Love Along The Paperclip novel Chapter 4

"You know... I was thinking... since I don't really have a ride... you, dear Cassandra, could take me home!"

"That's not my name and no."

I think I just tossed the nice thing out the window. Which is what I'd like to do with my passenger here. Somehow, he talked me into taking him home. And somehow he found an old disc of show tunes (Don't ask me how it got into my car. The boy found it amid the old food wrappers and homework papers) and is currently listening to them at full blast, although his singing is so loud it threatens to overwhelm them.

"Shut up!" I finally yell when his falsetto has gotten on my nerves for long enough. I eject the disk.

Colton pouts. "Fine. I'll just listen to the radio." He turns it on and bubblegum pop music fills the car so loud it's vibrating. "Oh yeah!" He starts to dance in his seat, although his upper body is the only part of him that isn't restraint by a seat belt and therefore able to move.

"Just kill me now." I whisper.

"With a paperclip!" Adds Colton, still dancing.

"We're here." I say when we've (finally) arrived at Colton's house. I'm extremely thankful because I've had to endure five more songs' worth of bad upper-body dancing from Colton.

He makes no move to get out, however. I go and open his door, balancing on the curb above. "Time to go."

"Hey! It's Out-of-my-League Cassidy!" Shouts a happy voice from behind me.

A girl who looks about fifteen is walking, barefoot, across the Pearce's front lawn. She has layered brown hair with shorter wisps framing her face, electric green eyes, and something in her facial structure reminds me of Colton. Perhaps it's her straight nose.

"Excuse me?" I ask, not used to being addressed in such a manner.

"Sorry, it's just a nickname we have for you." The girl rolls her eyes. They're so big they make her look slightly like a doll.

"A nickname? For me?" I'm taken aback since I don't think I've ever met this girl before. With her good looks she could probably be a cheerleader, but something about her makes her seem too down-to-earth for that. Too nice.

"Yes, because you are out of Colton's league and yet he still asks you out. Repeatedly." She looks behind me at Colton, who is still in the car. "Nice."

I turn.

"Stupid seat belt." Colton mumbles. He has somehow managed to get himself tangled in the thing.

I sigh and lean down to help him. The girl watches us amusedly, her arms crossed.

"Did you try unhooking it?" I ask, trying to reach the buckle without actually coming into contact with any part of Colton.

"Yes," Danielle nods. "You're smart, think about the future, and don't fall prey to my brother's 'charms'." She uses air quotes around the word 'charms'. Colton rolls his eyes.

"Wanna stay for dinner?" Danielle asks suddenly.

I blink and can't help but sneak a glance at Colton; his expression is unreadable. I do see him surreptitiously squeeze his sister's shoulder. She pokes him in the ribs and whispers something I can't quite catch.

"Uh, I'm not so sure..." I trail off, not really certain where I'm going with my sentence.

"Please?" Danielle clasps her hands together as if she is going to start praying. "All we get to hear is stories; never the real thing. I want to get to know you!"

Stories? I'm curious. Does Colton talk about me at home? And if so, what does he say?

I consider Danielle's offer. I could have dinner with the Pearce's: the energetic teenage girl and her attractive brother. Or I could go home and eat with...

"Ok, I guess if it wouldn't be too much trouble and your mom wouldn't mind." I say tentatively.

"Great!" Danielle claps her hands and beams a megawatt smile that is reminiscent of Colton's familiar grin.