Senseless Attraction (14 page)

       “By George, I think you have it.” I beamed.

      He looked at me confused. “What?”

       A blush rose and I looked away to pack the things in my bag. “Sorry, just something my mom used to say.”

       “Okay.” He nodded. “So I'll meet you here tomorrow at twelve?”

       “Yes. Oh, but what happens if something comes up? Or you’re running late? I'd like to know so I don't wait all day. So, um—if I give you my number you could text me.” I hope he didn’t think that I was trying to push myself at him.

       He raised his eyebrows. “All right, what is it?” He grabbed his phone out of his hooded jumper. I rattled off my number as he typed it in. “It's Alex, right?” he asked.

       Really? He wasn't sure of my name? I felt the urge to roll my eyes, but I contained it. Instead, an inconvenient blush rose again. Not because I was embarrassed, but I was annoyed that he thought he had my name wrong. Luckily for him, he didn’t or I would have...oh, who was I trying to trick? I wouldn’t have done or said anything.

      Instead, I sighed and said, “Yes.”

      “Do you want mine in case you’re late or something?” This time he gave me a small smirk.

      “No. Thank you. I work here, remember? So I won't be late.”

      He seemed puzzled by my answer. Was it because I wouldn't be one of those millions of girls who would fall at his strong feet wanting the phone number of one of the most sexy, rough, tall, strongly built, intriguing guys around.

      That was not me.

      “You don't like me, do you?” he asked.

      I paused what I was doing and looked at him. “I don't know you. Anyway, would you really care if I didn't?”

      He shrugged and stood. “I guess not. See you tomorrow,
Alex,
” he said and left.

     There was no thank you for your help, or anything. Why did that not surprise me?

      I shook my head and strapped my pack up so none of the many books inside fell out. I threw it over my shoulder and walked out of the library, saying my final goodbye to Mrs Doherty on the way. I stood just outside the entrance as the cool night air hit me. I knew I should have grabbed an extra jacket and my gloves. I looked up to the clear night sky, while wishing the breeze away. Instead of getting what I asked for, another gust of wind blew, nearly pulling me over, the weight of my bag not helping. I stumbled back until something solid caught me.

      I looked around to thank whoever it was now helping me straighten up with their hand under my arm, and found Tristan standing there, a tight expression across his face. Where had he come from?

      “You should be more careful. Don't you have another jacket or something? It's freezing out here.”

      I stood stunned for a second, then remembered he’d asked me something, so I quickly replied, “As you can see, I don't have a jacket or else I would be wearing it.” Did that sound sarcastic? That sounded rude, didn't it? I looked away from him, down to my feet. “Sorry. Thanks for the help though.” I went to walk off, realising then that he still had a hold of my arms. His touch firm, but warm. Welcoming?     

     What?

      He removed his hands quickly and shrugged out of his jacket that I hadn't seen him wearing before. He went to place it around my shoulders, but I stepped back and placed my hand on his strong arm.

      “No, you have it; it's yours and I don't live that far from here.” Why was he being nice to me? Was it because of my helping in Maths?

      “Your tiny body will need it more than me,” he said with an eye roll. “Or is it because it's mine? You hate the thought of having something of mine touch you?” He glared.

      “Don't be ridiculous…and tiny body? That’s just mean.” I glared back and snatched his jacket out of his hands, thrusting my arms into the too-long sleeves. I quickly pushed them up and looked back up to Tristan’s amused face. I sighed. “Sorry, I didn't mean that
you’re
ridiculous, just what you said...”

      “Do you always apologise when you stick up for yourself?”

      I thought about it for a second. Though I already knew that was exactly what I did. “Yes.”

      “You shouldn't.”

      I knew that, but when you did something for so long, it was hard to stop.

      “That’s what Sarah’s always telling me.”

      Sarah…just thinking about her reminded me that Tristan had only just last night kissed her and that she wanted more of it. “You know Sarah, right?”

      He shook his head. “No. Should I?”

      I felt offended on Sarah's behalf. Did he go around kissing so many girls that he forgot which ones he had? 

      “Sarah, tall, red hair, goes to our school?” He kept shaking his head. I growled and stomped my foot. “You kissed her last night at the grocery store. Ring any bells now? Or is she just one of many that you kissed last night?” I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth. I shouldn't have said that. “Sorry,” I uttered.

      He rolled his eyes. I thought he'd be peeved with what I just said, but he was smiling.

      “Now I know who you’re talking about. I was confused. Not because of all the
many
I apparently kiss, but because she didn't mention her name. We were talking, and then she said she had to go, and then kissed
me
. I am not one to push someone away who wants just a mere kiss.”

      Really? She kissed him? A mere kiss? What was that supposed to mean? Didn't kissing someone mean something to him? I knew it would me, if anyone kissed me.

      And why was I pleased that he didn't remember her?

      “It doesn't matter; it's none of my business. Only that…”
Was I really going to say this?
“I think she likes you and…maybe wants to see you again.”
Yes, I did just say that.

      “Really? Well, I guess we'll see what happens.” He smirked.

      “Hey, that you, Tristan?” Someone yelled behind him. Tristan stiffened. I went to glance around him to see who it was, but he gripped my shoulders and held me in place.

      “You need to go,” he said through clenched teeth.

      “Yo, Tristan.”

      Then I recognized the voice; it was Aaron, and when there was one idiot, the others wouldn't be far behind.

      It all dawned on me then. Tristan didn't want them to see me with him. Questions would be asked, ones that he wouldn't want answered. Why would the rebel in school want to be associated with the dork? I got it; I did. Still, it did hurt.

      I didn't bother saying anything; I turned and walked quickly around the side of the library, knowing that Tristan’s solid form would hide my
tiny
body from being seen. Once there, I stopped and listened.

      “Hey, man, what the hell are you doing here?” Aaron asked.

      “Nothing much, hassling the workers. Been searchin’ for you and the others. Speaking of which, where are they?”

      “Around the corner at Joe’s Pool Hall
.
I stepped out for a breather with a pretty brunette, then she friggin’ left me; that’s when I spotted you.”

      “All right, let’s go have some fun then,” Tristan said, sounding bored.

      “Now you’re talking.”

      I waited until I could no longer hear their retreating footsteps and walked out from around the corner. What I should have done was walk into Joe’s with my head held high and thrown his stupid jacket at his face. Of course, I didn't. Instead, I pulled his jacket tighter around me, taking in the scent of Tristan that was left behind. He smelled wonderful.

      I couldn't be upset with him, and I shouldn't care about what just took place. I thought we were getting along fine. It went to show you how different people could be when they didn't hang around with their usual crowd. Question was: which was the real Tristan?

      Didn’t matter. All I had to do was help him get his grade up in Maths, which I was sure I’d be able to. Then we could go back to the way things were. I’d be that invisible girl I always was to him, and he’d be the ringleader of the idiots.

      Really, that hadn't changed for him.

S
leep was hard to come Friday night. I was still awake at two in the morning when Dad came home. At least he sounded like he was in a happy mood, whistling away. That meant he must have won the case he’d been working on. I wanted to get up and talk to him; it seemed we hardly got to see each other, but I didn't. My bed was too warm and the house was too cold. The last thing I remembered before finally falling asleep was dad opening my door to check I was where I was supposed to be.

I woke to my alarm ringing at nine. Usually, I’d be up and awake by seven, but the lack of sleep had me sleeping late. Actually, I wanted to roll back over and go back to sleep, but I was never one to call in a sick day when I wasn’t really ill. Especially when it was my own silly fault for being awake so late in the first place. I couldn't stop my brain from thinking…about Tristan. I kept looking at his coat hanging over my chair at my desk; his scent from it was overpowering enough that I could smell it from across the room as I laid in my bed.   

      Why would he do something nice like that, and then have me hide away when one of his idiot mates approached? All right, so I already knew the answer; a guy like Tristan wouldn't be caught dead seen with someone like me.

      Sarah had rang me last night, informing me that she went out to the shops with Olivia, her two-year-older cousin, and guess who she ran into—Tristan. He was down there with his usual gang, and she apparently had enough courage to walk right up to them while in the food court and sit down, starting a conversation. I think it also helped that Olivia was there, and that she was just as pretty as Sarah was. She said she had a great time and couldn't understand why I had so many problems with those guys. I felt like screaming it was because they never did it when she was around. I guess they liked her too much to show their true side.

      But I didn't bother explaining that to her; she knew how I felt about them, and it was up to her to think what she wanted.

      In the end, she told me that when she said goodbye she leaned over the table and kissed Tristan again. My stomach dropped—why? She said the others started shouting and whistling their approval, and then she walked off.

      Was I happy for her? Maybe. She seemed to really like Tristan. I did hope it could work out for them. Really, I did. Sort of.

      I quickly showered and packed my bag for soccer late that afternoon.

      Last year had been my final year for soccer because I wanted to concentrate on my studies, but Heather, the team captain, had called and asked if I could fill in for the day. I doubted I’d have enough time to get home after tutoring to change and drive back over to the indoor soccer field, which was a couple of blocks from the library, so I took my bag with me and headed out the door to work.

      Dread filled me once more.

      The two hours of work went quickly, and I managed not to make any mistakes. My head was tightly screwed onto my body, and my brain batteries were fully charged. In the last ten minutes, Michelle, a co-worker, turned up. She was the same age as me, only she attended another school and was really good-looking, tall and slim, with blonde hair, and light green eyes. And no matter what she wore, she always pulled it off; she had a thing for vintage clothing. I didn't know where she got them from, but they looked fantastic on her. I looked at her as she walked my way smiling, then I looked down at myself in pity. I was wearing my usual jeans and a t-shirt, which was the best thing for me to wear. Seemed like I couldn't pull off anything else. I was too short for any type of skirt, and I didn't fill out the front enough in dresses, so what did I have left? What I had on.

      “Hey.” Michelle winked. She came up really close and faced the opposite way from the front desk. “There’s a guy sitting at the table in the far corner, and he keeps staring at you.”

      I looked over and locked gazes with Tristan. I hadn't even seen him come in, and usually I was attentive to when a person walked through the door. I liked to greet them on arriving. How long had he been there?