“I doubt that.” I nudged the tray back in his direction. “You don’t seem the type to stop after just one bite.”
“I am.” He pushed the tray back.
“If neither of you want them, I’ll take them!” Wes grinned as he reached for the tray.
“Don’t!” I smacked his hand sharply.
“Ouch!” He glared at me.
“Harsh.” Oliver quirked an eyebrow. “I think you’d better eat those chips. You seem a little hangry.”
“Enough.” Candy rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what is going on between the two of you, but this is ridiculous.” She looked over at me.
“Everything’s fine, Candy.” I met her eyes. Of all my friends, Candy was the most sensitive. She hid it well, but it really bothered her whenever there was disharmony or drama. “Oliver’s right, I probably am a little hangry.” I plucked a chip from the plate and popped it into my mouth.
The others seemed to take this as a symbol that everything was fine.
As the conversation picked back up, I watched the way that Oliver interacted with my friends. He flashed smiles, told stories about his life in England, and even cracked a few jokes with Chuckles, the clown of our little ensemble of friends. He certainly didn’t lack an ounce of charm when it came to my friends, but each time his gaze shifted back to me, his smile faded.
Had I offended him so deeply that he couldn’t stand the sight of me?
It was probably for the best. I finished the last of my food, then stood up.
“Good night all, see you in the morning.” As I started to leave the table, Apple caught my hand and held onto it.
“Where are you going? Aren’t we going to hang out tonight?” She met my eyes.
I knew what she meant. She wanted to meet up in the hideout like we always did. It was a building we’d discovered in an area of the campus that was no longer used for classes. Instead, the buildings were used for storage and we’d taken over one in particular to be our home away from home. It was a sacred place.
“Not tonight. I’m a little tired.” I glanced briefly at Oliver, then looked back at Apple. “Besides, we have choir tomorrow.”
“Choir?” Oliver’s eyes widened as he smiled. “I didn’t peg you for a church -going girl.”
“It’s not that kind of choir.” Apple grinned. “You should come, I’ll bet you’d like it.”
“He didn’t get permission.” I narrowed my eyes.
“Don’t worry, I can arrange it.” Apple looked over at Oliver. “Trust me, just be ready to leave by eight. It’ll be worth it.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” He smiled as he met my eyes. “See you in the morning, Maby.”
I managed to resist glaring at him. To all my friends he was a charming new student. I didn’t want them to think I was cruel. But I sensed the darkness behind his smile.
He didn’t want to go with us for any other reason than to torture me.
“Fine.” I gritted my teeth as I turned and walked away.
I’d have a short time without him, long enough for me to reset my attitude and get him out from under my skin. At least that’s what I thought before I felt a hand wrap around my wrist just as I reached the hallway.
I turned quickly to find Oliver right behind me.
“Wait, can I talk to you?”
“Why?” I tore my hand from his grasp. “What could you possibly have to say to me?”
“I know things got off to a rough start between us.” He met my eyes. “I shouldn’t have acted the way I did.”
“Is this some kind of joke?”
“It’s not a joke.” He swept his hands back across his hair and sighed. “I’m still getting used to being here, okay? It isn’t exactly by choice.”
“What do you mean?” I studied him. “You were forced to come here?”
“In a way, yes. It wasn’t my idea.” He shook his head. “I’ve got a lot going on right now. But I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.” I crossed my arms. “But I’m not sure if I believe any of this. You’ve spent the day trying to pluck every nerve I have, and now all of a sudden you have a change of heart?”
“It’s not a change of heart.” He frowned and took a slight step back. “I’m just trying to minimize the damage I cause.”
“It’s not working.” I met his eyes. “You’re not very good at apologies.”
“Apologies aren’t worth anything, are they?” He lowered his voice as he spoke, then took a step in my direction. “Is that what you want me to say? I’m sorry?” He searched my eyes. “Will that make you believe me?”
“No.” I frowned as I stared back at him. Despite how irritated I was, the moment we made eye contact, I felt as if he drew me in. I felt an irresistible urge to see as far as I possibly could. “Why don’t you just try telling me the truth? What are you so upset about?”
“Never mind that.” He smiled and I watched his charm resurface, like a mask he could easily put on and take off as it suited him. “I’ll see you in the morning, right?”
“I guess I don’t have much choice, do I?” I shook my head. “Hopefully you can handle it.” As I turned and walked away, I bit into the tip of my tongue.
I wanted to say a lot more. I wanted to tell him that he should just go back to England if he didn’t want to be here. I wanted to insist that he not go with us the next morning. But there was no point. He would do what he wanted to do—whatever pleased him—and nothing I could say would stop him.
After a fitful night’s sleep, I woke up with a pressure in my chest, almost as if I couldn’t breathe. Was it nerves about singing?
I rubbed my hand along my throat and took a slow breath. My lungs filled just fine, but the pressure remained. I took another breath and pressed my hand against my chest. The moment that my hand settled over my heart, Oliver’s face flashed through my mind. My stomach jolted and I took a sharp breath.
“No, no, no!” I jumped out of bed and rushed over to the mirror on my vanity. As I stared into my own eyes, I spoke in a firm tone. “No way, Mabel, do you hear me? Not a chance. Get it out of your head right this second because it’s not going to happen!”
I felt my heartbeat quicken with my hand still pressed against my chest. I closed my eyes tight and tried to imagine Aaron instead. Aaron with his hair flowing in the wind as he rode his horse.
For a moment, I did see Aaron, but a second later it was Oliver mounting Clover despite Aaron’s protests.
“Ugh!” I flopped back against my bed and groaned. How could this be happening?
Chapter 9
When my phone rang, I tried to ignore it. The last thing I wanted to do was end up in New York City with Oliver again. But a few minutes later I heard pounding on the dorm room door.
“Maby!” Fi called out from her bedroom. “I know it’s not for me!”
I sighed as I pushed myself up out of bed. There’d been a time when I’d looked forward to choir. It had been my favorite thing to do. Now, it felt more like a chore.
I could already hear Oliver’s comments when he saw me on stage. His sharp tongue would have a lot of exercise.
“I’m on my way, Candy!” I gathered my dress and a few things I needed for my hair and my make-up and shoved it all in the usual bag. As I pulled on a pair of jeans and tossed on a blouse, I tried to remember the excitement I’d once felt.
Jennifer and I would sing as we got ready. We’d dance our way to the bus stop. Everything was better then. I could hear her voicing her opinion about Oliver.
“You’ve got a crush on that English boy!” she would sing into her hairbrush. She’d dance around me in circles and laugh so loud that she’d wake up the girls in the next dorm. She would make even my misery fun.
“It’s about time.” Candy sighed as I stepped out the door into the hall.
“Sorry, I overslept.” I shrugged.
“Really?” She cupped my chin and looked at my face. “Because it looks like you did
n’t sleep at all.”
“I’ve been having a rough time lately, that’s all.” I frowned as I followed her down the hallway. “I’m just a little out of sorts.”
“You’re not the only one, trust me. With everyone hooking up lately, it’s hard not to feel like I’m the odd one out.” She tiptoed through the commons, then pushed the door open to the courtyard.
Someone outside pulled the door out of her hands and held it open for both of us.
Candy stepped out ahead of me.
I paused when I saw who held the door.
Oliver. Oliver, who’d shown up in my fantasy this morning. Oliver, who most certainly didn’t belong there.
“Morning, sunshine.” He smiled at me.
“Chipper in the morning, aren’t you?” I stepped past him and greeted Apple with a hug.
“I made sure he was up and ready to go. I don’t want him to miss a minute.” Apple laughed.
“Does that mean you’re going to perform a solo today?” I met her eyes.
“No way.” She drew back. “Not happening, you know that.”
“One of these days.” I winked at her. Apple’s shyness was something I’d been trying to break her out of, but it wasn’t the easiest thing to do.
“Now I’m even more curious. Are we waiting for anyone else?” Oliver fell into step with the group.
“No, this is it. A few other girls used to sing, but various activities took over their time.” Candy looped her arm through Oliver’s.
I noticed that he didn’t pull away. I also noticed that Candy made sure her head brushed briefly against his shoulder.
A hint of relief allowed me to take a deep breath. Maybe Candy would pair up with Oliver and I could stop thinking about him once and for all.
On the bus, he sat beside Candy and I settled into a seat of my own. As I watched the sun spill across the high-rise buildings, I remembered the feeling of being alone in the middle of the city. It still sent a small shiver up my spine. I pushed the thought from my mind.
I wasn’t alone. I had friends that cared about me, a mother who adored me, and a future that couldn’t be any more bright. Why would I dwell on a few minutes of loneliness during a very strange day?
We piled off the bus and headed into the small theater. It was about as familiar to me as my own dorm room. I’d been part of the choir since I’d started at Oak Brook as a freshman and I hoped to continue until my very last day.
“You’re going to love this, Oliver. Make sure you get a good seat.” Candy blew him a kiss, then grabbed my hand and tugged me behind the stage. “One more second of that accent and I might just turn into a puddle.” She laughed.
“Really? I find it a little annoying.” I scrunched up my nose as I pulled on my dress, then added a few props to my costume.
“How is that even possible?” She frowned as she looked at me. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. He’s clearly not into me. He keeps asking me questions about you.”
“Me?” I stared back at her.
“Yes, you. It’s pretty obvious he has a thing for you.” She tugged on a long red wig.
“No offense, Candy, but you don’t have a clue. He can barely stand being around me.” I turned my back to her. “Can you zip me?”
“Have I mentioned that I love this dress on you?” She pulled up the zipper. “If he isn’t into you yet, when he sees you in this, he’s going to be head over heels.”
“I doubt it. But I suspect he has a thing for redheads.” I smiled as I turned to face her. “You should go out there and work it.”
“Oh, are you pushing me his way?” She narrowed her eyes. “What’s that about? Why not try things out and see what happens?”
“You know my rule, Candy. No dating in high school. Besides, he doesn’t want anything to do with me and I want even less to do with him. So please, just drop it.”
“If you say so.” She shrugged. “But I know what I see when I see it.”
I held back my opinion. I didn’t want to cause any more drama than I already faced with Oliver in the audience.
As we paraded on stage, the music blasted and the crowd cheered. It had gotten larger over the years. It was still only about fifty people or so, but it was a fun way to spend our Sunday mornings.
As we began to sing our ridiculous songs in our ridiculous costumes, I felt a particular pair of eyes on me.
“All we have to do is shake, shake, shake!” Candy sang out, then turned around and thrust her bottom out to the audience. As she shook it beneath her fluffy skirt, the audience cheered. Apple was the next to spin around and shake and as they continued down the line, I wondered if I should just skip it. But I didn’t want to ruin the show. I certainly didn’t want to let Oliver’s presence stop me from being exactly who I was.
When it was my turn, I spun around and shook it just as enthusiastically as I always did.
When I turned back around, I looked out into the audience and noticed the shocked look on his face. It made me smile wider than I had in a long time. He applauded along with the rest of the audience.
After we changed, I stepped out of the dressing room to find him in the hallway.
“Well, that was a strange parade you all put on.” He chuckled as he held the door for me.
“Didn’t you like it?” I batted my eyes at him.
“Oh, I liked it just fine. I can’t say I understand it, though. Why would you want to be part of such a display?”
“If you’d listened to the lyrics, you would know. It’s meant to ridicule society’s view of women and their roles.”
“So you are defying society’s portrayal of women by dressing up and shaking your butt?”
“I wouldn’t expect you to understand.” I rolled my eyes as I walked toward the stairs that led to the girls’ dressing room. “Did you at least enjoy yourself?” I glanced back at him.
“How could I not?” He stared at me, his lips quirked into the faintest smile. “Would you like to show me again?”
“No thanks.” I turned and walked away.
Part of me expected him to follow. When he didn’t, I glanced back and saw him with his phone to his ear. Too curious not to listen in, I crept closer. With his back to me, I doubted that he knew I was there.
“Shauna, I’m asking for another chance. I deserve at least that.” His voice wavered, without a hint of the charm that usually oozed from him. “Please, can’t you give me that?” He took a sharp breath. “Don’t hang up!” He cursed under his breath as he shoved his phone into his pocket and spun around suddenly.
Startled, I ducked back against the wall hoping that the shadows in the hallway would hide me.
“Did you enjoy the show?” He glared at me.
“I just wanted to make sure you knew the way out.” My cheeks flushed as I heard how lame my excuse sounded.
“No, you just wanted to be nosy.” He brushed past me and headed down the hallway. As he joined the others, he gave a resounding laugh, then shot a look back at me.
I froze as he stared at me. How could I defend myself when he was right? I’d judged him so harshly, but it was beginning to become clear to me that Oliver didn’t have the perfect life he portrayed.
Chapter 10
“So, did you like it?” Candy grinned as she looped her arm around Oliver’s. “Was it fantastic or what?”
“It was eye-opening.” He grinned and tightened his arm around hers.
“I’ll get us a taxi.” I waved my hand through the air.
“So soon?” Oliver frowned. “It’s a beautiful day.”
“He’s right.” Apple nodded as she looked up at the sky. “Not too hot, nice and clear.”
“We do have another hour or so before we’re supposed to be back.” Candy shrugged. “We could go grab some coffee or something.”
“Or take him to Maby’s favorite place!” Apple clapped her hands. “I bet it will shock him!”
“No, I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” I frowned.
“Why?” Oliver looked over at me. “I’d love to see it. I tried to get her to take me yesterday, but she wouldn’t.”
“Really?” Candy frowned. “Why not? You showed all of us.”
“It’s not my favorite place anymore. Not really.” I brushed my hair back over my shoulders. “I think it’s better if we just head back.”
“Is she always so cheerful?” Oliver leaned closer to Candy. “Or is she just being extra sunny because I’m here?”
“Maby, are you okay?” Apple looked into my eyes.
“I’m fine. I’m just a little tired. I didn’t sleep well.” I rubbed my hand along the back of my neck and did my best to avoid Oliver’s gaze.
“I thought you said you slept in?” Candy raised an eyebrow. “I say we take him. Even if it’s not your favorite place anymore, it’s still a great place to visit and he’s probably never even heard of it.”
“It’s decided then.” Oliver smiled. “I’m at your mercy, ladies.”
“I like the sound of that.” Candy squeezed his arm. “Let’s go, Maby, it’ll be great.”
“Fine.” I rolled my eyes, then followed after them.
It wasn’t my favorite place. Not anymore. Not after everything that had changed in my life. But it was still a fun place to visit.
I followed them as we entered Grand Central Terminal and listened to their chatter as we blended with the crowd of travelers.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” Oliver peered over his shoulder at me.
“It’s not much further.” Candy laughed as she pulled him toward an oyster restaurant in the busy station.
“Wait, this is your favorite place?” He laughed as he pulled away from Candy. “I have to say that surprises me a little.”
“Not the restaurant, silly.” Candy huffed, then gave him a light push toward the corner.
“Wait, who’s going to be on the other side?” Apple cringed. “Was I not supposed to say that?”
“Maby, go on the other side.” Candy tipped her head to the other corner of the archway, across a crowd of people.
“No, you should go, Candy.” I smiled as I thought about the many things she might have already thought of to say.
Worth the Wait: A Young Adult Sweet Romance (Oak Brook Academy Book 4) Page 4