The Songs in Our Hearts: A Young Adult Romance(19)

The voice was getting closer and it was definitely Micah’s. Please go away. Please don’t make a scene. His black sneakers appeared in front of me as his hand pushed the book away from my face.

“Are you seriously ignoring me?” he demanded, a little out of breath. “I think everyone and their mama heard me.”

“Sounds like a personal problem.” I lifted the book back up to my eyes. He sideswiped the novel and grabbed it out of my hands.

“Look, I was a huge jerk to you in the library. I’m sorry. And I forgive you for being a huge jerk, too. So, you don’t have to apologize.”

“Great, because I wasn’t going to. Now, give me back my book.”

“First, technically it’s my book. I’m the one who checked it out for you. Second, seriously? I’m trying to make this better. I know we have to work together and I didn’t mean what I said back there. I’d actually like to be your friend.” He held out the book to me, a humorless expression in his eye. “I mean that. I want us to be friends.”

As my gaze met his, the warmth in his brown eyes startled me. It was there, buried underneath all the pride and shameless flirting. I took in the sight of him: his hair was disheveled and he was breathing hard. Did he run through the hallways just to catch up with me? Even his cheeks had a pink tint to them.

“No kissing in the screenplay,” I blurted. “I mean it.” I went to grab the book but he pulled it away, shaking his head.

“There can’t be stipulations in friendship, Charlie. We’ll never trust each other then. You’ll have to have faith that I’ll respect your wishes. I won’t do anything to make you feel uncomfortable, okay? If it means that much to you, we’ll work out the details of the relationship between Victor and Elizabeth.”

“You haven’t given me a reason to trust you,” I argued.

“I haven’t given you a reason not to,” he stated. “You think that I’m like the guys on the bus, but I’m really not. Yeah, I’ve smoked pot on the football field. Who hasn’t?”

“I haven’t.”

“All right, other than the geek queen,” Micah smirked. “You don’t do anything fun.” I rolled my eyes. Yes, because smoking pot is “fun.”

“Lots of people don’t smoke pot.”

“Besides the point,” Micah continued. “Give me some credit. I tried that once and kinda hated the way it made me feel. I acted like an asshole the whole time.”

“You must struggle with that feeling every day.” I bit back my smile.

“You’re a real gem, has anyone ever told you that, Caroline Blake?”

“Oh, yes. A real diamond in the rough.” Yes, I love Disney. Judge me.

Micah snorted and handed the book back to me.

“Do you need a ride?” Josh’s voice caused me to jump as he came up behind me. I could only imagine how this must have seemed to him. Just this morning I was begging for a ride to school so I could avoid Micah. I bit my bottom lip as he looked between the two of us. After a moment of awkward silence, Josh gestured to the Jeep.

“I don’t have Ben and J this afternoon. They’re staying behind to work out. And by the looks of it, you both missed the bus.”

My eyes turned to where the buses had been. The last one was pulling out. I hadn’t even realized.

“Nah, man. It’s all right.” Micah brushed a hand through his hair. “I can walk home.”

“Dude, you live near us, right? It’s a long way to walk. I don’t mind. I have plenty of room in the Jeep,” Josh insisted. “Or are you scared of Charlie’s big, older brother?”

At that, I snorted.

“Fine,” Micah shrugged.

Josh went to the driver’s side, unlocking the doors for us to get in. “Shotgun!” I darted to the passenger door. Micah gave me a disgruntled look as he climbed into the back of the Jeep.

“So, you live near the old Sully place, right?” Josh asked Micah, watching him through the rearview mirror.

Micah cleared his throat. “Yeah, but you can drop me off near the light. I don’t want you to go out of your way.”

“It’s seriously not a problem,” Josh repeated. “Really.”

It was a quiet ride to Greensboro Trax. My eyes scanned between the two boys as Josh drove silently. I could tell Micah wanted out of the Jeep—badly. Josh finally pulled into the trailer park, behind the old diner that used to be called Sully’s. There was a lot of talk in the community about bringing it back, but the other buildings near the restaurant were rundown and dilapidated. It definitely wasn’t the right venue for an up-and-coming diner.

“You can just stop here. I can walk. No big deal. Thanks for the ride.” Micah tugged on the door handle, opening it. Josh hit the brakes.

“Are you crazy? Shut the door!”

“Seriously. I’m good. I’ll walk from here.”

“Fine, whatever.” Josh shook his head and leaned back against his headrest. Micah got out and headed toward the line of trailers.

We both stared at Micah’s retreating figure.

“I don’t understand why he wouldn’t let us take him to his house,” I replied under my voice, as if Micah might hear me.

“Makes sense to me. Maybe he feels ashamed of where he lives.”