Chapter 12: Don't Believe The Rumours (B)

Cindy's pov 

"Okay. So, you're going home now?"

"Not really. I was just going to hang around until practice is over, but now you're here, I don't mind watching."

I found myself blushing and quickly averted my eyes.

"Also, you told me we'd get to talk later on Sunday but you disappeared on me."

"That's... That's right. I did plan to wait, but my dad was in a hurry, so I had to leave."

"Maybe we'd get to talk after practice? I could give you a ride home too."

Before I could reply, I saw Alice from the corner of my eye, watching us and I panicked. 

"I'm sorry, I have to go now." I said hurriedly and sidestepped past him to meet the other choir members.

Rather than leaving, Sean came back and sat down on the front pew, watching me. I did my best to keep my eyes on anything but him.

Since I was already late, I didn't get to exchange pleasantries with Alice, we only made eye contact and she smiled at me, I returned her smile.

Practice took nearly two hours but we sounded great and was ready for Sunday service... that's after one last practice on Saturday evening like always.

I was wondering how to avoid Sean but I didn't need to because some girls flocked around him, asking him a bunch of questions and throwing him compliments.

I stole that moment to flee but Alice blocked my path.

"Hey. What happened today? I really thought you weren't going to make it." She said, maintaining her smile.

"Sorry about that." I said, not sure if I should say more.

Alice tilted her head to the left as if she was studying me, looked at something behind me, something I was sure was her brother, and then back at me.

"You have a crush on Sean, right?" She whispered, smirking. I felt as if the air was knocked out of my lungs. How did she know?!

"I... I don't..."

"Don't lie, it's pretty obvious. Also, I'm pretty sure Sean likes you."

He does? There's no way.

"It doesn't bother you that your brother likes me?"

"Why should it bother me? I'd choose you over any of those attention seekers any day." She said, nodding at the girls surrounding Sean. I actually felt relieved that she knew about my crush and that there was a possibility that Sean might also return my feelings. But with how my parents have reacted so far, there was no way Sean and I could be together peacefully.

"Well, I don't think it matters." I said and Alice frowned with concern.

"What do you mean? I promise, he really likes you."

"Maybe he does, but he has a reputation amongst the parents and they all seem to have negative things to say about him."

Her frown deepened.

"You mean your parents?"

"Not exactly. They were just telling me what they heard other parents say."

"And what's that?"

I knew she was getting upset, but I didn't want to hide anything from her and I wanted to be completely honest with her.

"That Sean's popular amongst the unmarried ladies."

"Are you trying to call him a womanizer?" She asked, folding her arms under her breasts.

"Come with me." I said, taking her hand and leading her outside without giving her room to protest.

Once we were outside and away from any eavesdropping accident, I let go of her hand and turned to her.

"Look, Alice... You're right, I have a crush on Sean. I think he's very nice and he's good looking. I've had a crush on him for the longest time but I was too shy to approach him. And then, when Sean actually spoke to me for the first time, my parents freaked out because of some rumours they heard. I don't know how true it is, but..."

"It's not true. Sean is my brother and we're really close, he has never dated anyone before. You saw how those girls ambushed him, it happens all the time wherever we go and that's not his fault. Sean has always been a gentleman, keeping those dragons at arms length. You're the first girl he's actually interested in and hearing you speak about him this way is really disappointing, he doesn't deserve it."

"Wait, I never said I believe the rumours."

"But I never heard you say you defended him."

"That's because I don't know what the truth is."

"So I'll tell you, Sean is genuine and he only has his eyes on you. Those people saying awful things about him are only judging him based on what they see on the surface which is not the truth. And I'm not defending him because he's my brother, it's because I'm not just judging him from a distance, I've taken my time to actually know him and you should too."

She sighed and turned away from me.

"I also know you and I know you'll do anything to please your parents, but I think you should give Sean a chance."

I took her hand and held it, making her look at me again.

"I'm sorry I got you upset, Alice. I just wanted to be honest with you."

She smiled again.

"I know and I'm glad you were, at least it gave me a chance to clear up your doubts."

"Thank you. I'll..."

"Cindy?!" Mom's call and honking of the car horn interrupted me. I was not expecting her to come back for me.

"I have to go. See you later, Alice. And thank you again."

"Sure."

I waved at her while I hurried to the waiting car.

I had no idea what I was going to do about my dilemma, I liked Sean and Sean liked me but because of some lies, my parents didn't trust him. Maybe I just had to prove to them that Sean is actually a nice guy.

But before I get ahead of myself, Sean hasn't even asked me out yet. 

I had to be patient.