Secondary Characters (Novella) - By Rachel Schieffelbein Page 0,24
come on.”
“Come on what?” He furrows his brows, looking at me like I’m the one who’s nuts. “I don’t like her. Why would you even think that?”
“Um maybe because you called her ‘Aphrodite’ and then pouted about how ‘guys like Nick always get the girl.’” I lower my tone on the last line, giving my best imitation of a whiny guy voice. I know I sound like a jerk, but I so don’t want to have this conversation. I don’t want to talk about her. “I get it. Everyone loves Amber. Don’t worry, I won’t say anything. Okay?”
He’s silent. I finally turn and look at him and his mouth is hanging. I tug at my sleeves and tap my boot on the step. The silence seems to go on forever. Finally I stand and turn toward the house. He scrambles to his feet behind me.
“Mabel, I don’t like Amber. When I said guys like Nick always … What I meant was …” I turn around to face him, but he’s staring at his shoes.
He rubs his hand across his forehead and down his face. “Nick was a boring idiot on their first date, and yet by date number two they were making out on my couch. It’s so easy for him. I don’t seem to know how to get there. I mean, not that I just want to make out on my couch!” He blurts the last part out really fast and his face gets red.
If I weren’t so damn irritated, I’d probably have laughed at him. Why does he have to be so freaking cute?
“Mabel, the only reason I was trying to help Nick get together with Amber in the first place was so I would have an excuse to talk to you.” He looks up for a second, his forehead creased and his face all sheepish.
It’s absolutely adorable. My heart melts into a big gooey mess, warming up my chest and spreading through my limbs.
“What?” I manage once whatever is fluttering through me slows down long enough for me to work my brain.
“You’re beautiful, and smart and funny. But I’m not—I mean, I don’t know how to impress a girl like you. Without the whole ‘double date’ excuse, I didn’t think you’d go out with me. And then you wouldn’t even talk to me. I basically had to beg Amber to try and talk you into coming over here tonight.”
“You did?” I feel tears pricking at the back of my eyes and I’m grinning like an idiot. But he’s staring at the ground again, kicking at dust that’s not there.
“I know it’s pathetic, but,” he rubs the back of his neck. His face is turning pink again. “I didn’t know what else to do. I’ve been wanting to ask you to the dance, and I thought maybe if I could get you over here tonight …”
“You wanted to ask me to the dance?”
He looks at me and I can hardly believe how nervous he looks. To ask me out. I’m grinning from ear to ear.
“Um, yeah,” he says.
“So …” I say.
I am not letting him off the hook, I want to hear him say it, but by now he’s smiling, too. He takes a deep breath and wipes his palms on his jeans. “Mabel,” he says, taking a careful step toward me. “Will you go to the dance with me?”
I feel like I might float right off his porch.
“Yes,” I say and take a step closer to him, that magnet pulling me forward again. Only this time it doesn’t hurt, because I don’t fight it.
He takes a step toward me, too, and reaches out for my hand. His fingers intertwine with mine and he pulls me a little closer. Little sparks of electricity go off everywhere his skin touches mine. We’re both still smiling as he leans down and kisses me.
His hands wrap around my waist and I stretch up on my tiptoes to press my lips harder against his and run my fingers through his hair. My heart melts in my chest. I don’t want him to ever let go.
Chapter Fifteen
There’s crappy music playing and the white lights hanging from the ceiling don’t hide the fact that we’re in the high-school gym. But it doesn’t matter how lame it is, I still feel awesome because I’m at the dance with Mabel. And I still can’t quite believe it. I can’t believe she lets me hold her in my arms and kiss her, and stare at her all