Chapter EIGHT

The first week of school was almost over and I'd survived just fine. Lydia and her friend, Sam, were trying hard to get me to open up, let them in. Lex, Matt and Caleb were also part of my new entourage. Somehow I'd went from one friend to five, just like that. Matt and Sam both had lunch period three, so we became lunch buddies. I felt comfortable enough sitting with them, without having the desire to give up much information about myself. Matt already knew too much.

Luckily, Camilla didn't really know who I was. I heard her talking to Lydia and another girl, Tina, in homeroom about her boyfriend's new car, and I couldn't get Duke's face out of my head. I hadn't done anything wrong, I knew that. And maybe he and I could be friends. Secret friends? It was all too new and strange and I didn't know what to think.

I planned to walk to the library after school on Friday, but Lex convinced me to get in the car with him and Matt.

"It's lame that you have to work again," Matt said plainly, pulling up to the library a few minutes later. "We are totally doing shots and playing board games tonight."

Lex smiled at me, then stuck out his tongue. "Have fun at work."

Doing shots and playing board games actually sounded fun, but I wasn't like them. I had to work, pay my own cell phone bill, take care of myself. I didn't have anything handed to me. I didn't even have a mother who cared about me.

"Thanks," I smiled back. "You guys have a good night."

"We will," Matt laughed, then added, "hang out tomorrow?"

Lex looked at him and then to me. I didn't know what to say so I nodded and then got out of the car.

Two hours into my shift, Mrs. Walsh told me she had to leave early and asked if I was okay to close on my own. There was only an hour left and I knew what I needed to get done for closing, so I agreed. She thanked me and hurried out, saying she had a personal emergency.

No one came in the entire hour and I finished all my tasks - cleaning, restocking random books, signing out of the computer system - fifteen minutes early. Five minutes before I could leave, I heard the loud bang of the door opening and closing. I'd already closed down the system so I knew I'd have to tell whoever it was to come back tomorrow.

Except I didn't have to, because it was Duke. I really didn't think he would show up again, especially since he didn't even know when I would be there at the library.

"Wow... it's so quiet in here. More so than usual," he said right away. No hello.

"We're closed, actually," I answered, not fully looking at him.

"The door was open." He had this cocky way about him that excited me and irritated me at the same time.

"Yeah, I know. I'm just finishing up here -"

"Oh, so you're done work?" Now he was intrigued.

And I completely freaked out, internally. I clicked the computer into sleep mode, then fumbled with some things under the desk for a minute, trying to look busy.

"If you're off now, can we hang out?" he asked, cocking his head to the side a bit.

"Why do you... I mean... I thought your life was so busy?" I stumbled on the words.

He grinned. "There's like four parties tonight I could be at. My own brother is having one. Camilla wanted me to go hang out with her... I have work to do for my Dad..."

"So, what's your point? You're so busy, but you're here?" I snapped at him.

He bit his bottom lip, inhaling. I watched him as he took a step back and then came forward again. His eyes were on me, narrowed, trying to figure something out.

"You don't talk to me like other people do," he finally said. "I mean the very first time I saw you... you didn't care that I wanted to get in here early. You just said no. I'm not trying to sound... pretentious... but I'm used to people - girls - doing what I ask."

I swallowed hard. "Sorry, I don't know what you want from me."

"That's just it... I like that you talk to me like I'm a normal person," he admitted.

"You're not a normal person?" I asked.

"I am. But... I guess you don't know who my mom is." He smiled, but then shook his head.

"Sorry, no idea."

"Catherine Shram. She's -"

"Shram? As in Shram Shakes?" I asked, my eyes wide.

"Yeah." He looked amused.

"Wow."

"Yeah, I know. It's -"

"Like, the most popular health trend in New York right now," I finished for him.

He sighed. "Yeah."

"So, your mom is famous. You go to a fancy private school -"

"How do you know that?" he asked, interested. He looked surprised for a second.

"I... my friend Lex told me," I admitted, slightly embarrassed.

"Alex Lee?" he asked, looking annoyed now. I nodded. "Shit. So you were at Camilla's party last Friday with him?"

"I was."

He closed his eyes for a second and I decided to come around the desk, to leave. It was Friday, and still early, but I had no where to be.

"Alex really doesn't like me," Duke finally spoke again.

This honestly surprised me, because it always seemed like Lex liked everyone. He was just a friendly guy.

"For what reason?" I asked.

"Honestly, all of the guys at your school sort of hate me," he said, then smiled. "They think Camilla should date a guy from East, or that I'm not good to her because I get drunk and she has to take care of me."

At least he was honest.

"How long have you been dating her?" I wanted to know.

I watched as he ran a hand through his hair. "A few months. We met in June when East came to my school for a Robotics Engineering Clinic...." He paused, watching for my reaction. "She was there with some other guy, mind you. But we hit it off."

I shook my head, walking towards the door to leave the library. He followed. Once we were outside, I pulled the door closed and locked it, then turned towards him.

"I just don't think this is... you know, a good idea," I told him, trying to sound serious.

"Penelope," he said quickly, reaching for my arm. "Tell me to leave you alone, and I'll go. I won't come back here."

But somehow he must have known I wasn't going to tell him to leave.

*

I got home that night after 11 P.M., after more than an hour of driving around the city in Duke's fancy new car. We talked, we were quiet, it was both awkward and comfortable. I didn't know him, but he was sharing bits and pieces of his life with me, and I liked that. His brother was twenty and very involved in Shram Shakes. His dad was starting up a separate business that he helped with. He had no real friends because he felt like he didn't fit in at his school. When he asked about me, I lied. I told him I lived near the library and my parents were married and that I had a younger brother. At least one of those things was true.

And when he offered to drive me home, I told him I would walk from the library, so he dropped me off there once again.

"Thanks for... tonight," he said, smiling as I hopped out of his car. I turned back but I didn't know what to say. "So, can I see you again?" he asked after a moment.

I shook my head. "I really don't think -"

"Because I have a girlfriend?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"And because she's in my homeroom. And my best friend hates you," I spat out.

Duke looked hurt for a split second. He looked away, then tapped the steering wheel a few times. "Why do those things matter?" he finally asked.

I swallowed. "Because. I don't want my friends at school to... think that I..."

"I thought you were way cooler than that, Penelope. Like, you don't seem like the type of girl who would even care if people at school like you."

"I have to go," I said, but didn't close the door just yet.

"Then go." He shrugged.

"I need friends, Duke," I said, like I was trying to convince him of this. I knew how stupid it sounded.

"I want to be your friend," he answered, then added, "And my name is Winston."

I tried to look surprised. "So, why Duke?"

"It's my last name. But I always got made fun of for Winston. I was like fourteen when I made everyone start calling me Duke. Like, people don't even know my real name."

Yes they do, I wanted to tell him. Lex knew.

"I work Tuesday after school," I said, then slammed the car door shut before he could say anything else.