corner.
I’m left mulling over our conversation. Part of me wants to listen to everyone about staying away from him. The other part of me wonders if this conflict between our families can be left in the past. I don’t know which to trust—my head or my heart.
Chapter Thirteen
T he next day, the same thing happens. Ben picks me up for school. Will this be an everyday occurrence? I can’t help the tug in my stomach every time our eyes meet.
“I didn’t expect you to be here again today,” I tell him while sliding into the passenger seat.
He tosses me a grin that makes my body feel like Jell-O.
“I enjoyed the ride yesterday. Plus, I still feel sorry for you, since you don’t have a car. I mean, most kids our age do.” He playfully nudges my arm. As soon as he makes contact, a jolt of power runs through my body.
He feels it too.
“What was that?” I whisper, unable to believe what just happened. Static electricity. Yes, that has to be the explanation.
“I have no idea,” he says, turning around to face the windshield.
“Do you think it’s static?”
He considers this for a minute before nodding and saying, “Yeah, sure. That could be it.”
I nod. “Okay.”
He slowly turns back to the steering wheel, gulping loudly, and we accelerate down the driveway. I keep thinking, Static, static, static , but I know better. Static doesn’t affect your entire body. Real electricity does.
After we get to school, I turn the corner and notice Jana and Blake waiting at my locker. They send me cruel glares, and I’m positive they hate Ben.
“See you in five minutes,” Ben whispers in my ear. He continues his trek down the hall and disappears amid the sea of students.
“Candra, what’s going on?” Jana asks in a very serious tone. “You know you shouldn’t be with him. Your family and his family don’t get along. Everyone’s talking about it.”
“So let them talk,” I say, opening my locker and grabbing my English book. “Our families may hate each other, but it doesn’t mean Ben and I do. Besides, he’s really sweet. I haven’t had a guy treat me like that in God-knows-how-long.”
Jana glances over her shoulder at Blake. He chews on the inside of his cheek, glaring at me, and then looks away, shaking his head.
“What?” I blurt.
“Nothing. You’ll find out,” he replies. “C’mon.” He laces his fingers with Jana’s and steers her away from me.
“I don’t get it,” I mumble, now standing alone in the hallway.
In English, Ben pulls my desk closer to his. He doesn’t seem to care what everyone else thinks, either. Not even Mr. Everett.
“You know, just in case I need to cheat or something,” he says, winking at me.
“Yeah, because I’m totally writing something down right now.” I’m not.
His mouth curves into a playful grin. “Listen to you smarting off to your ride home from school.”
I feel my cheeks heat up and instinctively duck my head. I’ll do anything for that smile. It never fails to remove whatever thought is on my mind.
“You’re right. I should be much nicer. So, when should I get on the floor and clean your shoes? Or maybe I should iron your shirts every morning,” I tease.
He leans into the crook of his desk, facing me. “Are you suggesting you’d like to live with me?”
“What?!” I squeak, receiving a few glares from students and Mr. Everett.
“Is there a problem, Ms. Lowell?” Mr. Everett asks.
I shake my head. “No, there’s no problem.”
“Good. Then you can begin reading where we left off,” he says.
My face burns. I have no idea what we’re reading, who’s reading it, or where we left off. Hushed giggles escape mouths across the classroom.
“I honestly have no idea where we’re at,” I say.
“Ms. Lowell,” Mr. Everett begins, staring down at some papers on his desk, “might I remind you that there’s no talking in class and that I expect you to pay attention? Isn’t that why you’re here in the first
I’m left mulling over our conversation. Part of me wants to listen to everyone about staying away from him. The other part of me wonders if this conflict between our families can be left in the past. I don’t know which to trust—my head or my heart.
Chapter Thirteen
T he next day, the same thing happens. Ben picks me up for school. Will this be an everyday occurrence? I can’t help the tug in my stomach every time our eyes meet.
“I didn’t expect you to be here again today,” I tell him while sliding into the passenger seat.
He tosses me a grin that makes my body feel like Jell-O.
“I enjoyed the ride yesterday. Plus, I still feel sorry for you, since you don’t have a car. I mean, most kids our age do.” He playfully nudges my arm. As soon as he makes contact, a jolt of power runs through my body.
He feels it too.
“What was that?” I whisper, unable to believe what just happened. Static electricity. Yes, that has to be the explanation.
“I have no idea,” he says, turning around to face the windshield.
“Do you think it’s static?”
He considers this for a minute before nodding and saying, “Yeah, sure. That could be it.”
I nod. “Okay.”
He slowly turns back to the steering wheel, gulping loudly, and we accelerate down the driveway. I keep thinking, Static, static, static , but I know better. Static doesn’t affect your entire body. Real electricity does.
After we get to school, I turn the corner and notice Jana and Blake waiting at my locker. They send me cruel glares, and I’m positive they hate Ben.
“See you in five minutes,” Ben whispers in my ear. He continues his trek down the hall and disappears amid the sea of students.
“Candra, what’s going on?” Jana asks in a very serious tone. “You know you shouldn’t be with him. Your family and his family don’t get along. Everyone’s talking about it.”
“So let them talk,” I say, opening my locker and grabbing my English book. “Our families may hate each other, but it doesn’t mean Ben and I do. Besides, he’s really sweet. I haven’t had a guy treat me like that in God-knows-how-long.”
Jana glances over her shoulder at Blake. He chews on the inside of his cheek, glaring at me, and then looks away, shaking his head.
“What?” I blurt.
“Nothing. You’ll find out,” he replies. “C’mon.” He laces his fingers with Jana’s and steers her away from me.
“I don’t get it,” I mumble, now standing alone in the hallway.
In English, Ben pulls my desk closer to his. He doesn’t seem to care what everyone else thinks, either. Not even Mr. Everett.
“You know, just in case I need to cheat or something,” he says, winking at me.
“Yeah, because I’m totally writing something down right now.” I’m not.
His mouth curves into a playful grin. “Listen to you smarting off to your ride home from school.”
I feel my cheeks heat up and instinctively duck my head. I’ll do anything for that smile. It never fails to remove whatever thought is on my mind.
“You’re right. I should be much nicer. So, when should I get on the floor and clean your shoes? Or maybe I should iron your shirts every morning,” I tease.
He leans into the crook of his desk, facing me. “Are you suggesting you’d like to live with me?”
“What?!” I squeak, receiving a few glares from students and Mr. Everett.
“Is there a problem, Ms. Lowell?” Mr. Everett asks.
I shake my head. “No, there’s no problem.”
“Good. Then you can begin reading where we left off,” he says.
My face burns. I have no idea what we’re reading, who’s reading it, or where we left off. Hushed giggles escape mouths across the classroom.
“I honestly have no idea where we’re at,” I say.
“Ms. Lowell,” Mr. Everett begins, staring down at some papers on his desk, “might I remind you that there’s no talking in class and that I expect you to pay attention? Isn’t that why you’re here in the first
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