By the next morning, I was once again the talk of the school. Everyone was discussing how I’d been found in a compromising position in Wes’s bedroom. I honestly couldn’t understand why people cared, and the speed at which the gossip seemed to travel around the entire school was shocking. I also couldn’t understand why I seemed to be the only one being judged for it. Girls gave me harsh looks and whispered about me behind my back while simultaneously talking openly about how good Wes looked without a shirt on. It was totally unfair.
A few people felt brave enough to ask me about it directly, and I bluntly told them nothing had happened even though it was none of their business. I’d also explained that to Cress and Anna and although I didn’t ask them to, they’d told everyone they could that it was just a silly rumor. Unfortunately, that did little to help. Instead, the rumor seemed to morph and change, like it was resisting my attempts to kill it. The next day, people were instead talking about how the rumor couldn’t be true because Wes and I lacked chemistry. I honestly felt like I couldn’t win.
Thankfully, it all blew over quite fast, and by the weekend people mostly seemed to have forgotten there was anything to talk about in the first place. Still, I didn’t think I was ever going to get used to the way people at Weybridge loved to talk.
The arrival of the weekend also meant it was time for my driving lesson. I was beginning to dread my Saturday mornings. Despite the handful of lessons I’d had so far with my instructor, I felt like my driving confidence was only plummeting lower. Today was no exception, and my lesson had been another disaster. I hadn’t even pulled the car out of the parking space.
I’d been far too nervous as the parking lot was so busy. There seemed to be a constant stream of cars coming and going or people walking through the lot. There was a minibus parked awkwardly in front of one building taking up half the road, and a couple of guys were standing in the middle of the tarmac throwing a football. How was I supposed to feel confident I wouldn’t get into an accident when the place was crawling with hazards?
My poor instructor had spent the entire lesson trying to encourage me to take the car out of park. Whatever my father was paying the man, he probably needed to double it. He had the patience of a saint.
After my lesson, I walked from my car, trying my best not to cry. I didn’t know why I freaked out so much when I tried to drive. It’s not like my accident had been bad. My mom’s car had barely been dented, and I’d thankfully missed the dog that had run out in front of me. But for some reason, my mind always jumbled and my whole body tensed whenever I fastened my seat belt and placed my hands on the wheel.
My spirits lifted slightly when I saw Wes at the far end of the parking lot standing by the minibus that had contributed to my terrible driving lesson. He was with the rest of the rowing team who had a regatta at another school that weekend. They were preparing to leave, and it looked like I was just in time to see him off.
When he saw me approaching, he tossed the bag he was carrying into the luggage hold and walked over to meet me.
“Hey, how was the lesson?”
“It was awful.”
“That bad?”
“I didn’t even take the handbrake off.”
He drew me in for a hug and gently rubbed my arm. “I’m sure you’ll do better next time. You just need more practice.”
“Yeah, maybe.” It was hard not to be disheartened though. Especially when it already felt like I was getting worse with each lesson. I didn’t really want to keep talking about it though. Not when Wes was going to be gone all weekend. I stepped out of his grasp and attempted to sound a little more positive. “Are you ready for the regatta?”
“Yeah, the bus is about to leave.”
“I can’t believe you’ll be gone all weekend.”
“I know. I’m going to miss you.”
“Yeah, me too. I guess it gives me a chance to catch up on some homework.’
“Are you calling me a bad influence?” He grinned.
“Maybe.”
“I’m crushed.” He held a hand to his chest but was still smiling. “Well, I’ll be back to influencing you badly tomorrow night.”
“Thank goodness.”
The minibus rumbled to life, and Wes glanced over his shoulder. “I should probably get going.”
I somehow managed to force out a smile even though I didn’t want him to leave. “Good luck with your race.”
“Thanks.” He leaned down to brush a quick kiss against my lips. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“See you then.”
He returned to his teammates, who were still loading bags into the luggage hold. I sighed as I watched him go. He would only be gone for one night, but I was going to miss having Wes around. Especially when my weekend had already started terribly.
I turned to leave but paused when I saw Noah on the path behind me. He was waiting by the curb, a large backpack slung over his shoulder as he stared out at the parking lot. He was close enough he easily could have overheard my conversation with Wes. But since he wasn’t focused on me, I hoped that meant he hadn’t been listening.
I straightened my spine as I went to walk past him. I didn’t want to be within a hundred feet of the guy, but I wasn’t going to go out of my way just to avoid him—I refused to let him have that power over me.
I assumed he wouldn’t even acknowledge my presence seeing as that seemed to be his mission in life at the moment. But as I approached, he glanced at me and smirked. The sight of that knowing smile on his lips made me shudder with agitation. I had no idea what had prompted his gloating look, and I didn’t want to know. Well, rather, I shouldn’t want to know.
I was supposed to be taking the high road where Noah was concerned. So, I tried my best to pretend I hadn’t noticed him. To act like my anger toward him wasn’t bubbling just under my skin. But the closer I got to him, the more I found myself tormented by his stupid smile and questioning what had prompted it when he usually seemed so set on ignoring me.
I was about to walk past him. I was almost free. But as I thought about the relief I’d feel once I was far away from him, I realized it would only be short-lived. I was probably going to be thinking about what Noah’s stupid smirk meant all weekend.
“What is it?” I turned on him before I’d fully thought it through. I should have been the bigger person. I should have ignored him. But I was now face-to-face with the guy I loathed with every part of my being, demanding he explain himself.
His smirk only grew. “I can give you some better driving advice if you want it.”
So, he had been listening. “Thanks, but I’m okay.”
He ignored me and continued anyway. “No amount of practice is going to help if you don’t stop overthinking it. You should put some music on or something. Relax.”
I couldn’t tell what his angle was. It seemed like sound advice, but I knew I couldn’t trust a word that came out of Noah’s mouth. I also didn’t want anything from him anymore—especially not his opinion. “I told you I don’t need driving advice from you.”
“Suit yourself.” Noah shrugged.
I hated how he was so unaffected by me. Just weeks ago, the feelings between us had been so intense. Like nothing I’d experienced before. Mine had been replaced by anger and hurt. Noah, on the other hand, barely seemed to feel anything for me at all. It wasn’t fair.
I found myself thinking about all the things he’d done this past week. He’d punched my father. He was dating my enemy and seemed to be rubbing it in my face. He’d even barred his friends from coming near me. Those weren’t the actions of a guy who felt nothing at all for me. “Why did you force your friends to pick a side? That was a pretty obnoxious thing to do—even for you. Are you really so insecure?”
He lifted his eyebrows and mimicked my stance as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Liar.”
His eyes glinted with barely contained delight, and it was all the indication I needed to know I was right.
“I really don’t know what I ever saw in you,” I said.
He shrugged. “I guess you can’t choose who you have chemistry with.”
My eyes narrowed. It was no surprise Noah had heard the rumors about Wes and me this week. And, clearly, he had thoroughly enjoyed them.
“We didn’t have chemistry.”
“Now who’s lying.”
“Whatever we had, it wasn’t chemistry.”
“Well, I’m not sure I trust your judgment when it comes to chemistry. The rumors were one thing, but I just saw you kiss your boyfriend, and now I’m quite certain you don’t know the meaning of the word.”
“Wes and I have plenty of chemistry.”
He didn’t respond. Instead, he just tilted his head and looked at me as though he was expecting me to suddenly realize he was right. That was never going to happen though.
Before I could protest further, a sleek black sedan pulled up to the curb. Noah turned from me without another word and walked toward it. I stood there scowling after him. If our confrontation was a contest, Noah had won it. He’d drawn me in with a simple smirk I couldn’t ignore. I’d taken the bait, and now I was fuming even more than before.
The need to prove him wrong itched beneath my skin. I didn’t want to lower myself to his level. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of letting him know he was getting to me. But right now, my anger was blind to rational thought, and I couldn’t bring myself to let him walk away victorious. He wasn’t the only one who had accused Wes and me of having no chemistry this week, and I’d been doing my best to ignore the rumors, but something about Noah commenting on it made me reach my limit.
I spun around and stormed back along the sidewalk toward the minibus slowly filling with the rowing team. Wes was about to climb up the stairs onto the bus, but I didn’t hesitate as I stormed up to him.
“Isobel?” There was confusion in Wes’s voice as I tugged him around to face me, but I silenced his question by pulling him to me and kissing him firmly.
He was tense at first, probably out of surprise. But it was only for a moment. Then he was kissing me like no one was watching. The kiss was good. No, it was great. It made my heart race and had my lips tingling. Noah had no idea what he was talking about.
When Wes pulled back from me, we were both smiling brightly.
“Where did that come from?” he asked. His cheeks were a soft shade of pink. Understandable, given we’d just made out in front of a bus filled with his rowing teammates.
Now I wasn’t lost in our kiss, I could hear them cheering, whistling, and banging on the windows of the bus as they looked down at us. My cheeks turned a similar color to Wes’s, and I began to wonder what the hell I’d been thinking. I’d been so exasperated by Noah I clearly hadn’t thought this through.
“Sorry.” I answered Wes’s question with a shrug. “Just wanted to give you a good luck kiss before you go.”
“No, I’m not complaining.” Wes chuckled, still seeming slightly embarrassed. “Seems like we put on a good show.”
Movement over Wes’s shoulder caught my eye, and I saw Noah standing by the open door of the sedan. I wondered if he’d seen the kiss. If he had, he didn’t look the least bit bothered by it. If anything, his expression was even more smug than before as though he felt I’d just proved he was right.
I smiled because my heart and my lips thoroughly disagreed with him. I felt like I’d pretty clearly established how good Wes and I were together. Noah simply shrugged before getting into the car, disappearing behind the black-tinted windows.
When I focused on Wes, he wasn’t looking at me. Instead, he was frowning in Noah’s direction. There was a questioning look in his eyes when he finally did turn his eyes back to me.
“Are you done, Mr. Montfort?” A low voice caused us both to turn toward the bus. Wes’s rowing coach was glaring at us from the door.
Wes swallowed and nodded at him. “Sorry, Coach. I’m coming.”
He turned back to me and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. It couldn’t have been more different than the heartwarming kiss we’d just shared. “I’ll see you later, Isobel.”
“Yeah, see you later.”
He didn’t look back as he got on the bus and found a seat. I felt a little queasy as I watched the door close and the bus pull away. Could Wes tell Noah was the reason behind my sudden urge to kiss him? I felt embarrassed for letting Noah get to me and causing such a scene as a result. Now I was worried I’d upset Wes when Noah was probably laughing proudly to himself. I knew Wes and I had chemistry, so why had I felt the need to prove it? I didn’t care what anyone thought about us, least of all Noah. So why did he continue to elicit such a reaction out of me?
