Forbidden Love

Chapter 4

Over the first week I went with Joe to all my classes and I couldn't help but get along with him. I met all his friends, smiled when he smiled and laughed when he laughed. I couldn't deny that we got along easily.

Throughout the week I couldn't help but think there was something he was purposely trying to keep from me. He would make sure I was doing something or talking to someone and then hurry away to talk to someone else and hurry back as if he was hoping I wouldn't notice. I didn't say anything because he clearly didn't want me to but I was curious.

On Thursday I got my answer. We were standing outside physics because the teacher was late again.

Joe was poking fun at my accent asking me to say obscure words that he thought would sound funny in my voice and I was refusing.

"Say no." He finally said.

"No." I said the word I'd been repeating over and over when he asked me to say anything then glared at him when he thanked me.

Michelle came up to us with a group of girls around her she looked directly at Joe as if I wasn't there. "I'm looking forward to your party tomorrow." She said touching his arm.

I felt my stomach jump when she touched his arm but I ignored it. I just didn't like this girl that's the only reason I had reacted.

"Right." Joe said, he sounded uncomfortable. I could tell he was looking at me but I didn't look at him.

"Give us a chance to catch up." Her hand moved up and down his arm and my stomach jumped again.

"Sure." He said stepping back so her hand dropped off his arm.

Michelle smiled a sweet smile, "I'll see you tomorrow night then." She turned slowly, flicked her long blonde hair and walked away.

Joe didn't say anything to me and I didn't say anything to him until we sat down.

"I wanted to tell you about the party." He said sounding awkward.

"It's alright." I felt sorry for him, I didn't even know why I felt sorry for him, "you don't need to invite me to your party. I know you're just showing me around because you were asked to."

"No! That's not it! I'd like for you and Ethan to both come it's just.." the teacher interrupted him and told him to keep his chat outside his lesson.

"It's just what?" I whispered shifting closer so he could hear me.

He shifted down closer to my ear, my stomach flipped again, it would have to stop doing that, "it's just the party is at my house and my parents are going to be there." He didn't move away from me. I didn't move either. We were sitting a bit too close together for a classroom but no one said anything.

"You're going to have to fill in the gaps. It can't be that I'm a girl if horrid Michelle is going." I didn't understand what would be the problem with his parents and me both being there.

"Michelle isn't actually that horrid."

I leant away and looked him in the eyes.

"No seriously. She's not usually the way she is with you."

"Then why am I so horrid?"

"No one has to be horrid."

I make some noises to say I disagreed and got a look from the teacher to tell me to be quiet.

"It's complicated ok." Joe said sitting back away from me.

I suddenly felt rejected for horrid Michelle. I sent him a questioning look.