Page 8 of Unmasking You

It’s my time to snort, and I like it when his eyes sparkle.

“What were you expecting?”

“Not you.” The way he says it seems to have another meaning, but I don’t want to look stupid so I keep my mouth shut.

“Which school were you at before?”

I reply, opening like a flower under the sun. He fires one question after another, eager to know more.

I, on the other hand, the one always in the shadows, am now basking in the spotlight. And the way Shane seems to hang on to my every word makes me want to share more, keeping all his attention on me forever. The thought scares me because it has implications I don’t want to think about.

The more we talk, the more we lean towards each other. It’s like we’re two planets who have entered the same orbit, and now we’re close to colliding.

Time seems to catch up with me, and afraid of having problems on my first day, I move things along.

“How long do we stay here?” I ask him.

“Why? Are you a coward?”

What kind of question is that?

“Do you always act like a spoiled child?” I ask, annoyed by his behaviour. What the hell?

“No, you’re not,” he says with a smile that seems filled with pride. “I like you,” he continues, before throwing an arm around my shoulders and pulling me towards him.

His bigger body is hugging mine, enveloping me like a blanket and touching me like no one ever has before. The beat of my heart is so loud that everything else around us is silent. I pull away, afraid he can hear it and will realise what his touch is doing to me, even if I don’t fully understand myself.

His grip tightened a bit at first, but then he let me go.

Was it my imagination, or did his hand linger on me?

I leave that thought behind in the toilets and focus on surviving my first day. I’m glad today is all about giving us information for exams, timetables, deadlines, and revision.

One thing I can’t shake off, though, probably because it’s sitting next to me, is Shane.

I’m sure I made a friend today, and things are going to be amazing here.

Chapter 4

Shane

Present day

I park the car in front of Jamie’s building and turn the engine off.

I pull out my phone and shoot a text to Karl, my best friend.

Shane

I’ll see you in thirty minutes. Just taking care of something right now.

Karl

Cool. It’ll be good to have you here.

Shane

Sorry, work has been busy. I’ll owe you.

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