I ran into the locker room, my heart plunging to see it empty. Even if I dressed and went in, the teacher would make me run the mile. No, thank you. I sat down on one of the many metal benches. I was not having a very good track record—first, two classes yesterday and then, gym today. My mom was going to kill me.
I leaned against the locker, intending to sleep through the hour long block. For some reason, sitting still caused the smell from Ryland’s jacket to increase. I didn’t move, letting the delicious scent waft around me. What was I going to do about him, or even about me, for that matter?
Without any warning, a vision of our bodies intertwined together filled my mind. His heavy muscular form pushing against me as he wrapped his arms around me in a passionate… what was I doing? I shook my head in frustration, emptying the fantasy from my mind. It was obvious he wanted to kiss me, and I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I wanted to kiss him. My mom was right; we were both hormone-driven teenagers. What harm could one kiss do, though? He was leaving after all; I might as well make the most of it.
I slammed my head into a locker. Even with all my rationalization I still had made my mother a promise. As much as my heart broke, and as many times as I would have to repeatedly convince myself of it, I had to keep that promise. Until Heaven and Hell broke loose and we could somehow be together, no matter what, I would keep the promise.
My mind jerked out of its heart-breaking reverie as my phone buzzed in my pocket.
How’s the jacket?
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.
Large, warm, and very hideable. Thanks.
I tucked the phone in the pocket of the hoodie and leaned my head back again. He must be ditching class, too, because the next message came right away.
Hideable?
It’s a word! I knew it wasn’t, but it should be.
Uh huh… I guess it’s good you are a junior, because you obviously still have some leprosy to deal with. ;)
Leprosy? My loud laugh echoed around the walls of the locker room. I covered my mouth, scared I would get caught ditching gym.
Spell check! I meant learning.
Right; and I’mthe one who needs extra ‘learning’? It took a long time for him to reply, and by the time he did, students were already making their way back into the locker room, so I stood and made my way out of the room before I was discovered.
Be warned, we are doing pie tonight.
Pie.
We hadn’t done pie for months. Although it wasn’t as cool as it sounded, “pie” simply involved taking a chocolate crème pie—my favorite—up the canyon and hanging out at the fire pit. Normally I would be excited for pie, but right now, it just seemed like a bad situation that would end in forbidden kissing. My heart sputtered and my stomach swooped. I would keep my promise to my mom. I had to.
I can’t, there is no way my mom will let me. I typed as I slid into my desk in my next class.
I’ll take care of your mom. She will let you; don’t worry.
It had taken quite a bit of compromise to get permission for the movie on Saturday; I doubted it would happen. Then again, she had already gotten me into a regular, old t-shirt.
I can’t. I have lots of homework. I lied, knowing he would see right through it.
Why are you avoiding me, Jos?
I stared at the screen, knowing that class had already started and I wasn’t paying even a scrap of attention. What could I say to him? It wasn’t like I was doing it on purpose. There was just so much I couldn’t tell him, no matter how much I wanted to. There were so many times I wanted to kiss him, to let him kiss me, but I couldn’t. Just being his friend was going to be harder than I thought.
Fine. We’ll do pie.
I put my phone away and attempted to focus on class, ignoring the continual buzzing from my pocket. My next classes passed in quick succession, and I worked hard to finish as much of my homework as possible.
My phone finally stopped buzzing as I slipped into my normal spot in the cafeteria, content to disappear for the rest of the day.
“I am so sorry about my brother,” Wyn said as she dropped into the seat opposite me, her tray laden with enough food to feed a group of girls. “He’s an idiot,” she continued without waiting for me to respond. “If I had known it was him you thought was following you, I would have told you. He’s an idiot,” she repeated and then bit into a French fry.
“Hey, I’m just glad to know I’m not going crazy anymore.”
“Nope, not crazy. He is, though.” She rolled her eyes. “Speaking of crazy, what’s with that cult comment?” Wyn raised her eyebrows at me, but I just waved her off.
“Just something my dad said once.” She kept waiting for me to elaborate, but I kept staring at my food, hoping she wouldn’t pry.
“Well, anyway,” Wyn began in an odd attempt to break the silence, “can you come over tonight? We never got to watch our movie from Monday, and Ilyan will be home so you can see how non-freaky he is.”
“I can’t. I’m doing pie with Ry,” I said. I was sad I couldn’t go. As much as I was looking forward to the evening with Ryland, I was still terrified at what might happen.