Page 52 of Treasured Secrets
My shoulders dropped in disappointment. I nodded unwillingly, and left as he climbed into the shower. I was hard pressed not to just climb in the shower with him, but I fought the urge and continued getting ready. Yet again, we had come so close to kissing, but we were interrupted at the most inopportune time.
"It's always something" I murmured aloud as I went to make us some coffee.
We got to school and I could feel someone watching me. Then I saw that it was McKee. He was propped up against his car, close to the entrance. I shook my head and spoke in a very irritated sort of tone.
"I really dread calculus more and more." I looked to Tallis.
He forced a smile. "I'm not very fond of you in that class either, but the semester will be over before you know it. And I'm never too far away."
He leaned over and kissed my cheek once we made it to the lockers. I could hear some girls whispering in envious tones. I just smiled. I was tired of worrying about what the other girls thought of me.
I shrugged and spoke quietly after gathering my books. "I guess I'll see you in a bit."
"It can't get her soon enough."
He let my hand go slowly as he walked away. I took a deep breath and reluctantly headed into calculus.
Mr. Leeson stood at the front of class and talked in a cooler, more causal tone than usual. "We'll be partnering up today to work a project. You're going to use the equations on the board and design any structure you would like. You can use the equations in any order you wish, but they have to all be used. Take a moment and choose your partner."
Great. I had no friends and McKee was the only one I knew in the entire class. No one even glanced my way. No guy was going to get in the mix with Tallis and McKee. No girl wanted to get on Elaina's bad side by pairing up with me.
Everybody paired up and the only two left without a partner was McKee and me.
He slid his chair beside mine with a shrug and a cocky, triumphant smile. "Looks like it's just you and me today."
I didn't say anything. I just let out a sigh of frustration and began working on the assignment. I planned on finishing it very quickly.
I began sketching after I solved each equation. McKee just sat there, staring at me, building the awkwardness. He finally decided to break the silence.
He leaned over closer and spoke in a low, whispered voice. "I know I don't get many chances to talk to you without Tallis hovering, so I have to at least try to explain myself while the opportunity is available."
I didn't acknowledge him. I just kept my eyes on the paper and continued working. That didn't discourage him though. He continued speaking in his whisper.
"I'm sorry I've been such an ass, but I honestly can't help it. I know this world is all new to you, so I know it's hard for you to understand."
I brought my eyes to meet his. "What don't I understand? You seem to be the one who doesn't understand. I'm with Tallis. I'm sorry, but he's the one I want."
Even though I was whispering, you could still hear the aggravation in my tone. I put my eyes back down and continued working.
"When we first met, you were attracted to me. You even liked me a little. I was linked to you in order to hide you. When I was linked, I felt those feelings. They magnified my attraction to you. It's a super thing, if you know what I mean. Not to mention, your strong bloodline makes it that much more intoxicating to be around you. I'm in a rough place right now."
I raised my eyes back up. I could hear the frustration in my whispered response. "I was attracted to you for like a nanosecond. So use your link to figure that out."
I continued on with the assignment, hoping he would just drop the whole conversation.
He didn't though. His pleading tone was almost sad.
"It doesn't work like that. When I first linked to you, those feelings were toward me. When you started feeling like you did for Tallis, I was still linked. Those feelings you have toward Tallis are the same feelings I have toward you. Imagine if you were in my shoes, and Tallis liked you for an instant. Then suddenly he liked someone else, and your emotions only grew.
"It would be hard for you to deal with it. I know I haven't dealt with it all that great... at all, but I'm doing the best I know how to do. I haven't ever been in this situation before. I usually guard people I'm not attracted to for this reason.
"I can't pretend I don't have feelings. I can't just shut them off. I wish I could, but it doesn't work that way. Will you please just be patient with me, and maybe even… a little nicer?"
His voice was hopeful and still quiet. His eyes showed genuine pain, which forced me to look back down. I suddenly changed my tone. I didn't even want to think about how hard it would be to watch Tallis be with someone else. It would be unbearable.
My head rose and I laid down my pencil, preparing to give him my full and undivided attention for the first time. Then I turned my head and looked into his eyes directly.
"Our assignment is finished."
