Up & Coming

Chapter 16

When Devon leaves, I feel hollow. Like something is missing.

Sitting in class now is nothing compared to yesterday. To feel him against me, nice and warm, a protection against everything else. His hair, soft and silky between my fingers, and his lips that left me breathless even just thinking about them.

But he's sitting next to me, and my thoughts are running rampage, and he probably feels nothing.

But I'm sure he felt something.

Yesterday was something. It felt so much different than any others, a weird sense of amazing. The danger of it, like wanting something you couldn't have. Which was kind of true. People would hate him as much as they hate me now, but only because of the false words floating throughout the whole school.

I want to be unnoticed. I like that. It's better for me if no one knows my story.

And sadly so, Devon still doesn't know everything.

How can I completely trust someone? Especially with detailed family problems that have haunted me for years?

The other problems I caused which followed me until I came back another year, refreshed and ready to start over again?

How am I supposed to fully trust someone when I'm not sure if they fully trust me yet?

Devon sits there, his body leaning back in the seat, his long legs bent out in front of him, against the chair.

As I watch him, I notice how he glances around the room, stopping once he sees me.

My heart races instantly, my mind wandering back to yesterday.

His eyes change, filling with a brightness only I could see. He looks down and smiles, turning back to the front.

I still feel bad for him. Now even worse, the longing for him, when someone who cares for you is risking so much.

I must not be paying close enough attention, because Mr. Alcove calls on me.

"Ms. Cunningham?"

I look up to see all eyes on me. I clear my throat. "Yes?"

"Can you repeat what I just said?" Mr. Alcove asks, crossing his arms against his chest.

I glance at Devon, who's watching me, but his eyes look sad, not amused like the others.

"I, uh, wasn't paying attention, sir," I say after a minute, looking him straight in the eyes.

"Well if you don't get your mind back into this classroom, you're getting detention. If you're going to daydream, you can do it after school," he says walking briskly back to his desk.

I slouch down in my seat, keeping my eyes on Mr. Alcove.

"Probably daydreaming about how she screwed Devon last night," I hear someone say, and I nearly jump out my seat.

"What did you just say?" I whisper harshly, turning around in my seat.

A girl is sitting there, dark hair, light eyes. "You heard me."

"Well, sorry, I don't listen to bullshit," I say, turning back around. "You know it isn't true. And even if it was, you wish it was you."

Mr. Alcove turns back around, eyeing me, but I sit there, staring him down. He finally turns back around and continues writing on the board.

When the bell rings, I run out of that class as fast as I can. I head to my next hour quickly before anyone can see me, and sit down in my seat in the back, hiding from everyone.