Chapter 15

"So...is everyone at the table in the swimming team?" I questioned Kate as we made our way to the library during lunch. She had taken a hold of me just as I had barely finished my last piece of chip all the while fussing about how dead she'd be if she didn't hand in her work.

"Well most of them are," she vaguely answered. I thought she was going to say more but she didn't, even after walking into the library.

"Who-" I abruptly stopped to catch a falling book that almost hit me. "Who aren't part of the team?" I placed the book back to in its position.

"There's Alex," she started to list off as she browsed the spines of the book, "Cameron and Michael play basketball."

"What about Owen?"

"What about him?" She spared me a glance.

"Is he in the swimming team?" At this, she turned back to the shelves of books.

"He was but not anymore." She walked further, still looking at the spines of books. I was suddenly overcome with curiosity as to why he no longer was part of the team because I had seen him swim. He was really good at it. "Aha! Just what I was looking for." I heard Kate exclaim a meter or two from where I was standing.

"I'm guessing you found what you were looking for." I had a feeling there was more to why Owen quit the team and for the love of me I couldnt stop thinking about it.

"Yeah I did." She grinned at me holding the book up in her left hand as though it were a precious medal. "We can go now," she stated.

After leaving the library, Kate and I headed for Biology so she could get started on her work.

"Do you need help?"

"No I got it...or at least I'm trying to get it." She mumbled in between scribbling on her paper. I got my paper out and started proof reading it for any mistakes. "Ooh! I just remembered something." She abruptly turned in her seat to face me.

"Yeah? What's that?" I questioned her, eyebrows furrowed.

"My Aunt is getting married this weekend and I'm not fond of most of my relatives so can you please come over?" She begged with her lower lip slightly jutted out. "I have an extra dress that would just look absolutely fab on you and I'll help you with whatever it is you want." She added.

"I don't know..." I had an unknown phobia of being around people at times- or maybe that was just me being socially awkward.

"Please think about it." She said giving me an almost sad look.

"I will." I tried to give her a smile but failed miserably and it came out as a grimace. So much for trying.

**********

Classes were over and Kate was insisting on spending the rest of the day with me. While the idea was great and all, the idea of us spending it at my house was a little impossible given the current situation I was in. So I made up an excuse that I prayed would be believable telling her why we should hang out at hers instead. I was glad it worked out but I did feel guilty about not telling her the truth. I decided that telling her about my living situation would have to be put off for later.

We pulled up in Kate's drive way and made our way to the front door.

"Do you want to a watch a movie? She asked just as I made myself comfortable on her bed.

"Yeah." I answered moving so that my head could read against the headboard.

She moved to get her laptop and charger from her desk and placed it on the bed.

"You get the laptop ready while I get some snacks." She offered and went out of the room but then came back just as I trying to look for a good movie. "What do you want Lays, Simba or Doritos?" She asked half-way through the door.

"Simba." I answered.

"What flavour?"

"Any will do."

"Got it." She hurried away and the sound of her trudging down the stairs resonated through the hallway.

I was about to go back to the work at hand when the door was opened.

"Hey Kate I-" Abel abruptly stopped mid-way.

"Lyra?" He asked with a slightly surprised look on his face.

"Hey Abel." I gave him a small wave and a smile.

"Hey." He smiled making his dimples appear.

"Where's Kate?"

"I'm here. How many times have I told you not to enter my room without my permission?"

"Lost count." He rolled his eyes before he took in a serious look. "Can I talk to you?"

She looked at me as if asking for permission and I smiled at her as a yes. She motioned with her hand for Abel to follow her and they soon want out.

Kate came back with various snacks in hand just as had chosen a random movie.

"I thought you'd want more than just crisps so I brought you some other snacks to pick from." She said as she placed the packets on her sky blue comforter.

We watched a few movies before I realised that Mrs James would probably be worried as to why I wasn't back yet. After the third movie I told Kate that I had to get home and she offered to give me a ride home which I accepted.

Kate dropped me off where she thought I lived so I walked over to the door and pretended to open the door. I ceased what I was doing when I heard her leave, then I went to the house I was currently staying in.

When I got inside I took a shower before bee-lining for the pool to read a book I'd just started. I was too distracted by the book in hand that I didn't see that someone was in the pool till I heard a bit of splashing.

I looked up from the book and saw Owen making his way out the pool. The light illuminating from pool played on his face highlighting his high cheek bones and perfectly sculpted face. He placed his hands on the edge of the pool' with palms facing downwards, and made his way out. His muscles flexed with every movement and I'd never thought diverting my eyes would prove to be such a strenuous task.

I don't know how long I'd been staring at him before his eyes met mine. I took the book that was now placed on the table and turned to head back in.

"What? You're done staring?" I heard him call from behind and I stood still for some time before turning around.

"I wasn't staring." I lied through my teeth.

"Oh no. Of course not," he put his hands up in the universal declaration of surrender, "I just like to make things up."

I was mortified as it was and I didn't need any reason to feel worse than I already did. I looked up at Owen but failed to keep eye contact with him because of the arrogant smile that was on his face so I stared slightly below his eyes.

I was about to say something but then he started to walk, coming closer to me. He's steps were deliberate like that of a predator gazing at its prey from a distance and calculating the perfect way to execute it.

He had moved so close to me that only mere inches separated us and that unnerved me. We had never been this close and the possibilities of what he'd do next were endless and unfortunately, none would be gracious