Free Lessons in Love by Clarissa Carlyle Page B

clothes, which consisted of jeans and a Ramones T-shirt. His face was slightly unshaven, which only added to his sexy demeanor. When they walked in, Alex fought the urge to link arms with him, eager to be close to him.
     
    “I think I can handle some old horror movie,” Alex whispered back to him. She turned her head to speak to him so that their lips were only inches apart. Her heart began to race at being so close to him. He smelt faintly of cigarettes and cologne. His smell was intoxicating. He hadn’t drowned himself in some scent like the guys at school did; he smelt like a man.
     
    “Just don’t scream,” Mark warned her fondly. “People in theatres don’t react well to screamers.”
     
    “If either of us is going to scream, it’s you,” Alex teased.
     
    ****
     
    The credits for the movie rolled. Alex had screamed four times throughout it, much to Mark’s amusement.
     
    “I can’t believe you laughed at me!” she scolded him as they walked out.
     
    “I can’t believe you screamed four times!” Mark retorted.
     
    “Well, it was shocked screaming. Not fear screaming.”
     
    “Sure.” Mark smiled.
     
    They walked out to the car and climbed in. Alex noticed how Mark seemed to be on edge, glancing nervously around the emptying parking lot.
     
    “Are you okay?” she asked him as she pulled on her seat belt.
     
    “Yeah, I just…” He glanced guiltily at her. “I’m just worried someone might see us and get the wrong idea,” he admitted. “People can be strange like that.”
     
    “Oh.” Alex felt deflated. He’d basically just confirmed to her that there were no romantic motivations to their outing; he’d simply been being kind. She felt stupid and naïve and suddenly just wanted to go home. It was the first time she’d ever longed to get back to the trailer park.
     
    “Did you like the movie?” Mark asked as he drove back towards Woodsdale.
     
    “Yeah.” Alex nodded. “It was much better than I thought. Like, it’s dated, but it’s still scary, which I guess is the point of a horror film, its ability to scare.”
     
    “Glad you enjoyed it.”
     
    Alex studied his profile in the dim light as he drove. He had a strong, square jaw, which led up to high cheekbones. He was so handsome, and also so kind. It was his kindness towards her that reminded her so painfully of her father. The way he’d bought everything for her at the theater. Guys in high school weren’t nearly as chivalrous. Alex wanted to believe that something more was going on, refusing to accept that any flirtations existed just in her own mind.
     
    “All-time favorite movie?” she asked Mark, who smiled briefly at her, clearly pleased with the question.
     
    “See, now that is a tough one,” he began. “But in all honesty, I’d have to say Shawshank Redemption .”
     
    “Overrated.”
     
    “What?” Mark gasped. “It’s the ultimate story of hope!”
     
    “But his situation is hopeless. At the end he’s on the run from the law, living in Mexico, which is obscenely dangerous thanks to the drug cartels, and the best years of his life are behind him.”
     
    “You’re a real glass half full kind of girl.” Mark laughed.
     
    “I’m just stating the obvious,” Alex told him flatly.
     
    “So what’s your favorite movie?”
     
    “ Annie Hall .”
     
    “Okay.” Mark nodded. “That’s a good choice.”
     
    “I’ve got good taste,” Alex declared proudly.
     
    “Evidently.” Mark turned and smiled at her, stunning her with a suggestive gaze. Alex felt her heart almost stop beating in her chest. The butterflies in her stomach threatened to break up into her lungs, making her breath catch in her throat. Maybe there was something between them after all.
     
    ****
     
    “So, how was your weekend?” Claire asked breezily as they walked up the front steps into school.
     
    “Lame.” Alex sighed, maintaining the lie that she’d had to stay in babysitting all weekend.
     
    “I