Alpha Girl (12 page)

‘You’re making me feel old,’ he said disapprovingly.

‘When you’re fifty, I’ll be thirty-five,’ I continued. ‘Sixty and forty-five. See? It’s not such a big difference.’

‘It’s big enough. I guess I’ll just have to wait for you to catch up to me,’ he joked.

‘What are you waiting for?’ I asked, leaning forwards.

I hadn’t meant for it to sound provocative. I quickly averted my gaze, realizing how inappropriate it had sounded.

Mr. Stone perched himself on the edge of the sofa. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a dress before.’

I looked down at the red number I was wearing. ‘Yeah … it’s not really me, is it?’

‘You look very nice,’ he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the sides.

I stared at Mr. Stone, my heart as light as a feather. He stared back too, but the kettle whistling noisily interrupted us.

‘That’ll be the water ready,’ he said, jumping up and walking briskly into the kitchen.

I waited in the sitting room while he prepared the coffees, bringing me the drink in a chipped Christmas mug.

‘Thanks,’ I said, taking a sip. It was awful, but I drank it anyway. I was too used to the coffee at the café.

‘So why did you go to the party?’ Mr. Stone asked, sitting next to me on the sofa, which sunk and creaked under his weight.

‘I needed to get out of the house,’ I said. ‘Away from my parents.’

‘Trouble at home?’ he asked.

‘You could say that,’ I replied.

‘I’m here if you need to talk, Rose,’ he offered.

‘Thank you,’ I said, ‘for being with me.’

Mr. Stone looked down at his mug, his expression guilty. ‘Rose … you can’t tell anyone about this, okay?’

I nodded. ‘I know.’

I don’t know what made me do it, but I reached over and placed my hand over his. I waited for him to move away, but he didn’t. Instead, he stared at our hands for a moment before entwining his fingers with mine. My throat felt dry, and my skin prickled with anticipation. I couldn’t believe it. He was holding my hand, his thumb gently caressing my pinkie-finger ever so lightly. I heard him gulp audibly, his Adam’s apple bobbing like a snake swallowing a bird. He was terrified.

Stop it
, I thought to myself.
This is so wrong
.

Mr. Stone beat me to the punch. ‘I’ll take you home,’ he said, releasing my hand and standing up quickly.

I nodded and placed my half-empty mug on the coffee table, slightly disappointed. I didn’t want to leave.

‘Okay,’ I said, also standing.

We walked to his car, which was parked in the driveway. I could hear the party next door was still in full swing. On the front porch was Estelle, who spotted me as I opened Mr. Stone’s car door.

‘Rose!’ she said, calling after me. ‘What are you doing? I’ve been looking for you!’

I ignored her and got into the car.

‘Are you all right?’ Mr. Stone asked, sliding into the
driver’s seat and starting the engine.

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I don’t think I’ll be attending parties with Estelle any time soon.’

‘I approve,’ Mr. Stone smiled as he put the car into reverse and backed out of the driveway.

‘Unless you live next door,’ I
smirked, giving him a quick sideways glance.

Mr. Stone allowed himself a guilty
grin before shifting into first gear and rumbling down the road.

I watched him as he drove; the streetlamps passed over his face, illuminating every line. He allowed me to watch him throughout the entire journey without saying a word.

When we arrived at my house I leaned over and kissed Mr. Stone on the cheek. He bowed his head and stared at the steering wheel.

‘Thanks Tom,’ I said softly before hopping out of the car and tiptoeing towards the house.

Monday – 9 days to go

Mr. Stone,
no
… Thomas, paid me extra attention during the next English lesson. He called upon me to answer almost every question, and praised me excessively when I got it right. I couldn’t help but smile. It felt as if I had a friend for the first time. Each and every time I saw him looking at me, a guilty expression crossed his face, as though he’d been caught doing something embarrassing.

I was equally as guilty. While we were meant to be working quietly, I raised my hand to ask for assistance, and Tom knelt by my desk, his body very close to mine. I could feel the electricity passing between us.

His hand rested on my desk as he ‘explained’ the latest essay to me. Of course, I understood it perfectly well, and he knew it.

It took me all of the courage I could muster to gently touch his hand with my pinkie-finger. I saw goose bumps erupt all over his skin at the feather-light touch. I didn’t move, and the inch of skin remained pressed against Mr. Stone’s hand. It was so subtle, but so erotic I could feel my loins screaming.

He was so close I could hear him breathing. The only other sound in the room was the scratching of pens as the other students worked. No one else had noticed his proximity to me as he helped me with the essay. However, I thought I saw Sadie watching me out of the corner of her eye.

I was right. Come lunchtime, Sadie cornered me in the playground, a falsely sweet smile on her face.

‘Hey, Rose. I missed you at the party,’ she said.

‘Yeah, I left kind of early,’ I admitted.

‘I know, your pink haired friend was looking for you.’

‘Yeah … I’ll see her tonight at the café, I guess.’

To be honest, I didn’t really want to see Estelle. I was annoyed at her for drinking when she’d promised not to. However, I was also thankful, as it had given me more time with Thomas.

‘I saw you leave with Mr. Stone,’ said Sadie, watching my reaction carefully.

I didn’t give her the satisfaction. I shrugged. ‘Yeah, I was stranded so he offered to take me home.’

‘How nice of him. You know he’s given me a lift home before too?’ She smiled smugly.

My jaw tensed. ‘Yeah … yeah, I know. He’s nice like that, isn’t he?’

Sadie nodded. ‘I’ve got a bit of a crush on him, to be honest.’ Her steel gray eyes darted between my own amber ones, analyzing my expression.

I smiled. ‘Yeah, I thought so.’

‘What do you think I should do to get him to notice me?’ Sadie asked, sitting down on the bench and patting the space next to her.

I sat down awkwardly. ‘Erm, I don’t know, Sadie. I’ve never had a boyfriend, remember?’

Sadie rolled her eyes. ‘Come on, Rose. Help me out here. You’re smart, like him.’

‘He’s a teacher … you shouldn’t pursue it,’ I said cautiously.

Sadie waved a hand as
if it didn’t matter. ‘Oh, don’t be silly. No one will find out.’

I licked my lips and shifted nervously. ‘I don’t think Mr. Stone would fall victim to your … uh-’ I couldn’t find the right word to describe it.

‘Affections?’ Sadie smirked.

It was as if she knew something was going on between Mr. Stone and I, and sought to make me jealous. Not that anything
was
going on, or ever would. Regardless, it was working.

‘I was thinking of asking Mr. Stone if I can get extra credit,’ Sadie continued. ‘You know … so I can be alone with him after class.’

‘Oh.’ I burned with jealousy.

When I arrived at the café for my shift with Estelle, she apologized profusely for Saturday night. I begrudgingly forgave her and got on with my shift. She knew I was still annoyed, so she did not push the subject too much.

‘So … who was that man you left with on Saturday?’ she asked, wiping down the tables.

‘My teacher,’ I said. ‘He lives next door.’

‘That cute one that always comes in here?’ Estelle asked.

I chewed on the inside of my lip. ‘Yeah.’

‘Be careful,’ she said.

I raised my eyebrows. ‘Be careful?’

‘He’s an older man, and a teacher at that. You don’t know what he’s up to. He could be one of those predators you see on dateline.’

‘He’s not like that.’ I said. ‘We’re just friends.’

Estelle gave me a pitying look. ‘Oh, honey. Men don’t have female friends unless they want something.’

‘Mr. Stone is different. He’s kind, and mature.’

Estelle put her hands on her hips. ‘So why does he only come here when you’re working?’

‘Does he?’ I asked, feigning disinterest.

Estelle nodded. ‘Uh huh. He never shows up when it’s any of the other girls. Monday’s and Wednesdays, that’s it.’

I shrugged. ‘He said he likes my coffee.’

‘Rose, you’re smarter than that. I can see that you like him. Just promise me you’ll be careful, okay?’

‘Like you have such good taste in men,’ I snapped. ‘Your
friend
Spider decided he wanted to have a go at me.
You’re
the one dating sleaze bags, not me.’

After that, my friendship with Estelle was fractured. We were polite to each other, but not as close as we’d once been.

But Estelle was right. I did like Mr. Stone.

I was falling for him.
Fast
. I couldn’t help it. I was drawn to him and I feared that it was becoming increasingly obvious. He was a good man and I did not wish to complicate his life with my childish notions of love.

He was responsible, and would spurn my advances at once. I could feel it in my gut. So I endured the torture without speaking a word of it.

Meanwhile, my parent’s divorce had not left my mind since they’d told me about it, though I hadn’t said anything to anyone yet. They hadn’t even noticed my absence on Saturday night, and I’d been able to return to my bedroom with them none the wiser.

Who was I meant to talk to about my issues at home? Would Mr. Stone open his arms and embrace me when I confessed my distress? The thought of his arms around me left me momentarily brain dead.

Numerous times I considered using the number he’d given me. I wanted to hear his kind voice, speaking soothing words of comfort.