#Chapter3
Flirting at the library
Mack
I went to the library to find a book and thought about Paige at the diner the other night. She was a lot different from what I expected. A smile curled upon my lips.
/"Do you always look goofy when looking for a book?/" A voice asked me.
/"Only when something makes me look goofy./" I turned and looked at her.
She smiled at me.
/"I see your bodyguard is nowhere around./"
/"I had to sneak out of my place before he came by./" She sighed.
/"That bad?/"
/"We went out twice, and I found him annoying./"
/"Oh?/"
/"Yeah, there is this guy that I sort of have a crush on. He likes to keep it real and doesn’t date. I’m hoping I’ll change his mind./"
/"Why, Miss Moore, are you flirting with me?/"
/"Who, me? I wouldn’t dream of it./"
I chuckled softly.
/"I’ve got to go. You have an amazing smile./" Paige winked and walked away.
So do you, Paige. So do you. I continued my search for the book until I found it. I checked it out and made my way back to my apartment, with a skip in my step, until Aaron stopped me.
/"I’m warning you, Bennett. Stay away from Paige. She’s mine,/" Aaron told me.
/"For her to be yours, she has to want to be yours. You can’t control everyone, Slade./"
/"Want to bet?/"
/"Oh, please, this whole macho man crap is for the birds, and you know it./" I rolled my eyes.
This dipshit was grating on my last nerve.
Then he took a swing at me. I ducked because I’m not stupid. Then I hauled off and hit him, laying him out in one punch. I leaned over him, as did someone else.
/"That didn’t last long,/" Bob said.
/"It never does./" I shrugged and stood up straight.
/"What’s his deal?/"
/"Oh, you know, lays claim to someone that doesn’t want to be claimed./"
/"Sucks to be him. Anyway, everyone is meeting up tonight at the pub. You in?/"
/"Bob, I don’t drink./"
/"Who says anything about drinking? Plus, Paige is going./" He gave me a cheesy grin.
/"Why does this feel like a setup?/" I arched my eyebrow.
/"I don’t know what you mean./"
Liar. Bob must think I was born yesterday. God help us if he ever has kids. They’ll turn out to be bigger dinks than he is.
/"Uh, huh./"
/"Mack, would this face lie to you?/" Bob pointed at his face.
/"No, but your outfit would./"
/"I like the way I dress./"
/"At least you do, and that’s all that matters./" I smirked.
He rolled his eyes at me. That’s nothing new there.
/"Okay, fine. I’ll come to the damn pub with you, jackasses./" I sighed.
Bob grinned.
/"Don’t do that. It’s creepy./"
Bob’s smile faded. I love Bob, but sometimes, I wonder about him.
I went home and lounged around for a bit. Whom was I kidding? I binged watched Dawson’s Creek. What the hell is wrong with Dawson? He had Joey and broke up with her. Then Pacey gets her. Now Dawson wants her back. The dude needs a clue.
I noticed the time. Shit. Time got away from me. I got up and checked myself in the mirror, then sniffed my pits. Phew. I grabbed a can of deodorant and sprayed the hell out of my pits. That was better.
What? I didn’t have time to take a shower. I was busy.
I grabbed my keys and made my way to the pub. I walked in, and everyone was already sitting at a table. Bob made a grand gesture signaling they were there. I’m sure I saw them. How the hell do you miss someone with a loud-ass shirt on?
I walked over to their table.
/"Damn, dude, do you have enough deodorant on?/" Miguel asked me.
/"I like to smell fresh,/" I told him.
/"They refer to that invention as a shower. It’s quite lovely,/" Paige said with a smile.
Hmm, she’s a smartass. She and I will get along fine.
I took a seat next to Paige as they ordered drinks except me. I ordered a coke. I don’t drink. It’s shocking. But to me, it was useless. Who wants to puke then wake up with a hangover?
/"Are you not drinking?/" She asked me.
/"Nope./" I shrugged.
/"Afraid you’ll get busted for being underage?/"
/"Afraid a dipshit will look attractive by drinking?/"
Paige laughed, which was a fantastic laugh. It wasn’t fake, but genuine.
/"Oh, you guys missed it. Mack laid Slade out by the commons./" Bob chuckled.
/"No, shit. It’s about time someone laid out Aaron’s stupid ass,/" Ian said.
/"So, what was he raving about this time?/" Miguel took a sip of his drink.
/"Oh, Paige is mine, and I need to stay away, blah, blah, blah. I told him Paige is her own person. She can make her own decisions. Then I knocked him out./" I sipped my coke.
A song came on, and the guys tried to get me to ask Paige to dance. I wanted to get them to shut their trap.
/"Mack, why don’t you ask the girl to dance?/" Martin asked me.
Paige turned her head and looked at me.
/"Oh, I’m not a graceful dancer,/" I said.
/"Who are you kidding?/" Chad asked.
I hauled off and kicked Chad under the table, causing him to groan. Then he shot me a dirty look.
/"I would like to dance./" She smiled, getting up. /"Come on!/" She dragged me out of my chair onto the dance floor, pulled me to her, and led. This might be a problem. I took the lead and control back.
As we danced, Paige looked at me. /"You’re quite the dancer. Did you know that?/"
/"Shh, I prefer not to give away all my secrets./"
She laughed. There it is again.
We danced and talked. Paige laughed at all the right parts and was serious at others. That’s what I liked the most about her. She was intelligent, funny, could carry a conversation, and beautiful.
As we danced, all I could think of was she would be mine. When that happened, I would never let her go.