Taking Up His Offer

The alarm on my phone rang silently, setting off a vibration in my pocket. Taking it out, I turned it off and read the time: five minutes to 4:00 P.M.

After Damien had publicly sang his heart out for me, and said he wanted me to wait so he could take me out for some pizza, the rumors had amplified a million times more. Maddie even had the nerve to walk up to me during the second break that followed, to ask if I would take Damien up on the offer. I had shrugged. It's what I did for every other time that followed as girls that I had never even seen before cornered me and asked me if I now liked Damien over Leo. It didn't take me by surprise one bit that Damien's show had only spiced things up further but I figured as long as I didn't show much interest in the matter, things would eventually 'fizz out' as Leo had put it.

The school day had come to an end when the final bell went off at exactly 3:00 P.M. Leo didn't have to ask me to know that I would be staying back. He'd simply given me a wave and walked off of campus, telling me he'd see me tomorrow.

I didn't have the heart to turn down Damien's offer, after all the trouble he'd gone through with his impromptu performance of 'Heartbreak Hotel'. The fact that he'd landed himself in detention didn't make me feel any better either. I, Makayla Summers, may be a bit of a hard-ass but I have an actual, beating, human heart.

That's how I ended up staying in the library to work on my AP English Literature assignments until 4 P.M came about. I'd managed to get most of my essays done, which was a good thing. I still had loads of catch-up work to do for that particular class and I was not eager to face the wrath of Mrs. Hammond. At least now, I had a greater chance of surviving senior year - though still a slim one.

Hauling my bag over one shoulder, I walked out of the library doors. It opened up to the view of a beautiful garden, bringing an instant smile to my face as I stopped and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.

The library's located in a separate block from that of the academic buildings. It was not only large but had a colorful garden situated right in front of it, surrounding the building in a square-like pattern. Several benches had been made for students who wanted to take advantage of good weather and read outside in the company of the vegetation. A narrow pathway had also been built to lead the students from the library's exit, back to the main campus.

My footsteps were light as I walked, eyes skimming over the several flowers and shrubs that aligned the path. A drop of water landed on the bridge of my nose. Frowning, I glanced up at the sky. It was darkened due to the presence of several thick, gray, storm clouds. Quickening my pace, I hurried toward the academic building that loomed into view. As if on cue, the doors opened and out came Damien, Adam, Nick and a bunch of other students who had been deemed 'troublemakers'. Nick was the first to spot me, calling out my name.

I hurried up the steps and pushed the guys back under the shade of the building. Damien misinterpreted and wrapped his arms around me in a hug.

"That happy to see me safe and sound, huh? I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

Pushing him off of me, I scowled and pointed up at the sky.

"It's about to rain hell, you dummy!"

Their eyes followed to where I was pointing. Adam let out a heavy sigh of disappointment.

"Man, oh man. Just our luck, huh? Any of you got an umbrella on you?"

"No," the three of us answered simultaneously.

Their fellow detention-mates were heading towards the car park, either fortunate enough to have a ride of their own or grabbing one from a friend. I turned to face Nick, eyes arching at the fact that he was just as worried as the rest of us over the sudden development of the weather.

"Don't you drive?" I asked. "I mean, you're rich so you have your own car, right?"

Nick visibly flinched at my statement. Had I been rude? A blush rose up in my cheeks as I heard how he must have heard it but if he was in any way offended by my generalization, he didn't show it as he glanced at me and shook his head with that friendly smile set into his features.

"No. I didn't want one."

"That's what makes you an idiot, with a capital I, Saunders," Adam growled, as if frustrated by Nick's poor decision making. "Anyway, you three, I'm going to set off and try to get home before it starts pouring cows. See you later."

"I'm off too."

Nick turned to look at me and Damien to give us one last wave before following Adam down the steps. Both of them were walking insanely fast, and it wasn't until they were a good ten feet away did I realize I hadn't even thanked them, let alone, apologized for their troubles.

"Adam, Ni-"

My voice caught in my throat as a heavy downpour of rain fell from the skies just like that. It was sudden, like God had decided to pour buckets of cold water down on the Earth without so much as a light drizzle for a warning first. I heard the two of them yelp in the distance before breaking into a run, and disappearing from view completely as they rounded the corner into the street.

Turning to face Damien, I slipped my hand into my front pockets. "So much for grabbing pizza."

A deep frown had warped the features of his usually grinning face. He glared up at the skies, his green eyes dark and angry. One of his hands kept tugging at the strap of his backpack violently like he was fighting the urge to kick or punch something, while the other remained curled into a fist by his side.

"Damn it. This blows."

Stepping forward, I patted him on the shoulder, my touch breaking him from his thoughts as his eyes swerved down to meet mine.

"It's not the end of the world. And even if it were, I'm sure a stable boy and princess can work together to figure something out."

I didn't like seeing him look all bummed out. It didn't suit Damien at all, and I knew saying that would merit a smile from him. It did more than that. He put an arm around my shoulder and yanked me to his side, and with the other raised a fist into the air triumphantly.

"We sure can!"

Damien was one for dramatic effect, I had learned. So I really shouldn't have screamed when the next second, he went running headfirst into the rain, pulling a helpless young princess along with him.

--------------------CHAPTER END---------------------

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