clueless and have no idea what he's talking about. Then I look down and realize I'm holding traveling deodorant in my hand.
Damnit.
My mouth is too dry too speak. "I'm sorry, you startled me... I was just heading home actually."
"So early? It's 9 o'clock. Not much of a party girl, are you?" He grins ear to ear and my breath is gone. How could a man be so damned pretty!
"I, um, no... not really. I was forced to come actually. There wasn't much to do."
He takes a step closer. "Isn't this your friend's car? How will she get home if you take the car?"
What? How the hell does he know this?
I better not be dealing with a stalker. But, fuck, what a cute one...
"Her boyfriend is taking her home."
"If you'd like, I can take you home instead."
WHAT? WHO THE HELL IS THIS GUY...
I start searching through my purse for Lila's keys to prove I'll be fine on my own. What, he doesn't think I'm independent enough to drive a car to MY HOUSE?! I'm frantically searching for Lila's keys when I remember that I completely forgot to ask her for them... Fuck.
"Err- I actually can't find my keys... I'll take a cab home, though. Thank you for the offer." Why am I so nervous, he means nothing? I guess he has that effect on women.
"By yourself, this late? No. Let me take you home."
Jeez talk about demanding... "I would hate to take you away from the dance this early... please don't worry."
He doesn't say another word. Instead, he grabs my hand and we walk over to his car. I'm not very familiar with car names and all that boyish crap, but his car looks like it could pay for my college tuition! He opens the passenger side for me and I have no choice but to slide in. I clumsily fall into the passenger seat. Way to be elegant, idiot. He slips in next to me and starts the car. We ride in silence for a while. Its dark out, but the street lights give me a perfect chance to study him. He's wearing blue jeans, a black t-shirt and a leather jacket with chucks. One hand strokes his chin, while his finger strokes his bottom lip. Oh my, his lips... Jesus. What is up with my thoughts tonight?! His jet black hair tussles over his forehead. He looks delicious. He wakes me from my taboo thoughts.
"Where do you live?" He asks.
"1256 Charleston Ave. Thanks again for taking me home. I owe you."
A wicked expression dances across his face. "Owe me? No. You're fine."
"I would like to pay you... If that's alright." As if he needs it...
"Absolutely not. You don't owe me anything. What's your name?"
Wow, names totally slipped my mind.
"I'm Evelyn Carlyle. No need to introduce yourself. Everyone at school pretty much knows who you are."
"Is that so? Well, for the sake of conversation, I'm Christopher." He takes my hand and plants a swift kiss on it. I melt right on the spot. His hands are extremely soft. "Now, what were you doing at a dance, if you weren't going to... dance?" he asks with a smile.
"My friend, Lila, asked me to go with her. Although I wasn't much use. And, if I remember correctly, you weren't exactly shakin' it on the dancefloor either."
Well that was brave.
His eyes widen with delight and his smile broadens into a grin. "I'm not much of a dancer, either, Evelyn."
My name on his lips make me feel a weird ache someplace very inappropriate. I've never felt this way... No man has ever had this effect on me. I've got to get the hell out of this car.
Almost instantly he notices how nervous I am. I'm biting my nails, and he moves my hand away from my mouth.
"What's wrong?"
"Um, nothing. I just, I would like to go home."
"Yes, of course." His tone is clipped and we're silent for the rest of the ride.
As we pull up to my condo, he grabs my hand and kisses it once again.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Evelyn."
"Thank you, again, for taking me home, Christopher. I very much appreciate it."
"The pleasure was all mine, Evelyn." His eyes are alive with some unknown emotion.
I step out of the car and watch him ride off into the distance. I wonder idly if this was all a dream... Must be some strong punch.
con48.PEI