Текст книги "Our Little Secret"

Автор книги: Ashelyn Drake

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Chapter Three

School is brutal. I run into Toby about five times, and every time he has Meredith attached to his arm like a growth. A pretty, perky, blonde growth. I’m still thinking about it in trig when Mr. Rollar calls me up to the board.

“Miss Daniels, could you please work out problems three and four for the class?”

I look at my homework. I didn’t even attempt number three and only got about halfway on number four. “I didn’t get the answers to those.” My voice is barely more than a whisper.

“I’m sorry?” Mr. Rollar cups his ear. He’s actually going to make me repeat that. I’m liking this man less and less each day.

“I said I didn’t get the answers to those.”

“Okay, what about number seven?” He laces his fingers in front of him and leans back on his desk.

I shake my head.

“Nineteen?”

How the hell does he know which ones I didn’t even attempt? “Could you please call on someone else, or is it your mission to make me feel completely inadequate this class period?”

Gasps ring out across the room. I didn’t mean to say it out loud, but I’m at my breaking point.

“Miss Daniels, I think you should pack up your books and go see Vice Principal Davidson.”

Fine. I’d rather get detention than sit through this humiliation any longer. I gather my books and walk straight up the aisle and to Mr. Rollar, meeting his eyes. “I got a tutor. Thanks for asking.” I walk out before he can respond.

I turn toward the office and walk right into Toby. He grabs my arms, steadying me, and readjusts the strap of my messenger bag before it falls to the floor. My eyes linger on his hands long after he stops touching me.

“Sorry about that. You okay?” He smiles.

“I’m fine. And I think I ran into you, so I’m the one who’s sorry.”

“Don’t sweat it. Looks like you’re having a rough day.”

“You have no idea.” My throat tightens as I swallow the tears threatening to pour out.

He leads me to a bench by the office and I sit down. “Want to talk about it?”

“Not really.” I can’t exactly tell him that half my problem is that I’m falling for him—that as much as I don’t want to lose my best friend, I can’t stop thinking about him. Something about the fact that I’ve known him my entire life, watched him grow up, and seen how he managed to become popular without turning into a major dick in the process makes it impossible to shake these feelings I have for him—no matter how much I want to.

“Oh.” He looks hurt. “Do you want me to get Tori?”

“No.” Next to Toby, she’s the last person I want to talk to about this.

“Okay. Then why don’t you tell me where you were going in such a hurry?”

I point over my shoulder to the office.

“No way. You didn’t get in trouble, did you?”

I nod, and a tear trickles down my cheek.

“Hey, don’t cry. It’ll be all right. I’m sure it was a misunderstanding.”

I shake my head. “I asked Mr. Rollar if it was his mission to make me feel inadequate.”

Toby laughs. All out laughs, complete with holding his stomach and doubling over.

“Why is this so funny to you?”

“Because you said what just about every student in this school hasn’t had the guts to say.” He pulls himself together and looks at me. “Becca, you had a bad day. Rollar will get over it.”

“I’m still going to get detention.”

He shrugs a shoulder. “No big deal. Everyone gets detention once in a while.”

“Have you ever gotten one?”

He sighs. “Okay, not everyone. But it’s really not that bad. Or so I’ve heard.” He nudges me with his elbow. “Besides, I bet it’s worth it after the look Rollar must have had on his face when you said that.”

I laugh. “Yeah, maybe.”

“If you want, I’ll talk to him for you. Tell him I’m going to tutor you. That should get him off your back for a little while. For some reason he likes me.”

“Everyone likes you.” I swallow hard, wishing I hadn’t said that out loud.

“Nah. But when you have the highest average in the class, it sort of makes the teachers like you.”

“I did tell him I got a tutor, and I might have thanked him for asking.”

Toby laughs again. “Damn, Daniels. I never knew you had it in you.”

“What can I say? Math brings out my inner demons.”

“Well, then I’m glad I’m the one who’ll be tutoring you.”

My stomach flutters. “You are?”

“Yeah. I’m sort of excited to see what you’re going to do next.” He smiles, and I melt as the office door opens behind us.

“Miss Daniels,” Vice Principal Davidson says, “just the person I’m looking for.”

Rollar must have called down to him. Just great—although I’m more upset that he interrupted my conversation with Toby.

Toby squeezes my hand and mouths, “Good luck.” He walks away, and suddenly, getting detention doesn’t seem so bad.

***

“You did not say that!” Tori’s laughing so hard I’m afraid she’s going to pee herself. Wouldn’t be the first time, either.

“What was I supposed to do? The man is pure evil. He has it out for me.”

“Yeah, well, don’t expect your outburst to make things any better. If anything, you made things a lot worse.”

“Thanks. Aren’t you supposed to be my best friend?”

She sits up straight, looking offended. “I am your best friend, and I totally support you humiliating Rollar in front of your whole class.”

“Thanks.”

Toby knocks on Tori’s open door. “Seven o’clock. Is my tutoree ready to go?”

“Tutoree? I thought you were supposed to be smart. That’s not even a word.” Tori shakes her head. “And they say I’m the dumb twin.”

“You’re not dumb, sis. Just inferior to your amazing twin brother.” Toby smiles and wags his eyebrows, but Tori’s face scrunches up and I can’t help wondering if she really does worry that people think she’s second best to Toby. She throws a pillow at his head, but he easily catches it. “Thanks. Elvis needs a new bed,” Toby says.

“Elvis?” I ask.

Tori rolls her eyes. “He bought a pet tarantula. How disgusting is that?”

“I don’t know.” I shrug. “I think they’re kind of cute.”

Tori pretends to gag. “Go study, both of you, before you make me hurl my dinner.”

I get up from the bed and grab my messenger bag by the door. I’m all prepared for this study date—because in my mind that’s what this is. Not Toby tutoring me. It’s a study date. Probably the only kind of date I’ll ever go on with him, so I’m savoring every moment—even if there is math involved.

He motions for me to go into his room, and I take in every detail. The guitar leaning against the desk, the open closet with sneakers spilling out of it, the dusty bookshelf in the corner that holds a combination of books and basketball trophies, and finally the unmade bed, where my eyes linger a little too long.

“Um, where do you want to study?” I ask, looking around for a chair. The only one is at his desk.

“Wherever. Do you prefer the desk chair or the bed?”

I freeze at the mention of his bed. It probably smells like him. But if I sit there, will it look like I’m trying to get in his bed? “The desk chair is fine.”

“Really?” He furrows his brow. “I pegged you for a bed studier.”

“I always study in bed at home.”

“And in Tori’s room,” he adds. “Something wrong with my bed?”

I look at the rumpled sheets. “It’s a little messy.” And I totally want to crawl into it and cuddle up in your blankets.

“Oh, sorry. I don’t normally have girls in here.”

He doesn’t?

He straightens out the blankets and props the pillow up against the headboard. “There. Make yourself at home. I want you to be comfortable. It’s the only way you’ll learn anything.”

Comfortable around Toby? He sends my heart into a frenzy every time I look at him. “Thanks.” I sit down on the edge of the bed, my messenger bag at my side.

“Daniels, relax.” He takes my legs and swings them onto the bed.

“I have shoes on.”

“So?” He smiles and motions for me to scoot over. As soon as I do, he slides onto the bed next to me. My stomach flips. I’m in Toby Michaels’s bed—with him. “Okay, what’s tripping you up?”

“What?” Can he tell how uncomfortable I am? How much I just want to reach out and kiss those full lips of his?

“With unit seven. What aren’t you understanding?”

I look down, not wanting to see the total look of pity on his face when I say this. “All of it.”

He lifts my chin with his finger. “Hey, that’s nothing to be ashamed of. Some people just don’t get math. It’s no big deal.” He lowers his hand and I regain the ability to speak.

“That’s the second time you’ve said that to me today.”

“What?”

“It’s no big deal.”

“Oh. I guess it’s my phrase of the day.” He smiles. God, why does he have to be Tori’s brother? Why does he have to be so damn irresistible? “So tangent, sine, and cosine…” He launches into an explanation of the unit, and I listen to every word. Not all of them process, though. I’m mostly staring at his mouth and enjoying his deep voice.

“Does that make sense?” he asks.

“Um, maybe.” Not at all! “Could you explain it one more time?” I feel like a major idiot. He’s going to think he’s wasting his time if I don’t start paying attention. This time I focus. I watch the page as he points to the different problems and shows me how to work them out. And things do start to make sense.

“Here, try problem number six.” He hands me the pencil and our fingers touch. It’s only a small amount of physical contact, but it sends chills through me. I take a deep breath to focus on the problem. I don’t want to let Toby down. I go through the steps in my head before writing them in my notebook. Toby doesn’t say a word, just watches me work. I write the answer down and look at his face.

“Is that wrong? Was I supposed to—?”

“No.” He smiles. “That’s exactly right.”

“Really?”

“Really. Here, try another one.”

I go through the rest of the page. I struggle on a few, but Toby patiently explains them to me. When I’m finished and convinced all my answers are now correct, I sit back and smile.

“Feels good, doesn’t it?” He leans back, lacing his hands behind his head.

“You’re a good teacher.”

“Thanks.” He turns his head slightly to look at me, and I can’t help noticing how close his lips are to mine. “What?”

“What do you mean ‘what?’” Oh God, am I drooling?

“You have that look.”

“What look?”

“Like you have something on your mind.”

“I have a lot on my mind thanks to you. I actually understand trig.” He doesn’t need to know about the other thoughts I’m having about him.

“Good, you—” His cell rings. “Hang on a sec.” He answers the call. “Hello?” He pauses as the person on the other end talks. “Actually I’m kind of busy right now. Maybe tomorrow.” Another pause. “Okay, bye.”

“I guess I should go.”

“You don’t have to.”

“But you just said you’re busy. I’m guessing that means you have plans.”

“I do. With you. We’re studying, remember?” He playfully nudges my shoulder with his.

“Oh, do you think I should go over the homework again?”

“No, you’ve got it. Besides, you need a break. Don’t want to overload you with tangents on the first day.”

So he wants to hang out with me? I’m dying to, but is this a good idea? Hanging out with Toby will only make me like him more, and I have to get over this crush.

“Are you two finished yet?” Tori walks into the room without even knocking.

“Not yet,” Toby says before I can answer.

“Well, hurry up. I need Becca’s help.”

“With what?” Toby asks.

“I want her to braid my wet hair so it’s wavy tomorrow. Not that it’s any of your business.”

“I’ll be there in a few,” I say, suddenly feeling really self-conscious sitting this close to Toby, and on his bed.

“Okay.” She shuts the door on her way out.

Toby’s cell rings again. He checks the number and silences it.

“Avoiding someone?”

“Meredith. That was her two minutes ago. The girl is relentless.”

I can’t stop myself. “Then why do you hang out with her so much? I kind of thought you liked her.”

He shrugs. “She’s okay, just pushy sometimes. Besides, everyone expects me to be with someone like Meredith.”

“So you’re dating her because people expect you to?” That’s really messed up.

“No, we aren’t dating. We’re friends.”

“Doesn’t seem like it.”

“I told her not to hang all over me at school, but she says she’s like that with all her friends and it doesn’t mean anything.”

“You do know that’s a total lie, right?” Toby’s too smart to fall for Meredith’s tricks.

“I kind of figured that out. I’m trying to get her to back off, but I don’t want to hurt her feelings. Like I said, she’s not bad. I’m just not into her.”

“Oh.” Of course he’d care about her feelings. He’s sweet.

“What about you? You dating anyone?”

“No,” I answer way too quickly. “Not right now.”

“Good to know.”

Good to know? What does that mean? Is it possible this crush isn’t one-sided?

Tori bursts into the room again. “Okay, seriously, if Becca doesn’t braid my hair now, it will be too dry to really take to the waves.”

“Guess I better go.” I gather my book and notebook, stuffing them into my bag. Toby slides off the bed and reaches for my hand. I take it, noticing Tori’s eyes on us. I let go the second my feet touch the carpet. As I walk past Toby’s desk, I spot Elvis and wave a finger at him. “Hi, little guy.” I turn to Toby. “Thanks for helping me.”

“Any time.” He smiles, and all I can think about is how he said it’s good to know I’m not dating anyone.

Chapter Four

“Check out my hair,” Tori says, walking up to my locker. “How does it look?” She fluffs up the ends and smiles.

“Great.”

“Thanks again for braiding it for me. I was so worried it was too dry already because you and my brother took so long studying.”

I try not to smile at the thought of how Toby wanted to hang out after we finished studying. “Sorry, but he really helped me. I’m actually looking forward to trig today, even if I do have detention after school thanks to Mr. Rollar.”

“I’m still so proud of you for that.”

“Proud enough to land yourself in detention with me? I’m already imagining me with all those delinquents. I’m not sure I’ll come out of there alive.”

“Oh, please. Detention is nothing.”

“Says the girl who never gets in trouble.” I shut my locker and look down the hall. Toby is talking to Ryder. Their fan club isn’t as big today. Now that basketball is over, the crowd will find some other team to rally around.

Tori follows my gaze. “Please don’t tell me you have a thing for Ryder too. I don’t want to have to fight my best friend for him.”

Tori would never fight me for a guy. She’s too good a friend to go after someone I like. “He’s definitely hot, but I wouldn’t go there. I know you like him.” I need to watch the way I look at Toby or Tori is going to figure out how I really feel about him.

“Good. That’s a relief.” She loops her arm through mine, and we head to first period. “So, are you and Toby studying again tonight?”

“I don’t know. We didn’t talk about it.” Mostly because Tori pulled me out of Toby’s room last night.

“Oh. Weird. I heard him tell Meredith he couldn’t go out tonight because he had to tutor someone.”

“Did he say tutor someone or did he mention my name?”

She shrugs. “Does it matter?”

I stop walking. “Yes. Meredith is my neighbor, and she hates me. If she finds out I’m the reason Toby blew her off two nights in a row she’ll make my life a living hell.”

“True. I can’t remember him saying your name though, so I don’t think you have to worry.”

He didn’t say my name. Why? Does he not want Meredith to know he’s tutoring me? Is he embarrassed by me?

I don’t see Toby for the rest of the day, and when it’s time for trig, I’m really nervous. Not only do I have to face Mr. Rollar after yesterday’s incident, but I’m most likely going to have to do some problems on the board.

I keep my head down as I take my seat and get out my homework. I know all my answers and my work are correct, but I feel like I forgot everything Toby taught me last night. Mr. Rollar calls roll, not even looking up when he says my name. And when he walks around to check homework, he only glances at mine quickly. For once, I have every problem completed, and he doesn’t even care. Teachers. Doesn’t he realize he was torturing me yesterday? Maybe my comment was out of line, but so was he.

He doesn’t even acknowledge me all period, and when there are only ten minutes left in class, I can’t take it anymore. I raise my hand.

“Yes, Miss Daniels. Is there something you want?”

“I’d like to work out the last problem.”

“Really?” He doesn’t mask his surprise.

“Really. May I?” I’m trying to keep my tone polite. I don’t want to wind up with another detention.

He steps away from the white board. I carry my book and notebook, but when I walk by him, he grabs the notebook from my hands. “I’ll hold on to this.”

“Why?” I stop and stare at him.

“I see you have the correct answer, but I want to see how you arrived at it.”

“I was planning to show my work.”

“No.” He shakes his head. “You were planning to copy what you have written in your notebook. I’d rather see you work out the problem.”

He thinks I copied someone else’s work! Unbelievable! “Fine.” I catch my bitchy tone before I get into more trouble. “I’d be happy to show you.” I force a smile.

I take a deep breath as I walk to the board. Staring at the problem in the book, it looks completely foreign. No, I had this last night. I can do this. I just can’t let Rollar rattle me. I picture Toby explaining the problems to me, and go through all the steps, one by one. When I finish, I step back and look at Mr. Rollar. “Did I do it correctly?”

“You tell me.” He puts my notebook back on my desk and folds his hands in front of him. “Is that how you did the homework last night?”

He’s trying to get me to admit to cheating. “Yes.”

“Then you have your answer.”

I did it right. I smile and walk back to my seat. Mr. Rollar nods as I pass by him. “Your tutor said you’re doing well. I guess he’s right.”

So Toby talked to him already. But then why would Rollar put me through that? Why make it sound like he thought I cheated? When the bell rang I held back, determined to find out. After the last student left, I walked up to Mr. Rollar’s desk.

“Do you need something, Ms. Daniels?”

“Yes. I need to know why you give me a hard time. I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but I feel like you don’t like me or something. You made it sound like I copied someone else’s homework, but then you admitted Toby told you about tutoring me. I don’t get it. I’m trying to improve my grade. I really am.”

“I see that now, but yesterday you came in here with an almost blank piece of homework after you swore you were going to study and have the homework completed. Look at it from my perspective.” He leans back in his chair. “It seemed to me like you were just telling me what you thought I wanted to hear and that you had no intention of doing anything about your grade.”

“I studied with Tori at first, but she couldn’t help me much. I did try, though. It’s frustrating. And so I got Toby to tutor me. He’s a really good teacher.”

Mr. Rollar nods. “Then I suggest you ask him to keep working with you.” He stands up and grabs his briefcase. “You may just manage a good grade after all.” He smiles and walks out.

It wasn’t the victory I was hoping for, but I’ll take it.

I head to my locker and get my books before dreaded detention. I told Mom and Dad Tori and I were studying at the library after school. As long as Mr. Rollar and Vice Principal Davidson don’t call home, I’ll be fine. And considering this is my first detention ever, I don’t see why they would call.

I take a seat in the second row by the door and open up my history book. I have to read a chapter and answer questions. Mindless work that I can do in here and save myself from having to lug the giant textbook home. Halfway through the second page of the reading, someone sits down next to me.

“Using your time wisely, I see.”

I look at Toby, my eyes widening. “What are you doing here? You couldn’t possibly have detention.”

He leans back in his chair. “What can I say? I had a bad day yesterday.”

“No way!” Vice Principal Davidson shoots me a look, and I lower my head, pretending to read from my history book again. After a couple minutes, I discreetly turn toward Toby. “What did you do?”

“I was caught in the halls without a pass.”

“When?”

“Right after I left you.”

“So, you’re here because of me?”

“Don’t sweat it. I told you, everyone gets detention once in a while.”

Something doesn’t add up. Toby isn’t the type to cut class. If he was in the hallway yesterday when I ran into him, he must have had a pass. “Why were you in the halls?”

“I didn’t feel like listening to Mrs. Engleberg talk about research papers anymore.”

Knowing Toby, his research paper was already done. “Right. That sounds just like you.”

“Ooh, you don’t believe me.” He sits forward, looking up at Vice Principal Davidson before he continues. He definitely doesn’t want to get into trouble, which only shows how bogus his story is. “I’m a little hurt.”

“Did you tell Meredith we’re studying tonight?” It sort of just slips out.

“Tori tell you that?”

I nod. “Did you tell Meredith you were studying with me, or did you just say you were tutoring someone?”

“You worried Meredith won’t like you hanging out with me?”

“We aren’t hanging out. You’re helping me with trig.”

“Right.”

This conversation just took a turn for the weird. Is he trying to tell me something?

“Why don’t you and Meredith get along?” he asks. “You’re neighbors, right?”

“Yeah, but she doesn’t think I’m up to her level.”

He stifles a laugh.

“Why is that so funny?”

“Because Meredith isn’t up to the standard she thinks she is. I feel sort of bad for her. She’s dying to fit in, and she doesn’t even see that the people she hangs all over don’t really like her. They tolerate her.”

“Is that what you do?”

“She’s okay. I’d be friends with her, but that’s not what she wants, apparently.”

“Apparently.” Davidson looks our way, so we stop talking. I read another two pages in my history book before I attempt conversation again. “You know, we’ve never talked like this before.”

“That’s because Tori claimed you as her friend. Ever notice we don’t share anything?”

“So you can’t be friends with her friends?” Well, that sucks for me. If Tori won’t let Toby be friends with me, she’ll definitely never approve of us dating.

“I’ve never tried. She wants to keep the twin stuff to a minimum, so we hang with different crowds.”

“But what about me? I mean, we’ve always interacted when I’m at your house. That’s not a problem for her, right? And she was the one to suggest you tutor me.”

“That’s not the same as being friends.”

“No, I guess it’s not.” My heart deflates. He’s saying we aren’t friends. I really am nothing but his sister’s best friend.

“Does that bother you?” He shifts closer in his seat.

How do I answer that without him knowing I have a huge crush on him? “I think it’s weird. I mean, you’re twins. You’re bound to like some of the same people.”

“I agree, but this is how Tori wants it.”

“So you get no say in the matter? And that’s okay with you?”

“I didn’t say that. It’s never really bothered me before.”

“Before? It bothers you now?”

He smiles. “You ask a lot of questions.”

“Sorry. I don’t mean to pry. It’s none of my business.”

He shrugs. “It kind of is.”

“How?” Damn it, another question.

He smiles again. “I get asked to tutor a lot.”

“Oh. You’re too busy to keep tutoring me. That’s okay.” No, it’s not. I don’t want to lose that time with him. It’s probably the closest I’ll ever get to being with him.

“That’s not what I meant.”

This time I’m silent, waiting for him to explain.

“I get asked to tutor a lot, but I’ve never said yes.”

“Why not?” I cringe as another question comes out of my mouth.

“I’m busy mostly. And a lot of people think if I tutor them, it gives them access to the crowd I hang out with.”

“Like they’re using you for your popularity and your brain?”

“Exactly.”

“But you knew I wasn’t.”

“Right. You really just wanted help in trig.”

And a date would be nice. Man, I feel awful for having other motives that he knows nothing about.

“If I thought you were like the others, I would’ve said no, suggested another tutor.”

Except, I am like them. Aren’t I? No, I didn’t trick Toby. I wasn’t going to ask him to tutor me. Tori did it. Yes, I’m enjoying his company, but I didn’t trick him at all.

“So, are you up for another tutoring session this evening?”

“You sure you want to?” There, I gave him a way out. If we continue with this, it will be because he wants to. His decision.

“Yeah. I had a lot of fun with you last night.”

My stomach knots. “Me too.”

“Good. Then I’ll see you at seven.” He gets up. “Now, I have to get out of here. I don’t really have detention.” He winks and walks out of the room without Vice Principal Davidson even looking his way.