I think I love you, Cassandra Smalls [romantic books to read .txt] 📗

Chapter 1: The stalke

    I take a drink from my water, as I sit with my friends for lunch. Partly listening to myfriend, Kayla, about how she loves her new boyfriend.  

 "And I love the way how he is so gentle with me, unlike Todd." Saying her exboyfriend'sname in disgust.    The other girls just nod showing that they understand. I just turn away, rolling myeyes. About two months ago she said she loved how rough Todd was and here she isagain bragging about another boy. Though Todd was an asswipe, it annoyed me howshe was always nagging about someone.  

 I lean my weight on the rale and stare at the butterfly-swarmed flowers. The invasionof butterflies somehow makes me feel peaceful for a short amount of time until the bellrings. I snap out of my daze, collect my things and head silently to my next class withLisa.  

 Lisa's a good friend of mine but we're so different. She has a perfect white pale skintone and blonde hair with bright blue eyes. Also a cute, girly, yet simple style. For example, today, she'swearing a summer floral pattern dress that fits her perfect, slim body while I wear black jeans, converses and a darkpurple v-neck shirt. I have an averge body and slightly tan skin that go with light brown hair and light dull blue eyes.    

I sit at my assigned table with Lisa and John. John is one of the few guys I trust,though he has green eyes. Green eyes, if you ever care to ubserve, are hard to trust. I think we have a good friendship. I mess with him and he messes with me back. He's a converse, jeans, and T-shirts kind-of-guy. He's simple andthat's what I like about him.    

As the time passes by fast through half of my last class from laughing loudly andmessing around, Lisa says quietly for only the table can hear, "Carisa, Derek's staring at you."    

I look back and sure enough, I see dark blue eyes looking at me intensely. I mouth 'what,'knowing he knows I see him.    'Nothing,' he mouths back frustrated or annoyed, and turns away.    

I turn back to my group. "That was weird."  

 Lisa laughs. " God, Car, you're so naïve when it comes to that."    

"Comes to what?"    

"He does that constantly."    

"Does what?"  

 "Stares at you. I just thought it was time to bring it to your attention. You were losteither laughing or drawing."    "Really? Probably 'cause I was laughing too loud."  

 "Idiot, he likes you."  

 "What?"    

"You're so idiotically naïve," she says, shaking her head. I look at her questionably, but she's goes back to writing notes. I pause to think for a moment then I go back todrawing to escape the cloud of confusion.    

After class, I hug Lisa and John then head to the bus. Once I find a place to sit andsettle for the ride, I can't help to notice that I feel like I'm being watched. I look back anddiagonally, a few seats away, I see Derek looking at me . I quickly look back out thewindow.    

I finally get off the bus and start walking to my house. While walking, I hear footstepsbehind me. I decide to ignore them. I walk a few more blocks and I still hear them. Ifinally look back and I see Derek again. He is about six feet away from me. I walk fasterfor a couple more blocks. He is still behind me but only ten feet away from me. I decideto do something about this.  

 I turn the next corner that I need to take and take my switchblade out of my bag. I waituntil he turns then I push him against the brick wall. I put my forearm on his chest andthe knife against his neck.    

"Look,dude, I'm not fond of stalkers, so stop following me, okay?" He was about fiveinches taller than me but I still caught him by surprise.    

He pushes me away, takes the knife out of my hand and round kicks me to theground.    "Look, babe, I wasn't stalking you. We live on the same block, have been for a monthnow." He backs away to give me some space. "Are you okay?"  

 I nod. He offers his hand to help me up, I ignore it and stand up. He smirks and handsme my knife. Embarrassed, I take it, grabs my bag, mumble an apology and leave.I get home and I'm embarrassed, pissed and annoyed. And the best thing is I can't findmy cellphone.

Chapter 2: The deal

I looked everywhere and I couldn't find it. I checked my bag, my house and from thebus stop to my house. I know I had the phone after I got off the bus and I could onlythink of a few things that happened to me phone; it got stolen, it's hiding from me, orthat ass, Derek, has my phone. The best thing is that today's a Saturday and my parents don'tknow I lost my phone yet.    

I go down stairs and see my mom. "Hey, mom."  

 "Hi, honey."    

"Mom, do you know the neighbors who moved in like a month ago live?"    

"Yeah, remember I gave them cookies before I dropped you off at Lisa's."    

"Oh. Which house are they again?"    

"There the third house to the right."    

"Really, that close to us?"  

 "Yep, why do you ask?"  

 "Oh...well... the son is in a few of my classes and I noticed that he lives close to hereand...I forgot to write down the homework for this weekend. So I thought I might ask himif he did." I lied semi-smoothly.    

"Oh, okay. That's fine. Just hurry back."    

"Okay, I will." I went out the door to his house and hesentently rung the doorbell.    

A women that looked like to be in her mid-thirties answered the door."Can I help you?"    

"Uh.Yes. Does Derek live here? I'm a classmate of his and I was wondering if he gota certain assignment down."    

"Yeah. One second." She closed the door and went inside.  

 Derek came outside with a surprise look on his face. He was only dressed in jeans and his black hair was wet. He had a flat stomach and looked like strong arms. Hecleared his throat making me look up at his now amused face. "Like the view?"   

I arched my eyebrow and crossed my arms."As if there's something to see."  

 He still had a smirk on his face, but it lessend a little."Why are you here? Who accusedwho of being a stalker?" 

   I sighed. "Look, I was wrong for accusing you as a stalker and assaulting you. So as anapology I made this to blow off steam." I give him the piece of paper that I drew adragon on. He opened it and looked amazed.    

"You drew this?" I nodded.    

"This is cool. But you don't seem like the girl that apologizes for nothing."    

"Fine, I lost my phone after our little argument yesterday and I was wondering if youhappened to pick it up."    "So it was your's."    

"You have it?"    

"Yeah."    

"Well... Can I have it back?"  

 "Not so fast, princess. You owe me."  

 "What?"  

 "You heard me."  

 I crossed my arms."What do you want?"    

"Walk with me to and from the bus."    

"That's all?"    

"And you have to answer any question I ask,but yeah that's it."  

 "Ugh, okay, fine. Now can I have my phone?"    

"Sure thing, babe."  

 "Don't call me babe."  

 He laughed while he went in the door again, then came back and handed me thephone.    

"Thank you," I said. I turned and walked away.  

 "No problem, babe. I'll walk you to the bus stop Monday."    "Don't call me, babe." I didn't look back, I accepted the deal with the devil.

Chapter 3

I step outside monday morning and there he is,sadly as promised.    

"Damn, babe, we're gonna be late."    

"Don't call me babe."I said as I walked passed by him. He was dressed in blue straight jeans and a black shirt. He walked beside.    

"Aww, does someone not like their nickname?"    

"Car or Chris are my nicknames. Babe is is a name for a guy to calls an easy girl for a one night stand or a name for a boyfriend or girlfriend. Since I am neither, don't call me babe."    

"Why are you so mad?"    

"I'm not mad. I'm annoyed."    

" Is it because I kicked you?" I glared at him.    

"So it is. Look, I'm sorry for that it was a natural reaction. I take martial arts."    

"Whatever."    

"Plus you are very unskilled with a knife. Why did you the knife anyways? You live in a pretty good neighborhood."    

"I collect them. I bought the knife that morning before I went to school. I usually don't use them, but I thought someone was following me so I used it."    

"So do you always attack your stalkers?" Teasing me, he put finger quotations over the word stalkers.    

I smiled at that. "Well I wanted to get rid of you quickly and that was the only idea I had. Obviously it didn't."    He smirked. We got to the bus stop and shortly the bus arrived, then took us to school. I met my friends in the quod and gave them all the usual hugs.    

"Hey, did get your phone back from Derek?" Lisa asked. All the girls looked at me wondering the same question.    "Yeah. How did you know he had my phone?"    

"He sent me a text when I texted you on Friday night saying you left it." She pulled out her phone and showed me the text stating:    'Hello this is Derrek. Carisa left her phone and I have it. She'll get it back Monday.' He answered my text. The fact that I barely know him is one thing and that he looked at a stranger's text is enough for me to be pissed.    

"How did he get your phone anyway?" Kayla asked    

"I kinda attacked him and accused him of being a stalker, when i thought he was following me."    "Carisa!"Lisa yelled.    

"What? He was following me and I didn't know he moved in a month ago."    

"So he lives near you?" Kayla asked.    

"Three houses away from mine."    

"You need to be more observant." Lisa stated.    

"Derek is hot. I would not mind him being my stalker," Lacey said. We all laughed at that. Lacey is always the one who gives comic relief in the group. I would agree that he is attractive