Opposites Attract (On-Hold) by Chloe Knox (reading books for 5 year olds .txt) đ
- Author: Chloe Knox
Book online «Opposites Attract (On-Hold) by Chloe Knox (reading books for 5 year olds .txt) đ». Author Chloe Knox
âŠprobably notâŠ
Chapter Nine
âSorry. I never thought about how awkward this would be afterward for you. Sometimes I can be so impulsive,â Luce tried to apologize with a whine.
I sighed as I entered drawing class, âOh relax, Luce, itâs not your fault. Itâs my fault. I usually donât let you talk me into your stupid ideas.â
Lucy giggled nervously, offered one last smile, and then took her seat next to her drawing partner.
I looked around the classroom nervously for Zane, but didnât see himâŠwhat could that mean? Was he just sick? Was he hurt? Was he testing me? Trying to figure out how Iâd truly react if he werenât here? Was he ditching school for the heck of it? Or was he ditching because he too was nervous to see me? Or did her just not want to see me at all?
Before I even had time to process what I was doing, I turned around to run back into the hall and away from class. Only when I turned, a soft black t-shirt stretched across a muscular chest banged against me blocking my one and only escape route.
âWhere do you think youâre going?â Zane asked, with a faint smirk, making me become even more nervous then I was when I thought he had pretty much rejected me. Rejection, Iâd get over, but at the same time I didnât want his acceptanceâŠat least, I donât thinkâŠ
âUmâŠIâŠI was, umâŠâ
âAre you okay?â Zane asked with one brow cocked, and I felt my body radiateânot in want, but in anger, frustration. How could he stand in front of me, and pretend like last night didnât happen? The kiss was all I could think about, and he apparently didnât have a care in the world. But isnât that what I wanted; for last night to not mean anything? That would just cause unnecessary drama, âUmâŠno, umâŠwe need toââ
âTalk?â
âYeah!â
âYeah,â an awkward moment of me staring at Zane waiting for him to say something else, I took charge, âOkay, umâŠwait here?â
I talked to Mrs. Bowman and she without haggle agreed to let us borrow her camera so that me and Zane could each take a few pictures of the other and use them as the basis of our portrait. It was the perfect excuse to get out of the classroom and talk.
Only minutes later Zane and I were sitting on the floor in the hallway, backs against the cold lockers. For the longest time I just sat there with my eyes closed, waiting for Zane to talk. I wanted him to tell me what he was thinking, feeling, so I could work around it, but he didnât. He only sat next to me staying quite and immobile, so I did the same and focused on the sound of him breathing. It was the only thing I could hear clearly.
For once the silence wasnât awkward. I didnât feel on edge or uncomfortable.
âIt was a bet.â I finally saidâŠthis way I wouldnât have to face rejection, and I wouldnât be lying.
âHmmm?â Zane asked, and when I turned to look at him I saw he too was just sitting still with his eyes shut and head leaning back against the wall.
âThe kiss, it was a bet.â
Zane laughed and opened his eyes to look at me. The biggest smile was on his face. It was his famous smirk; the one that showed how immature and devilish he was and usually made me want to wipe it off for himâŠbut now, it was nice. Cute, evenâŠ
âHow much did you get for it?â he asked, and in his bright brown eyes, I could see how amused he was and the slightest bit of what I found myself wanting to believe was disappointment.
âTwenty.â
Zane laughed again, but this time it didnât sound forced or fake like it usually did. For the first time it seemed like a real laugh, one that echoed from the back of his throat, making his grin bigger, âWell, Iâm worth much more than that,â Zane said turning his gaze back to the set of the lockers across the hall from us.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldnât hold back my own giggle, âYeah, Iâm sure you are.â
âDid you like it?â Zane asked, cocking his head to one side and turning to look at me. He didnât waver, or even glance away once. The smirk was still on his face, but his eyes were serious and never strayed from mine.
I immediately cursed under my breath when I felt my cheeks turning warm. I couldnât let him get the wrong idea, âIt was fake.â
âWhat was?â
âThe kiss! It was fake.â I said with a faint giggle trying to hide how naked and embarrassed I felt to even be talking about this with Zane, of all the guys.
âThat doesnât answer my question, though.â
âWhat? Yes, it does.â
âNo it doesnât.â he said with another genuine chuckle, âI asked if your reaction to the kiss was real. Not if the reason for the kiss wasâŠâ
I stuttered for a moment, as the warmth in my cheeks began to spread throughout my body, âUmâŠIâŠdoes it really matter.â
He shrugged, âNo! I just wanted to know. Iâll admit that I enjoyed it.â
My heart flipped and I had to hold in a gasp. I felt extremely relieved that he had enjoyed it, because lord knows I didâŠbut crap! No! Donât smile! You donât need him to know that!
âIâm guessing by the redness that the feelings mutual?â Zane said with another chuckle as he continued to watch me.
âWhat? What redness?â
âYouâre blushing!â
âI am not!â I yelped way too quickly, loudly, and defensively. I had wanted to sound convincing, but my answer was far from it.
Zaneâs smile grew, touching his eyes, âWhatever you say, Miss. Sinclair.â It was obvious he didnât believe my denial. Frankly, I wasnât convinced myself.
âIt was just a bet. It wasnât real,â I mumbled to myself, exhaling through my nose, and turning on the camera Mrs. Bowman had lent me. I might have used the camera as an excuse, but both me and Zane still had to have a picture by the end of the class period, or else sheâd know we were up to something.
âThe next one will be.â Zane said, and I froze.
He wasnât smiling, and his eyes werenât pleased. He was solemn; not in the sad way, or the bored or bad way, he was serious.
I swear he just wants to see how red Iâll turn before my head implodes, âWhat?â I asked even thought I knew exactly what he had said, heard it clearly. I just wanted him to say it flat out, so I wasnât taking what he said the wrong way.
Zaneâs brown eyes suddenly grew soft, and his smile shrank, but it was just as breath taking. It was a little half-smile that revealed one dimple on his left cheek! Only one! How freakin cute is that!
Zane leaned toward me, and took the camera from my hands, âOur next kiss, wonât be because you were given money, and it wonât be fake. Itâll keep you up all night. Youâll like it.â
If only he knew how much last nightâs kiss had affected meâŠ
âYouâre tongueâs hanging out.â Lucy said, and I was so lost in my own little reverie that I actually fell for it. Frantically I shut my agape mouth and wiped my cheeks to get rid of non-existent drool
Lucy giggled and threw one of the schoolâs nasty raw fryâs, hitting my nose, âSo, what happened while you two were âtaking picturesâ?â
âHe pretty much said that he was going to kiss me again.â
Lucy squealed, âOh my gosh! Did he!?â
âNo,â I said as I plopped the fry into my mouth, only to spit it out into a napkin afterwards.
âWell why didnât he?â
I shrugged, âI donât know! Why donât you ask him?â
âMaybe you mis-understood something he said, what happened? Exact words?â
âI said I only kissed him because of a bet, and that the kiss wasnât real. And then he said that our next kiss would be real and Iâd like it.â
âAnd you didnât jump him right then and there?â She asked eyes wide and expectant. I shook my head as I giggled, âGodammit, Ashley! Grow some lady balls!â
âIâm not going to just jump the guy during school in the middle of the hallway.â
âUm, duh! Thatâs what the Janitor Closetâs for!â
I laughed nearly choking to death on the raw fry and my own saliva.
âHey babe.â Josh said as he leaned in to give me a kiss.
I easily tilted my head from out of reach of his lips and sighed. I was completely over him, and it didnât really surprise me how quickly I hadâŠbut I still felt betrayed a bit, and so when I talked it was nothing more than a whisper, âJosh, leave me alone.â
âWhy? Whatâs wrong, babe?â
âWeâre done, Josh? Just stop calling me babe, and leave me alone.â I whispered, trying the best not to cause a scene as I stepped around him to get to the parking lot. Josh quickly caught up to me the slightest bit of anger on his face, âDone? What do you mean done?â
âJosh, I donât want to be with you anymore!â I yelped suddenly feeling overwhelmed. I just wanted to get away, and Josh was holding me back.
âI donât understand, Ashley-â
âI saw you with Rebecca yesterday, Josh!â I blurted out and finally gave up trying to walk by him. Instead I stood as straight as I could, with the weight of my backpack over my shoulders. I looked into his eyes, and tried my best not to falter or even blink.
Josh immediately began fidgeting and stuttering, âBabe, I can explain-â
âOkay! Explain!â
There was a long pause before he spoke, âI-I just-it was a onetime thing!â
âNo it wasnât, so donât even try to lie.â
âFine it was only twice.â
âOnce, twice, a hundred times, Josh, I donât care. I could care less if you where cheating on my every since freshman year! The point is I donât
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