The Spirit Seer

Chapter 12

I meet Chad at my locker after school. It's time to discuss lunch. I honestly have no idea how this is going to go. I can't exactly tell Chad the truth. It would be so much easier if I could. But I have to find a way to explain it to him without telling him the truth.

"Hey"

I can’t help but notice how cute he looks in his polo shirt and khakis. He definitely dresses like a rich preppy guy, which makes sense since he is rich and preppy. It’s a good thing he looks so good in that kind of style.

"Hey Babe"

It makes me smile whenever he calls me babe. He’s so cute and such a sweet guy. I genuinely feel lucky that he wants to be with me. He could probably have any girl he wants, but he wants me. He is rich and cute, he could be a serious jerk, but he has never once made me feel bad that I don’t come from the same world as him. He has always been the kindest to me and that’s why I like him so much.

He pulls me in for a hug and I go willingly. He’s so strong, it feels so good to be in his arms.

"You look gorgeous," He tells me as we pull out of the hug.

I smile at him. He can be so sweet and makes me feel so beautiful. I love that he never misses a chance to tell me how he feels about me.

"You don’t look so bad yourself.”

He smiles. He starts walking and I follow suit and walk with him. We end up in front of the school and sit on a bench under a tree.

"How was your day?" I ask. I decide I don’t need to rush into the dreaded subject. It would be rude to just jump right in.

Ok, maybe I’m avoiding it a little. I just don’t want to ruin the moment. Being with Chad is a break from the drama and pressure of the rest of my life.

"It was good. How was yours?"

"Mine was okay, but I got another B in Math. I think I solved that problem though."

“What are you going to do?” He asks.

“My math teacher offers tutoring after school for kids who are struggling. It’s mostly meant for kids with failing grades but I convinced him to let me in.”

He smiles at me. “Of course you did, I knew you would find a way to get what you want. I think you are probably the most brilliant girl I know.”

I smile up at him. His confidence in me and his kind words warm my heart.

He squeezes my hand. "I'm glad you found a solution."

"Me too"

We lapse into quiet for a few seconds and I know it's probably time I bring it up, but I just don't really want to. What if he wants me to stay away from Heath? What am I supposed to do then? I think about Spencer. I made him a promise. I can’t go back on that now, but I also can't really explain it all to Chad.

"So, after lunch, the girls told me that it bothered them that I didn't eat lunch at our normal table today. I think we worked it all out, but they had a good point. They suggested that maybe you might have a problem with me having lunch with another guy. Does it bother you?"

Please say no please say no. I silently pray.

I don’t know what I’ll do if he has a problem with it. But honestly, why does it even matter? He’s just a friend. It shouldn’t bother Chad.

He's quiet for a second, but finally... "Not really, I'm assuming nothing is going on between you?"

"No, we are just friends. We got paired up on a project and got along well and I realized he was a nice guy. That’s all it is. So, it doesn't bother you what people might think?"

He looks at me honestly. "As long as you respect our relationship I'm okay with it. I'm not trying to sound conceited or anything, but I have a lot going for me, and I know what we have. I'm not worried about us. I also don’t care what people think. I’m not Rachel or Becca. I know what we have. "

He's kind of right. He is a catch. He could have a new girl within a few minutes, if I was stupid enough to let him go. Luckily, I know that and have no intention of giving him back.

I smile at him. "You really are the best boyfriend ever," I say, and I lean up for a kiss.

As I kiss my pretty boyfriend I think how lucky I am to have such an understanding guy in my life.

~~~~~

After I leave Chad I'm feeling a lot better about things. My friends weren't super supportive, but my great boyfriend was. They will just have to get on board...eventually.

I head towards the direction I walk home in and happen to run into Heath of all people. He's walking out of school at the same time.

I walk up to him. My boyfriend gave me permission to be his friend. I might as well take advantage of that.

"What are you doing here so late? You strike me as the kind of guy who the minute the bell rings you book it."

He gives me that damn half smile. The one that makes me feel things that I really shouldn't feel. "That's usually me, but I had a test to make up. I may not care whether my grades are good, but I don't want to fail and have to give up my summers or anything. My grade slipped a little too much in that class, so I had to make something up."

That surprised me a little. He makes it sound like there’s a formula or method to not caring. I have to say he's a bit of an enigma and I'm intrigued.

"You act like maintaining bad grades is hard," I say with a laugh.

He laughs too. "It's the tightrope of not letting my grades get too low but also maintaining my slacker rep."

I laugh louder. "Oh no, you can't let people think you may actually care about school, the horror."

We both laugh for a few seconds.

"Sooo I saw your friends dragging you away after lunch. Did you get into too much trouble for slumming it on the wrong side of the quad?"

I can't help but laugh. "I'm on probation...just kidding. They didn't love the idea but they...kind of get it."

They didn’t at all, but they weren’t going to cause any more problems for the moment. That’s kind of the same thing…right?

"Really they get why you want to slum it with me? Could you explain it to me, cuz I don't really get it myself?" He sounds sort of hostile.

I’m a little caught off guard by his sudden tone. I'm not slumming it. I don't feel that way. Why would he?

"I would explain why I was “slumming it”, if I was. Besides we are working on our project, right?"

It was more than that now, at least to me. I don't like this derogatory attitude he has going on. It's not fair to him or me. But I don’t know him well enough to know how to fix it.

"Yeah, we are...that. So, since your friends obviously don't like you spending time with me I guess we'll stick to after school."

It was nice of him to give me an out, but I fought so we could have lunch together and he’s not getting rid of me that easily.

"I had a good time at lunch. You are a good lunch buddy and I think we should have lunch again soon."

"Really?"

Why does he sound so baffled? "Yeah really," I answer slightly defensively.

He gives me that half smile again, but this time I see a trace of Spencer in his eyes.

OMG...he has a little bit of Spencer in him. I obviously knew they were brothers, but this is the first time I’ve really seen Spencer in his little brother, and of course it’s in a cocky grin. This cannot go well. The last thing I need is another Spencer.

Luckily though all he says is, "Cool".