She looked around the corridor. So many students were coming and going. “Sure, why not?”
“Great.”
Once again they were joining hands, and making their way out toward his car. Dumping her bag into the back, she got into the front, and within seconds they were off school property. She knew they were heading toward the lake. It was the place they always went, together, alone, with friends. She found it was the one place that made sense, and it was like their little domain off the beaten track.
He parked the car, and without waiting for him, she climbed out, and headed toward their spot. Eli was by her side, and she sat down on the park bench that was there. She sat on the main table, resting her feet on the chair. Eli did the same so they were both staring out at the lake.
“You were going to try and win me over?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“Is that why you took my tray all week, carried my books, kept touching me?”
“You noticed the touching?” he asked.
“It wasn’t hard, Eli. Every chance you got, you were holding my hand, or wrapping your arms around my waist. It wasn’t exactly like you.”
“I’ve always touched you.”
“There was a difference though.”
“Yeah, there was. Before, I didn’t know what I wanted. I knew that I liked you, and I loved being around you. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from you at times. I always thought you were the most beautiful thing in the world.”
“Thing?” she asked, with a chuckle. “I’m human you know.”
“I know. I was a kid. At times a real jerk.”
She rested her head against his shoulder. “Not to me, you weren’t. You never shouted at me, or called me names. You were always so sweet to me.”
“I know I called Rachel and Mary a bitch a lot.”
“At least once a week.”
“You were never a bitch to me, Aria. Never.”
She licked her lips, staring at the calm water. There were so many happy memories here. Every time they came here, she never wanted to leave. “I hated that you left, Eli. Will you tell me what Wayne did to make you so angry?”
Chapter Five
Eli had hoped to keep that a secret. “Why do you want to know?”
“You smashed his face into a table, Eli. Something he must have said set you off. I’ve seen you fight, and mess around with Chris and Branson. Nothing was like that. You were so angry. What was it about?”
He sighed. “If you must know, he talked shit about you.”
“About me?”
“Yeah, calling you names, asking what it was like to bang a bitch with a fat ass. Let’s say he got what he deserved.”
“Ew.”
“Yeah. Wayne has a way of pissing me off without even trying.”
“That’s not good. You need to learn to control that anger of yours.”
“I’d never hurt you.”
“I know that, Eli. I would never question that.” She leaned forward resting on her knees, rubbing her hands together. “You know people will laugh at us in school. They’ll think you’re using me to get laid quickly.”