by Zoe Knights
Eddie jumped when Sam’s voice sounded in her ear. She turned to look at him, her cheeks still flushed.
“Uh- hi?” she said pointedly.
Sam smiled charmingly. “Hello. So what did Brendan want? I didn’t know you two talked.”
Eddie sighed slightly. “We don’t. We’ve barely exchanged two words before. Which is why it’s weird that he just asked me to the Christmas dance.”
Sam’s eyebrows slowly rose up his forehead. “Oh…” his tone was strange. “Hnh… what did you say?”
Eddie quirked an eyebrow. “No, obviously,” she told him, fixing her backpack strap on her shoulder. Brendan’s words of Sam’s monopoly rang in her ears, and she frowned, blushing. For secretly, she couldn’t deny a part of her rather liked the idea of Sam asking her to the dance. “Options must be lacking if he’s asking me,” she shrugged finally. “Anyway, let’s get a move on. I don’t want to be late to Music.”
She headed off, and Sam was quick to follow. “It’s definitely not a ‘lacking in options’ thing,” he told her with a roll of his eyes as he fell into step beside her. “More of a ‘you’re very pretty’ thing,” he added, seemingly not noticing Eddie’s cheeks flush and ignoring her splutter of embarrassment. “And so you… said no…” he continued casually, and Eddie caught him peering at her from the corner of his eye. “Is that… well, are you going to the dance at all or…?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Eddie said her eyes flickering to and from his, feeling a tickle of nerves rise in her stomach. “Might be fun. Are you going?”
“I don’t normally go,” Sam said back instantly.
Eddie blinked. “Oh,” she looked away again. “Right.”
They were silent then until they reached the music room. Eddie looked at Sam as he looked at her. She raced off immediately, charging for the room with the good piano.
But –
“Oh, Miss Osmond. A word please?”
Eddie looked back in disbelief to see Sam smirking as he walked away from their teacher.
She glared at him, and he winked, loping past into the room at a leisurely pace.
Miss Giles only wanted to give her feedback on her composition work, as prompted by Sam, and Eddie got away as quickly as she could.
She stomped into the soundproof room to find Sam at the piano. She dropped her bag, holding her sheet music in one hand and plonked herself up on the top, her legs crossed as they hung past the highest keys, blocking them from Sam’s reach.
Sam looked up at her while she glared fiercely down at him. “Cheater,” she told him sourly.
Sam remained silent while his gaze merely travelled slowly down to her ankles, then up her legs and back to her eyes. “If it is intimidation you’re going for… I’m afraid it’s not working…” he told her slyly.
Eddie’s eyes narrowed further, and she kicked his arm with her old shoe, making Sam chuckle. “The least you can do is play my composition then,” she said grumpily. “Miss Giles thinks my third bar needs some work.”
She held her music out to him, and Sam raised an eyebrow before taking it. “You know you’re the only person in this entire school who seems to be able to use my skills free of charge.”
Eddie smiled sweetly. “Someone has to level your ego out. And you cheated to get here – this is called a compromise.”
Sam shrugged, “It doesn’t bother me. Your song is beautiful. I’d happily play it.”
Eddie blushed immediately, but Sam’s eyes were on the keys as he began to play. “I think it’s more you making things sound better than they are…” she muttered, watching the way his fingers effortlessly travelled over the keys as though he were born doing this.
Sam smiled, shaking his head, but he remained silent, continuing the song. As he neared the end, he looked up at her through his lashes and Eddie’s heart jolted.
“So this dance then…” he murmured with curiosity to his tone. He finished the last notes slowly, the sounds lingering beautifully in the air. “What if I asked you… what would you say to me?”
Eddie stared, her stomach flipping almost violently. “I thought you don’t normally go,” she said, the words tumbling from her mouth quickly.
Sam tilted his head slightly. “Well…” he began slowly, his gaze flickering away and getting caught on a loose thread hanging from the hem of her skirt. “We’re friends, aren’t we?” he murmured, taking the thread between his fore-finger and thumb and carefully tucking it into her skirt under the hem. His fingers lightly grazed the top of her stocking covered knee, lingering there a moment longer than necessary. “We have fun. Stands to reason we’d have fun there… plus it’s my last year. Maybe I should make an exception. Experience some of these… normal teenagery things.”
He pulled his hand back, his eyes flickering back up to meet hers sending another jolt through Eddie’s already thundering heart. “If that’s not… overstepping our friendship, of course,” he added in the most nonchalant voice she’d ever heard from him.
Her skin still tingled from where he had touched her, and she felt her breath picking up to a speed that was too fast to be considered normal. “It’s not,” she managed finally and as normally as possible. “But you’d still have to actually ask me to find out,” she added, gazing back at him determinedly.
Sam raised an eyebrow, but his lips twitched into a slow smile. He stood up, and Eddie’s foot clanged against the top keys as she moved in surprise. He leant his hands against the piano on either side of her, his smile growing while Eddie’s heartbeat picked up erratically. “Eddie…” her name fell from his lips causing swooping sensations in Eddie’s belly, and she realised he’d never used her nickname before. “Will you go to the dance with me?”
Eddie blinked quickly, feeling entirely unprepared for this. “Um…” she mumbled, annoyed at how breathless she sounded. She steadied herself. “Sure,” she said as casually as she could muster. “You’re right. We have fun – so why not?”
Sam remained there for a moment, that smile still stuck to the corner of his lips. He leant so close that for one wild moment Eddie thought he was about to kiss her. But then, “Great,” he quipped idly, pulling back. He picked up a pencil from the music rack on the piano and gently scribbled something above the third bar on her composition. “Now, personally I think this is perfect as it is. But, if you want to please Miss Giles – she’ll like it if you add this.”
He lifted the paper and held it out to her.
Eddie took it with a raised eyebrow. “Thank you,” she said quietly, trying to keep a lid on her most certainly preposterous thoughts.
Sam smirked, then sat back down on the piano stool, leaving space for her beside him. “Come on then…” he insisted. “Play me for it.”
Eddie felt a smile pulling at her lips. She hopped off the lid of the piano and slid onto the stool, her thigh brushing his. “Fine,” she agreed lightly, glancing at him surreptitiously as she wondered if his stomach was as full of nerves as hers was. “But – this time… I’ll choose the song.”
Don’t Tempt Me
17
It reached the day of the Christmas dance and Eddie was quite nervously excited for the evening, particularly when Quinn sat her down to begin their hair and make-up together.
But, Quinn also had other plans while she had Eddie literally under her thumb.
“So,” Quinn said idly, carefully pencilling Eddie’s very fair eyebrows. “Is Sam going to be around tonight?”
Eddie’s stomach flipped, and she looked up at Quinn innocently. “Uh… yeah. We were going to sort of… go together.”
Quinn nearly drew a line down Eddie’s face. “You’re… what?” she spluttered in shock.
“Not like… not like that,” Eddie said quickly. “Just as friends. He was very clear in stating that we’re friends, don’t worry.”
Quinn remained silent for a long moment. “Are you… sure about that?”
“Yes,” Eddie said firmly, though she couldn’t deny the part
of her that wished it weren’t so. “Anyway – are you going to at least ask Millie to dance?”
Quinn dropped the eyebrow pencil this time. “What?!” she demanded too quickly, ducking to the floor to pick it back up.
“What, you’re allowed to tease me about a crush, and I can’t do the same?” Eddie quipped idly. “And don’t pretend. It’s obvious you’re mad for her.”
Quinn stared at her in the mirror. “I… well…” she sighed roughly. “Is it really?”
Eddie chuckled. “Yes,” she nodded firmly. “So then, are you going to?”
Quinn was frowning. “We’re… really doing this? Just like that?”
Eddie quirked her perfectly pencilled eyebrow. “Yes?” she queried, confused by Quinn’s uncertainty.
Quinn shook her head slightly. “I just… well, I didn’t expect it to be so normal.”
“What do you mean?” Eddie was the one frowning now.
“She’s… a she and you’re just talking about it like it’s the most normal thing in the world…” Quinn stated blankly. “Not even going to touch on that?”
“Well… it is the most normal thing in the world…” Eddie said back slowly. She raised an eyebrow. “I mean… what did you… want to come out to me or something?”
Quinn blushed, “Well no,” she said quickly, seeming flustered now. “I just… I didn’t expect this. But… it’s nice,” she frowned again at Eddie.
Eddie flashed her a grin. “Brilliant. So, onto the teasing. Are you going to ask her or not?”
Quinn narrowed her eyes. “Maybe,” she said simply, finally continuing Eddie’s make-up. “If I did I’d make it clear it was a date. Rather than confusing her.”
Eddie sighed, giving her a look without moving her head as Quinn began applying blush to her cheeks. “Sam isn’t confusing me,” she said stiffly, ignoring the part of her that screamed her friend had a point.
Quinn shrugged. “All I know is with Millie… I can trust her. And she’s good for me. She brings out the better sides of me, certainly not the worst. And… I don’t see that with you and Sam.”
Eddie had to bite her tongue for she did not want to start a fight and have Quinn stop halfway through her make-up.
She breathed for a moment. “Well that’s good for you,” she said stiffly instead of her original snarky reply.
Quinn sighed slightly. “I don’t mean to be so… negative, Eddie,” she said lowly. “I wouldn’t be like this if it was anyone else…”
“Yeah I know,” Eddie said with a small sigh of her own. “Also though, remember we’re just friends. There’s nothing else going on. He enjoys the fact that hanging out with me means more people are lining up to have a fling with him.”
Quinn, strangely, didn’t say anything.
Eddie raised an eyebrow as the girl now moved on to attend to Eddie’s hair. “No comment at all? I just said how he’s a player, you should be happy about that.”
Quinn huffed roughly. “Well I… I actually heard something strange about that,” she muttered. “I’ll admit I didn’t really want to tell you.”
Eddie frowned immediately, sitting up a little straighter. “What?” she pushed.
Quinn met her gaze through the mirror, and she sighed again. “Well… you know Noemie?” she muttered grudgingly. “French girl? All long legs and big boobs? Also stupidly gorgeous?”
Eddie nodded, frowning as she could not see where this was going.
“Apparently she came onto Sam the other day,” Quinn continued gruffly. “He turned her down cold…”
Eddie blinked in surprise. “Oh…” she said vaguely; that information creating a strange response in her chest.
“Same with Michael Preston – everyone knows he’s hard to get. Sam turned him down without the blink of an eye!” muttered Quinn. “And… well, apparently that’s been happening a fair bit of late. Millie’s been telling me because she hears everything.”
Eddie was trying not to smile now, not wanting Quinn to see, but of course, her friend noticed.
She scoffed, “And you pretend like you don’t want anything to happen,” she shook her head at Eddie.
“I’m just surprised,” Eddie defended, but the smile broke across her lips, and she laughed slightly. “It’s just not like him to turn down sex is all. I don’t know why he’d be doing that. It’s weird.”
“Hmm…” Quinn mused stiffly. “Yeah. Well, I wouldn’t put him past playing the long game with you. He probably gets off on the ‘chase’, and you’ve given him quite the enticing one.”
Eddie made a grossed out sound. “Okay, don’t be like that. I’m not about to jump into bed with him just because I heard he’s not sleeping with others at the moment. You know, maybe he has an STD or something…”
Quinn laughed slightly. “Well there’s probably that too,” she pulled back, admiring her work in the mirror. “Okay,” she smiled with a contented nod. “All done. You look beautiful. Definitely too beautiful for the likes of Sam.”
Eddie rolled her eyes, but she did inspect her reflection, feeling inwardly very happy with how she looked.
Her hair fell down her back in soft waves, half up and half down, smaller curly bits falling nicely around her face. Her green eyes popped, ringed with dark lashes and her lips were a delicate shade of red that usually she’d never have to confidence to wear.
“Thank you, Quinn…” she muttered softly, finding it strange to actually admit to herself that she looked very pretty.
“I know,” sighed Quinn, “I’m incredibly talented. Now put your outfit on. I laid it out.”
Eddie chuckled, standing up to get out of Quinn’s way as she began on herself and she went to inspect what Quinn thought she should wear – all the garments generously leant to her by Quinn.
Eddie pulled on her stockings first that Quinn had implored she wear underneath to attempt to keep Eddie warm. She then gave her an elegant maxi skirt that came up to her waist, dark in colour while splattered with several red and pink roses. She paired this with a little shirt that only just met the hem of her skirt, the bodice was cream in colour and covering it was a delicate black lace top that travelled down her arms, the gaps between the lace showing off her olive skin beneath. Eddie had never felt so elegant.
“Wow…” she breathed, looking into the mirror behind Quinn once she was dressed. “I actually think you should do this for a living.”
Quinn laughed, “Mm, I’ve thought about it,” she agreed. “Don’t forget your shoes. You could go with the little black heels or the lacy ballet flats. I don’t know if you’re a practical or heelsy type of gal.”
Eddie snorted and picked up the flats, waving them to Quinn in the mirror. “Definitely practical,” she laughed. “I wish I could do heels, but every time I try I end up in bare feet five minutes into the night. Can’t stand them.”
Quinn laughed again, and Eddie was glad they were still getting along. She waited about twenty more minutes for Quinn to be ready before the two headed out of the room.
Quinn looked like she’d stepped off the runway, of course. Tall, speckled grey heels with a pale pink jumpsuit that subtly outlined each of her gorgeous curves, contrasting incredibly with her dark skin. Eddie was certain Millie would have a heart attack when she saw her.
The moment they walked out of the room, Eddie’s heart jumped to her throat for Sam was ready and waiting outside the door.
Everything about his face was very familiar, the careless strands of tousled brown hair falling around his eyes that were ringed with dark lashes and of course, the small smirk tweaking his lips. But, instead of a uniform, he wore sleek dark trousers with a turquoise v-neck shirt and a fitted navy jacket that was slightly rolled up at the sleeves. He looked straight out of a magazine.
But the moment their eyes met, the smirk fell away, his gaze dropped over her and his mouth fell open.
Eddie nervously fiddled with the hem of her sleeve, her stomach flipping several times.
“Sam,” she sa
id in surprise, though she should have known he would be there. “Um… Hi.”
She saw Sam swallow nervously, his dark eyes quickly flickering back to meet hers. “…Hey,” he managed finally, not sounding at all like his usual self.
Quinn rolled her eyes and make a scoffing sound at the back of her throat. “Okay… I’ll see you down at the hall,” she muttered to Eddie, before stalking off briskly after throwing Sam a disgruntled look.
Eddie felt nerves rise in her stomach as Sam’s gaze continued to travel over her lingeringly. “You know I… half expected you not to come,” she joked lightly. “Thought you might… I dunno, be busy making use of all the empty dorm rooms.”
Sam raised an eyebrow, moving closer to her slowly. “Is that a suggestion?” he teased mischievously, finally finding his smirk again.
Eddie couldn’t help a slight smile, but she threw him a fierce look and heard him chuckle. “Shall we head down then?” she quipped.
Sam nodded quickly, “Yep,” he said, and again Eddie heard nerves touch his tone. They began to walk, Sam close beside her, but they did not touch.
She felt his gaze travel over her more than once as they walked and blood began to heat her cheeks.
“Eden… er, Eddie,” Sam stumbled abruptly. “Can I call you Eddie?” he checked quickly, scratching the back of his neck in a nervous fashion.
Eddie looked at him, an amused smile lifting her lips. “I like it when you call me, Eddie,” she admitted warmly.
“Right,” Sam looked away again. But, his eyes were drawn back to her in moments. “Eddie…” he repeated again, making her feel incredibly thrown by the state of his nerves. “You uh… you look-”
But his words were cut off when Simon walked past them. The bible study boy threw a dirty look at Eddie.
“Slag,” he coughed lowly at Eddie before buffeting Sam’s shoulder as he went by.
Anger flared in Eddie’s stomach, but Sam got there first.
He swung around and grabbed Simon’s shoulder before thrusting him roughly against the wall. “What did you call her?!” he growled venomously.
“You heard me,” Simon spat back.