True Colors (The Masks #1)(23)
“Definitely. Thank you.”
He shook his head. “You can really stop saying that now. I think you’re up to about forty thank yous. It’s getting kind of old.”
My nose wrinkled and I rubbed a hand over my face. He just laughed at me, but when I looked up, his smile was missing. His serious expression made me swallow.
Dropping the balled up napkin, he reached for me, drawing soft patterns over the back of my hand with his forefinger. “Caity, can you promise me something?”
“Sure.” With that voice, I’d promise him anything.
“Now that you know how to control it, don’t read me.”
My insides clenched. This was why I didn’t want to tell people. They wouldn’t be themselves around me if they knew... I went to pull my hand away, but he grabbed it before I could.
“I’ll always tell you the truth, I promise. So don’t read me, okay? I want us to be ourselves around each other and if I think you might be reading me then I know I'm gonna act weird. I feel privileged that you've told me this stuff and I don't want you to ever worry that I'll hide anything from you, so you don't have to worry about reading me. Does that make sense?" His warm, hazel eyes flickered with bashful concern and I had to nod.
"It might still happen without me meaning to, but I'll trust you, Eric. I promise."
He met my shaky smile with a beaming one of his own. I didn’t even have to read him right now. What he was showing me was pure honesty and my insides buzzed with that euphoric giddiness I always got when I was around him. Except now, it was running on overdrive.
*****
I practically floated to school the next morning. Eric and I had parted ways shortly after dinner. He hadn’t kissed me goodbye or anything (like he even would!), but he’d hugged me tight and told me to keep him posted. He even took my phone and programmed his number in. It would remain to be seen if I’d ever have the guts to call him. I’d respond in a heartbeat, but to actually initiate? Scary!
I took my time walking to my locker. This time I kept my head up and took in those around me. It was an effort, but I held on to those first glimpses and managed to resist the layers from falling away. It helped that most of the people I chatted to were friends so I remembered what they looked like normally. I knew I’d still have the occasional slip-up and spot stuff I didn’t want to see, but I felt like the more I practiced, the more I could do it.
It was a triumphant feeling and I would be eternally grateful to Eric.
Eric.
Le sigh.
“What are you smiling about?” Stella’s voice was sharp. I could see what sounded like annoyance was actually hurt and I had to quickly work to put her normal face back together. “Caitlyn? What is your problem?”
Okay, so I obviously needed to work on my concentrating face. I shook my head and smiled. “Nothing. I’m good.” I squeezed her arm and looked her in the eye. “I’m really good. Sorry for being so weird the last couple of days, I’ve just been struggling with this headache.”
“Still? Have you seen a doctor?”
I hesitated, then grinned. “I saw one after school yesterday...and I’m already starting to feel better.”
“Good.” Stella looked exasperated. “Because I was getting really over you.”
“Thanks.” My droll look elicited a cheeky giggle from Stella and she threaded her arm through mine and hauled me to U.S. History. That was our favorite subject together. Mr. Winright was such a boring and unobservant teacher, we ended up passing notes and fooling around most of the time. It was fun.
The day progressed easily. I kept practicing and it did get easier. I couldn’t block out everything, but I knew eventually I could. The cafeteria at lunch got a bit too much for me, so I left early making up an excuse about needing to finish up some homework. I got a bunch of weird and disbelieving looks, but I didn’t care. I needed a breather. And in all honesty, I could use a little extra study time. Work was piling up. With SATs less than three months away, the pressure was on. I still had some big assignments ahead of me too. I couldn’t afford to slack off.
No one else in my group seemed overly fazed. I was either a dumbass or a super slow worker.
Probably a combination of both, dumbass. I snickered at my self-deprecating joke, knowing it wasn’t true. I wasn’t the smartest kid at school, but I knew I’d do okay, especially if I didn’t slack off. I cringed when I thought of how little Stella was doing. Surely she’d start to freak about her grades soon. I’d no doubt get sucked into a last minute study-fest, cramming for SATs until the early hours of the morning.
The corridor was pretty empty as I walked to my locker. It was a pleasant relief. I nearly made it all the way there without a single interaction, but then I heard Libby’s sweet titter and I couldn’t help looking. I peered down the adjacent corridor and spotted her leaning against her locker. Her face was practically shining and it wasn’t hard to figure out why.
Carter Hanson was leaning over her with a charming smile.
Really?
What the hell was Carter doing chatting up Libby? Not to be mean about Libby, but she was hardly in his league. I couldn’t help myself, I ducked around the corner and played spy.
“So I was thinking, maybe you could join me.” Carter ran his finger down Libby’s cheek. Her body was quivering as she gazed at him with a nervous smile.