He'll Want Syrup, Right?

It was probably a really dumb decision for me to go with Dustin after school. I thought about it all day in class. Did this mean anything to him? I have to admit, the walk over was long and nerve wrecking. My palms were actually sweaty and my stomach filled with knots. Then I saw him. He was sitting in the most relaxed position as if he didn't care if I made it there or not. I breathed a sigh of relief then playfully nudge him aside as I sat with my back against the tree.

"Three o four. Right on time." he joked.

"If you were anyone else, it'd be four o four."

"So you came on time because of me?" he said in a hopeful voice. He thought I was flirting. I dismissed him.

"No, I came on time because you never told me why you wanted to meet me here."

"Well, why do you think?"

"I don't know."

"Oh come on, Lil. Haven't you seen the signs?"

"What signs? And don't call me Lil." Anger rose in me with his every word.

"Biology class, breakfast this morning, and that outfit."

"What about my outfit?" Usually I don't care what other people think of what I wear, but I was already angry.

"Nothing, nothing," he tried to calm me down. "It's nice, that's all." He saw the anger in my face as I tried to get up.

"Wait," He grabbed my wrist and I sat back down.

"I know you never wore anything like that when you were with Dirk."

"So."

"So…you must be trying to impress someone."

"You think I'm trying to impress you?" I almost laughed out loud.

"I've been watching you, Lil. The way you walk around here like you don't care anything…or anyone. But I know better." He put his arm around my shoulder and I didn't push it away. He even called me "Lil" again and I said nothing.

"So." I was trying desperately to stay cold and heartless toward him.

"Like I said, you've seen the signs. I've seen them, too. I know what you want." He started rubbing my arm gently and I didn't do anything still. My mind was racing and wanted to make sense of it all.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Dustin Richard Broke. Born April 16th…"

"That's not what I mean and you know it," I finally pushed his arm away. "What's your deal? Are you just pretending to be this charming, clever guy to impress people or is this really you?" The question I'd been dying to ask him since the day we met.

"Okay, you caught me."

"What?" I was about to get up.

"You used the outfit to impress me and I set the table to impress you. I never actually took cotillion. My Aunt Clara taught me how to set a table."

"Why would you impress me when you have Angela?"

"Are you saying it worked?" he sounded hopeful.

"Answer my question first." I crossed my arms over my chest and pulled my knees to my arms.

"Because…I," he started scratching his head. I knew what he was thinking but I wanted to hear him say it.

"Let me turn the tables on you, then." he said cleverly. Darn, he was smart.

"Okay, shoot."

"Why would you impress me with that hot outfit when you have…oh, yeah." He had already forgotten that Dirk and I were broken up. I found my opportunity.

"I'm single, therefore, I can impress anyone I choose."

"Even people who aren't single?"

"Not my fault if committed men have wandering eyes." That time I was flirting.

"Look, we're not getting anywhere with this," he said. "I might regret this later, but I gotta ask: Do you like me?"

Of all the times that my face has turned red, this was, by far, the most inconvenient. It's really hard to be mysterious with your emotions when the other person knows your thoughts.

He slid even closer to me.

"Why am I here, Dustin?" I asked firmly for the last time. He pulled my face closer to his and I didn't stop him. He put his index finger under my chin and led my face toward his. He slid his left cheek against my right one and whispered in my ear, "I'm here because…you…need to pass Ms. Goth's class."

My whole heart fell into my stomach at that point. I quickly pulled away as I saw him reach for his Biology book from behind the tree. I ran as fast as I could towards the swing sets and then stopped to catch my breath. Perhaps quitting the track team wasn't the best decision I ever made. I saw him coming after me, Biology book and all, but I was still too tired to make a break for it. When I touched my face I was surprised by my mascara mixed with warm tears. If only I had a large shovel with me I could have dug myself a whole to live in for the rest of my life. When he finally caught up to me I dug my head into the pole on the swing set.

"Lilith, I was only joking. You're worse than your--"

"Don't even think about it!" I screamed while my head was still leaning against the pole. He sighed in frustration but his tone was soft.

"I'm sorry, Lilith. This is weird for me, too. I just got nervous. I didn't do it to be mean, I swear." I wiped all the eyeliner off my face before I turned around.

"So, where does this leave us?" I asked in the most innocent voice I could muster. He held my face in his palms again.

"In a very dangerous place." he said softly before he lightly kissed me on the lips.