The Fragile Ordinary(62)

“I guess we’re both making changes.”

He smiled. “In the spirit of that... I was wondering if you’re still okay to help me get my grades to where they need to be? I don’t know if you know this, but you’re dating kind of a slacker.”

I laughed, not sure if I was laughing at the joke or laughing because he said we were dating. “Yes!”

Chuckling at my enthusiasm, he somehow managed to pull me closer. “You are adorable, do you know that?”

Adorable wasn’t beautiful or sexy or mysterious...but the way Tobias said it, it might as well have been. “I’ll take it.”

A few minutes later the warmth, the joy between us, seeped slowly away, drowned by reality and concern. “He’ll be okay, Tobias,” I promised quietly, knowing instinctively where his thoughts had wandered.

“Yeah.” He nodded, but there was doubt in his eyes.





THE FRAGILE ORDINARYSAMANTHA YOUNG





17

What’s with all the speculation?

It’s only boy meets girl.

Get over this sad fixation,

It makes me want to hurl.





—CC


It was my first day attending school knowing I’d see my boyfriend there.

My boyfriend!

Vicki had cackled in delight when I’d used the term on the phone before school that morning. I’d called her to get her up to speed on all the kissing that had happened yesterday. Lotsa kissing!

Kissing was yummy.

With the right boy.

With my boyfriend.

My boyfriend! Ah! I never saw that coming.

It was as I walking to school to meet my boyfriend at the school gates that I realized something: I hadn’t picked up anything to read in forty-eight hours. That was so un-Comet-like! Moreover, I only sort of missed it.

Okay, if I was being honest with myself I was a little antsy to get back to the book I was in the middle of reading, but I’d just been so busy. Tobias and I had spent the rest of Sunday together and by the time he’d gone home I had to catch up on my homework. I was just too tired to pick up a book after that. I might have missed it, but I didn’t really mind.

Biting my lip in giddiness, I picked up my pace, eager to see Tobias even though I’d seen him less than twelve hours ago. He was waiting for me at the school gate, just like he’d said he would, and I swear my knees wobbled at the sight of him. Leaning his back against the gate, one knee bent with his foot flat to the wrought iron, he watched me approach with this low-lidded look and this small smile on his gorgeous lips.

Drinking him in, I noted he was wearing a very smart new herringbone coat over his uniform. He had his scarf tucked into it. Very stylish.

Very HOT.

And I wasn’t the only one who noticed. A group of girls, possibly third years, shot him longing looks and burst into giggles as they passed him. Tobias was completely unaware of his effect on the younger girls, staring at me as he was.

I almost wanted to look over my shoulder to make sure there wasn’t some supermodel walking behind me. Nope. Just me. At least I felt stylish enough to stand next to him, wearing my current favorite item of clothing—a knee-length fitted turquoise coat that had this amazing full, pleated skirt. I’d matched it with a bright pink scarf and fuzzy earmuffs.

I slid the earmuffs off, grinning at him as I approached. Tobias pushed off the gate to meet me. Instinctively I reached out to touch him, running my hand down his lapel. “New coat?”

He shrugged before taking hold of my hand. “Mom bought it for me a few weeks ago. Thought I’d throw it on.”

“It looks good.” I felt my cheeks heat up as my gaze devoured him.

Tobias laughed. “Okay, I’m glad I wore it now.”

For a moment he dazzled me so much that I was unaware of anyone else. But awareness returned pretty quickly. Glancing around the school grounds, I checked nervously to see if anyone had noticed Tobias holding my hand. So many of the kids around us were younger and thus could give a rat’s arse.

Then I caught sight of one of Heather’s minions, staring at us with her mouth open wide enough to shoot peanuts into it. Tobias must have noticed, too, because he gripped my hand tighter. “Ready for this?”

I looked up at him and nodded. “A little nervous but ready.”

He held the door open for me and we strode into the school, then came to a stop at the stairwell. “I’ll see you in Spanish.”

I smiled and moved to walk away but he didn’t let go of my hand. Instead he tugged me to him and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. The kiss made me blush to the roots of my hair and Tobias chuckled. Rolling my eyes, I playfully shoved him away. “See you later, you egomaniac.”

His laughter followed me down the corridor, filling me with confidence. We could do this. We could get through this first day no matter what it brought. And I was saying this as someone who hated attention as much as Steph needed it.

For the first time in a long while I was eager to see my friends in form class, hurrying over to the table where they were already waiting for me. Vicki smiled brightly at the sight of me just like she used to, and I gave thanks that for once the pieces of my life were fitting somewhat well together. It could be better, obviously, i.e. my parents and Stevie, but who needed perfect when I had a boyfriend and best friends?