I cover my ears and cry out. “Make it stop.Pleasemake it stop. My ears are bleeding. Help, someone call an ambulance. I’m dying here.”
Trying to hide a smile, he continues to spout random quotes from Romeo. And I continue to cry out as though my ears will really explode.
“No more Shakespeare for you,” I say as I reach to snatch the book from his hand. But he yanks it away at the last minute. I overexert myself and lose my balance, crashing onto him. He manages to drop the book onto the desk and wrap his arms around my waist before I take him down with me to the floor.
He stares at me with a humorous expression. “I don’t think Juliet was quite that feisty.”
The area where his hands rest on my waist burns. I haven’t been this close to him since we shared our romantic dance at camp. His eyes are even more dazzling up close. I don’t think anything can ever snuff out the light in them.
“But she was pretty tough,” I point out. “She thought for herself and went after what she wanted.”
“Like another girl I know.”
“Are you referring to me?” I ask as I move back to my seat. I suddenly feel cold by our distance, and for a second, I wish I could bury myself in his arms again. But thankfully, I have a normal, working brain.
I swear he frowns because I pulled away, but then he says, “Yes, I’m talking about you. I know you think you’re not bold, but I think you are. You’re unique in the sense that you stay true to yourself even if it’s not the most popular thing to do. You could have changed yourself to fit in at school and at camp, but you believe that the right people would accept you for who you are, and you were right about that. And I also admire your determination. Once you put your mind to something, you don’t give up until you get it done. Like when I taught you how toplay guitar. You were frustrated in the beginning because you couldn’t get it right. But you never gave up. And I couldn’t help but notice that you don’t give up on a song until you find the perfect verse.”
Once again, my cheeks heat up. My neck and ears, too. I turn away because I don’t know what to say.
“Sorry if I embarrassed you.” He reaches for his phone and checks the time. “I should head back to my dorm and study for my test. It feels like all I do is study for tests,” he adds with a small laugh as he gets up. “And I guess I’ll start memorizing the balcony scene.”
I nod, standing up, too. “Yeah, good idea.”
I walk with him to the door and open it for him. He laughs softly. “Thanks for being such a gentleman, Raven.”
That makes me laugh, too. “Girls can do nice gestures for guys, too.”
He inclines his head. “For sure.” He bows the way stage actors do at the curtain call and says, “‘Farewell! One kiss, and I’ll descend.’”
“Maybe the terrible accent is growing on me,” I admit.
He winks. “I knew you secretly loved it. Good night, Raven.”
I wave. “Good night.”
He gives me one last smile before walking out. I once again lean on the door and grin as I replay our evening together.
Chapter Twenty
Kylen
After school on Tuesday, Raven and I walk to the music room for band practice. We’re discussing the balcony scene and she tells me she wants to escort me there to say hi to the guys.
Jasper and Beck are trying out different sounds when we enter the room, while Leo’s busy on his phone.
As soon as Jasper sees her, a huge grin captures his face. “Rave!” He waves like he’s got a battery pack in his arm.
Laughing, Raven waves back. “Hi, guys.”
“Have you come to watch us practice?” Beck, sitting at his drums, asks.
She shakes her head. “No, I just came to say hi.”
Jasper frowns. “Aw, can’t you stay? It’s so boring with just us guys around. Plus it’d be nice to get some feedback.”
Beck nods in agreement while Leo continues to be entrapped by whatever he’s looking at on his phone.
Raven turns to me. “If you guys really don’t mind.”
