"Um... study?" I ask, rather than state. Now I'm nervous. How did he turn me into a pitiful nervous fool? I hate him. Hate. Him.
Telling myself I hate him isn't helping.
"Change your mind and go with me to Silk tonight. It's a club that's only open to the public once a month. Tonight's the 'once a month.' It'll be packed, and it'll be fun. No offense, but you need fun."
No offense? I'm very offended... I think.
"I need a scholarship to stay in school, so if I go to the club and the party tomorrow, I won't have very much study time this weekend. I need to maintain my GPA. Maybe some other time."
He frowns, which is just as confusing as he's been all day.
"Fine. Rain-check. You ready?" he asks, standing up with his coffee in tow.
Cynthia runs over to take his card as I fish out my money from my pocket.
"I've got it," he says. "I invited you."
I want to object, but even though I ordered the che
apest coffee they have - plain with a touch of cream - I still don't have five dollars to spend on that single cup. If he's offering to pay, I really need to let him. Gah, I feel like a mooch now. I need a new job.
I notice a few eyes on us. There's a group of people who've been bashing me waving at him. I look away, but his arm comes to rest over my shoulders again as he nods in acknowledgment and offers them a smile.
Why does he keep touching me? It's-
"Kade!" one guy yells, chuckling. "You shittin' me?"
Oh no. The color drains from my face. He's about to say something. The moment I've been dreading is here.
"Huh?" Kade asks, seeming confused.
The guy grunts when he takes a hard elbow to the ribs by another guy, and Kade looks to me and shrugs before leading me through the doors with his arm still draped around me.
He has no idea what he's just done. He shouldn't have touched me in front of them. Now more people will think he and I are together, and when it blows up, something tells me I'll be humiliated.
Chapter 4
Unlikely Friendship
I should have gone to Silk. Nothing I'm reading is making a damn bit of sense because all I can think about is how Kade said I needed to have fun. I could still go. I'm sure a bus could take me there, but I've got thirteen dollars left to make it until the end of the week when my next check comes from the church.
I really don't think it'd be wise to use church money to go to a club. I'd hate to get struck by lightning in the middle of the dance floor.
I'm starving and I'm sick of tuna, but it's affordable and plentiful. Several cans of my tuna survived the wreckage.
I go to grab a can just as Kade walks through the door. I freeze in the living room, standing in front of him in my panties and tank-top. He wasn't supposed to come home this early. It's barely ten.
A teasing gleam spreads through his eyes as his lips curl up in a taunting grin. A squeal finally bubbles free from my lips as I rush up the stairs, wishing I hadn't been brave enough to strut around in my underwear.
Kade's roaring laughter drifts up the stairs as I slam the door to my room. I can feel my whole body flushed. I'm almost worried I'll be stained crimson forever.
"Raya," he chuckles out, lightly rapping on my door. "Come on. Don't hide. It'll only make it more awkward... for you."
Great. He's feeling playful tonight. I almost prefer the brooding weirdo who can't make up his mind if he's pissed or pleasant.
"I'm not hiding... I'm... getting decent," I lie, well, sort of. I am getting decent, but I have no intentions of coming out. I might possibly go in and out of my window for a while.
"Raya," he says again, his laughter still lacing his words. "Come on."