Page 65 of Sweet Poison

“Why do you think I am waiting for you?” she asked.

I was confused. “What do you mean?”

She lifted her hand and tapped the back of my head. “Kelly ordered me to disappear as well, you moron. That way anyone curious could conclude that he went to the bathroom or something, while I was with you the whole time.”

I felt so relieved, I nearly fainted from it, but as the true implications of what my friends had done for me dawned on me, I felt so grateful I wanted to hug Pearl tightly. And that was exactly what I did.

“You should have at least warned me beforehand to cover your tracks,” she scolded. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? At school, especially? Your dad could have gone to the storeroom.”

I really didn’t know what to say in response to this. I felt like a complete mess. I was a complete mess and it was all his fault.

“You're smiling?” She pinched me.

“Hey,”’ I cried out.

“What are you smiling about?”

“I’ll be right back,” I said, and turned to go, but she caught my hand and stopped me. “You have got to be kidding me. You're going back for more. That’s just neurotic This lot are gonna figure it out and the whole town’s going to be gossiping about you and him.”

“I’m not going to him. I need to use the bathroom,” I explained and hurried away, only to bump into a man who was heading towards the sheds. There was a gorgeous smile on his face and he looked so good, as though he had taken a warm towel to his face and body, even though there was no warm towel in the storeroom. Insatiably, I inhaled his scent.

“Are we in trouble?” he asked.

His voice broke the spell and I realized where we were and how many eyes were probably on us. I retreated back from him. “I don’t think so.”

“Good.” He nodded courteously, then passed me by.

The perfect stranger. I couldn’t help but watch him as he walked away.

A handkerchief suddenly appearing underneath my chin startled me. “What the …?”

“You’ll need this to wipe off your drool. How absolutely neurotic of you. This is all my fault. I created a fucking monster.”

I cracked up at her words and took the clean handkerchief because I would most definitely need it. I tried to stop myself, but I couldn’t help casting one last long look at him before turning and heading off to the bathroom.

I cleaned myself up, but to be honest, I was almost reluctant to do it. I wanted to keep his scent on me. Everywhere I touched was a very vivid and poignant reminder that he had touched me there. The constant flashback made me feel as though he was right there with me. I was well aware I had to get myself back together, but before I could the bathroom door was pushed open, and a group of females headed in.

"Is she here? You said she was here. Montana!"

"Yeah, I’m here." I sighed. I had done something crazy. Something even Kelly would probably think twice about doing. So, of course, I had become worthy of gossip and conjecture. I hoped this little tidbit about my behavior would not get to my dad.

"Ow!" Kelly yelled as soon as she saw me. “Just look who’s been buttering the biscuit in the school store room! Ha, ha, the student has become the master.”

“Honestly, Montana,” Natalie exclaimed, but she was giggling too.

"Keep your voices down," I said, but they ignored me.

"You should have taken your own advice,” Kelly taunted. “Your moans and screams were audible throughout the entire school grounds."

At hearing this, my soul left my body. I turned to Pearl in horror. I could always trust her to tell the truth. “Is that true?”

"Stop scaring her, Kelly," Pearl scolded.

"Not true, Montana," Natalie consoled gently. "We only know because Pearl told us and she only heard because she had her ear stuck to the door of the storeroom."

Grinned with relief I tossed the handkerchief away and headed over to the sink.

"Hey! That's mine," Pearl complained.

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