The Songs in Our Hearts: A Young Adult Romance(27)
Micah didn’t bother to answer her as he grabbed my elbow and hoisted me up to my feet.
“Come on, Charlie. I’ve had enough of her stupid games. We have work to get done.”
I clung to my plate, relieved we were leaving. Micah took the plate from me and tossed it onto a nearby table. He went back to the corner where he left his jacket and notebook, and grabbed my bag.
His palm was sweaty as he tugged me up the basement steps and out to his car. I was pretty sure he didn’t bother to shut Samantha’s front door.
“Micah...” I said softly. His grip was tight and he didn’t release it until we reached the passenger side of the car.
“Just get in, and we’ll talk on the way back.” He walked to the other side and got in. I could tell by his expression that he was pissed.
“C’est la Mort”
The Civil Wars
“NICE FRIENDS YOU HAVE THERE,” he grunted as he turned the ignition. He had just started to pull out of the driveway when Samantha ran up to the door. Micah stuck his hand out the window, flipping her the bird.
I was mortified.
“They’re not all my friends,” I replied. “Just Jen and Daan.”
“Well, Samantha is a gem.” Micah switched on the radio.
“I thought I was a gem.” I glanced at him. He turned the dial until he found a station with a loud, rhythmic beat. I recognized the melody, but didn’t know the band.
“Right, you got me there. I need to redefine what a gem is.”
“Who is this?” I gestured to the radio.
“The Outfield. ‘I Don’t Want To Lose Your Love Tonight’.”
“Oh. So, now what?” I wanted to ask Micah about his response to the whole kissing thing, but at the same time, I didn’t want to hear his real answer. I wanted to believe the lie, even if it was just that—a lie.
“We can go to the Mini-Mart again, grab a snack if you want. Though, I’m pretty sure you ate enough pizza for the both of us,” Micah teased me. “Maybe we should just get you home.”
“I’m fine,” I objected.
“I don’t know…” He pressed his hand over my forehead, mocking concern. “You look a little orange, like cheese. Are you growing pepperoni?” I pushed his hand away, laughing.
“Whatever! I was hungry.”
We were quiet as he drove into town, listening to the different songs that trickled from his speakers. Micah pulled his car into the Mini-Mart parking lot, glancing from me to the small shop.
“I’m gonna go grab a soda; I’ll be right back. Want anything?”
“Nah. I’m my own pizza, remember?”
Micah smiled and got out of the car. I glanced down at my phone as he walked away, and noticed Jennifer had texted me.
JENNIFER: WHAT. THE. HELL!!!!!!!!
JENNIFER: WHAT. THE. HELL. JUST. HAPPENED?!?!?!
CHARLIE: Can we talk later?
JENNIFER: No. We need to talk NOW!!
With a heavy sigh, I ignored her and slid my phone back into my pocket. She’d have to wait, at least until I was back at home. Micah soon returned, plastic shopping bag in hand. As he closed the door, he dropped the sack into my lap.
“I grabbed you a drink, just in case you changed your mind.” I looked at him, surprised—and slightly touched—by his thoughtfulness. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“It’s just a soda. Do you like cherry?”
I nodded a bit too eagerly as I started to pull out the other purchases he made: BBQ chips and a bottle of green tea for him.
He started the car and backed out of the parking lot. “Do you want to go home now?” he asked.
I lowered my soda into the cup holder between us. “I mean, not really. We could go to the library or something? I think they’re open until nine.”
It was the only place I could think to go to get our work done. I always enjoyed going to the library, except for that one time my mom forgot to pick me up….
“The library sounds good.” Micah switched lanes. Thankfully, we weren’t far from it. He turned down a few back alleys until we reached a small red-bricked building. The library was located in one of the old colonial homes on Main Street, with a small parking lot in the back. Micah shoved a few chips into his mouth and tossed the half-eaten bag onto his back seat. I gathered up the notebooks at my feet and followed him inside.
“Charlie!” Mrs. Greenwich, the librarian, said with a bright smile, waving at me as I walked in. My cheeks felt warm as I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. This was the first time I had ever gone to the library with a guy friend.
“Where’s your brother?” Her inquiring eyes glided from Micah to me.
“He’s at home studying, I think.”
“Oh well.” Mrs. Greenwich sighed as she began to pull books from the return box. “So, what brings you in tonight? I haven’t seen you in a while!”
“Just here to work on a project,” I explained. A part of me wished Micah would speak up and save me from her investigative questions.
“How’s school? Has Josh picked a college yet? How are your mom and dad?” Mrs. Greenwich leaned her elbows on the table, eager to know. I walked up to the desk and placed my notebooks down carefully.