Page 21 of Love in Development

He slid his feet to the opposite side, which shifted his shoulder toward me, and I cringed away.

Finally, Charisse had her entrance, and I smiled.If my stomach weren’t so squirmy from Ni’s proximity, I would have laughed.Shewasa fairy.Titania, the queen of fairies, to be exact.It fit her perfectly.

I also needed Lin and Charisse in my life.They would both kill me if I left.Or never talk to me again.But I was so tempted.Sitting here next to my Parking Lot Angel for the whole play would be torture.

IIGNORED THE PRESENCEnext to me that was making my whole body hot.And concentrated on being a good friend.I wasn’t a bag of hormones; this was an example of mind over matter.I upped my intelligence score with extra points.

Surprisingly, the play’s storyline was beginning to make sense.Shakespeare was a little unrealistic because, wow!That Helena woman was totally just throwing herself at a guy who didn’t want her.I would never do such a stupid thing.I could tell when a guy was or wasn’t interested.

Think about Charisse.and Lin.I glanced to my left.Our friendship was already rocky after I ran away from the dance.I couldn’t run again.

I began to worry about my deodorant.Would it stand up to all the sweating?The theater felt very warm, and it was dark, so I inched out of my denim jacket.I accidentally elbowed Ni on my right, and I about died.Thank goodness he didn’t say anything.

The two men and two women running around lost in the forest kept going on about the beauty and love found in eyes.My Parking Lot Angel had gray eyes, almost clear.Ack.Parking Lot Angel was the guy sitting next to me.I needed to stop fantasizing about him.Mom, school, and games were my priorities.In that order.And my friends.I was here to support Charisse.

The story went off the rails and confusion set in.For some reason, one of the actors now had a horse head.Had I missed something?I couldn’t figure out what was going on.

More rustling to my right brought my attention back to the person I was trying to ignore.And the inexplicable scent of cedar.I hadn’t noticed that before.

I needed a fan, a breeze, an escape.If only I had stayed home and played video games.I scrunched my eyes shut and tried to control my racing heart.I knew nothing about this guy, and here I was just as obsessed with him as I thought Lin had been with Maddox.Lin!

As if reading my thoughts, the lights flicked on and the curtains closed once more.Intermission!

I turned to Lin.Maybe we could switch seats or she—I sighed, she had turned to Maddox, leaning on his shoulder, and not paying any attention to me.And what could I tell her?Sitting next to Ni made me feel like I was lost in a hot jungle with ants crawling all over me?

Maybe I could escape out into the hall for some fresh air.But our seats were in the middle of a row.Meaning I would have to squeeze past strangers in order to leave during intermission.Not happening.I’d just lean as far as I could toward Lin’s seat.She was all cuddled up, whispering anyway.I didn’t want to disturb her time with her boyfriend—I’d never seen them together, and she deserved the moment.

“So, how did you like it?”Ni leaned toward me.

Why was he talking to me?Wasn’t there someone on his other side?I was sure everyone wanted a chat with the hot quarterback, but not me.I strengthened my resolve and swung toward Lin.“How long is intermission?”

She looked at me as if I had grown two heads.Or maybe she was trying to figure out why I looked like I’d been in a sauna.“About fifteen minutes.”

I groaned as I watched the crowded aisles.There would be no escape that way.Lin was already snuggled back with her boyfriend.They did look cute together.This would be the longest fifteen minutes of my life.My fingers itched for my idea book, but it was in my backpack at home.

Ni continued to struggle through a conversation about the play, and I gave only grunts in response.

I scanned the room as if looking for someone.Anything to avoid his gaze.Please stop looking at me.

“What do you do for fun?”

I about jumped out of my skin when his fingers touched my arm.I snatched my arm away and pressed it into my lap, willing Lin to start a conversation with me.My gaze drilled into the back of her head to no avail, and my arm burned.

I hoped my rudeness would make him turn to his other companion, but it was a no-go.I could feel him staring expectantly, unafraid of the awkward silence.My stomach swooped.I couldn’t handle this.He may have looked angelic, but his touch was downright deadly.Taking charge was the only way I could distract him—and myself.

“Um, thanks again for the power supply.It was exactly what I needed.”If only I were at home with my computer right now, playing COTSA instead of trapped in this nightmare.

His smile softened, and I started shivering.Not from cold.I was on the verge of destroying my friendships when the lights finally turned off.A silence settled over the audience once more.And a modicum of relief filled me.On stage, the men reached for Helena.Both magically forced to love the single woman.I recoiled on her behalf.I could feel her emotions.It appeared as if they were mocking her.Making fun of her love.Though I had personal experience with people falling in and out of love that fast, it seemed unbelievable.But hadn’t RogueStriker also done something similar to me?My eyes were drawn to the slender, strong fingers tapping on the muscular leg so close to my own.If his hand slid off his jean-clad thigh, it could land on my own.I swallowed and forced myself to follow the actors.Ew!That super-controlling king was making a mess of everyone’s lives just to get what he wanted.I was offended on their behalf.My fingers curled into fists.

Ni released a breath that puffed across my ear.“He’s the worst.”

The lights were out.He didn’t need to force himself to talk to pass the time.Why was he whispering to me as if he knew me?As if he were friends with me?The breath that his words rode on tingled all the way down to my stomach.I was unconsciously leaning toward him, about to agree, when I pulled back.He was too inviting.I was too weak.I refused to make a commotion and interrupt Charisse’s play.I rubbed my palms on my jeans again.I could feel him shift in his chair.Once again, no squeak there.Why did he have to sit right next to me?Out of all the places in the theater?Charisse and the actor with a horse head were leaning on a bed that was somehow angled, so it gave the impression of them lying down, yet they were completely visible to the audience.They lay close together...touching.

Ni relaxed his arm on the single tiny armrest between us.

All the hair on my arm stood up as if he had placed some sort of magnet there, and my arm felt pulled in his direction.Our skin was only an inch or so from pressing together.I sucked in a breath and put my hand back in my lap, creating as much space as possible.Why was this play so long?I was going to have a heart attack before it was over.I checked my watch, covering the light with one hand so I wouldn’t disturb others in the theater.I’d been sitting for over two hours!Maybe I could escape to the bathroom.But if it was too early in the play and if I didn’t give Lin a good enough reason, she would tattle on me to Charisse.They would both be so disappointed.Ugh.Maybe I could tell her it was that time of the month.No, she already knew my schedule.Maybe I could tell her I had stomach trouble.I really did.My stomach was squirming so much, I was surprised it wasn’t visible.

Oh, finally, the wrap-up—I hoped.The lovers were caught all draped across one another.I willed myself not to think about how close these seats were and what it would be like to have his hand draped across my shoulder.He shifted again, relaxing his legs, and his knee almost brushed my thigh.Ack!Creak.I shifted again, trying to angle my body away from his.Would this torture never end?Kissing!So much kissing!Who was Charisse kissing?I hoped it was just stage kissing.But now my own lips were buzzing.I bit my bottom one, trying to break the spell.I wasn’t my dad.I was in control.Not my body.