Chapter 8

Everything I had convinced myself of all night had now been proven wrong. He wasn't giving me a ride because of Cara. He was giving me a ride because he wanted to. Why? Maybe he felt sorry for me having to ride with my mum. But why would he even care about that? He didn't even know me.

All of this was swirling through my head as I slowly walked to his car. He had already opened his door and climbed out.
"Good morning Georgia. Mrs Harris."
I didn't even notice mum follow me out.
"Good morning Dean." She said eyeing off his car. "I do hope you will drive carefully with my daughter."
"Absolutely Mrs. Harris. I promise she will be fine."
"Thank you Dean. Come on Josh." she called into the house.

Josh flew out the door and almost collided with me when he saw the Mustang.
"Woah! Sweet car!" he grinned at Dean, then threw me an envious look. I wanted to poke my tongue out at him but I just smiled.
"Come on Josh, or we will be late." Mum finally coaxed him into the van.

"I think maybe your brother is a little jealous?" Dean chuckled.
"Yeah." Man I really need to start forming actual sentences soon or he is going to think I am verbally challenged.
"So we had better go, or we will be late aswell." he opened up the passenger door and I slid into the seat as gracefully as I could. He closed the door and it gave me about 5 seconds to take in the interior of his car.
It was immaculate. Like not a speck of dust. It smelt of leather and aftershave. I moved slightly in my seat and the leather creaked beneath me.

The driver door opened and Dean slid into his seat and closed his door.
"You ready?" he smiled at me and started the engine. It was almost silent. Not what I expected from such a powerful looking car. I was no expert on cars but having a brother you do tend to pick up things here and there. We drove for a time in silence, me looking out the window, having no idea what to say.

"Do you like football?" he finally asked. It was such a random question that it took me a minute to answer.
"Um not really, why?" I was puzzled.
"Well there is a home game on Friday and a bunch of us are going and I thought maybe you might like to come."
"I would have to ask my folks but yeah sure."
"Great! And even if you don't really like football its more just to hang out anyway. Most of the time we don't really even pay attention to the game." he flashed that smile at me again then looked back at the road.

As we pulled into the parking lot I noticed that there were still quite a few people standing around talking so we weren't late or anything. I glanced at my watch and we still had 10 minutes before the bell. I opened my door and got out at the same time as Dean and swung it shut. As I looked up I noticed a few people were watching us. I felt my cheeks burning and looked around to avoid them. I found a familar face walking towards me from another expensive looking car. Red this time. But I couldn't see the tags.

"I am so glad my brother didn't kill you. He does tend to drive a little fast. If it scares you too much I could always give you a ride home."
"Cara, I will have you know I kept under the speed limit the whole way here. Didn't I Georgia?"
"Uh I guess so." I actually had no idea how fast he had been going.
"So anyway, we have English first and we had better not be late. Have they assigned you a locker yet?"
"I have to go to the office and pick up my key sometime today." I answered, aware that Dean was standing very close behind me now, listening to our conversation.
"I can go to the office with you now if you like, I have study hall anyway so its ok if I am late and they will give you a late slip." Dean offered.
"Ok thanks. Cara I'll see you in class then."

As he walked to the office he asked me about music I liked. I named a few of my favourite musicians and although he had heard of them, it was obvious his taste differed to mine. Again our conversation drifted into silence again. I realised he was making an effort to talk to me and I was closing up as usual. I racked my brain for something to say and was relieved that at that moment we got to the office and I wasn't on the spot.

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Walking to class I decided to at least attempt starting a conversation so I asked him about the upcoming football game. Funnily enough he wasn't really into the game itself, he just enjoyed being with his friends and hanging out at the games. I was so engrossed in listening to him that I kept walking after he had stopped in front of my class.
I laughed at myself and blushed as I opened the door.
"See you at lunch?" he asked before I went in.
"Sure. Thanks."

Cara spun in her seat and beamed at me as I sat down.
"So did you get your locker? Where is it?"
"Uh its number 369. I was going to find it after class."
"Oh man that bites. Mine is 867. I was hoping we would have lockers near each other." she pouted which actually made her look really young.
"Miss Samuels, are we interrupting you? I would hope that you are not teaching our new student bad habits?" Mr Newman boomed from the front of the room.
Cara spun around in her chair and apologised.
I was secretly grateful for his interuption. Cara was a bit overwhelming.

Everyone was concentrating on their work and I glanced around the room and I locked onto a familar pair of brown eyes. Right away I relaxed. I smiled at Liam without even thinking about it and he returned it instantly. He made a face at Mr Newmans turned head and I had to bite my lip not to laugh outloud. That made him smile even wider.

As we filed out of class Cara told me she would see me at lunch and headed off to Gym. Liam took her place beside me as we walked to Biology.
Talking to Liam was not hard at all. We were able to fall into a conversation about anything. I was also able to initiate conversations without even thinking about it. I never felt I needed to impress him. I noticed his folder had many band stickers that matched my tastes. He told me about upcoming concerts and new albums.

We even walked to the cafeteria together even though I knew I would be sitting at a different table. I actually wished he would sit with us at lunch so I could keep talking to him but I knew that was not a possibilty. That made me a little sad. I was actually thinking of asking to sit with him when I heard Josh calling my name from behind us.

"Georgia, wait up!"
"I guess I'll talk to you later." Liam walked off.
"What's the emergency?" I asked Josh.
"I want to know what the deal is with you and that Dean guy?" I knew it. I knew his ridiculous protective big brother crap would kick in soon enough.
"It's none of your business." I could feel my face burning and I knew people were watching us. I grabbed his arm and although he was like a boulder I managed to get him to walk up the hall with me away from the crowd flocking into the cafeteria.
"Georgie, don't get mad at me ok. It's just I have heard not so nice things about him and you are my sister. I am just trying to look out for you."
"What the hell! We have been here not even 2 days and you are already checking on my friends!"
"Actually I didn't really care that much until Britney told me about him. She used to date him. They were together for almost 3 years."

Chapter 7

I didn't even realise the bell had rang until everyone at the table had started getting up and walking off.
I shook myself out of my Dean coma and got my bag and checked my schedule.

"What class do you have now?" Cara asked looking at her own paper.
"Algebra."
"Eww I have gym. Do you know where to go?"
"I have Algebra too Georgia I can show you."
I hadn't even noticed Liam walk up.
"Thanks. See you later Cara."
She waved and walked off towards the doors.

As we headed to class I thought I would see how well Liam knew Cara and of course Dean.
"Do you know her at all?" I asked Liam.
"We have been in school together since Kindergarten. But we don't hang out or anything. I am not part of the "in" crowd."
"They are the "in" crowd?" I was puzzled. Back home the in crowd were the rich, blonde, tanned goddesses who basically snobbed anyone who's parents didn't drive a BMW.
"Yep. Well there are a few "in" crowds here and I am not part of any of them. Geeks don't tend to be popular." He winked at me.
"Your not a geek!" I paused.
"Oh Georgia, so much to learn." he laughed and held the door open for me as I walked into Algebra.

I was so thankful I had Liam next to me through the class as I hated any form of Math and as it was the first day there was no real work, only the teacher talking about stuff I can't even remember. Liam chatted to me about all kinds of things and I pretty much forgot all about how uncomfortable I was. For some reason I felt very calm around him.

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Josh was supposed to meet me out the front of the school and we would walk down to the corner and wait for mum. But he caught me in the hall outside class and told me Britney was giving him a ride home. I told him that was fine and laughed as he ran down the hall to where Britney was waiting for him.
"He sure didn't waste any time." I heard from behind me. My breathe caught in my throat as I recognised the coma inducing voice.
I turned slowly to give myself time to breath. There he was, smiling at me. His blue eyes sparkling. Oh god I was starting to sound like the bad romance novels my grandmother reads.
"Hi." Was about all I could manage.
"Hi yourself. So he ditched you on your first day? Well how about I walk you to meet your mother?"
Breath god dammit. Breath. What the hell was wrong with me. I was not one of those girls who goes all weak at the knees at boys. Or maybe I was. Maybe I just hadn't come across the right boy yet.
"Umkaysure." Jesus. I can't even speak English now.

As we walked towards the exit he asked me how my first day went and how I was liking the school. I managed only 1 word answers for the most part. I was concentrating on breathing more than anything. We cut through the car park and I saw Liam leaning against an old Camaro watching us. I smiled at him and waved and he waved back but he didn't return my smile, weird. He got in his car then but didn't drive off.
"You've made friends with the geeksquad I see." Dean said looking at Liams car.
I was a little taken back by that. But then again Liam had called himself a geek, so maybe Dean wasn't being nasty.
"Yeah he is in most of my classes so he has helped me alot."
"Lucky you or should I say lucky him." he smiled that smile again.

I was so glad we had reached the corner and mum was in the van waiting for me because I wsn't sure I could have said anything after that.
"Hey we are neighbours aren't we?" he asked walking towards the drivers side of the van.
Mum smiled at him and wound the window down as he approached.
"Hello Mrs Harris, My name is Dean Samuals. We are your neighbours." He offered his hand and mum shook it with a huge smile on her face.
"Lovely to meet you Dean. I met your mother recently and I have heard about you and your sister, Cara is it?"
"That is right Mrs Harris. Well I was thinking, to save yourself the trouble I don't mind at all giving Georgia here a ride to and from school. If that's ok with you Georgia."

I blinked and just nodded my head. Mum beamed at me and him and it was settled.
"Great. I will see you in the morning Georgia. About 7:30? Nice to meet you Mrs Harris."
And he was gone. I got into the van and sat there watching him walk back to the school.
I couldn't look at mum. I could feel her eyes boring into me and that smile on her face would have blinded me.
"Well Georgia he was..."
I didn't let her finish, I buried my face in my hands and laughed and laughed and laughed. I was in hysterics. I probably did that for about 5 minutes. I finally stopped and mum asked me where Josh was and that set me off again.

I knew she would want to ask me a million questions I didn't have any answer for. I had no idea why he had offered to drive me to school. I had no idea why he had any interest in me at all. He was unbelievably gorgeous. It was undeniable. Maybe he was just being nice to his sisters new friend. Oh man I bet that was it. I bet Cara told him to ask me so we would ride to school together. That helped me calm down alot. He was just being a nice brother. I got that.

It didn't stop me from making sure I looked the best I could the next morning though. I made sure my hair was nice and straight and that I my clothes were matching. I was ready by 7 and paced up and down the living room, probably driving dad mad as he ate breakfast. He didn't seem at all concerned with a boy picking me up. I assume its because he knew where he lived.

I finally heard a car in the drive and I had to stop myself from flying out the door. I grabbed my bag and took a deep breath and slowly opened the door. There in my driveway was a new black Ford Mustang. And the only person in it was Dean.