Page 60 of Stealing for Keeps
As the class winds down, I start to worry about how I’m going to escape. We usually walk back to our lockers together, but it’s at least a two-minute walk, and that’s far too many seconds where he can bring up seeing me half-naked.
I groan and squeeze my eyes shut. I promised myself I would not even think the wordnaked, let alone reimagine that night. Now I’m doing both.
When the bell rings, I gather my stuff quickly. My pencil drops to the ground. Before I can grab it, Austin leans down and picks it up. He’s wearing a confused smirk as I contemplate how badly I want my pencil back.
Slowly, he extends it out to me. I wrap my fingers around the eraser end, but Austin holds on for a few seconds longer before letting it go.
“Thank you,” I say as I feel my face heat. “I need to talk to Mrs. Randolph.”
“Right,” he says in a tone that’s not completely believing.
“I’ll, uh, see you later.”
He nods and finally goes ahead without me. I don’t need to talk to Mrs. Randolph, but I do need to unclench my hand before I break this pencil and get a freaking gripon myself.
I take my time, waiting until everyone is gone, and then approach her desk.
“Hi, Claire,” she says, brightening as she greets me. “More questions about the assignment?”
“No,” I say with a small laugh. God, how ridiculous she and Austin must think I am. I have only a few seconds to come up with something else, so I go with the first thing that comes to mind. “Do you have any suggestions for colleges with good art programs?”
“You’re considering art as a major?” she asks, crossing her arms over her chest and smiling.
“Maybe,” I admit. “I’m not really sure what I want to do, but I like art.” That much is true. It isn’t exactly the same feeling as skating, but it’s uncomplicated and peaceful.
“That’s great, Claire. I can put together a list for you if you’d like.”
I nod and give her what is maybe my first real smile of the day. “Thank you.”
When I finally leave the class, Austin is still waiting for me. He’s leaned back against the wall, one foot over the other. I pause when I see him. Panic washes over me.
“You waited.”
“Yeah.” He shifts his bag higher on his shoulder.
“Go ahead. I need to go to the restroom.”
I start to dart away, but he grabs my wrist. “Are you okay? You’re doing a lot of running off in the other direction every time you see me.”
“I’m fine,” I say brightly. “Just really need to pee.”
His brow furrows. “If this is about the other night—”
Warmth creeps up my neck and face.
“I really gotta go,” I say, breaking free and not stoppinguntil I’m safely behind the door of the girls’ bathroom.
Avoiding him forever is a lot harder than I expected.
Chapter Seventeen
Austin
“What in the hell did you do to her?” Rowan asks as we’re standing at our lockers at the end of the day on Tuesday. It’s been another day of Claire avoiding me at all costs. We’re talking all costs. She just ignored Rowan too, all because he happened to be next to me.
Lacey offers an apologetic shrug when I shoot her a questioning gaze.
Yesterday, I knew something was up but thought maybe Claire was just having a rough day, but this morning, I pulled into the parking lot at the same time as her, and she proceeded to stay in her car, pretending to be really into fixing her makeup, until I went in without her. She skipped lunch in the cafeteria again, and in art class, she did her best to pretend like I don’t exist.
