Lisa chuckled as Caroline glared at me. She lifted her chin defensively as she watched her mother and me share a smile.
“She definitely can be, Devilyn. But thank you in any case. That is very kind and helpful of you. Okay then, that settles that, so I'll just let you two finish up your meal and get to work.”
She rested her hand on my shoulder and continued, “Such a pleasure to meet you, Devilyn.”
“The pleasure was all mine, Mrs. Ellis.” I smiled. “I'll be sure to have Caroline home early.”
Was he serious? Stubborn? I might be stubborn, but I think it was a well-established fact that he embodied one adjective and that was just plain
rude
. I couldn't understand why he was being so nice to me all of a sudden. Why was he behaving so chivalrously? It was a bit unnerving, and certainly out-of-character.
I tried to keep my composure and understand why he went from hot, to cold, to hot. And even though I was having such a hard time with the cold, I almost preferred it.
This Devilyn made me uneasy. This Devilyn was a charmer, could have his way with anyone, and was highly desirable.
Who are you kidding
, I thought glumly.
He's desirable either way you look at him
.
How was I going to make it through the meal, and then through the project, and worse yet, through the ride home? I counted my blessings that I lived close by; at least it wouldn't be a long ride.
We sat in silence as we ate. I mainly played with my food, as he devoured his. I was definitely hungry but couldn't concentrate on anything but him. It was the most uncomfortable dinner of my entire life.
It was Frank who finally broke our silence.
“Caroline, I've finished up in the kitchen, and Edie and I are headed home,” the friendly cook called out. “Everyone else has already left for the night.”
“Okay, great,” I said to him. He was staring at Devilyn with his eyes narrowed.
“Can you come in the kitchen? I want to show you something.”
I looked over at Devilyn. “Excuse me.” He nodded politely as I walked into the kitchen with Frank. He lowered his voice as he motioned toward the dining room.
“This guy seems okay. You want me to stay?”
I couldn't help but laugh. “I'm fine.”
“You sure, Caroline?”
“Yes. I promise. Go home!”
I walked with Frank back out of the kitchen and into the dining room.
Frank smiled at me. “Have a good night, you two.”
“You too,” Devilyn replied.
Frank and Edie made their way out of the restaurant, exchanging a chuckle. No doubt at my expense. The loud clamor of the front door of the restaurant signified the moment I had been dreading all night.
We were alone.
I knew Devilyn was watching me.
I had to catch my breath the only way I knew howâby escaping.
“I'm just going to go lock the front door,” I told him anxiously as I rose from my chair. “Sometimes we get stragglers who come by and think we're still open.”
He nodded and took a sip of his drink. “Take your time.”
So I did just that. I took my time walking to the front entrance of the restaurant and took my time slowly turning the locks on the door. I headed back to the booth and stared at the back of Devilyn's head.
What would I say?
How would I get through this?
Just concentrate on the project at hand
, I reminded myself.
Or not.
“Are you done?” I asked, pointing to his empty plate.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Would you like any more?
“No, I'm full.” His onyx eyes stared right up at me. “You haven't eaten anything.”
“Yeah. I know. I guess I'm just not feeling meatloaf tonight,” I said, clearing the plates.
“Well, you've got to eat something.” He almost sounded like he cared. To have someone like Devilyn Reilly worried about your well-being, now that would be something. “Besides, I don't want to listen to your stomach growling all night,” he murmured.
Something indeed.
I quickly shook off those ridiculous thoughts as I placed the dirty plates on the counter near the kitchen. “I'll have a bite to eat when I get home,” I told him as I made my way back to the booth. “We should probably start on the project.”
I pulled open my backpack and removed my pad of paper and pencil. Maybe writing would create a distraction.
If I thought the dinner was agonizing, the study session that came after was even worse. And then there was still the matter of the drive to her house. The drive home was the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae of pure torture. I couldn't let her walk. I
wouldn't
let her walk. She would be too vulnerable out there all alone. And that was something I'd never allow. She would never be alone again. She would be under my constant supervision. Even from a distance.
Or closer.
And at that moment, the thought of being close was becoming more appealing by the minute.
Caroline Ellis definitely had a way about her. The casual sway of her hips as she walked to the kitchen, the smile on her face as she said goodbye to her coworkers. The crinkle of her nose when she was thinking about an answer to something.
She was mesmerizing.
Every gesture, every movement, every little quirk about her was appealing. She bombarded me with questions about my family; I barely remembered what I said in return. I was just going through the motions, but my mind was fixed on the perfect formation of her mouth.
What would it feel like to my lips?
I needed air. I needed to breathe. I had to get out of there.
“It's getting late,” she said as she yawned, waking me from my trance.
I needed to get her home as quickly as possible. I needed to get as far away from her as possible.
I held her backpack as she locked up the restaurant. I waited patiently as she set the alarm, but all I wanted to do was escape her sweet presence. Once she was done, I practically ran to the car. The sudden chill of the night air woke me up from what I believed to be temporary insanity.
My shiny black Audi Q7 stood out in the empty parking lot. She immediately noticed the extravagant car and smiled as if she expected nothing less than something expensive. I was almost embarrassed. I knew how difficult times were for her family, and I didn't want to rub this extravagance in her face. Most of all I didn't want her to think I was entitled. I walked to the passenger side of my car and opened the door for her. She seemed annoyed.
“You don't need to do that. I can open my own car door.”
“Well, I wasn't raised that way.”
She didn't have a retort, but I knew what she was thinking. This wasn't a date. And I wasn't her boyfriend. But I couldn't help myself.
“Are you cold?” I asked trying to break the silence as I turned on the seat warmers for her.
“Thanks, but really I'm fine.” She tried to smile graciously. “This is a really nice car.”
“Thank you,” I replied, though I could sense her indifference. Caroline would never be one of those girls who was impressed by money or any of its luxuries. That much I knew.
I drove down the tree-lined streets, as Caroline sat in silence. I wanted to talk to her, but she didn't seem like she was in a talkative mood. Thankfully I wasn't having the same effect on her that she was having on me.
“It's the last house on the right,” she said as she cleared her throat.
I nodded as if I was driving this route for the very first time. This had been a home that we had been watching for some time. I was actually surprised that she hadn't said anything earlier when I turned on her street without any direction from her.
She seemed immersed in thought. Her quiet demeanor had started after dinner when I asked her questions about her heritage and upbringing and the only people she knew anything about were members of her immediate family. I could tell that it saddened her.
I wanted to reach out, hold her hand, and tell her that knowing more wouldn't make her whole. This notion that having a familyâeven an extended oneâsomehow completes someone was ludicrous.
“I don't know how you are going to complete your assignment,” she finally spoke. “I really didn't provide you with any information tonight.”
“I have enough,” I said, trying to make her more comfortable.
She looked over at me like she was about to say something, then changed her mind. “If you think so.”
“I do.”
“So why did you leave Camden County High?”
“Why?” I was surprised she asked.
“Yeah, I've just never known anyone to leave school midyear.”
“I went to Camden County because they had a great football team,” I replied staring straight at the road ahead. “But we lived in the Manteo High district, so when the school officials somehow found out they made me transfer.”
“How do you think they found out?”
I pulled up to her driveway and put the car in park. We looked at each other for a moment.
“I don't know. I probably just stood out too much.”
“Doubtful. I'm sure you fit right in,” she said as she took in a shaky breath. “Thanks for the ride. I really appreciate it.”
“Thanks for dinner,” I said politely, suddenly wishing that she wouldn't leave. I resisted the urge to reach out to her, brush my hand against her cheek.
“I guess I'll see you in school tomorrow,” she said as she opened the car door. “Have a good night.”
“You too.”
I watched as she walked away and up the stairs to the entrance of her house.
I watched as she put the key in the door and entered her safe haven. I watched as she turned on the light of her bedroom. And hours later, I watched as the lights went out.
And suddenly, I felt as if I could breathe again.
“Devilyn Reilly,” Mrs. Friedmont called out. “Devilyn? Is Devilyn here today?” she asked again to no one in particular. “Looks like he's absent. Okay, Cooper Sanderson?”
He
wasn't in class today, which meant that I could finally begin to breathe normally again. I would have one day to just be myself and not the anxious bundle of nerves that had become Caroline Ellis.
Today I would return to normal. I would return to the routine that had been my existence before Devilyn Reilly had arrived at Manteo High. I could walk down the halls without looking for him. I could sit in class and just be without wondering what he was thinking. Or where he was. Or who he was with. It was almost liberating.
I ran into Teddy in between classes.
“Hey Caroline,” Teddy said as he took a sip of his bottled water. “How's your day?”
“The usual,” I told him as we faced each other.
“Can you run through some Bio-Chem questions with me over lunch? I have a big exam today.”
“Of course. I'll meet you in the library.”
“Thanks. I'm feeling kind of nervous about this one.”
“You always say that, and then you always end up getting the highest grade,” I replied, all but rolling my eyes. “It's kind of annoying.”
Teddy smiled. “Not true.”
“So true.”
The bell rang.
“I'll see you then!” I walked off to my next class. I was full of energy. I realized how badly I couldn't wait for gym. It was the only time where I could completely turn my mind off. No thoughts. No worries. It was just me and the track. I loved to run. It was my favorite sport. There was nothing like hitting the pavement and just going with nothing to stop you.
Gym didn't come soon enough. Once I got out to the track, I realized how out of shape I had gotten. For the first time in my life, my muscles in my legs actually ached. I hadn't run in days, but it felt like weeks, and worse yet I was completely out of breath. I forced myself around and around the racetrack and tried to think of something besides running and the throbbing in my legs.
No pain, no gain,
I kept telling myself.
And then for the first time, my mind started to wander. And it went to the one place that I didn't need it to go. I couldn't believe I was thinking about him again.
As I made my third loop around the track, I noticed that the football team had begun their practice in the center field. It was second nature to search for him. Even though I knew he wouldn't be there, I still looked.
Until now, the life of a football player had been so foreign to me. I spent most of my time in high school not caring at all about their world. But now, I wondered when the away games were, when they were practicing, if they won, if they lost. I suddenly cared, all because of him.
It was slightly pathetic. I was becoming the girl I always made fun of.
My heartbeat was getting louder and louder. I didn't know how much more of this run I could endure. It had been an unusually hot day, which made the run that much more difficult. I almost had to force myself to continue. Perhaps if he had been there, the adrenaline would have helped glide me along the dirt road, I thought.
Wishful thinking
, I said to myself.
I began thinking back to the events of the night before. He had been uncharacteristically courteous. Maybe I should start to behave the same way toward him. We were, after all, partners in this history assignment. If we continued hating each other, it would make for a difficult semester, let alone a difficult year.
I smiled and decided that if he came to school tomorrow, I would make an earnest attempt to make amends. This little glimmer of hope put a smile on my face and helped my stride as I continued pounding across the dirt track. I continued smiling as I looked out onto the field.
The players were dressed in their practice uniforms, clearly preparing for the big game. The coach blew his whistle, and they began moving into position.
And suddenly there he was.
Strikingly handsome, God-like, he practically glistened in his uniform. He had been huddled with the other players discussing their next move. And then he rose, slowly, methodically, above them all.