Chapter 11
Lily's POV.
I slung my backpack over one shoulder as the final bell rang, and the classroom emptied in a rush of laughter and chatter. I paused at my desk, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear, and braced myself for the usual parade of stares.
"You look so cute together," a girl whispered as she passed my desk, nodding at the bracelet on my arm.
"Did you see the way Mark kissed her this morning?"
"She's so lucky. I didn't even know she was dating anyone."
I smiled politely and tucked my hands into my pockets. I was proud of Mark, proud of us, but after three periods of everyone talking about my relationship, I felt like an exhibit.
I stepped into the hallway. A trio of girls at the lockers turned and waved. A boy I barely knew shouted, "Hey, Lily!" from across the hall. Even the janitor looked at me with a grin.
I let out a shaky laugh. "Okay… okay," I muttered, and started weaving through the crowd, pretending I belonged there.
I tried to walk normally, ignoring the lingering glances and side smirks, but the attention was overwhelming. A small part of me felt proud. A bigger part of me? Tired. And nervous.
Joe's cold eyes from this morning refused to leave my head. The way he stared at me like I had done something wrong. Like I had broken some invisible rule.
But why was I letting him get in my head again? Especially now. Now that I have a boyfriend, I told myself. Weird to say. Even weirder to believe.
I was pulling my books out of my locker when two hands suddenly covered my eyes from behind.
"Guess who?"
I giggled. "Hmm. Could it be… my favorite pizza delivery guy?"
Mark laughed and uncovered my eyes, pulling me into a warm hug. "Wrong. It's your charming, devastatingly handsome boyfriend."
"Devastatingly?" I teased.
"Absolutely." He grinned. "Come on. Let's get out of here. My house. You, me, sandwiches, and a little homework. Sounds like a plan?"
My smile widened. "Best plan all day."
***
At Mark's place, the house was quiet and cozy. He whipped up two turkey sandwiches with the confidence of a five-star chef.
"Bon appétit," he said with a fake French accent as he placed the plate in front of me.
"Merci," I replied, trying to match his tone.
We ate quickly, and I pulled out the assignment we had both been procrastinating on.
"Okay, question one," I began, leaning over the paper. "If velocity is the rate of change of displacement, then acceleration is…"
I glanced up to see him staring.
"Mark?"
"Huh?"
"Are you even listening?" I narrowed my eyes at him.
"You're the problem," he said dramatically.
"Excuse me?"
He reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "You're too beautiful. How am I supposed to focus when you look like that?"
I turned away, blushing so hard I felt it in my toes. "Stop it."
"I'm serious," he said softly. "It's like trying to study math during a fireworks show."
"You're such a flirt," I mumbled, hiding my face behind the notebook.
He chuckled and leaned back. "Okay, your turn. Tell me something about you. What do you love to do for fun?"
Oh! no.
I couldn't tell him the truth. I know we have been friends for a while, but I didn't let him see and know all of me. I couldn't say I liked to curl up in bed and binge on romantic comedies with hot tea. Or that I sometimes sat by the washing machine, watching the spin cycle like it was a soap opera.
"I... like going out," I lied. "Parties. Movies. Stuff like that."
"Perfect," he said immediately. "Let's go to a movie. Right now."
"Wait…what?"
"Yep. Come on, movie girl. Let's do it."
***
We ended up at the late showing of 'The Haunted Widow's Forest', and it was the worst decision I had ever made.
Every time the ghost popped up, I screamed. I clung to Mark's arm like it was a life raft. My popcorn was all over the floor. At some point, I think I even buried my face in his chest.
Mark kept trying to hold in his laughter. I could feel his body shaking.
"Oh my God, Lily," he whispered after one particularly loud jump scare. "You're squeezing my arm like it owes you money."
"Why did you let me pick a horror movie?" I hissed.
"You said you liked movies," he whispered back.
"Romantic ones! Cartoons! Not psycho-widows with axes!"
By the time we stumbled out of the theater, I was practically holding onto him for dear life.
"I'm sorry," I groaned. "That was... not fun."
"It was unforgettable," he said with a grin. "Watching you jump five feet into the air was kind of amazing."
"I embarrassed us."
"No, you didn't." He stopped in the parking lot and turned to me. "You were real. That's what I like about you."
He kissed me, soft, reassuring. My wolf didn't fight it as much this time. Maybe… just maybe… she was starting to accept him. Or at least tolerate him.
The drive home was filled with laughter as we joked about all the insane things we saw in the movie. A possessed tree. A haunted blender. A ghost cat that meowed in reverse.
"Still can't believe that ghost cat licked the screen," Mark chuckled.
"Yeah, that's where I officially gave up on the movie," I laughed.
We pulled up to my house, and before I could open the door, he stopped me.
"Wait," he said.
I looked at him.
"There's going to be a big party soon," he said. "Everyone's going to be there. Me, Sonia… even Joe."
My breath hitched.
"I know you said you like parties, so... will you come with me?"
My heart skipped. I hate parties. Always had. But half of me wanted to see Joe. The other half wanted this relationship to work.
"I'd love to," I said, forcing a smile.
"Great." He smiled, kissed my cheek, and waited until I got inside.
As I closed the door behind me, I leaned against it and sighed.
A party.
And Joe.
This was going to get complicated.