Page 124 of Beyond The Maples
"I hate that option," he scowls. "Maaaaaple. What's that on your neck?" he asks, a horrible smirk on his face.
I feel my entire face heat, knowing exactly what he sees. I don't know what to do with myself, so I just get up and walk directly out of the room, leaving Leo laughing on my bed.
Ilook like an absolute fool. I'm walking back to our room, carrying a travel pack filled with books. If someone stops me and asks where I'm going... I'll have to come up with something ridiculous.
"Hello, there."
I wince. I truly have the worst luck.
"Hey... Loretta, I've been meaning to come see you, and thank you for the hair ties. They have truly been a lifesaver!" I say, hoping my cheery demeanour will be a good enough distraction.
"Oh, just call me Lo… Wait, what hair ties?"
I pull my long braid from behind me, showing her the soft elastic tie that's firmly holding my hair in place.
She frowns, inspecting it.
"I didn't make that! But it is brilliant. Where'd you get it?" she asks curiously.
"Someone left them in my cubby... I just assumed it was you," I frown.
"Nope, not me! Although I wish I could take credit; it's rather clever. Those little plastic dots must hold the hair nicely." She examines it one more time before flopping it down playfully. "Seems like you have someone looking out for you. If you figure out who it was, ask them where they got the materials. If there's more, I'd love a couple."
I nod. "Of course." I pull at the end of my braid, peeling the elastic off, before handing it to her.
"Oh no, love! Don't do that, you need them more than me," she says pushing my hand away.
"No really, it's fine. I have another one, and you have hair just as wild as mine. Please? I insist." I grab her hand and roughly curl her fingers around it before she can decline.
Just as she's about to say something more, Lo sees something behind me, and tenses.
"Hello, ladies." Berkley appears at my shoulder, a smirk playing on his lips. It looks so foreign on his face, that I openly gawk at him.
My attention turns back to Lo. Is that a blush? What is happening?
"I was just heading back to Tactile. You two stay out of trouble," she says, giving us both a cheeky wink before walking away, swaying her hips a little more than necessary.
I turn to Berkley, cocking my eyebrow.
"What?" he grumbles.
"Don'twhatme. Was that flirting?" I ask with a grin.
He puts his hand on his chest. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Maple."
I give him a sarcastic hum, before remembering that I'm packing around a giant bag of contraband, that I've stolen from the library. He seems to note my concern and nods at me, speeding up so he's walking ahead a few paces.
We barely get going, before Berkley spins around, air whooshing in my face from his momentum.
"Give me the bag," he demands, not waiting for a response before he slips it off my shoulder.
I'm so stunned that I end up standing there for a second, Berkley already at the other end of the hall, casual with the pack on his shoulder.
"Ahh, there you are. Just the girl I was looking for."
My muscles tense. Coming around the corner and heading straight for me is none other than the human cockroach himself, Zander.
I dip my chin in greeting.
