My heart raced as I climbed out of Luke’s car and gathered on the sidewalk with Olivia, Suzan, and Luke. Tugging on the hem of my strappy black top, I released a long breath, my head light.
“You okay?” asked Suzan.
“I’m fine,” I lied. Excitement, nerves and sheer panic surged through my body and I wasn’t sure so many emotions could survive together in my organs for much longer.
“You’ve got this,” said Olivia.
Luke arrived beside her his blonde hair combed to the side and wearing a light blue button up top and jeans. “We’ll be there the whole time.”
I wasn’t sure if that made me feel better or worse. Knowing they were there, watching every awkward interaction… what if he didn’t speak to me the entire time?
Running my fingers through my hair, I walked with Suzan followed by Olivia and Luke towards the cinema doors. Standing out front were Sam and Dylan. Sam flicked his long fringe from his face, his eyes lighting up at the sight of Suzan and I looked to Dylan who wore a blue-collared shirt and a pair of jeans.
Dylan’s eyes met mine and a grin spread across his face. Those damned butterflies started in my stomach again and I tugged on the hem of my top.
Suzan and Sam hugged and I stood in front of Dylan, unsure what to do next.
“Hey,” he said. “You look great.”
“Thanks,” I said. “This is Olivia and Luke.”
He shook each of their hands in turn.
“We won’t be annoying you,” said Olivia. “We’ll find a seat on the opposite side of the cinema.”
“Dad wouldn’t let me come without them,” I said.
“We aren’t that bad company, are we?” asked Luke.
“No one would complain about hanging out with a handsome doctor.” Olivia kissed him on the cheek.
“Okay, we’ll see you guys after the movie,” I said.
“Yeah, yeah. Have fun.” Luke hugged Olivia to his side as they made their way inside.
“Sorry,” I said.
“Don’t be. Should we go get tickets and food?” asked Dylan.
I was confused by all the talking he was doing. He was back to the guy I’d met at the party, not that weird shadow boxing guy who couldn’t speak more than a sentence at school. Boys were so weird.
“Let’s do it.” Sam kissed Suzan on the cheek.
Dylan slid his hand into mine, sending warmth racing through my body and we followed Sam and Suzan inside.
The foyer was filled with people, the sound of popping corn and chatter filling the room dropping out when an announcement sounded about what movie was ready to go through.
“I’ll grab our tickets,” offered Dylan.
“Thanks,” I replied, unsure if I should offer to pay.
Suzan joined me, while Dylan and Sam went to get our tickets.
“So, he’s chattier,” she said.
“Yeah, maybe he has a twin or something?” I laughed.
“Maybe he’s just awkward. Oh crap, you’ve got to be kidding,” groaned Suzan, her eyes on the doorway.
I followed her gaze, my heart dropping into my stomach. In walked Mike dressed in a black shirt with the name of some band I’d never heard of written across the front. Beside him Charity wore a short black dress and heels I’d break my ankles in if I ever tried to walk in them, her blonde hair trailing down to her elbows.
Suzan turned to me. “Do you think if we pretend we didn’t see them they’ll leave us alone?”
“Hey! Suzan! Lucy!” Charity’s voice called.
No such luck.
Drawing in a deep breath, I plastered on a smile and turned to face them.
“What are you doing here?” asked Suzan, not hiding her annoyance well, that’s if she was even trying.
“I told Charity you were going to the movies and she insisted on coming too,” said Mike.
“I thought it might be a way to make him take me out somewhere.” She flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder. She wore thick eyeliner and mascara that made her eyelashes twice as long. Her cheeks were dusted with bronze and her lips were bright pink. If she was the kind of girl Mike was interested in, then no wonder he’d never thought of me as more than a friend.
“You could’ve told me you were coming,” said Suzan, not letting it go.
“It took me half the day to convince him. He only said yes about thirty minutes ago. I had to race to get dressed before he picked me up,” said Charity. “I didn’t realise you were going to be here, Lucy.”
“Are you the third wheel?” asked Mike.
Yeah, because that was all he thought I was good for. A friend. The third wheel.
“Hey, we got the tickets.” Dylan and Sam arrived beside us, Dylan holding up my ticket and standing with his hand around my waist.
My muscles eased at the gesture and I leaned into him, wanting to show Mike I was more than a third wheel, a friend.
“We’re on a double date,” said Suzan. “You both know my brother, Mike.”
Dylan and Sam said hello.
“And this is his girlfriend, Charity,” finished Suzan.
“Nice to meet you guys. I didn’t know Lucy had a boyfriend.” Charity’s smile broadened.
“We aren’t…” I started.
“This is our first date,” said Dylan, finding his words much easier than he had at school.
“Cute,” said Charity. “This is technically our first date. Mike never wants to take me anywhere."
“He’s worried you’ll realise you’re too good for him,” teased Suzan.
“Funny,” said Mike. “I don’t think we need to spend every waking moment together.”
“Or any moment.” Charity gave him a tight glare.
“I’ve had a lot going on,” argued Mike.
“Right. With that stupid garage band you joined,” she said.
Mike shot her glare. The band was supposed to be a secret.
“You’re in a band?” asked Suzan.
“It’s just a bit of fun.” He squared his jaw. “It was supposed to be a secret. Only the members, Charity and Lucy know about it.”
“You told Lucy?” Suzan and Charity said in unison.
I shrank closer to Dylan as his grip around my waist tightened.
“Yes, because Lucy knows how to keep a secret, and it’s quite apparent the two of you don’t,” he said.
An announcement sounded through the speakers saying our movie was ready to go in and I exhaled with relief.
“You two should come sit with us,” offered Sam as we turned and started filing towards the entrance.
I wanted to kick him in his long, skinny shins.
“Thanks, but I think we’ll sit on our own,” said Charity. “Being a date night and all.”
“These guys are on a date night and they’re sitting together,” said Mike. “We can sit with them.”
Charity tried to hide the way she gritted her teeth. “I’m sure they want some privacy.”
“Yeah, you guys should enjoy a night together,” I said. “You don’t want to have a date night with your sister and her friend.”
“See, Lucy gets it,” said Charity. “Smart and good at keeping secrets. You’ve got a good one there, Dylan.”
“I do,” he said.
I did my best to ignore her jibe, knowing it came from jealousy and wasn’t a personal attack on me.
“Yeah, he does,” added Mike.
Charity’s body tensed. I stilled at his words, wanting this whole night to be over already.
“We better go get seats.” Dylan slipped his hand into mine and I was thankful as he started guiding me into the cinema.
“We’ll grab tickets and meet you in there,” said Mike.
We spotted Olivia and Luke as we showed our tickets. Olivia eyed our joined hands as we approached, raising her eyebrows at me. I pretended to ignore it.
“Was that Mike?” asked Olivia.
“Yeah, he’s totally crashed our night,” groaned Suzan.
&nb
sp; Olivia gave me a look and I tried to ignore it too.
We entered the dimly lit cinema and I said goodbye to Olivia making my way hand in hand with Dylan to the row second from the back.
Without thinking, I let them all slide in before me. Sam first, then Suzan, and then Dylan, until I was the last one to take a seat in the middle of the row.
“You want to swap seats?” offered Dylan.
“No, its fine,” I told him.
“I don’t blame you. These two will be making out through the whole thing,” he joked.
Suzan hit him on the arm.
“Maybe you should grow some balls and make a move yourself,” said Sam.
My throat tightened. If my body reacted the way it did when he held my hand, I didn’t want to imagine what would happen if he kissed me.
The lights faded to black and the preshow started to play. Dylan shifted, lifting the hand rest between us so he could sit a little closer, and placed his hand on my thigh. I tried to play it cool but my insides were going crazy. I just hoped he couldn’t tell.
And just when I thought my body couldn’t stand any more emotions running through it, Mike appeared at the end of the isle, his wide smile lit up by the flickering light from the screen. He made his way to sit in the seat beside me. Charity in tow.
I shifted in my seat and Dylan leaned closer, his whisper tickling my ear. “Are you okay?”
I nodded and looked over to Suzan, who rolled her eyes. Sam kissed her on the neck and she giggled.
“Are you okay?” I whispered back to Dylan.
“I’ve got you to distract me,” he said. “I’m sorry about school the other day…”
“What happened at school?” Mike’s voice made me jump.
“Mike, leave them alone,” whined Charity. She lifted the hand rest between them and wiggled closer. I swear Mike wiggled further away… closer to me. The black armrest between us did nothing to stop his leg touching mine.
“Nothing,” I replied, then turned to Dylan. “It’s fine.”
“I wasn’t sure if you regretted the weekend and didn’t want you to reject me,” he said. “Ethan was giving me crap, so I got all embarrassed and stupid. I’m not as confident as Sam.”
“I don’t regret the weekend at all,” I assured him. “And I’m not as confident as Suzan.”
“Are you talking about the party?” asked Mike. “How’s Becca?”
He knew Becca was okay. We’d told him at touch training.
“She’s fine,” I said.
The opening music sounded and Charity tugged on his arm, leaning her head on his shoulder.
“Enjoy the movie,” he told me.
I faced the screen.
The movie was full of action, with explosions, fast cars and gun shots. But it was hard to focus, wedged between Mike and Dylan. Charity spent the movie trying to get Mike’s attention, but he was too enthralled by the action to take any notice… I wasn’t sure how. She whispered and wriggled so much it was hard to ignore. Sam and Suzan on the other hand, were very distracted. I wasn’t sure if they watched any of the movie, preferring a make-out session instead.
Dylan left his hand on my thigh, mine on top of his through the movie. I’d seen him look my way a few times, but I’d pretended to be too interested in the storyline to look back. To be honest, I was scared he would kiss me. It’s not that I didn’t want him to. Only, it’d be my first kiss, and I didn’t want it to happen when I was sitting next to the guy I’d been crushing on a week before.
When the credits rolled, I glimpsed Olivia and Luke leaving the cinema once the lights came on and Charity gathered her things, clearly unimpressed with the lack of attention she’d received. Mike didn’t appear to be too worried.
“How awesome was the car chase at the end?” he asked, as we filed out of the aisle and towards the cinema’s exit.
“I don’t think these two would know what you’re talking about.” I gestured to Suzan and Sam.
“It was a great movie,” Suzan said, face flushed.
“Best I’ve ever seen,” added Sam.
“Gross, she’s my sister,” said Mike.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have sat with them,” bit Charity as we congregated in the foyer.
“So, how was your first date?” Mike asked me, ignoring Charity.
My cheeks heated and I looked to Dylan. “It was good.”
“Just good?” Mike asked.
Now I wanted to kick him in the shins.
“Leave them alone. Let’s just go,” said Charity.
“I was just asking,” said Mike.
“I’m going.” Charity huffed and stalked towards the door.
Mike rolled his eyes. “See you all later. Nice to meet you both again, Sam and Dylan.”
We all said goodbye and watched as he left.
“Thank goodness for that,” said Suzan. “He was being so weird.”
“He’s just looking out for his sister,” said Sam.
“He was more worried about Lucy,” said Dylan.
“That’s stupid,” I added, but I had nothing to back it up.
Olivia and Luke joined us.
“We’re coming,” I said.
“No hurry, you say your goodbyes and we’ll meet you at the car.” Olivia gave me a wink.
Had she not seen the horrible awkwardness that’d transpired in the cinema?
“We’ll walk you outside,” said Sam.
Outside, we made our way around the corner to the carpark in the darkness, Suzan and Sam using the opportunity to kiss again, because apparently they hadn’t already kissed enough during the movie.
“She makes him happy,” said Dylan.
“And he makes her happy,” I added.
“And you make me happy,” he said.
“Really?” I asked. “I wasn’t sure. When you didn’t talk to me or text me…”
“I’m sorry. Like I said, I was being an idiot. I’ve never done this before,” he said.
“Me either.”
“I hope it’s okay I didn’t make a move on you during the movie. It was weird with Mike there and you seemed uncomfortable.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “It was all a bit weird.”
“Don’t be sorry. But, would it be okay if I kissed you goodbye?” he asked.
Yes. No. Panic and anticipation surged through me and before I could change my mind I nodded. He closed his eyes, his right hand tilting my chin, and I closed mine, my body buzzing.
“Anyone need a lift?” Mike’s voice made me jump and I pulled back, eyes open.
“We’re good, thank you.” Dylan’s voice was tight.
“Okay, see you all at school.” Mike’s eyes met mine before he left.
“Ready to go?” asked Suzan from behind Dylan.
He locked eyes with me. “I’ll text you.”
“I’d like that,” I replied.
18
Lucy
BILSTONE, AUSTRALIA
Staring out the bus window I looked to the sidewalk as we pulled up at Suzan and Mike’s stop, but Mike stood alone running his hands over his dark hair. He climbed onto the bus and slid into the seat beside me. I shifted closer to the window. We’d barely spoken since the night at the movies. To be honest, I’d been avoiding him all week and had ignored his texts asking me if I was okay.
“Where’s Suzan?” I asked him as the bus door closed and it pulled onto the road.
“Good morning to you too,” he said. “She’s sick. I’m sure she’ll text you when she wakes up.”
Suzan and I had convinced Becca and Rachel to join us sitting with Sam, Dylan and Ethan Monday morning and we’d met at the oval for the past two days. I was convinced Ethan had a crush on Rachel, and although she told me I was being ridiculous and she had no time for dating, I could tell she enjoyed the attention. Becca, on the other hand, had been texting Aidan from the party and although she was grounded, she said they’d talked a few times on the phone. Since our date at the movies, Dylan had bee
n more comfortable talking to me and holding my hand during lunch breaks, and my heart warmed and my stomach fluttered each time he did. But I was still annoyed at Mike for making our first date so awkward.
“Flu?” I asked.
“Tummy bug. She’s been up all night vomiting,” he replied. “Are you going to forgive me for being weird on the weekend?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. It was pretty awkward.”
“I know. I’m sorry for going all protective big brother on both of you,” he said. “Charity only started talking to me again yesterday. She has this weird idea I was jealous of you and Dylan.”
I swallowed hard. “That’s just stupid.”
“That’s what I told her. Anyway, I think she’s forgiven me, now I just need you to do the same.” He gave me puppy dog eyes.
Sighing, I turned to face him. “You’re forgiven. Just next time I’m on a date maybe don’t crash it.”
“Thank you. I promise.” He grinned wide and I couldn’t help but smile. “So, Dylan, hey?”
I nodded. “Yup.”
As if on cue, my phone pinged and I looked at it to find a message from Dylan.
Morning, see you at lunch.
“Suzan?” asked Mike.
“Dylan,” I replied.
“You like him, don’t you?” he asked.
“I think so. I mean, I’ve never had a guy interested in me before,” I admitted, enjoying having a relaxed conversation with him again.
“That’s not true. For all you know heaps of guys have been interested and have never said anything,” he said.
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Why? You’re smart, beautiful…”
His words hung between us and I shifted my bag with my feet.
“How are things with Charity now she’s talking to you again? Did you tell her how you feel?” I asked, desperate to change the subject.
“We talked and things are okay, I think. I’m not sure I’ll ever get this whole boyfriend thing right though. Maybe I’m not boyfriend material.”
“You’re a good guy, Mike. I’m sure you’ll work it out.”
“Thanks, Lucy,” he said as the bus pulled up at the front of the school.
Sam looked lost without Suzan during our lunch breaks, so we all sat together talking about our weekends and classes.
Circus in the Clouds (The Balloonist Chronicles Book 3) Page 14