Page 14 of The Sweetest Cruelty: Hudson
As the last book was placed away, Molly retrieved her backpack. I pushed off the shelving and watched as she withdrew what looked like a schedule from her bag. “Callaghan?” she replied as she studied the piece of paper.
Huffing, I stepped towards her. Our bodies were so close now and she had to crane her neck to retain eye contact, “Ah yes, monster bitch. Good luck with that.”
She pushed her schedule away and then slid the backpack onto her shoulders.
“That bad?”
There was a brief silence where we looked into each other’s eyes before the bell went for the next lesson. I glanced at my watch. Fuck. I so needed to revise. I had a test after lunch.
“I'll speak to my sister, Harper.Shehas Callaghan.”
“Cool. MaybeHarpercould tutor me in all things American?” she said, preparing to leave the library.
“Hey, if you need a tutor, look no further,” I offered with a sugary smile.
“I couldn’t ask you to help me. I already owe you one for almost bludgeoning you to death with A, F, G, H and K,” Molly explained with a laugh.
Rubbing my chin thoughtfully, I took on board her comment, “OK. So, you owe me one?” I suggested with raised eyebrows.
She took what I said on board before nodding in agreement. “Yes. And I always pay my debts.”
“Good to know. I’ll have to ensure it benefits us both,” I husked.
She looked at me from beneath her lashes, “Why would you do that?”
“Because I have a feeling that there is something that webothneed. I’m just not sure what that is yet.”
I was being honest. Something wasn’t quite right with Molly. I sensed an emptiness in her that mirrored my own. Yet she hid it well.
“Deal,” she said, holding her tiny paw for me to shake. I looked down before I swallowed her hand with my own.
But I didn’t shake it, I drew her hand towards my mouth and planted one kiss against her wrist. Directly on that pulse point, I’d feltracingearlier.
A sweet silence stretched between us, and our eyes remained tangled.
“I’d better go. I’m already late. See you around, Hudson,” she said hopefully as I let her go. I did it, but it wasfuckinghard.
“Oh, you will, I guarantee it,JustMolly,” I replied.
And then she was gone.
THREE
MOLLY
Pinch me, pinch me now. My heart was fluttering like a bird trapped in a cage. Fromallthe scenarios I had envisaged for my first day at my new school, meeting a boy likethathadn’t been one of them. Even his voice had the power to turn my knees into jelly.
Up until that point, my morning had been lame. I hadn’t expected a red carpet or a welcome banner, but the lady in reception hadn’t been expecting me until the following week. She was about as unprepared as you could be.
After frantically scrabbling with the various forms I had to fill in, she spoke about my schedule. When I looked at her blankly, she translated ‘schedule’ to ‘lesson timetable’ and the penny dropped. The woman was harassed, especially when a queue started to form behind me. I was then ushered to the library to have my picture taken and collect my school ID badge. After an unhelpful discussion with the librarian, Mrs Dobbs, I decided it would be useful to grasp the differences between British English and American English sooner, rather than later.
Hence, the decision to tackle the bookshelves (aka the stacks) and maim another student (although that bit hadn’t been part of the plan).
Andwhata student. He wasstunning, beautiful in every way. The attraction I experienced was instantaneous. He was also nice, as well as charismatic. The best-looking boys at my last school were all arrogant arseholes.
“Hudson,” I spoke his name out loud,tastingit on my lips.
“What did you say?” a sharp voice bit in beside me, and I turned, grabbing hold of the straps of my backpack. The stance I adopted made me feel safe. If I didn’t have something to do with my hands, I felt awkward.
