Finding My Way

Chapter Twelve

Strawberry shortcake panties

The class was filled with mindless charter  as people looked at their phones and mumbling to themselves. They let out loud laughters clearly sharing something amusing. I covered my face with my hoodie as I replied a text from my father. I was planning to visit the old man one of these weekends. I hadn't seen him in over a month.

The class slowly hushed as the click clock of Mr. Arnold's shoes became louder when he got in class. I think those shoes of his had wooden heels with all the noise it was making. I opened my book ready to learn something new. It was a beautiful day that had so far been uneventful. Even the annoying prick who sat next to me drumming to some senseless beat was not around.

I was almost landing on the pen I was holding, nearly hurting my eye when I had my name being mentioned . "Lisa Brooke and Caleb Blue... "

What was the old man blubbering about. Why had her name been mention, and merged with Caleb's name? I decided that I'd gain some courage and ask someone when the lecture was over. I looked at the doodles I had drawn when I had been half conscious. So much for concentrating.

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" And after he told me I looked pretty, Hazel pushed me and removed my hair ties from my hair and told me that pig tails were for babies and then I told miss Suzanne and she was forced to say sorry..." taking a big breath and continuing. "and.. And... I said it was okay and then Ryan followed later and he said pigtails were cool not for babies. So tomorrow mummy you put my hair in pigtails again."

I looked at my six year old baby in amusement as she explained her day. She had always been an expressive baby and was never shy. I wonder where she got it from? She never got it from me and she definitely never got it from her father.

Jill walked in the coffee shop dressed in a neon pink tank top and rugged trousers. I watched her as she winked at a guy that was sitting on the booth near the door.

"Aunt Jill"

"Hey Bubba, ready for a fun girl's day in?"

"Yes, can we dress up today?"

"Ofcourse, I'm the fun and cool aunt ain't I?"

And without a goodbye, they left. Hmm... Maybe Lexi was talkative because she spent too much time with her 'cool and fun aunt'. I took the books had been l carelessly left on the tables and the ones on the box and went to put them back on the shelves. I drugged a little ladder to the shelves and climbed up, carefully putting back the books.

"Nice panties,"

I almost fell down when I had the voice. I had spotted an interesting book and was engrossed in it. I hadn't even noticed I was still on the ladder. I looked down at the owner of the voice and I secretly smiled. I hadn't realised I had missed him today .

"Now whose the stalker?" I said as I got down.

"Missed me, partner ?" He helped fold the, ladder and we walked to the counter, him sitting on the stools.

"What do you mean partner?"

"Weren't you in Arnold's class today?"

"I was, physically..." I said uncomfortable playing with the loose strand that had Fallen from the bun.

"Is the world ending? The good and obedient duchess of studying did not conncetrate in class? Even I know about the project and I wasn't in class. We are suppose to spend time together, know each other more and at the end of the semester, we submit a four hundred word essay about something no one knows about you. And you and I are partners "

So that's why he mentioned my name and his... I wasn't sure about this project, not liking the fact that someone was suppose to study me and write about it. But I was glad I wasn't partnered up with a complete stranger.

Caleb stayed with me until my shift was over and he offered to walk me home. He said that we could start our project by playing twenty one questions.

"Favorite colour?"

"Dark green, seriously Princess, that's lame."

"You seem to forget that a favorite colour can suggest one's personality." I stated as a matter of fact.

"Smart. Ok, have you ever had a crush on an animated character?"

"umm... Tadashi Hamadi from big hero six."

"huh... The dead brother?"

"Yep, your turn. Describe your self in three words"

"Easy, smart, charming, handsome"

"Add arrogant " I said, rolling my eyes.

"Yeah, that too. Hmm... If you had a time machine, where would you go, the future or the past?"

"Past" maybe I would stop Liam from leaving and hugged my mother one more time.

"interesting. Ok, ask away."

"What do you wish you were really good at?"

"Healing." I looked at him and got a glimpse of sadness, lots of sadness. But he masked it real quick I almost thought I had imagined it.

"oooh, what is the worst thing you've ever done?" he asked.

"Almost killed a living being." I always regretted that. Lexi was born prematurely because I had been careless at the beginning of my pregnancy.

"Intense,"

"Yeah.... Has anything ever ruined your birthday"

"I don't do birthdays" I was surprised with the harsh tone. Birthdays must have been a touchy subject for him. What happened to him? We stood at the entrance of my building in silence. He looked shocked that he had snapped and tried to cover it up with a silly question.

"So... Do you always wear strawberry shortcake panties?"

"Goodnight Caleb"