“Ok, sure Blake, but you have about fifteen minutes until the bell,” he noted with a hint of confusion in his voice. I was sure he saw right through me.
“Yes, well, I would not want a full class for my next embarrassing stunt,” I kidded, praying he wouldn’t notice I was trying my hardest to ditch him.
Brent laughed. “Yes Blake, do make sure the lid on your water bottle is tight.”
God, even the way he calls me Blake is galvanizing. I have got to get out of here.
I turned quickly, bolting for the exit, dropping my apple and un-eaten sandwich into the trash bin on the way by. I was about through the cafeteria doors when I heard his voice again.
“Hey Blake, you forget something.”
Turning to see his blue eyes and charming smile holding my book out, walking towards me, my knees nearly buckled. I walked back, reaching to accept my book from him. There it was again. The pull of undeniable attraction between us returned. He had to feel it too, but his expression was unreadable.
“Thanks,” I said shyly, pulling the book from his hand.
“A Room With a View, huh?” I wasn’t quite sure if it was a statement or a question.
Judging from his smile and waiting gaze I assumed it was meant to be a question. “One of my favorites,” I professed proudly.
“Interesting,” he added. “But it’s rather sad.”
Okay, I was intrigued. “Really?…Falling in love when you least expect it and living happily ever after is sad to you?” I chided. Given that it was one of my favorite reads, his not liking it could be a deal breaker. I couldn’t possibly go out with a guy that didn’t like this book.
Slow this train down, Cinderella!
“Forgoing the importance of everything else for love is the sad part,” he responded. “There was a heavy price to pay for their love, but I guess one can’t have everything.”
“I think their love for each other saved both of them, so in the end they did have everything,” I lectured, mentally patting myself on the back for responding so confidently.
“Maybe…But then again, there is more at stake than a happy ending,” he disputed.
What?
I wanted to tell him all the reasons his perception was wrong, but I wanted to escape the sensual feeling traveling through my body more than I wanted to argue.
“I really have to get going, but I think you should read the story again,” I suggested, unable to stop myself from throwing in one last comment.
“I might,” he grumbled. “And you might consider the main characters path was by design. Lucy was supposed to be with her fiancé. By choosing George, she changed the order of things.”
What in the world?
I almost laughed. “Lucy chose her own path. She chose to live free with the man she loved.” Kudos to me, I thought, for knowing this book far too well for anyone to debate me about its meaning.
He arched a brow and the corner of his lips curved slightly as he countered. “Yes, she did Claire. All I am saying is maybe the choice was not hers to make.”
Now, I laughed. “Whose choice was it then?” I challenged, playing along.
“Not hers,” Brent insisted. “She had a purpose in life and by design she should have stayed with her fiancé to complete that purpose.”
“Soooo,…Lucy was supposed to ignore her passion for George because there was an off chance she had some purpose to complete, and she would fail if she didn’t?” I asked skeptically, shaking my head at the ridiculous notion.
His was chewing nervously on his bottom lip and he cocked his head slightly before answering.
“Look, all I’m saying is that maybe we’re sent here with a predetermined course that we’re not supposed to veer from. Like, we have certain guidelines, call them rules if you will – things that are predetermined and beyond our control, designed specifically for each of us. Perhaps our souls are already assigned to someone, and if we choose otherwise, we screw it all up,” he laughed nervously.
Are we still talking about George and Lucy?
“Then,… you are suggesting Lucy should have ignored her feelings for George because some force in the universe said she was supposed to be with her fiancé?” I clarified, finding the whole discussion puzzling.