Page 105 of The List of Things

“Oh, I cheer. My parents had us on the field together despite the age difference. I was always on the older teams anyway because I can do all the tumbling, and I’m small so they can throw me in the air. I’m going to get a BFA in dance. I want to be an NFL Cheerleader one day,”

I laugh at her energy. She’s far more talkative than her brother, but I like that about her.

“Okay, enough talking her ear off B,” Bellamy pushes the door open, and my stomach sinks at the realization of what his talkative sister had said.

Bellamy lied.But she must not know what she’s talking about. At the same time she talks about how close they are, how would she not know? My mind is fighting itself as I look at him, but I manage a smile.

“She’s sweet. Don’t be mean,” I defend her, and his sister smiles next to me.

“Yeah, listen to your girlfriend.”

Bellamy sighs, “I didn’t tell her that.”

I nod, believing him, “I assumed that much.”

I smile awkwardly and he nods his head.

“We were just stopping in, but I’ll come back next week, and stay for a few days alright?”

I get up and walk with him. He guides me out of her bedroom, and his sister follows, jumping behind us.

“Bring Kamryn! Please! Kamryn, please come, I’m inviting you firsthand, right now.”

Bellamy hesitates. He looks at me. He’s not used to dancing around the truth with her from what I can tell. He probably hasn’t explained our arrangement to her.

“I’m going home to my parents in the next few days actually or else I would... I would love to… To meet everyone.”

I feel bad for not fully telling the truth. I probably wouldn’t come even if I was staying on campus. Because after our last date, there’s nothing left between us.

“Another time,” She nods her head, and I don’t say anything, I just nod.

Bellamy hugs his sister, and we both say our goodbyes before he ushers me out of the door, and back in the car. I stay quiet, my mind dancing with theories, and answers to the questions I continue to ask myself.

I don’t want to think that all of this was some giant ploy. Something that he’s been plotting this entire time? Since I started tutoring him. I never once gave in to his advances, but he never once made any in the sense of asking me on a date, or inviting me anywhere with him. He never tried. I wouldn’t have said yes, but he never made his attraction apparent. I just thought he flirted with me because it was his personality. I thought he flirted with me because he’s a stupid boy.

“Are you okay?” I have no idea how much time has passed since I zoned out, but we aren’t anywhere I recognize anymore.

“Fine,” I force another smile, and he furrows his brows, a question on his face. “I’m fine, really,” I try again.

“Did it bother you that she called you my girlfriend? Bri is a lot sometimes, but she was joking.”

I shake my head.

“No. That wasn’t what bothered me,” My words leave a question hanging between us. He can sense it right away.

“Did she say something else?” His hand hangs loose on the steering wheel as he drives.

“She said a lot of things. She said you were incredibly smart and very good at math which was a shock to me. She also knew about me, and not from the past few weeks, but for months, and months. Apparently, she’s heard a lot about me.”

His grip tightens on the steering wheel as he continues to drive.

“So I guess my first question is did you even need tutoring?” I ask.

He shrugs, and I’m not usually blunt like this asking Bellamy questions, but there’s a bit of anger I feel in my chest. Confusion, and anger, and now as I watch him shrug his shoulders. I feel anxiety spreading.

“I did at first,” He admits.

“At first?” I ask, and he sighs.

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