He twirled his fingers through my hair and gave a long look at my mouth. "For the record," he said. "I'm definitely not your brother."
My skin began to prickle. "No kidding."
My response must have mollified him, because he turned off the car and got out, catching up to me before I'd taken two steps from the car. And the whole way up the walk to my mom, he had his fingers barely touching my lower back. A touch to say he was there to support me, that he was on my team, that he wasn't going to abandon me to my mom's wrath. And I loved it.
I stopped in front of my mom. "Mom."
She didn't smile. "Frances."
I gestured to my escort. "You remember Blue's brother, Theo?"
My mom eyed Theo. "Yes, I do."
"Good evening, Mrs. Spinelli." Theo shook my mom's hand and met her gaze. The guy was facing down my mom for me. That might, just might, make up for the butt-grabbing incident. And if it did, where did that leave us? Back with the amazing kiss and the invitation for a real date?
Oh, wow, I so had to get out of being grounded. I really did. I managed my most respectful smile. "Theo gave me a ride to their house tonight, and then back." I took a deep breath. "I decided to study with Blue."
Theo didn't flinch. Simply smiled innocently at my mom, like he had nothing to hide. He'd obviously lied to parents before. Me, on the other hand? I felt like I was going to pass out from terror and guilt.
"Studying? With Blue?" My mom looked doubtful, and a touch relieved.
"Yes." I tried to look sullen. "I was mad at you for not letting me date George tonight..."
Theo coughed and shifted beside me, which made me laugh. I was pretty sure Theo had been a little bit bugged by the fact I had a date, and I liked that.
But first, I had to deal with my mom. "So I left and went over to her house." I sighed and looked very apologetic. "I shouldn't have done it, but I was too upset to study. I figured that Blue would help me calm down enough to get some work done."
My mom's face relaxed a little more.
"But," I said, knowing that she'd believe me only if I was still mad. "I think you're being unfair to treat me like I'm a child who can't handle a date. His mom would have been there, and he's a straight A student. We met in the library and he's helped me so much with my work. I think he's even more studious than I am, and it bothers me that you don't trust me enough to choose well. He's the perfect boy for me to date."
Theo made a strangled sound, and I stepped on his toe. "I always make the right choices," I continued, "and you still don't trust me. That got me so upset tonight that I couldn't deal." I looked her in the eyes, a little amazed at how easily the words were coming. I think it was because they were all true. I was upset they didn't trust me, and George was the perfect boy for me to date. These weren't lies, and they felt much better to say. "So, I'm sorry I left. I should have just talked to you."
Well, that was a lie. I wasn't sorry I'd left, not at all. I would have done it a thousand times over to get that kiss from Theo.
My mom gave me a steely look, but I could tell she wasn't as mad anymore. "We will discuss this tomorrow." She looked at Theo. "Thanks for getting her home safely, Theo. I'm sorry she was a burden."
"No burden." He shot a glance at me, and I hoped my mom couldn't see the message in them. "No burden at all."
I wondered if my cheeks looked as red as they felt. "I'll see you later."
He nodded. "Nice to see you again, Mrs. Spinelli."
"You too. Drive safely."
Theo jerked his chin at me, then ran down the steps. I didn't even have a chance to watch him leave, as my mom leveled me with a glare. "You. Inside. Now."
"Right." I didn't care if I was grounded until I was fifty. It had been so worth it.
For the future of The Homework Club.
And yes, Theo, the kiss rocked.
Chapter Nine
Two days later, I was sitting at the Waller dining room table across from Theo, and I couldn't stop looking at his lips. His parents were in the kitchen making dinner, and Blue was in the living room watching television with Allie.
Theo and I were discussing The Homework Club, but I couldn't stop thinking about Friday night.
Only forty-eight hours ago, I'd been in Theo's arms. And now I was sitting across from him in the dining room, pretending as though nothing had happened.
I hadn't told my friends. How could I explain what I didn't even understand? Did I like him or not? One minute I did, and then I didn't.
Plus they'd freak. They weren't exactly fans of the Theo/Frances coupling.
"So, music is okay?" Theo said.
I nodded. "As long as it's low. And only in one room, so people who don't want music can leave." I wouldn't be able to study with music, but Theo had insisted some people could.
"You're not doing that stupid room assignment thing again, are you?"
I scowled at him. "Don't call me stupid." See? Theo the jerk again.
"Trust me, I'd never call you stupid. I just think the room assignment thing is." He eyed me. "So? No room assignments?"
"Why do all the girls like you?"
He grinned. "Does it bother you?"
"No." Not much, at least. "I just don't understand it. Calling a girl's ideas stupid is hardly the way to her heart."
"I'm not hoping for their hearts."
Ugh. Nothing like an arrow to the gut on that one. "So, it's all about hooking up, then, is it?" See? I was so glad I hadn't let him grab my butt.
He shook his head. "It's about fun."
"Yeah, whatever." I scowled at my notes. "Food in the kitchen only?"
"Nope. Food anywhere. People like to eat."
I supposed food couldn't hurt.
"And games," he said.
"What, like spin the bottle?"
He lifted his brow. "My friends don't need spin the bottle as a reason to kiss a girl."
Yeah, I guess I knew that. So I had kissing on the brain. Who could blame me?
"I was thinking of study games. Like Jeopardy or something. People pick questions out of the book and quiz the other team. Winner gets a prize," he read from his notes.
Sounded pretty interesting, actually. I scooted my chair closer to him. "What kind of prize?"
He shrugged. "I don't know."
"How about the satisfaction of learning new things?" He gave me a look and I wanted to kick him under the table. "Fine. We'll think of a prize," I muttered.
Just then, Blue's mom walked into the dining room with the phone. "Frances. Phone."
"Again?" Theo asked.
I rolled my eyes and picked up the phone. "Yeah?"
"Just checking," my mom said.
"I'm still here."
"Good. Blue's mom said you were studying with Theo."
The Homework Club! What if Blue's mom had mentioned we were working on The Homework Club? I was so sunk.
Ah, the life of a liar. It was horrible! "Yeah, he's helping me with my math."
"Good. I'll call back later."
I hung up the phone and stared glumly at it. After the episode on Friday night, my mom had banned me from going anywhere except school and my friends' houses. I could tell she wasn't really sure I'd been at Blue's house Friday night, but fortunately Blue's parents had been out so they hadn't been able to confirm or deny my story. The solution? I had to tell her where I was going, and she would call at random intervals to make sure I was actually there and working.
Which wasn't so bad, given what the repercussions for Friday night could have been. Especially since The Homework Club was at Allie's, so I could still go there.
But it was bad and weird to be living a lie to my parents. This wasn't me! It was their fault though. They'd driven me to this by being unreasonable, right? I mean, I was responsible and I deserved a little slack.
"Everything cool at your place?" Theo asked.
"Yeah." I sort of glanced at him. "Thanks for bailing me out Friday night. It helped that you talked to my mom."
He shrugged. "So, when's our real date?"
OMG. He hadn't forgotten. I felt my cheeks heat up and I stared at my notebook. "I'm semi-grounded."
"So? Didn't stop you last time."
I looked up. "Hey! I'm not a total deviant! There are limits. You want a date with me? Well, it'll be on my terms."
He grinned, getting that amused look in his eyes that made him look all soft. Like he liked me. I mean, liked me. Too bad he only seemed to get that look when I yelled at him about something. "Anything you want," he said.
"A study date."
He blinked. "You're still on that kick? Are you kidding?"
"Nope. Study date. That's what I do for fun."
"How about a movie?"
"Fine. George Moon wanted to study with me. I'll study with him."
He rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll study with you."
Oh… I hadn't expected him to actually agree to that. Big, bad Theo taking a girl on a study date? I had to duck my head to hide my smile. He was going to make me crazy, wasn't he? How could I keep playing hard to get if he kept being nice whenever I did?
"So, when's the date?" he asked.
"The Homework Club is tomorrow night," I said as I pulled out my notebook and began jotting notes from our discussion.
"Yeah."
"Why don't we do it Tuesday? That way if you blow it at The Homework Club and I hate you, I can make up an excuse and cancel on you." Actually, it wasn't like I was playing hard to get. I was hard to get. I didn't want to want him. I didn't want to like him. And I was going to say it the way I saw it.
"Tuesday it is." He lifted a brow. "Where?"
"Where to study?"
"Uh huh." He had this sort of suggestive look on his face.
"My house."
He blinked. "Your house? But there's no privacy."
"It's a study date, Theo. Not a chance to hook up." Just saying those words made my stomach quiver as I remembered what it felt like to have him kiss me, to have his hands on my hips. What had he done to me? Turned me into a lust-crazed, lying, deceptive criminal?
It was sort of fun.
"Frances."
I turned around to find Blue and Allie standing in the door, looking stern. "What?"
"How could you have gone out with George on Friday, and not told us? We thought you were grounded and weren't going to go?"
I didn't dare look at Theo. "What?"
"My mom said your mom called and said you'd left the house with some guy and that you said it was Theo and he'd driven you over here. I covered for you, but we're all totally offended you didn't tell us. How could you do that?"
"Did you kiss him?" Allie asked.
"Who?" Theo? She knew?
"George, of course. Did you kiss him?"
Theo coughed and I felt panic surging over me. "I didn't kiss George."
I had to tell them. I couldn't handle the lies anymore. It was killing me, and turning me into a worse person by the day.
But then I thought of their reaction. They'd probably lock me upstairs and tell Theo all sorts of horrible things about me to keep me from spending time with him. Well, forget it. I was going to do whatever I wanted, and they weren't going to stop me. So I smiled. "Yes, I had a date with George. It was fun."
"We want details."
Just then, before I could come up with an excuse to hide rather than expand my list of lies to my friends by making up an entire date, Blue's dad came into the dining room and ordered us to start setting the table.
Saved by parents.
I was so bailing right after dinner.
* * *
Five after seven on Monday night. Yet again, no one was on time for The Homework Club.
But this time, as I sat on the couch in the family room waiting, I wasn't worrying. Theo would be there with his friends. I knew he would be. It was after he arrived that worried me. What would happen? What if he reverted to the old Theo in front of his friends?
Then he was over. He was done. There would be no study date tomorrow night, no matter how good of a kisser he was.
The doorbell rang, and I didn't move. Let someone else answer the door. I wasn't going to act like I'd been waiting for him.
Allie shot me a curious look, then got off the couch and answered the door.
It was George.
"George," Allie said loudly. "So good of you to come."
I sat up. I'd forgotten about George. He smiled at me, then sat down next to me on the couch.
"So, what movie did you guys see on Friday?" Allie asked.
"We didn't go out," George said before I could fake a choking attack. "Her parents wouldn't let her."
I felt Allie's eyes on me, but I didn't look at her. At least Blue and Natalie weren't there tonight. Blue had some event with Colin, and Natalie was sick. Allie was the only one I'd have to deal with for now.
"So, um, you ready to study?" I said, tapping George on the shoulder. No need for him to expose any more of my lies.
"Sure." George turned to me. "Since you can't go out, why don't I come to your house and study? Like tomorrow night or something?"
I felt a presence in the room, and I looked up. Theo was standing in the doorway, and he was glaring at George. And I mean glaring. Suddenly I realized why Theo was so good on the football field. Standing that doorway with that mutinous expression on his face, I was pretty convinced that he'd be able to take down anyone who got in his way.
"So," George continued, oblivious to the hostility Theo was shooting his way, "I could get dropped off at about seven or something. Would that work? We could study until nine?"
I couldn't take my gaze off Theo's face, and he turned to stare at me.
"Frances?" George touched my arm. "So? Is it a date?"
"Yes," Allie said. "Is it a date?"
Theo just stood there. Watching me.
That would be the ultimate slam, to accept George's invite in front of Theo. It'd probably ensure Theo's attentions for at least a week. Especially since Theo and I already had a study date for tomorrow night.
"Frances?"
I looked at George, with his honest face, and knew he'd never ask me to sneak out of my house or get me in trouble with my parents. He'd never grab my butt or anything. He was the right kind of boy for me. If I had any kind of a brain in my head, I'd accept that invitation right then and let Theo know where I stood. "George..."
"Yeah?"
I stole another glance at Theo, and I saw a tendon flex in his neck as he stood there, and my heart softened. The little twitch told me that he was worried, that he wasn't as sure of himself as he pretended to me. It reminded me that underneath all the toughness, was the Theo that I knew so well, even if no one else could see it. "Sorry, George. I can't. Not tomorrow."
Theo said nothing. Just turned and walked out of the room.
What? Wasn't he supposed to give some special smile because I'd picked him over George? Or a nod or a wink or something?
Typical Theo.
I sighed. Maybe I'd made the wrong choice after all. Maybe I should have stuck with George. I didn't even know anymore. I just knew I was tired of playing the games with Theo. I wanted to simply be myself, and not have to try to outsmart him anymore. So, instead of following Theo out of the room for another confrontation, I simply opened my text book. "Let's study, George."
A few kids walked into the room and sat down and pulled out history books. They spread out a three-foot-long sub and ate, quizzing each other between bites.
There was faint music coming out of the living room, and I heard a bunch of laughter coming from the kitchen. "Can you excuse me a sec, George?"
He nodded, looking a little deflated. Nice, Frances. Way to hurt his feelings.
I smiled. "Maybe we'll get together later in the week."
He grinned and nodded, looking much more cheerful. "Okay."
"Okay." I left him on the couch and wandered into the kitchen. A lot of kids were in there playing that Jeopardy-like game T
heo had explained to me, and each time someone got an answer wrong, they had to do something silly that the other team told them to do. Cracking an egg over your own head was the one I got to see.
I almost said something when I saw the food come out of the fridge, but I stopped myself. They were studying, right? Let it go, Frances.
Impressed with my restraint, I walked through the kitchen to the living room. Music was on, Nerf hoop was up, a couple kids were dancing. But the kids shooting hoops were quizzing each other, and only when they got an answer right could they shoot a basket.
And there was a huge debate going on by the coffee table about something that sounded rather juicy, but it was current events, so that was good too.
Then I looked at the dance floor. A couple kids were dancing, and didn't look much like they were studying. Unless it was sex ed.
Theo was leaning against the wall on the other side of the dance floor, his arms crossed over his chest, looking like he was in a rather foul mood. I could tell the moment he saw me. His eyebrows sort of lifted, and he jerked his chin at the room, no doubt pointing out that people were being fairly studious.
I nodded.
Then he levered himself off the wall and started walking toward me.
My heart started going faster, and my stomach got into knots.
Until some girl got off the couch and wrapped her arms around his waist, cooing about dancing with him. Theo grinned at her, and just when I was ready to walk over there and knock her out with a dictionary, he peeled her arms off and set her back on the couch.
And then kept walking toward me.
Okay, so now I was glad I'd turned down George.
He came to a stop in front of me, so close I could almost feel the heat from his body. "So."
I looked up at him. "Seems to be going well."
"Not too fun?"
"More fun than I would need to have, but it seems to be working."
He grinned.
And I smiled back.
"Come here." He took my wrist and led me back toward the kitchen, stopping in the small hallway between the rooms. From where we were, no one in either room could see us. It was as if we were alone.
He put his hands on my shoulders and pushed me so my back was against the wall, in the corner. He was going to kiss me? Again? With all these people around?
Studying Boys Page 10
