“What?” Peter said in a low voice.
“You’re just standing there staring at each other, all intense but not saying anything,” Sophia pointed out, her expression curious. I bristled in self-consciousness. I hadn’t given a thought to how Peter and I must appear when we conversed telepathically. It must’ve seemed quite strange to the outside viewer.
“They’re eye fucking,” Belinda said from where she and Anna sat several feet away. “Isn’t it obvious?” She gave an overly dramatic eye roll, and I wanted to both strangle her and disappear forever. “I told you all earlier; they’re obsessed with each other. It’s so gross.”
I honestly couldn’t bring myself to look at Peter again, so I went and sat on the nearest armchair and tried not to shrivel up into a ball and die. Thankfully, Mrs Kanumba was busy having a phone call, presumably with her husband, as she explained the situation with the storm. Rebecca was engrossed in her laptop and didn’t appear to have heard what Belinda said.
“Remind me again how it’s gross for two interesting and attractive people to be into each other?” Sophia asked with an inquisitive tone. I really was starting to like Peter’s friend, even if I was mortifyingly embarrassed.
“Well, for a start, she’s a Cristescu, and he’s a Girard. Isn’t it like, illegal for them to even be talking to one another?” Belinda pointed out.
“I’m certain no such law exists,” Sophia shot back.
“Oh, piss off,” Belinda said, scowling as she returned her attention to the tablet she and Anna were watching videos on.
“Great comeback,” I muttered under my breath and dug around in my bag for my earphones. I decided I’d listen to music and block out the rest of the world until I could leave this hellscape. Sharing classes with Belinda Williams every day was bad enough. Dealing with her company outside of school hours was a form of torture.
I connected to my phone and pulled up one of my favourite playlists, vaguely aware of Peter sitting down on a nearby couch. What did he make of what Belinda said? Did it really look like we were eye-fucking when we mind conversed? Perhaps I wasn’t as good at hiding my attraction to him as I thought I was.
But then, wouldn’t the attraction have to go both ways?
Did Peter like me, too?
I lifted my head, taking a quick peek at him. He sat on the couch, reading a book. I wondered if he was just as embarrassed by what Belinda said as I was. I might come across as tough and experienced, but when it came to the opposite sex, I knew very little. I’d kissed one or two boys, but that was all. I’d never had sex. Despite his loner status, I suspected Peter wasn’t quite as inexperienced as I was. Maybe he and Sophia had slept together before deciding they were better off as friends.
A bolt of jealousy shot through me, but then I reminded myself of Peter’s reaction when I asked if he and Sophia were a thing. He said he thought of her as a sister. So, if he’d never been with Sophia, who else was a possibility? I couldn’t picture him with any of the other girls at school. Or maybe I just didn’t want to.
“If any of you feel hungry, help yourselves to whatever you can find in the kitchen,” Mrs Kanumba said before going to sit at the desk across from Rebecca. She carried over two cups of tea, handing one to my sister.
Belinda and Anna immediately rushed to the kitchen, rifling through the cabinets and grabbing all the best stuff for themselves. Was there no end to how annoying they were?
I wasn’t very hungry anyway. Resting my head against the back of the armchair, I closed my eyes and listened to my music. A little while passed before Peter’s voice shook me out of my reverie. It’s probably not a good idea to fall asleep.
Just like that, I opened my eyes, awareness trickling down my spine at the thought of him watching me. At the very least, he’d been paying enough attention to see that I was drifting off. And he was right, too. It was unwise to fall asleep while Belinda was around. Who knew what she might try to do to me while I slept?
Are you tired?
A little, but you’re right. I should stay awake.
A short silence fell. I didn’t look at him, but I sensed he wanted to say something. I can keep watch for you if you want to take a nap.
Warmth suffused my skin at his offer. A part of me wanted to take him up on it, but the idea of Peter protectively watching over me while I slept was a little more than my romantic heart could take. I was already half in danger of falling in love with him. I needed to keep some boundaries for my emotional safety, if nothing else.