Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington

open.
    His eyes widened. ‘Woah! I mean, woah . Your hair! You look …’ He fumbled, something Dex, sporting god loved by all, did not do very often. ‘Hot.’
    The corners of my mouth curled into a smile as I patted my newly blonde hair. ‘Thanks.’
    ‘No, I don’t think I’m being clear here. I mean, you look …’ And then his eyes travelled down my body and up again, and I knew exactly what he was thinking.
    ‘You’re being plenty clear, Dex,’ I said.
    His gaze flicked back to mine sheepishly. ‘I really can’t wait until graduation. You and me, we’re so right together.’ He pulled me into his arms hungrily. ‘Everyone envies what we have.’
    Something about what he said touched a nerve and I felt uncomfortable in his arms. And unsure why. In many ways it was true – Dex and I were a golden couple. Our friends all spoke about us as if we were perfect for each other. Even Dex’s controlling parents had given me the big tick of approval. Essentially we were a great fit, but the fact that it was so important to Dex that everyone knew it unsettled me.
    But I didn’t want to upset anything in this world right now, so I planted a quick kiss on his lips before moving casually out of his hold.
    ‘I can’t wait for graduation either,’ I said with a small smile.
    He closed the distance again. ‘You know, we don’t exactly have to. By the looks of it, your mom’s not at home.’ He raised his eyebrows suggestively.
    In some ways, I agreed. I would have preferred less buildup around our ‘first time’ – just getting it over with seemed an easier option. But at the same time … I found myself smiling back at him and saying, ‘I’ve planned the whole night, Dex. It’s only days away. Patience.’
    He bit his lower lip. I could see he wanted to argue, but the gentleman in him won out and he nodded. ‘I can be patient when I know what’s waiting at the end.’ A devilish smileplayed on his lips. ‘And anyway …’ he stepped back, putting a little air between us, for which I was grateful, ‘… I came to see if you wanted to see a movie in the city?’
    My knees almost gave out under me. ‘The city … Boston?’
    He rolled his eyes. ‘Yes, Sabine. The city. I know you don’t love going into Boston, but they have the best cinemas and I thought it would be nice to get out of Wellesley for the day. What do you say?’
    I usually avoided city outings like the plague, preferring to dodge treading the streets of my other life. It felt wrong. On so many levels. One time curiosity had led me to the address of my other home, only to discover that while the house was still there, it wasn’t the same. Just like everything in my two worlds, it was similar and yet just slightly ‘off’. To start with, another family lived there, and they – or the previous owners – had attempted a side add-on. Since then, being anywhere near Roxbury unnerved me. I preferred to keep my two lives completely separate.
    Dex watched me with a hopeful glint in his eyes. He would only pester me and ask questions if I refused, and I hadn’t been quick enough to blurt out an excuse. And besides all of that, I needed to do something that was normal . So I painted on a smile and said, ‘Sure. A movie sounds great.’
    Dex had planned the whole day, parking in a garage and then walking us towards a French bistro where he’d already madea reservation. I tried not to let that irritate me and instead embrace the sweetness of the gesture, but for some reason I failed to gush very convincingly.
    The bistro was named Le Bon Gout – Good Taste – and it was one of the most expensive lunch spots in Boston. Dex was out to impress.
    We talked about our plans for the year ahead. About Harvard. Dex slipped in the idea of us getting a place together after freshman year. I tried to hide my frozen reaction – after all, it was the natural progression. One that I wanted. At least … I thought I wanted.
    Lunch was delicious, both of us