Prince Charmings (BOOK ONE)

24

The second kiss was just as earth-shattering as the first and lead me to desperately hanging around the front of the hall long after the show was over.

Spencer was holed up in a bathroom stall, changing and bickering on the phone. Bella had since gone, offering nothing more than a perfumed kiss to the cheek goodbye and a smirk. I had already wasted a solid half hour in the bathroom wiping off my make-up, hoping for a run-in with Spencer only to give up and pace the hall. There was only so long I could hang around the building without making my intentions obvious. I also had no plan of what do, no speech prepared, just the sole hope that he would be the one to break the ice and return things to normal. That we would slip back into our normal banter and the thrumming in my heart would just die off.

That didn't happen, because of course life never went my way, as the moment he strode out the door my heart was back to pumping blood like it was on crack. My entire back went ram-rod straight, feet tripping over themselves in embarrassment at being caught aimlessly wondering around.

"You need a ride?" were his first, non-scripted, words to me since the stilted hello's we exchanged prior the show. Surprised I gestured nervously to the glass doors behind me where my bike sat, still hooked up to the rack in front of the hall.

"Alright then, we should probably clear out before security mistakes us for intruders," He said, already making for the front doors. Hurrying behind him I forced down the sheepish smile attempting to spread across my face when he glanced over. Shouldering the door open, Spencer waited until I slipped past before searching his jacket pocket, pulling out a rumpled cigarette and an ashen set of matches. Lighting the end, he gestured at my bike with the cigarette and took a step forward, brushing my shoulder on the way.

"Want me to unlock the thing? I know butter fingers run in the family," he smirked, but the expression wavered slightly and my heart thumped a little harder as I squatted in front of it. It was probably grateful that I wasn't the only one a little nervous and uneasy with the shift of things.

"Yeah," I said, voice screechy as my Mom's old kettle currently busy collecting dust and becoming a fire hazard in our attic. Spencer laughed though, sounding as surprised as I was at the noise I made.

Clearing my throat, I nodded at the bike, motioning for him to take over. "Sorry, yes. Please unlock the stupid bike."

"Give the master some room," he smirked, waving me back and dropping down next to the death trap. I kept my eyes at a respectable level, tracking the smooth sweep of his hands as he yanked the lock free and tossed it in my general direction. Side-stepping just in time to catch it I shoved the chain in my jacket pocket.

"I swear I will invest in a new lock that I can actually open so I can stop relying on you and Tommo to do this for me," I promised, wheeling the thing out and onto the road. Spencer followed at my side, shrugging as he took a smaller drag, weighing up something in his head.

"I don't mind helping you out," he said, words measured as he veered towards his own car. The guy didn't say anything when I forced myself not to follow, rooting to the spot. "But it might be a good idea. I can't drive to your campus next year just to open things for you."

"Who says I'm moving away?" I called back and Spencer smiled.

"Who said I'm staying here?" He quipped back, stuffing the cigarette in his mouth as he dropped his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "I'll catch you tomorrow."

Rather than respond I mounted my bike, cheeks red but hidden by the weak light of the parking lot. Kicking off the ground I dragged the bike into some semblance of a u-turn and pedaled towards the main road