Part 10 (1/2)

”What exactly do you say?”

”I don't say anything. Farah just told me you didn't have much experience and you and Marc were boring.” He threw both hands in the air. ”She said it, not me.”

Big surprise. It was bad enough Farah harped to me about it, but to broadcast her judgments to Lance was over the line.

”I see. I'm glad you both have me all figured out. I didn't know you were such experts.”

”Whoa.” He balked. ”What's wrong with you tonight? Come on, Cecily, this isn't even worth it.”

”What exactly do you mean? You've done nothing except talk about Farah all night!”

He shrugged. ”Only trying to make conversation. You're jumpy and grouchy. I can get this c.r.a.p at home.” He stood up. ”Maybe we'd better go.”

The door to the apartment jangled. Lance and I both froze.

”No way,” Lance said under his breath.

The door opened and Pete came through. When he saw us, he dropped his duffel bag and stared. ”What...?”

Lance flew into action. He grabbed my backpack from the floor and tossed it at me. ”We were leaving.”

”You better be leaving. This is great, Lance, you never even asked.” The sarcasm dripped from Pete's voice.

”You were busy,” Lance answered. ”And you would've said no.”

”You got that right, I would have said no. What were you thinking? Bringing Emili over here to use my apartment for...”

Lance shoved into him, knocking him against the wall. ”Shut up!” It was a growl.

I was over the shock enough to run. I tore out through the open door into the frigid air outside. I didn't wait for Lance, I just ran. After a block, my lungs were screaming from cold so I slowed to a walk. What a complete disaster. Lance hadn't even checked with Pete - it was insulting. Not to mention humiliating. To think Pete could've seen us...

What did it matter? The evening was over before Pete came in. Way over. I was sick to my toes of hearing Lance go on about Farah. And that wasn't all - I was scared of how far I might've gone with him.

I began stomping my way back to the library.

It was stupid, but I hoped Lance would catch up to me. I hoped he'd tell me Farah meant nothing to him. I hoped he'd tell me how much he loved me and we could go more slowly and get to know each other better. Then I'd tell him I didn't mean it when I said we should go, that all I wanted was to snuggle and be together.

I put my hand over my mouth. I didn't want the night to end like this. I wanted everything to be smoothed over and for both of us to be happy. All the planning and excitement were down the toilet, and Lance would probably never kiss me again.

I swiped at the tears that trailed down my cheeks... The last thing I wanted to do was cry. Crying would only prove again how innocent I was. Farah and Lance must've had a big laugh talking about boring innocent me. I could imagine how Farah would've gone on and on, mimicking me.

My yearning for Lance morphed into a nasty taste of betrayal. I felt sick.

I got to the corner of 8th and Meridian and plopped down on the curb. The cold from the concrete went right through my jeans and I started to s.h.i.+ver.

In truth, I'd been rude, too. I'd snapped at Lance, and earlier I'd been mean to Farah. I couldn't even think about how I treated Marc. What was the matter with me? The tears increased. Why was I acting like such a jerk?

”Cis?” It was Lance.

I jumped up.

”Are you okay?”

”Yeah. You?”

”I'm okay.”

”Pete still mad?”

”He'll get over it. I'll have a couple bruises, no big deal.”

”So you didn't ask him.”

”He would've said no.”

I sighed. We stood there in the dim streetlight looking at each other. At that moment, we were the only two people on earth. Finally I said, ”You followed me.”

”It's dark, and you're a girl walking alone. Give me some credit. I don't want your murder on my hands.”

I chewed the inside of my lip and wiped at my tears. ”I'm sorry, Lance. I know I was totally catty.”

”It's okay.”

”I ruined our whole plan.”

He took my arm and we started toward the library. ”Pete coming home didn't help.”

I leaned into him as we walked. He'd come after me. He was watching out for me. Maybe things weren't as bad as I thought.

It's always nice to hope.

Chapter Nine.

My mom was sitting in the car right outside the library when we rounded the corner. I froze. ”It's my mom!”

Lance stiffened. ”Get behind me quick. Maybe she didn't see you.”

I ducked behind him, and I heard her car door open.

”Emili?” she called out. ”Is that you?”

I slowly came out from behind Lance. ”Hey, Mom, you're early.” I gave her a wobbly smile.

She approached me with a skeptical look. She tipped her head to the side and squinted at me in the streetlight. She glanced at Lance and her expression hardened. ”I guess I am early. What are you doing out here?”

”I, uh, well, Lance was at the library, and we came outside because it was super-hot in there, and you happened to come at the same time.”