“Why do you do that?” I didn’t look up from my sketchpad, but I could feel his eyes boring into me. “Why do you call me Celebrity?”
I sigh reluctantly raising my eyes. Then it happens again. The electric jolt runs the length of my body as our eyes lock for the second time. Crap, crap, CRAP! I am trapped.
“Because you are… er… a celebrity th-that is,” I stammer. God, I sound like an idiot. “What I mean is you’re the only point of new interest this year. In my mind that makes you…”
“A celebrity,” he finishes looking thoughtful. He taps his fingers rhythmically on the table. I want to look at them, but somehow I can’t tear my eyes away from his. “Well, I suppose I should be flattered then.” He smiles and my heart lurches. “What if we start over? Hello. I’m Oliver Knight,” he says reaching his hand out to shake mine.
“Evelyn Dae,” I reply in a stunned whisper. My hand darts across the table, almost as if it has a mind of it’s own, settling comfortably into his. I close my eyes and smile. His touch is exactly as I imagined it would be: soft and warm, gentle but firm, and just the right size to fit my hand precisely.
“Evelyn?” he repeats with surprise.
“Yeah, but I go by Lyn.”
“I see. Well, I’m very pleased to meet your acquaintance Evelyn Dae,” he says, still holding my hand. “Do you drink tea?”
“Tea?”
“Lovely drink really. Most often taken in the mid-afternoon. Do you drink it?”
“If by drink, you mean regularly consume the substance known as tea, then no.” His smile wavers, and I feel his hand slacken around mine. “But, I have been known occasionally to enjoy a mug.” What was I doing? Was I encouraging this?
“Well then, would you like to have tea with me after class today?”
“Yes,” I sigh, and it’s out before I think enough to stop myself. Then his whole being beams, and for a moment I forget we are in school supposedly working on initial sketches for our next art project. He places his other hand on top of our clasped ones, and my heart skips a beat. No, no, NO!