That Boy - Page 14

After school he fell into step beside me, like on that first day we talked!!! We walked together; not saying much, but not having any awkward silences either. I felt really happy, I hadn't realized how much I had really missed his presence over the past few days.

I wished my house was farther away from the school, so I could walk with him longer.
At the point where I crossed the street, I turned around to him and asked, "Do… you want to come in? I… I could help you study for the test." I smiled sheepishly, feeling so stupid.

"I better not." He said without any emotion behind it. Okay then. I shouldn't have expected any different. "Alright…well, you can come over any time." I smiled, inwardly hoping he would accept the friendly gesture.


*~*~*~*


I watched her cross the street and walk the rest of the way to her house. She looked different with her hair down.
She was a stupid girl. Very stupid. Very interesting. Very different.
The wind curled up under my hood as I kept walking down the street. She still talked to me, I told her to leave me alone. I still LET her talk to me, it was MY fault.
It was my fault that she talked to me, that she wanted to be my friend, that she was getting involved. It was my fault and my responsibility to stop it.
She couldn't get involved.


*~*~*~*


At lunch the next day, my big group of friends "found" some money, and we bought some candy from the vending machines.
The boys enjoyed stealing each other's Skittles and M&Ms while the girls talked. And talked and talked and talked.
They talked about the video in history class yesterday, making way too big of a deal over the little thing. Travis came over and started telling gruesome gory stories to scare them. They turned away and covered their ears, laughing.