Lark (5 page)

             
I twirl my fork in the spaghetti and take a big bite. I'm always starving after practice.

             
“Mi-mi! Bite!” Maddie exclaims with a giggle. I fork a meatball and offer it to her, but instead of opening her mouth like I expected her to, she grabs it with her chubby fingers and shoves it into her mouth. Family dinners are way more entertaining with a baby. Maddie Rose has to be the messiest eater on the face of the earth. But she looks so adorable trying to use her fork that it's easy to look past the spaghetti smeared in her hair. And on her face. And the table. And the floor. And the walls. 

             
“So, Mia, when were you going to tell me about your date for the homecoming dance this weekend?” I choke a little on the bite of spaghetti I just placed in my mouth. How on earth did she find out about that?

             
“Um, now I guess?” I say, trying to shrug it off like it's no big deal. Which it isn't. Just friends, I remind myself.

             
“I thought it was pretty sweet of Greyson to call and ask me for permission to escort you to the dance after the game. Such an old-fashioned thing to do!” My mom is practically gushing. I guess Grey has the same effect on parents as he does on teenage girls.

             
“Yeah, well, don't get any ideas. We’re just friends,” I grudgingly admit. She doesn't say anything but gives me a knowing smile before going back to eating her dinner. 

             
After I help clean up the dishes, I excuse myself to my room, citing homework as an excuse for my anti-social behavior. After a quick shower, I am in my favorite comfy pajamas.

             
I work on some homework to keep me busy, but when I finish a couple of hours later, I need something else to distract me from thoughts of Grey. I want to curl up in bed and read my favorite book but then I decide to try to read some more of the one that he gave me instead. Grey’s right, I really should branch out and read other books, but I just keep re-reading my favorite fantasy series. There is something comforting about losing myself in a different world, where the characters are strong and brave and follow their hearts. But since I’ve already read it about a million times and I know exactly what’s going to happen next, it probably won’t offer the level of distraction I’m looking for. I go ahead and grab the new book from Grey and open it up to the middle to try to spark my interest:

              In the late 1600s, King Eurico and his wife Queen Astrid were blessed with twin boys.               They were named Alberico and Dugan, respectively. Given the longevity of Elves,               conception was a rare and wonderful gift. To be blessed with twin boys was a remarkable               event.

              Okay, yeah, definitely boring. What was Grey thinking? I like several different genres, I’ll read pretty much anything you put in front of me, but I’m not all that interested in reading books for fun that read like a history lesson. I toss the old book aside. I glance at the clock and realize it's after eleven. My mind is showing no sign of shutting off any time soon.

             
I look around my room for something else to distract me from Grey but when I can’t think of anything. I finally give in and let myself think about the upcoming dance. I open my closet and pull out the dress bag that has been hiding away in the very back since the day Hannah and I went shopping. I carefully unzip it and pull out the v-neck dress with its flouncy, pleated skirt. Casual but classy, simple but beautiful. I love it. I admire the pretty blue color that just happens to be identical to the color of a certain someone's indigo eyes.

             
Despite the very unromantic nature of the way he asked me to go with him as “just friends”, I allow myself a moment to be excited. Maybe the dance will be the turning point in my relationship with Grey? Hannah seems to think there might be something more than just friendship between us...could she be right? The thought makes me smile as I finally drift off to sleep.

Chapter 3

              The bleachers are jam-packed tonight, which is exactly how it should be for Homecoming. Football season is my favorite part of cheerleading. Mostly because it happens to fall during my favorite season. The night games carry the crisp autumn breeze, filled with the scent of burning leaves and fog that is unique to fall. I also love football season because school spirit is always high no matter what. Even during the years our football team sucks, the stands are full of people cheering the Indians on. On game nights, the buzz of excitement is contagious and the atmosphere is alive with the smell of sweat and stale popcorn.

             
It's just a plus that our team is actually pretty good this year.

             
During our pre-game stretches, I scan the crowd for Grey's face since he promised he would actually make this game. I spot him easily, but not because of his unearthly good looks. He is the only one in the whole crowd not decked out in red, white, and blue, but rather his normal brown leather jacket. I just stand there staring at him for a while, taking advantage of the fact that he isn't looking at me, and therefore is not witnessing my embarrassing display of lusting. I keep waiting for him to turn his attention my way, but he is completely focused on something, or someone, at the opposite end of the stands. My heart drops to my stomach as I reluctantly follow his intent gaze to see which lucky girl has finally captured the attention of Greyson St. Clair. My eyes immediately zoom in on the target, but it certainly isn't what I expected. Instead of checking out some beautiful brunette like I fear, he is staring at Brian.

             
And Brian is staring at me.

             
I look back at Grey, and he is still watching Brian with a bewildered expression. I'm a little confused myself. I already know Brian is kind of odd. And he has a creepy staring problem. But what I don't understand is why Brian would be at a high school football game. I mean, yeah, sure, lots of locals come every week to support their Alma mater, especially during a big game like Homecoming. But I am pretty sure Brian isn't even from here, so I am not sure why he would be so interested.

             
“Mia!” I hear Hannah's squeaky voice say, “Are you ready?”

             
I look back to find that all the other cheerleaders are already lining up in formation, waiting for me.

             
“Um...yeah.” I tear my eyes away from the strange boy. “I'm coming.” I plaster on a bright smile for the crowd.

             
“What's wrong? You look pale,” Hannah asks me once I am close enough. “I mean, paler than usual.”

             
“Nothing.”

             
“Don't lie.”

             
“Fine. I think I have a stalker,” I admit.

             
“Dude! Seriously? How exciting! Who?” She stands on her tippy toes and starts scanning the crowd.

             
“Hannah, there is nothing exciting about a creepy stalker,” I chide her. I take a quick drink of water before grabbing my pom poms.

             
“Hey. Some girls go for that sort of thing.”

             
“You're terrible.”

             
Hannah giggles and lines up next to me in the front row. The game is about to start, so I sneak a quick peek into the crowd only to discover that Brian is gone. I don't see him anywhere. Where did he go and how did he leave so fast? My eyes find Grey, and his eyebrows are furrowed in frustration. He must sense my stare this time because he makes eye contact, then after a brief moment, he glances over to where Brian was standing just moments ago before quickly looking back at me. His eyes widen with surprise as though a disturbing thought has just occurred to him. I desperately want to go to him and ask him what he is thinking. Why does he suddenly look so distressed? There has to be something wrong and whatever it may be, I have a hunch it has something to do with Brian. But the band starts playing the school fight song signaling the start of the game, so I'll have to wait until later. 

              Half time rolls around, and I head to the concession stand to grab a quick snack before the crowning ceremony begins. As I round the corner, I hear Grey speaking rather rapidly on his cell phone. His back is to me, so he doesn't see me approach.

             
“I told you. I can't be sure. He is obviously interested in her, but it might not be what we think. She is a pretty girl; she is bound to attract attention from other human males.”

             
Human males? What an odd thing to say. I step back around the corner. I know it's rude to eavesdrop, but I want to hear more. And I have a feeling that the conversation would come to an abrupt end if he knew I was listening. 

             
“Yes, of course. I'll keep an eye on him and if anything suspicious happens, I know what to do. I'll take care of it.”

             
Geez. He sounds like an assassin or something.             

             
As soon as I think that, I shake the crazy thought from my head. Seriously, how ridiculous is that? I have obviously been reading way too many Young Adult books lately. A small giggle escapes my lips, and I am a little too slow to cover my mouth.

             
Grey abruptly stops talking and cocks his head slightly.

             
Did he really just hear me? In this noisy crowd?

             
“I have to go. I'll be in touch soon.” He hangs up, and I hear his footsteps approach my hiding spot. I try to blend in with the wall unsuccessfully. “Mia.”

             
Busted.

             
“Um, hi,” I falter. “I was coming to get some nachos before the crowning.” My face is definitely beet red with guilt.

             
“I see, and did you get lost on the way to the concession stand?”

             
I think he’s teasing me but I’m not sure. He has a smile on his face, but it is obviously strained.

             
Oh crap, maybe I really made him mad.
I guess I wouldn't be too happy either if I knew someone was spying on me.

             
“Er, well, no. I saw you and was going to say ‘hi’, but you looked busy, so I thought I would just wait.”

             
Gah.

             
Why didn't I just walk away? Why did I have to be so freaking nosy? I could have already had my nachos and been back down in the stands silently praying for Hannah to be announced as this year's Queen, but instead I made Grey mad, and now he is probably going to tell me he never wants to talk to me ever again.

             
“Shall I escort you?”

             
That was unexpected.

             
“I guess?” I am a little stunned that he isn't yelling at me for eavesdropping. Since I was and he obviously realizes that. 

             
“Shall we?”

             
For the first time in the three months that I have known Grey, he grabs my hand.

             
Holy smokes.

             
Greyson St. Clair is holding my hand.

             
He even buys my nachos like a proper gentleman.

             
We make our way back down to the bleachers, still holding hands, where we watch an ecstatic Hannah receive her rightful crown. After half time, the game is all a blur. I’m surprised I managed to pull off my arabesque 540 under Grey's watchful gaze. I don't think his eyes left my face for the rest of the night. It made me nervous, but I kind of liked it.

             
A lot.

             
We win the game, thankfully, and all in all I think it was a very successful Homecoming. Sets a good tone for tomorrow, I think to myself with a smile. 

             
Grey walks me to my car after the game, and I am practically beaming with joy at the turn of events. Almost everyone is still on the field celebrating, so the parking lot is actually pretty deserted.

             
As we stand there, I envision some creative ways that we could take advantage of this practically empty parking lot. The look in Grey's eyes gives me hope that maybe he is imagining the same type of things. He gently tugs my hand, pulling my body closer to his, and I breathe in his sweet apple and sandalwood scent. Suddenly, I am realizing that he might actually kiss me tonight, and instead of feeling eager with anticipation, I find myself completely freaking out. So I do what I do best: act like an idiot and ruin the moment by saying the first thing that pops into my head.

             
“So...Did you see Brian here?”

             
“Yes.” His breath catches in surprise, then his eyes narrow. “Why?”