by Bri Stone
I want to know her.
“Hey, we should study together. Strength in numbers.” I touched her shoulder gently, and she looked up at me warily.
Her gray eyes have a sort of shine to them, unlike mine that are always dark from lack of oxygen.
“Um, sure.” Her response was less than enthusiastic.
When she slung her bag over her shoulder, it made her breasts swell against the sweater, which was incredibly oversized. It was funny, somehow; that by trying to hide her body it just made me want to see it even more.
The room had cleared out except for the two girls from earlier. When one of them approached me, Perrier scowled, her lips forming a hard line. She couldn’t be jealous, she barely paid any attention to me.
“You’re Thom, right?” She stood on my right side.
She was tall and leggy, but unlike Perrier it made her look very unattainable. Like a model would be. Perrier made it very clear she wasn’t tall by choice, but she had an athletic look to her. Her jeans clung over the swells of her quads and the lithe of her calves.
“Yeah.” I offered my best smile, glancing over at Perrier.
She looked down at her worn converse, but she didn’t leave. I took that as a good sign.
“I’m Lindsay. Maybe I could get your number, so we can study together. My friend and I have a group going.” She added, but I knew that couldn’t possibly be true. It was too rehearsed.
I stared back at her as she smiled, eyeing me very obviously. This never happened; Lindsay was obviously very pretty. Outgoing, clearly. I lacked interest, even if it was just to study. I didn’t want to be around her, plain and simple.
I would rather be around Perrier.
But when I looked over she was gone. She had snuck away quietly.
“Um, I don’t have a cell phone. See you next week.” I lied to Lindsay, and fled the classroom looking for Perrier.
She couldn’t have gotten that far. The hall was small and opened left to a larger one, the walkway to the east side. I saw her hair, flowing behind her as she speed walked away.
“Perrier!” I shouted, everyone’s head turned but hers.
What the hell? She was really going to make me run after her. Fine. I broke into a jog and caught up to her.
“You left.” I cornered her and stopped her from walking away.
She looked up at me as she bit her lip softly.
“Yeah, I didn’t want to interrupt your um, conversation.”
I chuckled softly. “I think she was the one that interrupted our conversation. I believe I was just about to get your number.” I grinned.
She swallowed, and the bob of her throat caught my eye. I wondered if her was as soft as it looked.
“Haven’t you gotten enough numbers today?” Her lips hinted at a smile.
“I didn’t get her number…I told her I didn’t have a cell phone.” I smiled, and she giggled. It wasn’t quite a laugh, but it was enough for now. A taste.
“Why did you do that?” Her brows furrowed.
Unlike every other girl I had seen today, they weren’t finely shaped or tweezed. They weren’t gangly or anything, but they were natural, framing her round eyes perfectly. I wanted to memorize every feature of her. Starting with the dimple beneath her right eye, only visible when she smiled.
“Because I would rather have yours.” Reaching into my back pocket, I got out my cell phone and navigated to the contact screen. The hallway was starting to fill up with people leaving their small groups.
She put her number in and I took it back, my fingers brushing against hers.
“Are you headed home?” I asked her.
She adjusted her bag, grabbing both straps. “Yeah. I usually walk.”
“We can grab some dinner, and then I can walk you home.”
“You don’t have to walk me home.” She blinked.
“So, we can have dinner then? I know a great place, you can’t say no.” I casually prompted her to walk with me.
She tensed at first, but then her shoulders relaxed. She fit next to me like a puzzle piece. It was dramatic; but I felt like I could walk lighter, breathe easier. I had only met her today, but that’s all it takes, isn’t it?
Perrier is going to be mine.