"Of course." He kissed my nose, continuing to hum. "How could I forget?"
How indeed? And to think I'd ever called this guy a jerk. He was seriously the sweetest guy ever, and I was totally falling for him.
"Mind if I kiss you?"
I grinned. "Maybe."
"Maybe, huh?" He spread his hands on my back, rubbing in a circular motion. I noticed that he kept his hands away from my butt, which made me laugh. He might like me, but he was still a little afraid of me. That was good.
He bent his head, and I met him halfway. I was becoming quite addicted to kissing.
"Frances!" My mom's squawk ripped into my bliss.
Oh, no. I stumbled backwards, tripping over the chair. Only Theo's quick grab kept me on my feet. Unfortunately, it also ended up with me in his arms.
In front of my mom, who was looking absolutely horrified. Oh, God. I was so busted. "Mom—"
"Mrs. Spinelli, I can explain," Theo said, moving in front of me.
Protecting me from my mom? That was so sweet. Unfortunately, it wasn't going to work this time. He was going to find himself in our trashcan in about two minutes when my dad walked in, and I was going to be skewered alive.
"You. Out of my house." My mom pointed at Theo. "Now."
He didn't move, which totally melted me. "It's not Frances's fault."
"Out!"
Theo glanced at me, and I nodded. There was nothing he was going to be able do to this time. "It's okay."
"I'll stay if you want." He was totally ignoring my mom's commands because he thought I needed him.
I could love this guy. Really. "I'll be fine." Or I'd be dead. Either way, Theo wasn't going to be able to save me.
He brushed his hand over my hair, a totally sweet gesture that announced I was his. "I'll call you."
"No, you won't." My mom grabbed his arm and shoved him out the front door. Theo gave me a concerned look, but when I nodded, he allowed her to push him outside.
But when she slammed the door, cutting me off from his support, my bravado faded. Me alone against my parents? Suddenly, I wanted to run after him and ask him to come back.
My mom faced me. "You. Sit. I'm going to go get your father out of the car."
I sat.
My mom left, muttering something about how she'd never been so glad to forget her wallet.
Yeah, me too.
Not.
Chapter 18
Allie sat next to me in the cafeteria, listening to my tale of woe. She was the only one I could tell. I wasn't allowed to go to any of my friends' houses, or take phone calls. But my parents couldn't keep me from going to school.
"So, have you talked to Theo since?" she asked.
I shook my head. "How could I? My parents won't let me talk on the phone."
"What about email?"
"They changed the wifi password so I can't go online." I stared glumly at the dried out piece of meat that was supposed to be a hamburger.
"Wow."
"Yeah." I stuck my spoon in the coagulated chocolate pudding, but even chocolate didn't sound appealing.
"What about the computers at school?"
Oh, wow. I sat up. "Hadn't thought of that." I was so going to email Theo after lunch.
"And The Homework Club?"
"Over." How could I run it when I was stuck at home?
Allie whistled. "Bummer."
"Yeah." My life sucked.
"So, um, I told Blue and Natalie everything," Allie said.
I winced, remembering that they knew nothing about me and Theo, even though we'd been hanging out for over a month. "Do they hate me for lying to them?"
Allie laughed. "Of course not, you goof. They love you."
I looked at her, hoping desperately she was telling the truth. I missed my friends so much. I needed them to be okay with me. "Really? They're not mad I lied to them?"
"Heck, no," Allie said as she picked up an apple. She took a big bite. "They're mad they can't get the details on Theo's kissing."
I grinned. "Really? We're okay?"
"Swear. I think you might have to grovel a bit, but they'll forgive you."
Phew.
Or not.
I mean, yeah, I felt better knowing that they still loved me, but how did it actually help me? I was never going to be allowed to see them again.
The next day when I got to school, I had an email from Theo in response to mine.
Frances! Glad you emailed me. Miss you. Take the trash out Friday at nine. I'll meet you in your backyard.—T
Yay!
I was so excited that I emailed Natalie and Blue to tell them. I hoped Allie was right that they'd forgiven me, because I needed them in my life again! Some things were so exciting they had to be shared.
And then, because I felt guilty, I emailed George to let him know that I wouldn't be able to have any more dates with him. And that was absolutely true, for any number of reasons.
One minute after nine.
Friday night.
Was Theo in my backyard?
"So, I'll take the trash out." I held up the bag I'd just pulled out of the plastic can under the sink. "Be back in a sec."
My mom waved absently, in the middle of some deep discussion with my dad. Good. She wouldn't notice if I was out there for a few minutes.
I was going to get to see Theo! I was so excited.
I pushed open the back door, then pulled it shut firmly. "Theo?" I whispered, but there was no sound.
Was I early? That would be horrible, because I couldn't hang out in the backyard for an hour waiting for him.
"Theo!"
Nothing.
Disappointment rushed through me. I should have waited. I knew he would come, but what if he was delayed and I missed it because I could take the trash out for only so long? Morose now, I sighed as I walked down the steps and over to the shed we used to protect the garbage from the raccoons. I'd just tossed the trash inside and was shutting the door when I felt an arm wrap around my waist and pull me off behind the shed.
I grinned, not exactly fearing for my life.
Sure enough, when I was safely hidden, I turned around to find Theo standing there. "Hi."
He kissed me.
Have I mentioned that I was really discovering the fun of kissing?
"So, you ready?" he asked.
"For what?" Why was he talking? Why couldn't he keep kissing me until I had to go back inside?
"Dancing." He spun me around in his arms, then pulled me up against him.
"Mmm. I wish." I snuggled my face against his chest and realized I wouldn't have too many qualms about sneaking into that club again. Had I become a total deviant or what?
"Seriously. Let's go." He pulled back from me and took my hand to lead me across the yard.
"What?" I yanked my hand free. "You want me to sneak out again?"
"Of course." He stopped and looked confused. "How else are we going to see each other?"
"Theo. I'm already grounded. I can't sneak out."
"Why not? What more can they do to you?"
"They could never trust me again."
"So?"
"So?" I walked over to him and poked him in the chest. "I'll totally admit I've had fun with you, but I can't throw my life away over it anymore."
"Spending time with me is throwing your life away?" He narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. "Nice."
"No, it's not you that's the problem." Yeesh. Boys could be so sensitive. "It's the fact that I have to get my parents to trust me again. I don't want to be grounded for the rest of my life. I have to rebuild that trust."
"Just keep blowing them off and they'll figure out eventually they have no control over you."
I snorted. "Said by the boy who never misses a Waller family dinner. You're all talk, Theo. You never go against your parents."
He lifted a brow. "I don't need to rebel. My parents let me do what I want."
My amusement faded, as I realized he was actually serious about wantin
g me to sneak out. "Well, I have parents I have to deal with, which means not pushing them to the point at which they handcuff me to the computer."
He ran his hand through his hair, looking frustrated. "So, we aren't going to see each other?"
"Theo! What do you want me to do?"
He met my gaze. "Fight for me, Frances."
Fight for him? But this was Theo. He didn't need anyone to fight for him. Everyone loved him already. "By lying to my parents yet again?" I shook my head. "No way. I'm not doing that anymore." Even though I'd been grounded, it had been somewhat of a relief to be done with the charade. Lying just didn't suit me.
Only, there was still one big lie out there. The Homework Club. Not that I'd ever tell my parents about that one. They thought me dating Theo was the only deception, and they'd get over that as soon as I brought home a few good grades. But if I blew them off again, I'd be in serious trouble for the long haul. "Give me a couple weeks, and I'll get it sorted out."
"A couple weeks?"
"Yes."
Theo shook his head. "Come out with me tonight."
I stomped my foot. "Stop asking me to do that! I can't!"
"Oh, come on, Frances. I thought you were starting to lighten up."
"And I thought you were starting to respect me for the way I am."
He glared at me.
I scowled back.
"So you aren't coming tonight?" he asked.
"No." Why couldn't he acknowledge what I had to do?
"Fine."
"Fine."
He turned and left.
He left? Just like that? Just because I wouldn't destroy my entire future to have a date with him? Tears burned in my eyes, so I swung around and marched back into the house. I would not cry over him. As soon as I got released from my grounding, I was going to call George Moon and have a date with someone who actually understood what I was about.
In the meantime, I still had an article on The Homework Club to write. I might be grounded, I might have just been ditched by the guy I'd thought was my boyfriend, and I might be locked down in my house, but I still had a job to do, and I was going to do it.
Two weeks later, I was still grounded, despite bringing home three A's. According to my parents, the big issue was the lying. They said they might have eventually adjusted to me dating Theo (gee, thanks for telling me now) seeing as how he was Blue's brother and they'd known him for so long. But the fact that I'd deceived them about the nature of my relationship with him, including when I'd gone out with him that Friday night? Total betrayal of trust.
They said it could take years to rebuild trust.
Great.
I was sitting at the computer in the library, reading emails from Blue and Natalie, who had totally forgiven me and were planning ways to kidnap my parents so I could see all my friends again. And there was even an email from George, who had seemed immensely relieved that the pressure to date was off, and was much happier just being study pals.
All was good.
Except I hadn't heard from Theo since the night at my house, and I was debating with Allie on whether to email him—the same debate we'd been having for the last two weeks.
Allie was sitting next to me. "You know, we did warn you that Theo was too different from you."
"But he's not that different." Sure, he had a wild side, but he did study, got The Homework Club to work, and made me laugh. I liked that he got me to loosen up. Of course, I didn't want to be any more fun than I currently was, and that was the problem. I wasn't quite enough for him.
Sigh.
"Blue told me he hasn't gone out on any dates for the last two weeks."
I glanced at Allie. "Really?" I opened Blue's latest email, and sure enough, same message. "Wow."
"Uh huh."
"That's unusual for Theo."
"That's what we think too."
We. That would be all my friends except me. "I miss you guys."
"We miss you." Allie was sitting backwards in her chair and leaning on it. "Have you tried talking to your parents again?"
"Sort of. Every time I try to bring it up, I get shut down."
A girl walked by us. "Nice job, Frances."
I looked up. "What?"
But she was already gone.
I eyed Allie. "What was that about?"
She shrugged. "I think you should email Theo."
"No. Why should I? He's the one being the jerk."
"But he's not dating anyone else. He's staying home every night, Frances. That says a lot." She shrugged. "My bet is that he just doesn't know how to apologize, and all he needs is an opening. Give it to him. You don't need to declare your love. Just open the door."
I bit my lip. I wanted to, I really did. But what if they were wrong? What if he wasn't into me anymore? I didn't want to lose what little pride I had left by emailing him and then having him not reply.
Another girl walked by and patted me on the shoulder. "Way to go, Frances."
I stared after her. "What's going on?"
Allie twisted around to look at the girl, too. "Did you do something amazing?" she asked me. "Like burn down the science wing or something?"
I frowned. "No." Having random strangers congratulate me wasn't my usual life. "She probably confused me with someone else."
Nicole, a friend of ours from homeroom, ran up to us, waving something. "Oh, my gosh, Frances. You're a star!"
I grabbed her wrist so she couldn't take off. "What are you talking about?"
"This!" She thrust a paper into my hand. "Everyone is talking about The Homework Club. There's a delegation from the school newspaper meeting with the heads of both schools at the end of the week to talk about an exchange program. You're a hero!" She grinned at me, then glanced at her watch. "I gotta go. Good job!"
She sped away, leaving me and Allie staring at each other.
After a moment, she took the newspaper out of my hand and opened it.
There was my article, spread across the entire front page. And my name was right there under the title. Frances Spinelli.
Oh, wow.
Allie sat there and read the entire article aloud.
Including the editorial at the end about the proposal for the exchange program and how my article was the first step.
She set it down and grinned at me.
Then we both screamed at the same time, grabbed each other and started dancing around the library. Even getting shushed by the librarian didn't shut us up.
I'd done it!
How cool was that!
The euphoria lasted all day. Kids were telling me "good job" everywhere I went, and even some of the teachers pulled me aside to quietly mention the quality of my article.
I was in!
This was it! My parents would see how responsible I was and fall at my feet, begging for forgiveness for not trusting me. And maybe I'd forgive them. Or not.
And if Theo came crawling back, wanting to hang with me because I was famous? Forget it. Unless he asked really, really nicely. And even then… God, I wanted him to want me back. But I couldn't be the girl he wanted me to be. What chance did we really have?
Chapter 19
I burst through the front door right after school, the paper in my hand. "Mom!"
It was too early for Dad to be home, but Mom should be there.
"In the kitchen, Frances."
I ran through the house and exploded into the kitchen. My mom and dad were sitting at the table. "Dad! You're home!" Sweet!
"Sit down, Frances."
They looked way serious. Like, asteroid plummeting toward the earth serious. I froze, my heart thudding with sudden fear. Had something happened? "What's wrong?"
"Sit."
I sank down into a chair, looking back and forth between them. Had someone died? Had something happened to one of my siblings? "What's wrong?"
"This." My dad pointed to the table. There sat a copy of the newspaper with my article.
What? They were upset about my article?
I looked up, confused. "My article?"
"Care to explain?" My dad folded his arms across his chest and my mom gave me this look like I'd totally let her down.
"I thought someone had died." I took a deep breath, relief rushing through me.
"This is not the time for a joke." My mom said, and suddenly I realized that their "the world is ending" expressions were because of the article. Yeah, the one I was so pumped about. The one the entire school was psyched about. Yeah, that one, had made them look like someone had died.
Wow. Nothing like taking away my excitement. Did parents suck or what?
"Frances. Explain."
I folded my arms across my chest and leaned back in my chair, a slow anger building inside me. This was my moment, and they were pissed? "Because of this article I wrote," I snapped, not even trying to keep the irritation out of my voice, "there's a delegation meeting with the administration of each school to create an exchange program between Field School and North Valley." I grinned, unable to hide my excitement. "Everyone has been congratulating me all day. How cool is that?"
"Really?" A hint of surprise and pride flashed across my dad's face.
"Yeah, and—"
"Frances." My mom glared at me. "That's not what we're talking about!"
My smile faded, replaced by that same, simmering resentment. "What's the problem, then?"
She narrowed her eyes. "We banned you from The Homework Club, yet according to this article, you went ahead and did it? Lied to us repeatedly, every time you went?"
Oooh. Right. They're upset about that. Guess I forgot about that little detail. I cleared my throat. "Um, maybe."
"So you admit it?" My mom sounded so triumphant I wanted to scream.
Why couldn't she be proud of me? What else did I have to do to make them realize that I was good enough? I lifted my chin and met her gaze. "Of course I admit it. I did The Homework Club anyway. It's your fault I had to lie."
"Our fault?" My mom's voice was heavy with foreboding.
How to Date a Bad Boy (Mapleville High #2) Page 12