"I don't mind."
I glared, hating the way he affected me when it was more than obvious I didn't affect him in return. "You're changing the subject."
"You changed the subject." He pointed out and I huffed.
"What did you mean when you said I didn't like you?"
"You treat me normal…like you treat Kyle." He shrugged. "It's nice."
"So you like just being my friend, then?" My cheeks grew warm and I looked down at my shoes. The last thing I wanted Dace to know was that I was most definitely interested in him - in a not-so-friendly way.
"Yeah," he nodded. "I've never had a girl friend."
"Oh." I sighed, turning into the cafeteria. "But you've had girlfriends right?"
He shook his head. "No."
"What?" I frowned.
"Don't look at me like that, Angel." He scowled and I shook whatever expression I'd been making from my face.
"I wasn't looking at you in any particular way." My defense was moot.
"You were."
"Whatever." I shrugged. "Dee's over there," I pointed to where Dee and Kyle were sitting side by side. They hadn't noticed me with Dace, yet.
"What do you want from the cafeteria?" Dace asked.
"I'm good." I shook my head.
Dace's blue eyes filled with frustration. "Do you have a lunch?"
I nodded. "Yup."
"What do you have?"
"It doesn't matter." I snapped, reaching for my bag. "Give me my bag. I'll meet you at the table."
Dace swung my bag out of my reach and I growled low in my throat. "You could make this easier by telling me what you want for lunch."
"I have fruit, Dace." I was vibrating with anger. I didn't understand his need to feed me. It was ridiculous and embarrassing. Over the last two days, Dace had basically insisted on eating with me for every meal. And even when I told him I was full, he made me finish my plate. It was annoying. "Give me my bag."
"Where are your manners?" He flashed a shit-grin and I felt my anger surge to an all-time high.
"What the hell is the matter with you?" My voice was loud. We were slowly captivating the attention of those around us, and Dace laughed. I stomped my foot. "Give me my bag?"
"Come order food with me." There was a challenge in his eyes I knew I couldn't fight, but I'd be damned if I didn't try.
"No." I said stubbornly.
He laughed and I lunged for my bag with all my weight. Dace side-stepped me and I went flying toward the floor. Just before I was about to do a face-plant with the tile, Dace slid his arm around my waist, catching me against him. His body quaked with laughter and the heat of humiliation tainted my skin. I tried to wiggle from his grasp, but there was no point. Dace held me tight against him with my back against his front.
Obviously, he was oblivious to the curious stares we'd demanded with our public spectacle because he dipped his head low, his lips a breath away from my ear. "We could have avoided all this if you'd just agreed to get food with me."
If my anger had lain dormant for a moment, it most definitely was awake now. Without thinking, I stomped on his foot with my heel. Pain shot through my entire leg and I yelped, instantly taking my weight from my throbbing foot. Thankfully, Dace was still holding me or I would be writhing on the ground. Instead, I was writhing in his arms.
"Steel toes, Angel."
"Fuck you." I seethed.
Dace laughed. "That's not very nice. You were the one who tried to hurt me."
"Screw you." I lashed out at him again, but he held me tight.
Again, he dipped his head, his lips close to my ear. "And this could have been avoided if you'd let me start our self defense lessons yesterday."
I clenched my teeth. "If you point out one more thing that could have been avoided…I'll make you regret it."
He chuckled and I knew he was wearing his shit-grin. "And how will you do that?"
"I don't know yet." I huffed. "But I'll think of something." Dace laughed, finally releasing me from his iron grip. He held my bag out to me and I latched onto it as though afraid he would try and steal it back from me. I spun around and stomped off toward the table where Dee and Kyle were both sitting shockingly still, their eyes painfully wide. As I looked around the cafeteria, I noticed Dee and Kyle weren't the only ones who wore shocked expressions. Pretty much the entire student body looked as though they'd witnessed an alien landing.
I straightened my back and sat down at the table, dropping my bag between my legs. "What are you looking at me like that for?"
Dee was the first to shake the shock from her face and Kyle followed soon after. "What are you doing with Dace?"