“Why does some guy I’ve never heard of want me to come to his party tomorrow night so he can kick my ass?”
Sara looked up from the mound of books she was using to research for a class project and tried to make sense of what Paul was doing in her history class. “Huh?”
The librarian gave them a stern look, so Paul frowned and sat down across from her, leaning in before he spoke. “Some guy named Billy Siskin wants me to come to his party tomorrow night so he can kick my ass. When I asked him what the hell he was talking about, he told me to talk to you.”
She pressed her forehead down onto the table. So much for having an uneventful Friday afternoon. She raised her head a few inches to meet his sharp eyes. “He’s an ex who was asking Nika about me the other day. I think he wants to get back together or something.”
“And…what? I don’t see how I got dragged into that.”
“I think Nika probably told him you and I were dating. And he’s a moron so he must think trying to beat you up will win me back.” She sighed. “Just one of the many reasons why I stopped seeing him.”
“Okay, Sara, this whole thing has spiraled out of control.” He rolled his eyes when the librarian made a shushing sound at them. “Do you know your father called me last night to invite me to dinner on Sunday?”
No, but that sounded like something her dad would do. “What did you tell him?”
“I told him I didn’t know if I had to work or not and would get back to him. Why don’t you seem surprised?”
“Because I’m not. He used to try to fix me up with the sons of his friends who he thought would be a good match for me.” She closed the open book on the table and slid it off to the side. “It’s frustrating that he can’t ever just like the guys I actually am dating.”
“So that’s why you’re keeping your boyfriend under wraps?”
Sara’s eyes went wide. “You know?”
“Well…yeah. It’s pretty obvious you have a boyfriend by the way you act. I just can’t figure out who this guy is and why he’s alright with letting your friends think you’re dating me.” His look turned serious. “I wouldn’t be okay with that.”
“He’s not either. I just don’t have a way to explain to Nika why I’m always with you if I’ve magically got a boyfriend that I’ve had for a while.”
“So, let’s just tell her the truth about why we were following her. And when I say we, I mean you because I have no desire to be around the princess of drama.”
“I can’t tell her that.” Just imagining the look on Nika’s face was enough. “You don’t know her like I do. If she knew we were basically stalking her, I’m never going to hear the end of it.”
Paul folded his arms over his chest and scowled at her. “So, basically, I need to go fight some guy I don’t knowat a party over a girl I’m not dating and then have dinner with your parents on Sunday so we don’t hurt Nika’s feelings? That’s crazy. I’m not doing this.”
“You don’t have to have dinner with my parents because I’ll go home from the party and tell them we broke up.” She bit her lip. “I don’t know why, but Nika always likes to be the first person to arrive at a party. I’ll get a ride with her tomorrow night and smooth things over with Billy before you get there. No fights. Promise.”
He started to say something, but frowned and reached into his pocket to retrieve the buzzing cell phone. After a quick glance at the display, he punched a button and shoved it back in his pocket. “Between you and Carly, I’m going to lose my mind.”
“I don’t think I know a Carly.”
He shook his head. “You don’t. She’s my ex. I don’t know why, but she’s been blowing up my phone with calls and texts for the last few days.”
Sara had been so wrapped up in her own problems that she forgot about Paul’s issues with his ex girlfriend. Poor guy. “Maybe she’d rather be in a long distance relationship than not be with you at all. I know you had good intentions when you broke up with her, but…”
“Don’t finish that sentence, Tancredi. I don’t need advice on my ex girlfriend from my fake girlfriend.” He pushed back from the table and rose to his feet. “Fine. I’ll go tomorrow night so you can stage whatever break-up scenario you want. But that’s it. After tomorrow night, I’m out.”
She grabbed his arm to stop him from leaving. “Paul?”
“What?”
“Thank you. This means a lot to me.”
“It’s fine, but from where I’m standing, it looks a lot like you need to figure out why you really want to keep the relationship with your boyfriend a secret from everyone before you start dishing out relationship advice to other people.”
Sara didn’t bother to study for the rest of the class period. Paul was right. At the beginning, keeping things quiet about Michael made sense, but now…She just didn’t know anymore.
Life would be so much simpler if she could tell everyone about her and Michael, or if she really was with Paul. At least there was one silver lining to all this. All the drama of high school would be behind her in a few years and she wouldn’t have to let all these BS excuses get in the way of her happiness anymore.
And after tomorrow night, she was going to be free to be with Michael openly. Within 48 hours, the circumstances of her life would be vastly different…
© 2010, Sydney Katt. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use of content will result in dragon attacks.
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Oh hunny….*sobs* Now let me explain my sadness…….
I am going away on hols for about 3 weeks – leaving in the early hours of Wednesday morning. So you can imagine my devastation at not having this weeks update to get me through….lol!!!!!
No matter hun, a double header next week, as well as the regular update the week after (if you can manage it), will certainly give me something to look forward to when I return. Bonus chapters welcomed also…heehee!!!!
I will have heaps of reading to do on my return, which I love the thought of, as I will not have access to internet whilst away…(I KNOW!!! *gasp* the Horror!!!!)
So yeah….Hope all goes well for the next few weeks. I will review on Monday for the ‘other’ one, but that will be it for a few….
Just had to let you know so you didn’t think I had fallen off the face of the earth or something….Talk Monday…..xxxxxx
No internet? Whoa. I’d lose my mind if I couldn’t check email, at the very least, during vacations. Where are you going? Anywhere fun?
I was actually going to try to sneak in a chapter this weekend anyway, just to give my mind a break from work, but lack of sleep and being around sick people over the last few weeks finally caught up with me.
Have an awesome time on hols. Can’t wait to hear about it when you get back.
Unfortunately, I just need y’all to hold on a *little* bit longer. End of month deadlines are totally rocking my world this week and I can’t get up the new chapter. I’ll post 2 chapters next weekend to make up for it.
OH my god I’m confused! everyone know something but we know nothing XD
Finally this Saturday it’s getting closer, can’t wait to find out everything!
*squeeeeeeals* It’s getting clooooooser!!!! This ‘Saturday’ (in both contexts) is soooo important…….
This chapter: Paul really does sound as though he is totally over the whole charade thing……but the very next night, everything will apparently change!!!
I wonder why Frank doesn’t like Michael (and only puts up with him coz he is Linc’s brother)?? Old Frank sure seems to be laying it on thick with Paul though – letting Sara stay out later, and know inviting him for dinner……
Is it Friday again yet??….LOL….I am totally hooked!!! Looking forward to more….xxxx
Ps: There was one thing that I meant to ask ages ago – not that I expect you to tell……lol…
I think it was in ‘Icy Survival’ that Sara overheard Michael and Linc in the kitchen. I seem to recall that that convo consisted of Linc saying that there were some things she didn’t need to know (or along those lines). In one of your responses you mentioned that Linc doesn’t know what Michael knows…….but clearly he knows ‘something’!! Is what Linc ‘does’ know of any importance?? Ok..OK… don’t tell…lol….it is great to find stuff out with each new chapter….keeps me on the edge of my seat!!! xxxx
I absolutely LOVE your excitement. It makes the fact that I have to finish one more relocation article tonight more tolerable.
Oh, yes…things will change in big, BIG ways…on both fronts.
Good question. I was wondering if anyone picked up on the fact that Frank liked Lincoln but not Michael. But of course, you already know I can’t answer that yet, huh?
You’re correct. I can’t tell you too much, but…Michael DOES know something that Lincoln doesn’t know…about Paul…and why he’s not the awesome guy everyone thinks he is – in Michael’s opinion, of course. Lincoln DOES know about something else Michael thinks Sara should know, but he doesn’t share his brother’s opinion about it.
What I CAN say is that Sara will find out both what Mike knows and what Linc knows by the end of Saturday night. Whether both are as critical as Mike thinks they are, or if Sara will act upon the knowledge, remains to be see.