Equinoxe

Clover bit her lower lip. Greg stood on the other side of the library. Behind her, the old biddies were looking at the various books in the shelves. Liz looked through the different fashion magazines. The younger sister did some quick math in her head. Her crush was across the room and the old bides and her sister were behind her. Maybe she could do this. Clover drew a deep breath. After a quick countdown, she dashed across the room. I have to hurry! I can’t let them see me. I can’t let them see me!

Greg looked up and happened to see Clover running towards him. He tilted his head, blinking. Clover closed the distance as Liz turned her head.

“Clover!” she shouted.

“What the…?!” the boy asked. Just before she reached him, Clover tripped over a chord and fell face first on top of Greg. He tried to maintain his balance but fell backwards on the floor. Her mouth dropped open on his shirt. Liz ran over to her sister and the boy.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“No!” Clover yelled muzzled. She lifted her head and blushed when she saw Greg staring at her.

“You aren’t hurt, are you?” he asked. The girl laying on him struggled for something to say. Why can’t I speak? I want to disappear right now. Clover pressed her lips together and lowered her head.

“Please take me out of here,” she said in a low voice.

“Okay… where?” Greg asked.

“Anywhere! I feel like I am going to die.”

“Right.” Greg grabbed her by the hand and led her out of the library.

“Clover, wait!” Aisha yelled as the teenagers disappeared out the doors.

--------

Greg led Clover around the corner and further down the street before she yelled, “Stop! Stop! That’s enough!” He stopped to catch his breath. She leaned against the brick wall and pressed her hands to her forehead.

“Oh man,” she mumbled. “That didn’t work out too well, did it?”

“Tell me about,” she heard next to her. Clover whipped her head to her left. Greg stood staring at her. She lowered her eyes, frowning.

“You weren’t supposed to be listening to me when I’m talking to myself,” she said.

“Why did you run towards me like that?” he asked. Clover laughed nervously as she rubbed the back of her head.

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know.”

“I was trying to escape from my sister and my uncle’s friends.” Clover breathed in as she felt herself shaking. “I saw you standing there and I figured that if I ran over to you, you would help me get away.” She eyed him as he struggled to say something.

“Well then…” he said. Clover wanted to sink into the ground. He probably thinks that I’m creepy.

“Why were you trying to get away from them?” he asked.

“Excuse me?” she asked.

“Why were you running away from them? Were you in trouble or something?”

“It’s kind of a rubbish reason, really.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No!”

Greg shrugged his shoulders. “Fine with me.” As he turned to walk away, Clover felt the need to rush after him again. Her foot tapped as if to push her to move.

Instead, she shouted, “Wait!” Greg paused and glanced over his shoulder.

“Yeah?” he asked. Clover stuck out her chest as she gulped.

“Let me come with you!” she said loud enough to have attention drawn to her from people walking by.

“Why?” Greg asked. “I’m not really going anywhere.”

“That’s ace with me!” She leaped forward and grabbed onto his arm. “Please? I just want to get away from all of them.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes!” I hope I don’t sound so desperate! “Um… You don’t have to if you do want to, of course.”

Greg dropped his shoulders. “Fine, you can come with me.” This time, Clover managed to keep herself under control.

“Cheers,” she said. “My name is Clover, by the way.”

“I’m Greg,” the boy said as they began walking down the street.

“I apologize fo my behaviour earlier.”

“It’s ace.”

Clover breathed out heavily. This should work out just fine, right? Just stay calm and act normal. She took the time to enjoy the peace that their walk began to deliver.

Crush Love