< --  eleven  -- >

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Ending the call with my mom I made my way down the bleachers and over to Neema now that her teacher stood on the ladder speaking to the class about practice on Monday after school. Hearing the whistle twice they dropped their statue stance walking off the field.

Passing by me some waved, some nodded, some even walked by as if I wasn't standing there. Tugging on my left lip ring I moved through the small crowds over to Neema, the guy that watched her ass and Mr. Noel.

"Have you decided on who would be the junior drum major for next year?" Mr. Noel asked them.

"We haven't no." Neema answered.

The guy turned to her, "I was hoping to discuss it after practice."

"I need an answer Monday morning and I have your recommendation letter in my office Carson. See you two Monday." He said walking away rolling the ladder with him. Nodding to me with a thin lipped smile as he passed I walked up behind Carson as he tried to ask my fake girlfriend out.

"I thought it would be nice to talk about it over ice-cream. I can pick you up at six. Have you home by eight."

Walking around him I wrapped my right arm around Neema's shoulders kissing her temple. "We're going to get ice-cream?" I turned to Carson. "What time?"

The poor guy looked at me confused then back to Neema. "Carson, this is my boyfriend Lars. Lars, this is Carson. He's the senior drum major."

Senior. So he would be graduating next Saturday and no longer a problem.

Eye level with me, the blue eyed blonde haired senior didn't seem to take a liking to my title. "Boyfriend?"

"Boyfriend." I repeated. "Got a problem with that?"

"Lars and I actually have plans tonight," Neema cut in wrapping her arms around my waist, "but I can call you around six. Cool?"

"Sounds great to me." I spoke for Carson. "See you around."

Walking away I told Neema that the band sounds great and that her conducting was just as amazing. I then tried to do some conducting on my own just to make her laugh. Heading for her car she offered me a ride in which I gladly accepted.

"Where am I going?" She asked tossing her uniform jacket in the backseat.

"Lincoln Heights. Do you know where that's at?"

"I think so. Over by the golf course, right?"

"Yeah."

Reversing the car she turned on the radio low enough for us to hear and still have a conversation. Humming softly to the music she drummed her fingers against the steering wheel while I found myself staring at the silver necklace with a half heart charm hanging from her rearview mirror that looked oddly familiar.

"Hey, do you want a smoothie? Lars?"

"Hm?"

She quickly looked from the road to me, "I asked if you wanted a smoothie?"

"Smoothie sounds good."

Turning into Blender's she slowed down behind three cars. "I'll pay by the way. My treat for playing the boyfriend role so well these past few days."

The thought of telling Neema that I wasn't acting as much as she thought came to mind but I pushed it aside letting her think what she wanted. I still thought she was fascinating and someone I would date if things were different but I was sure that I wasn't the type of guy she would want to be with.

"Cute charm." I reached up flicking it with my finger to make it swing.

"Thanks, I got it from an old best friend when we were kids."

"The other half is a cookie, I'm guessing?" Looking at her when I got no response she stared at me mouth slightly open. Left arm resting in the window with her hand in her hair while the other stayed on her leg she just watched me. "What's wrong?"

"How'd you know?"

"Just a guess," I shrugged, "but everyone knows milk and cookies go together."

"Right." She nodded moving the car forward.

"So what's up with this Carson guy? He's not your type or something?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you not like him or don't want to date seniors anymore?"

"I . . . never saw Carson as anything more than a friend." Mouthing an oh, I dropped the subject. "Can I ask you something?"

My thoughts immediately went to Cas' death, "Depends."

"It's not personal or anything. At least I don't think it is."

"How about you ask and I'll decide if I want to answer or not?"

Her amber eyes dropped to my piercings then to the car in front of us pulling forward bringing us closer to the machine so we could give our order. "What um, what would you like?" She looked over her shoulder back at me.

I had never been here before so I let her decide for her us. Ordering two strawberry cheesecake smoothies she pulled up enough to let the car behind us order. Licking her lips she adjusted the hand in her hair, "I was just wondering if you ever got hot in the hoodie like . . . are you hot now because you can take it off. It's just us."

"Trying to undress me already Ms. Marshall?"

"No!" She all but yelled as I laughed. "No, I just . . . don't want you to overheat. I mean it is summertime. Oh my gosh Lars. Stop laughing at me." She pulled up further making us next in line.

"I don't believe you're taking up your end of the deal Ms. Marshall." I changed the subject.

"What are you talking about?" Reaching behind us I tossed her school jacket out of the way picking up the best fashion accessory I've ever won flipping the small switch to make them light up. "Lars no." She covered her mouth stifling a snort that made me laugh. "No. No way."

"A deal's a deal and I remember you shaking on it. I even have recorded evidence that you agreed to wear these until Sunday."

"You can't be serious."

"Oh, I'm very serious."

"How about a compromise?" Tugging at my piercings I watched the necklace wing back and forth a few times before asking her to explain. "I will put on the glasses and suck up the embarrassment if you'll . . . take off your hoodie for the rest of the ride."

Keeping my head forward I thought about what would happen if I took my hoodie off. Why did she want me to take it off anyway? What difference would it make if I had it on or off? I've become accustomed to being hot and getting detention because I wouldn't take it off.

"You don't . . . You don't have to. I just want you to feel comfortable around me like a boyfriend would."

Relationship card. Draw four

"Slapping the relationship card down." I chuckled. Waiting a few more seconds for some kind of reason to not take my hoodie off only coming up with I just didn't want to. I gave in.

Removing my seat belt I sat up shrugging out of my uniform jacket tossing it in the back with Neema's before pulling my hoodie over my head throwing it on the floor in between my legs. Looking down at my arm I moved my fingers flinching at the hated sound. With my prosthetic arm I picked up the blinking oversized sunglasses handing them over to Neema.

Slipping them from my metal finger tips with a smile she leaned over quickly placing a soft kiss on my cheek surprising me. Too bad I wasn't able to catch her lips before she pulled away.

Sliding the glasses on her face she pulled up to the window making the woman smile when she opened the sliding door. "I love your glasses!" The older woman laughed. "My son had a pair just like that and would use them as a nightlight before the battery went out."

"And how long did it take for the battery to run out?"

"Don't answer that." I leaned over handing the woman a ten dollar bill. "She has all weekend to wear them."

Not realizing that I had stretched my prosthetic out to give the money, the woman stared at my arm with widened eyes. Damn it.

"Your prosthetic is amazing! I'm sorry but . . . would you mind if I took a picture. My oldest boy, he hasn't received his prosthetic yet and while he's waiting he's been trying to build his own. He's still in the drawing process but it's really coming along and I think he would love to use yours as inspiration, if you don't mind."

I didn't know what to say. 

I never had anyone compliment my prosthetic before. Only to stare.

"I'm sorry." The woman took the money turning to the cash register to put it away. "That was rude and I'm sorry if -"

"No it's . . . okay." Sitting back I looked over to Neema enjoying the smile on her face. She seemed surprised by my response and to be honest, so was I.

"Really? That's so nice of you, thank you. Here's your change." She leaned over handing Neema the dollar and change. Taking out her cell I stretched my prosthetic out for her to take several pictures. Saying thank you I replied with a no problem, before pulling forward.

"That was very sweet of you."

"Sweet enough for a kiss?" I quickly asked making her jaw drop. I wanted to laugh but held my composure just in case she said yes.

"I-I uh . . . I mean we've only known each other for two days and -"

"I think we've known each other much longer than that and you're the only one that knows the truth. So when was it? Middle school? Over the summer? Elementary? Day care? Were we in the baby beds next to each other at the hospital?

"Smoothies!" She pulled up to the last window as a different lady smiled. "Hi!"

"Two medium strawberry cheesecake smoothies?"

"Yes."

Handing them over Neema handed me the first one, grabbing hers, then the straws with an added thank you. Ripping the paper off her straw she stabbed the smoothie filling her mouth with the pink drink clearly avoiding my questions.

Taking a drink myself I looked a the light colored smoothie with sprinkled graham crumbles on top. "Good, right?" She asked pulling back into traffic. Not replying verbally I nodded my head holding the drink with my prosthetic so my normal hand wouldn't get cold.

Throughout the drive to my house I remained silent drinking my smoothie. Music continued to play softly keeping the small space from being an uncomfortable silence but my thoughts were everything but quiet.

I wanted Neema to just answer me. Why was she holding on to the truth for so long? Knowing our past won't change how I feel now. She would still be someone that I met in detention because everything from before was lost.

Lifting my drink to our protective guard sitting in his car I gave Neema the rest of the directions to my house. Pulling next to my driveway she put the car in park setting her smoothie in the cupholder pulling off the oversized sunglasses, "Lars -"

"Thanks for the smoothies and the . . ." I twisted my prosthetic wrist careful not to spill the drink, "confident boost. Make sure to keep your end of the deal and I'll see you -"

"Lars don't do that."

"Listen Neema, I got to go."

"Wait!" She touched my shoulder as I began stepping out. "Can we . . . hang out tomorrow? I'll let you grill me with questions and I'll explain everything." With one foot out of the door I leaned back into the red leather seat. "I can come get you or we can meet up at the park on Central."

Feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket I took it out seeing a text from my mom telling me that dad would be home in fifteen minutes and I needed to get home before him. "Tomorrow at three I'll meet you at the park."

"Okay. Thanks for staying after and for the smoothies. Oh wait, I forgot." She opened the armrest compartment zipping open her wallet. "How much do I owe you for the smoothie?"

"You don't owe me anything."

"No, it's fine. I have money to pay you back. I think it was four dollars and some change. Hold on, I think I have some singles."

"I don't want your money Neema I said it was fine."

"Here," she pulled out a five dollar bill, "just take it and we'll call it even."

"No thanks. Goodnight."

"Lars." Getting out of the car I called out goodnight over my shoulder. "You're forgetting your money!"

"I'm not!" I replied walking to the house. "See you tomorrow."

Reaching for the door knob I realized my things were still in her car including the house keys. Turning around Neema walked up the driveway with my backpack over her shoulder and my jacket and hoodie over her arm.

"Thought you might need your things." Giving my thanks I took my stuff from her digging around my bag for the keys. "You might want to invest in a lanyard. Then you can clip it to your zipper or keep it around your neck. I can make you one if you'd like."

"You made the one on your keys, right? The pineapple thing?" I pulled out the single key. "Here it is."

"You don't even have a key ring?"

"My dad made me hand everything over but the house key."

"Damn. Hey, but I can get you one of those too. I'll send you some pics of what I've already made and you can decide."

"Why don't you just surprise me?"

A smile spread over her face at the idea, "Sure!"

"Cool, so I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay." She turned to leave but I grabbed her arm needing to ask her one more thing.

"As your boyfriend, I'm supposed to kiss you goodbye, right?"

"Oh," her eyes fell to my lips, "I um . . . w-we're not in school."

Stepping closer I loosened my grip on her arm sliding it up to cup her jaw. "Are you saying you don't want to kiss me Ms. Marshall?"

"I didn't say that." Feeling her hand on my right arm I only guessed that she was also holding on to left arm as well. Watching her eyes move from my snake bites, up my nose, to my eyes, I took that as my chance to kiss her.

Tilting my head slightly Neema did the same closing her eyes. The gentle brush of her hand moving up my arms I close my own eyes hoping I didn't miss her mouth in the process when the front door swung open.

"Mom! Lars is outside kissing!"

Neema jumped back embarrassment all over her face. "Oh my gosh."

Rolling my eyes I stepped towards Eloise moving her back as she tried to look around me at who I almost had a successful kiss with. Waving goodbye she whispered that she was going to tell mom as I closed the door. Turning back to pick up where we left off Neema was already halfway down the driveway.

What the hell?

"Tell your sister I'm sorry about the PDA! See you tomorrow!"

Standing there wishing that my parents never adopted that little demon they named Eloise, I exhaled through my nose highly pissed. Seeing my dad coming down the street I walked in the house calling out for my darling little sister.

"Eloise, where are you? Ellie!"

"Lars, what's wrong?" My mom walked in the hall still in scrubs. Removing her reading class from her nose letting them hang around her neck she look concerned.

"Have you seen our sweet little ball of sunshine anywhere?"

Seeing the corner of my mother's lip twitch she moved one of our family portrait that seemed to be crooked need her full attention. "She's somewhere around here. Does this have anything to do with the girl that dropped you off? She's very pretty."

"Where you watching us?"

"No!" Her eyes widened. "No, but the dust that was coating the blinds were making it thick in here sweetheart, I couldn't breathe."

Shaking my head I jogged upstairs walking my Eloise's room in slow motion just in case she wanted to shift under her pile of stuffed animals. Tossing my jackets and bag on the bed I kicked off my shoes tossing my socks in the hamper. Needing to wash my school clothes for next week I tossed the dollar and change form the smoothies on my dresser taking off my pants. Grabbing my uniform jacket checking the pockets for any litter that I might needed, I pulled out what I thought was a note but instead was a five dollar bill I know didn't belong.

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