Just Like Heaven (2 page)

“You wrote this out for me?”

Demi shrugged nonchalantly. “It was no big deal. Most people prefer the DVDs.”

Maybe it was because he had been struck by her beauty or because he simply hated to feel like he wasn’t being desired, but Arthur suddenly asked;

“Why don’t we watch them together? This weekend or something?”

“I’ve seen them.” Demi answered flatly. She then picked up her Sidekick, encased in a dark green cover, flicked it open and then looked towards the door to the study hall.

“I’m sorry but I’ve got to go,” she didn’t sound the least bit apologetic.

“But I’ve just got here,” Arthur protested.

“Well you were late,” Demi answered simply, already rising from her chair. “We can meet at three tomorrow and we can go over the chapter if you read it tonight?” though it was a question it was delivered more as a statement.

“Okay then, bye,” Arthur watched her leave, noticing how her low hung jeans hugged her body in all the right places.

Demi fretted as she scurried away from study hall that she had been too mean, too aloof but he intimidated her so much! The thought of enduring anymore time alone with him terrified her!

Alone in the study hall, Arthur surveyed the book she had left him before opening the front cover where the same cursive writing from the note was there, telling him her name; Demi Mitchell. It wasn’t a name he’d encountered before but it was certainly one he wasn’t going to forget.

####

“So…what was he like?” Hayley Russell eagerly asked her best friend the following day as they walked from the bus stop to school. “I texted you like six times last night but you didn’t get back to me,” she continued.

“I was tired,” Demi explained.

“Okay. But you’ve still not said what he was like!”

“He was…I don’t know. A typical guy,” Demi answered vaguely.

“Wow, great answer!” Hayley laughed sarcastically.

“I can’t really give you an answer, I don’t know him.”

“What’s to know, he’s a jock,” Hayley chatted as they ascended the steps which led in to the school.

“He seems different though,” Demi mused.

“Different how?” Hayley pressed.

“I don’t know.”

Demi wondered if perhaps she was seeing something that wasn’t even there, after all she knew nothing about Arthur Cooper other than his reputation, which wasn’t good. On paper he was the sort of guy she’d hate, yet in person she didn’t loathe him, he had intrigued her.

####

Arthur typed the message in to his phone and pressed send, feeling his heart race slightly as he did so. It hadn’t been difficult to discover Demi’s phone number since he was connected to just about everyone at the school. Just after first period had concluded he had stolen away from his friends for a moment alone so that he could construct the perfect message. He never normally cared what he wrote to girls, but this was different. He feared what Demi would think and how the message would be received.

Hearing her Sidekick vibrate, Demi pulled it from her bag as she wandered down the hall, assuming it was Hayley, probably wanting the answer to an algebra equation as she always did around this time on a Friday. To her surprise the message came from a number which she did not recognise. Pressing the relevant buttons it appeared on her screen;

Hi Demi,

It’s Arthur, the guy you are tutoring. Just to confirm that I’ll be there in study hall at 3, on time.

Demi read the message a couple of times, shaking her head in bemusement before snapping her Sidekick closed and continuing on her way to class.

####

“How did you get my number?” Demi asked Arthur indignantly before he’d even had chance to sit down. It was now five past three so he was only slightly late.

“I have my ways,” he shrugged casually.

“If only you put as much effort in to your studies as you do stalking girls.”

“I wasn’t stalking.”

“Yes, you were. You should only have my number if I gave it you personally.”

“I didn’t mean to offend you,” Arthur replied, suddenly feeling extremely self-conscious. He thought Demi would have liked the message and now felt foolish for sending it, fearing he was appearing desperate and creepy.

“It’s okay,” Demi didn’t want to dwell on the topic of the text. “Did you read the chapter?”

“Half of it.”

“Why only half?”

“Well, I didn’t have that much time,” Arthur explained, when he noticed the stern look on Demi’s elfin features he knew he needed a more thorough explanation. “Last night I had to go with my kid brother to the hospital for his treatment, and I honestly tried to read while there but it isn’t all that fair on him as the whole point of my being there is to entertain him, so we ended up playing Mario Kart on the DS. I’ll finish the chapter this weekend, I promise.”

“What treatment is your brother having?” Demi knew she was prying but couldn’t help herself. Normally she wouldn’t ask such an intrusive question but with Arthur she felt strangely at ease, like she could ask him anything.

“Dialysis,” Arthur said simply before hastily adding; “but don’t tell anyone. I don’t want people knowing…its, its family stuff.”

“It’s okay, I won’t say anything,” Demi promised and her features softened and Arthur felt in awe of her beauty. “How old is he?”

“Jared’s ten.”

“That’s so young.”

“Yeah, life’s a bitch.”

They both sat in silence for a moment, neither knowing what to say.

“I’m going to be a nurse, you know,” Demi said brightly, looking for a way to change the tone of their meeting.

“Oh?” Arthur was genuinely interested in this. All the girls he knew dreamt of being models or professional cheerleaders.

“My Mom was a nurse so I’ve always dreamt of following in her footsteps.”

“Was?” Arthur picked up on the past tense and noticed a veil fall across Demi’s features as she shut the past out, something she had clearly become adept at doing.

“Cancer,” she said bluntly and Arthur nodded, fighting the urge to reach out and take hold of her delicate hand. He realized that he had never shared so much with anyone else before, bar Jared. Most conversations he had were so vacuous and devoid of any true meaning. Demi was different, everything she said mattered.

“So I still need to finish this chapter,” Arthur used the hand he’d wanted to hold her with to motion to the open book on the table between them.

“Yes, you do,” Demi agreed.

“I’m working tomorrow, but I reckon I’ll be able to read it in between serving people coffee.”

“You have a job?” Demi was surprised, she always assumed that Arthur came from a well to do family and therefore was financially supported.

“Yeah, at my Dad’s coffee shop; Cooper’s Coffee of Collinswood.”

“It’s a good use of alliteration.”

“It’s lame.”

“I don’t drink coffee, just tea,” it was a strange piece of information to share with anyone, let alone someone who was practically a stranger but Arthur seemed pleased to hear it.

“Coffee can be so strong, I get that,” he nodded. “Like British tea or Green tea?”

“Both.”

Arthur smiled; it felt good to get an insight in to who Demi was. He could stay and talk with her all evening but the clock on the wall of the study hall told him that he needed to get home and help prepare dinner.

“Well, I need to get going, but since I’ll have finished the chapter by tomorrow afternoon, why don’t we meet tomorrow night to go over it?” he suggested, trying not to sound lame.

Demi frowned as she pondered on this. “But tomorrow is Saturday; the study hall won’t be open.”

“We could meet at my house,” Arthur did his best to sound casual, like it was no big deal for her to come around his house when in reality he’d never had a girl in his home, he was too protective of Jared to allow any of his frivolous relationships access to him.

“Your house?” Demi felt panic rise within her. She’d never been around a boy’s house before, what would her father think? “But I don’t know where you live.” She wanted to think of reasons not to go but a part of her desperately wanted to see Arthur outside of school, at his home.

“Text me your address and I’ll come and pick you up.”

It felt so surreal to be arranging plans on a Saturday night with Arthur Cooper, that for a moment Demi feared she was being filmed on camera for some cruel practical joke. The previous Saturday she had baked cookies with Hayley before watching
Amelie
and
Pan’s Labyrinth
, two of her favourite films which Hayley detested but it was Demi’s week to choose. Hayley would enact revenge when it was her week and have them watching some predictable chick flick.

“Okay, come get me around seven?” Demi found herself saying, as though she was asked out on a Saturday all the time.

“Great, well I’ve got to go. So I’ll see you tomorrow.”

This time it was Demi’s turn to watch Arthur leave, her eyes glued to his athletic physique as he departed the study hall.

####

“So what is the plan for tomorrow night?” Hayley asked, her voice bubbly as her friend approached her at the bus stop.

“Oh, jeeze, I can’t make it,” Demi admitted feigning sadness.

“Why not?” Hayley placed her hands upon her hips and pouted mockingly.

“My Dad wants me to go spend time with my Nana.” Demi didn’t like to lie to her best friend but she knew she’d misinterpret things with Arthur if she told her the truth and there was nothing going on between them. He was probably just being friendly, and Hayley would only raise Demi’s hopes up only to have them dashed. Better to say nothing.

“Family stuff is lame, but okay. Sunday then?”

“Yes, Sunday would be great.”

The two friends smiled fondly at one another as the canary yellow bus arrived behind them and they climbed on.

####

The entire contents of Demi’s wardrobe was scattered on the floor around and she felt utterly panicked. It was now 6:45. She had just fifteen minutes until Arthur picked her up and she had no idea what to wear. It was at times like these that she missed her mother most, when she needed a mature female guidance. She had learnt to accept the fact that nothing would ever replace motherly love, no matter how hard her father tried.

She put on her dark jeans with a green top then took it off. It looked too casual. Then she put on a flowery tea dress she’d had for her last birthday but feared it looked too formal.

“Argh!” Demi cried out, frustrated.

A few moments later there was a faint tap upon her bedroom door.

“Sweetheart?” her Dad called tentatively.

“Daddy I’m just getting ready!” Demi called back, trying not to sound flustered.

“Okay, but I’m just wondering who this guy is who is picking you up?”