Yeah, I needed one of those.
I gathered my bag and he stood with me, still shielding me from the rain because he was a fucking gentleman and all. I glanced back at him and smiled, preparing for the good bye that was about to leave my mouth when he suddenly took my hand. His skin was warm and soft. I tensed in surprise as he gently wrapped my fingers around the handle of his umbrella.
“Take it with you,” he told me, stepping back into the rain. “You’ll need it more than me I think.”
“Thank you,” I said, lingering there for a moment longer.
He dragged his teeth along his bottom lip, his eyes dancing along my face with thoughtfulness. “You intrigue me, Elise, and that’s not the norm for me. You’re also really goddamn beautiful, you know that?”
Even if I did know that, I didn’t think I’d feel any less pleasure than I did hearing him compliment me.
My mouth fell open. “Thanks –”
“Happy Birthday,” he cut in.
The bus doors opened, and the driver yelled out for me to hurry along. I stepped on, scanned my bus card at the front and looked back out the window as the bus took off. He was already walking, hands in the pockets of his brown leather jacket, his head held high. He was watching the bus until we were out of view.
22.
Elise
“Hey hooker,” I heard from behind me. “Happy birthday.”
With a textbook in my hand, I slammed my locker shut and turned around. I gasped at the chocolate cupcake inches away from my face, and then at Cindy, wearing a shit-eating grin.
“You made me a cupcake?” I breathed out, surprised…in a good way.
She nodded. “Of course I did. You’re eighteen. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t know your birthday? I put it in my phone and everything so I wouldn’t forget. I also got up extra early to bake these babies. I wanted them fresh for you. There’s eleven more in Tupperware containers in my locker. You can have them at lunch. You need the pounds, and I hate that you need the pounds because I don’t and I’m jealous of your toned ass.”
I took the cupcake from her. “I just…I can’t believe you remembered.”
“I know I’m a bitch, but you can’t question my loyalty.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Cindy. You don’t know what this means to me.”
First, a beautiful doctor gave me his umbrella and told me I was beautiful, and now the friend I used to take for granted woke up early and baked me cupcakes. Things were actually looking up for the first time in… ever.
And Cindy…she was the only person that had really been there for me. The only one that stuck by me through thick and thin. I found support in the friend I had confided least in at the time, and she distracted me and made high school better. You couldn’t put a price on a friend like that.
“Did your mom do something?” she asked me as we walked down the hallway.
“She was gone by the time I got up,” I answered.
“You have to give her time. She’s still hurting.”
“Yeah, well, she’s not the only one still hurting.”
“True. If she’s not going to do something nice for you, did you want to do something instead?”
“Like what?”
“There’s a party. Jed’s parents are out of town, so he’s going to nuke his house. I got a ride all sorted out.”
I shook my head. “Not tonight. I’m just going to drink a bottle of wine and Netflix it with Tuck.”
“Seriously, Elise, you need to stop. Spending your birthday alone is just pathetic, and Tuck is a fucking crazy ass cat.”
“Thanks, friend.”
“Come out and have fun with me. You need to be intoxicated, and you also need a dude’s tongue down your throat.”
“I like my throat tongue-less.”
“Lame! How are you meant to meet a hot guy by hiding out all the time?”
My steps slowed down and I looked at her with a shy smile. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this but…I had a conversation with a really hot guy this morning.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, my God, who? Was it Jimmy? I’ve caught him looking at you and all.”
I made a disgusted face. “Jimmy wants me because he thinks I’m an easy lay. The ironic thing is I’m not even a slut.”
“Live up to your slut reputation then.”
I rolled my eyes. “Anyway, no, it’s not Jimmy. This guy doesn’t go to high school. He’s…older.”
Her lips spread into an excited smile. “Like how much older?”
“Just…older.”
“You getting a sugar daddy?”
“Not that old. He’s in his twenties.”