Suitors & Sweethearts

Chapter 14

SEVEN

Lara didn’t stop. Her heart ached and her shoulder slumped as if she carried the weight of the world. She wanted to go crawl into a hole and cry for the next year. She didn’t want to talk to anyone, least of all Malcolm.

“Malcolm, leave me alone,” she said in a choked voice.

“I’m so sorry, Lara. I really am. Please, just talk to me.” His voice sounded pained, as if he were genuinely sorry for the things he’d done in the past.

She stopped walking and clutched her bag to her chest, her head lowered.

Malcolm caught up and came to stand in front of her. “Thank you for stopping. I was just driving past and saw you. I wanted to say that I’m really sorry for all the things I did in the past. I know I was an asshole and you probably would never forgive me. But I’d be grateful if you could.”

Lara sucked in a deep breath and blew it out. “I forgive you, Malcolm.”

She did. She hadn’t thought about him in weeks, anyway. Right now, she had a bigger sorrow to deal with.

“Thank you so much,” he said and came closer. “Are you crying? What happened?”

She shook her head. Tears smarted her eyes as the pain of breaking up with Ike crashed over her. “It’s nothing.”

“Don’t say that. You’re upset. Did someone do something to you?” He placed his hand on her arm, the tone of his voice concerned.

Perhaps it was just hearing him sound so worried about her when she’d never thought he could be so kind—she broke down in sobs as she spoke. “It’s Ike.”

“Who is Ike?” he asked gently. “What did he do to you?”

She realised he probably didn’t know Ike was Mr. Thomas. She didn’t even know his first name until a few weeks ago. But she didn’t clarify. Probably best if Malcolm didn’t know. “He’s my boyfriend. He broke up with me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do?”

She shook her head and pressed the heel of her right hand to her eyes. She wiped her glasses against her top before wearing them again. “No. I just want to go home.”

“Okay. I’ll take you home.”

“No. Don’t worry.”

“I can’t let you go home in this state. Let me take you, please. I promise I’ll drive you straight home.”

She didn’t have any energy to argue with him, so she sighed and nodded. Perhaps if she let him take her home, she would get there sooner and have some peace and quiet all to herself. “Okay.”

He took her arm and led to the car. It was a small, red, 2-door VW Golf hatchback. He opened the door and helped her in. Then he got in the other side. Lara noted that he was being very nice, much nicer than he’d been to her at the start of the school year. She gave him her address and he drove her straight home. She’d been expecting him to start asking her out like he used to, but he didn’t say anything all the way until they got to the front of her house.

“Thank you,” she said as she unlocked the door.

“You’re welcome,” he said. “Take care of yourself.”

She was so shocked that Malcolm had been so nice to her without even asking for anything in return. But it didn’t take away from her sadness.

Luckily, there was no one home when she arrived. She went straight upstairs to her bedroom and stayed there for the rest of the day.

Each time her phone buzzed, she rushed to pick it up, only to toss it aside when it wasn’t Ike calling or texting her. She hoped he would call and tell her it had been a mistake or just a moment of madness. That he wasn’t breaking up with her.

Two days later, Lara and Lola were sitting out on the terrace when a visitor arrived. Lara was shocked to see Malcolm walking through the pedestrian gate after the guard opened it.

“What’s he doing here?” Lola asked.

“I don’t know,” Lara replied as she stood up.

Malcolm was carrying a small shopping bag from a popular eatery in the neighbourhood. He came up to them.

“Hi, Lara. How are you doing?” he said, smiling at her.

“I’m okay, thanks. What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I came to see how you were doing. After the other day, I was worried about you. And since I don’t have your phone number, I thought I should pop by and see how you are coping.”

She was still wary of him. Of men in general. But this caring Malcolm was different from the arrogant boy she’d known in school. Perhaps finally graduating from high school had matured him.

“Thank you for coming by, but I’m okay. You don’t need to worry.”

“Okay. That’s good.” He smiled. “Here, I brought this for you.” He held out the bag in her direction.

“What is it?”

“It’s meat pie and some soft drinks.”

“You didn’t have to buy anything for me,” she said, not reaching for the bag.

“I know. But I went out to buy some snacks for my mum. I drove past your house on the way to the restaurant and I thought about you. So I decided to buy some for you.”

Wow. Malcolm was thinking about her, enough to buy something for her? She was speechless for a moment.

“That’s really nice of you,” Lola said and took the bag from him.

“Thank you,” Lara said when she found her voice.

“No problem. Enjoy it. I have to go now. My mum is waiting for her food.”

“Okay,” she said but didn’t move towards him.

Lola nudged her.

“See him off,” her sister said in a low voice.

Lara pushed her hand off but followed Malcolm down the drive. At the gate, she bid him farewell and he did the same.

She returned to Lola who was peeking into the bag and taking out the snack.

“What’s going on with Malcolm?”

She shrugged and sat down. “Nothing.”

“Don’t give me that. You guys were squabbling in school and he was spreading nasty lies about you. All of a sudden, he’s coming to our house and bringing you meat pie.”

Lara puffed out a deep breath. “Malcolm and I have settled our differences. It turns out he can be very nice when he wants to be.”

“Really? Just like that?”

“Yes. Just like that.”

“So what did he mean by what happened the other day?” Lola took a sip of lemonade.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Come on. You’ve got to tell me. You know I won’t stop nagging you until you tell me.”

“Okay, if I tell, you have to promise not to tell anyone, including Aunty Judy. Promise me.”

“Sure, I promise,” Lola said.

Lara swallowed. “I had a boyfriend and he broke up with me on Thursday. I was crying when Malcolm found me. He was so nice to me and he brought me home.”

Tears welled up in her eyes again. The pain hadn’t gone away no matter how much she tried not to think about it.

“Oh, no.” Lola stood from her chair and came over and hugged her. “I’m so sorry.”

It felt so good to have someone to hug her. Malcolm had tried but she hadn’t allowed him to touch her. She hadn’t trusted him enough to relax in his arms. When she’d calmed down enough, Lola returned to her chair.

“Who is the boy you were dating?”

“It doesn’t matter.” She’d promised Ike she wouldn’t tell anyone. Even though he’d broken it off and she was heartbroken, she couldn’t bring herself to betray him. “He doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore. It seems he found a new girlfriend.”

“Just like that? Men as such bastards,” Lola said.

Lara grimaced. She’d never thought she’d ever allow that word to be used to describe Ike. He had always been good to her until this week. They’d only known each other for less than a year, but he’d had more impact in her life than anyone else she’d met. She wouldn’t be forgetting him in a hurry.

“Well, let’s forget your ex and enjoy this gift from Malcolm. At least, it seems he has come to his senses and is treating you the way he should’ve done right from the start.”

“What? Malcolm doesn’t want to be my boyfriend.”

Lola laughed and shook her head. “For my older sister, you are so naive when it comes to boys.”

Lara laughed. “What do you know about boys? You’re only sixteen.”

“I’ll be seventeen in a few months. And I know that I’ve had more boyfriends than you.”

That was certainly true. Lola had always attracted male attention. She knew she was a beautiful girl and wasn’t afraid of using her looks to get what she wanted.

“Seriously, Lola, you scare me sometimes. Don’t tell me you’ve had s*x?”

“As if. I’m not going to give it up to any old person just like that. I’m waiting for my Prince Charming.”

“But you’re the one who claims to have had loads of boyfriends.”

“Yes. I have to kiss loads of frogs before I find my prince. It doesn’t mean I’m doing more than just kissing.”

“Perhaps that’s what I should do. I should start kissing loads of frogs instead of waiting for the prince.”

Except, she thought she’d found the prince in Ike. Instead, he’d turned into the big bad wolf.

“Yeah, you should, starting with Malcolm. He wants to be your boyfriend.”

Lara couldn’t help laughing at her sister’s words.

But a week later, Lola was proved right when Malcolm turned up at her house again, this time inviting both of them out for a drive to get ice cream. Because Lola was with them, Lara was able to relax and join in the jovial conversation. She found out that Malcolm was the last child in a family of four siblings, with three older sisters who were either already married or at university. He was close to his mother and spoke quite fondly about her.

“Can I talk to you privately?” he asked when they arrived back at her house.

“I’ll see you inside,” Lola said as she got out of the back seat. “Malcolm, thanks again for the ice cream.”

“You’re welcome.” He waited until Lola had gone through the gates before speaking. “Lara, I’m having a party next week, and I’d like you to come to it.”

He opened the glove compartment and took out a sky blue envelope. “This is the invitation.”

“Thank you, Malcolm, but I’m not really a party kind of girl.”

“Well, this is a small party to celebrate finishing our exams and graduating from high school. It also happens to be my birthday. I really hope you’ll come. Please.”

Pressing her lips together in a grimace, she sighed. Going to a party so soon after breaking up with Ike didn’t appeal to her. Then again, why should she sit at home and mope around just because he preferred being with Gloria?

Malcolm had been making an effort these past two weeks. His party sounded like it would be great fun. Still, unease weighted her body about spending more time with him.

“Okay, I’ll think about it.”

“Fair enough. My phone number is on the card. Also, I want you to come to the party as my girlfriend.”

Shifting back in her seat, she gaped at him. He couldn’t be serious. “What are you saying?”

“I like you very much, Lara. I know I didn’t go about it the right way before. But I’ve changed. I’m serious about you. I’ve been telling my mum and sisters about you and they want to meet you.”

“Malcolm, no.” She shook her head and unlocked the door. She couldn’t deal with this right now. Not so soon after Ike. Her emotions were still all over the place. Climbing out of the car, she shut the door. Malcolm got out, too, and came around, standing by the bonnet as she walked to the gates.

“Lara, please think about it. I think you’re beautiful and I’m serious about making you my girlfriend. But there’s no pressure. Whatever you decide, just let me know. I hope you’ll come to the party, anyway.”

Wow. Her mouth slackened and she c****d her head to stare at him. Who was this Malcolm who was being such a considerate gentleman? This couldn’t be the same boy who’d harassed her for weeks, months, to be his girlfriend. Then when she’d rejected him, he’d spread nasty rumours about her.

“Okay, I’ll let you know what I decide.”

“Thank you.” He reached across and squeezed her hand. “Take care of yourself. I look forward to your response.”

“Thanks.” She opened the pedestrian gate and walked in a daze.

In the house, she found Lola in the living room along with Judy.

“Malcolm just invited me to his party next week.” She held up the invitation card.

“Seriously?” Lola snatched the card and gawped. “You know this is going to be the hottest party in Enugu this year, right?”

“That’s not all. He wants me to go as his girlfriend. He asked me out.”

“Oh. My. God.” Lola shouted. “You’ve got to say yes.”

“She doesn’t have to say yes, unless she likes him,” Judy chimed in.

“Of course she likes him. He’s been treating her nice these past few days.”

Lara nodded. “He’s being the kind of guy I would love to date. And I’m struggling to find any excuses to say no to him.”

Except that her broken heart belonged to another person. But she couldn’t keep pining for Ike. He hadn’t bothered to contact her over the past two weeks. And it didn’t look like he ever would.

Would it be so wrong to date Malcolm? He was excited about being with her. At least, their relationship would be out in the open. She wouldn’t have to worry about sneaking over to his house. He could come over here. He’d already met Lola. She’d have no problems introducing him to Judy. And he wanted to introduce her to his family. They would have a good healthy relationship. Just like other teenagers.

“Anyway, I told Malcolm I’ll think about it, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”