It was a bright and sunny day, and I pulled a pair of Ray-Bans out of the glove compartment before I got out of the car and knocked on Nicole’s door. I fidgeted from one foot to the other and glanced down to the side of the porch. The second pot of mums I had left her was planted in the flowe
rbeds there. I smiled and wondered if I should say anything about them as Sheriff Skye answered the door.
Not what I was expecting.
“Oh…um...hi,” I blathered. “I’m here to pick up Nicole.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard,” he grumbled. He opened the door wide and signaled me in with a grand gesture of his arm. I walked into the little foyer and heard Nicole’s footsteps on the stairs. “For the record, I think your little ‘plan’ is a little ‘insane’.”
He used finger quotes. Huh. Who would have thought?
“Oh…she….she told you about it?”
“Yep.”
“Oh.” I was in complete loquaciousness fail.
“Come on,” Nicole said as she hoisted her backpack over her shoulder. “Let’s get this over with.”
“It’s not that bad, is it?” I asked. I thought it was a pretty good plan, really.
“No,” Nicole said.
“Yes,” Sheriff Skye said.
“Shit,” I grumbled.
Nicole rolled her eyes and walked past me and out the door. I followed, remembered what I was supposed to do, and ran around her quickly. With a bright smile, I opened the passenger side door and gestured her inside.
“You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?” she said.
“I don’t want anyone bothering you,” I told her. “They won’t as long as they think we’re together.”
“We’ll see.”
We drove in silence. As we approached school, there were kids all over the fucking place. I pulled around to one of the front spots and put the car in neutral before turning it off.
“Ready?”
“No,” Nicole replied, “but let’s do it anyway.”
“Stay there,” I reminded her. I pushed my door open, got out, casually stretched my neck and nodded to a couple of people as I walked around to the other side of the car. I could feel their eyes on me as I opened up Nicole’s door, reached in, and took her hand to help her out.
I could even hear the gasps. I could practically hear what they were thinking.
“Come on, baby,” I said quietly—but not too quietly.
Nicole stood, bit down on her lip, and started walking slowly. I placed my Ray-Bans over my eyes, tossed my arm around her waist, and smiled at everyone around me as I escorted my Rumple into the school. Nicole pretty much stared at the ground, only occasionally glancing up at those around us.
“Why are they all looking at us?” she asked under her breath.
“Malone doesn’t date,” I told her. “Everyone knows that. I sure as hell have never brought a chick to school in my Jeep before. Well, not in the front seat.”
I snickered but quickly silenced myself when I saw her glare and realized how prickish I sounded. I offered her an apologetic shrug, which was met with eye rolling. Hoping I hadn’t blown it already, I pulled her a little closer to my side as students began to fill the hallways.
“Where’s your locker?” I asked.
“It’s number 8420.”