Clouds In My Coffee by Andrea Smith

bookshelf that’s part of my headboard, cuddling him in my arms as I fall asleep.

Chapter 10
    I totally ignore Marshall the following Monday. Kim tells me all about her after-Homecoming sexcapades with Keith, and she’s trying to get the scoop on what we did.
    I tell her that Marshall and I are finished, and that I’m not up to answering a million questions about it.
    Period.
    She flits off, copping an attitude because I won’t furnish details but I don’t care. I’m ashamed that I was so taken by his popularity and status that I refused to listen to the little voice in my head that tried to warn me I was totally out of his league.
    When I get home from school, Mom has left a note for me on the counter.
    Looks like someone wants another chance, Cece. You know that old saying, ‘To err is human; to forgive, divine.’
    There is a vase with a dozen red roses and a card attached with my name scribbled on the front. I open it.
    Sorry we got carried away the other night. Let’s not argue. I care too much about you. I’ll call you later. - Marshall
    Yeah. I don’t think so.
    And what the hell is Mom thinking?
    But she doesn’t know the extent of Marshall’s ugliness from the other night because I haven’t shared it with her. And then I wonder if it would make any difference if I had.
    I lift the heavy vase and take it outside, opening the lid of our aluminum trash can, and letting the vase slip from my hand; it hits the bottom with a loud bang.
    I hear someone laugh from across the street.
    I turn quickly to see Erik outside, sitting on the picnic table watching me, a look of amusement crossing his handsome face. “So you’re not falling for rich boy’s apology, huh? I’m actually glad to see you haven’t totally lost your mind.”
    “Unlike you?” I reply.
    He gives me a slight frown, launches himself up off the table and swaggers over to my yard. “Seriously, Cece, I hope you’re finished with that asshole.”
    “Why do you care all of a sudden?”
    “Hey, I never stopped caring. You were the one that split, remember?”
    I sigh and nod. He’s right. “I know,” I reply softly. “If I had it to do over again...”
    I don’t finish the thought. It sounds so pathetic.
    “What would you do?” he asks softly. He’s standing close to me now, looking at me with those soulful eyes, waiting for an answer.
    “You know,” I reply, feeling like an idiot.
    “Say it.”
    Yeah, he’s making me squirm, and when I say it, will he throw it right back in my face? I figure if he does, I have it coming to me anyway. “I wouldn’t have broken things off with you.”
    I can’t face him once the words are out. My eyes are downcast, as I brace myself for his response.
    I feel his arms around me, pulling me up against his hard chest, his chin resting lightly on the top of my head, as he presses me against him, slowly rocking back and forth on his heels.
    “I’ve missed you,” he replies softly. “I’ve missed the hell outta you.” He pulls back just a bit, his fingers tilting my chin upward and our eyes locking into a searching gaze.
    “But what about Angie?” I ask.
    “She’s not you,” he replies. “She’s just not you.”
    His lips capture mine softly, but firmly, and my hands tangle in his dark hair, fisting his face even closer. His tongue is teasing mine and this feels so right. So natural. This is the way it’s supposed to be.
    Our kiss is interrupted by the peeling sound of tires as a car engine revs up loudly. We look up in time to see Marshall’s new Z28 careening around the curve of the road towards us. He must’ve been stopped at the corner, watching us.
    Erik shoves me behind him as the car nearly grazes me when he races by. At the end of the cul-de-sac, the sound of tires squealing can be heard as Marshall circles around, heading back our way.
    “Get up on the porch,” Erik orders me. “I’ll deal with the mother fucker.”
    I scurry away, turning back to make sure he doesn’t run