One Last Prayer

Part 5

The next two periods seem to drag on forever. I completely stay to myself during Trig, not that anyone could get a word in to talk while the lecture went on, never stopping. In English I did meet Jordan. Someone I've seen around but never really talked to. In fact, I've started realizing how little people I talked to all these years because I've been so focused on trying to be perfect. I can't help but feel like my time has been wasted.

Jordan walks with me out of the room and follows me to my locker. He's going into deep detail about his parent's divorce, trying to make me believe that he understands what it's like to only have one parent. Typically this would really make me angry but he's so sweet I don't have the heart to show him the same attitude I've been feeling toward everyone else lately.

I stop at my locker, opening it as I try to stay tuned into what Jordan is saying.

"I just told them, 'I really can't handle house hopping on holidays. You either learn to get along or only one of you gets me.'" He continues. I let my eyes widen for a second as I shove my books into the locker and grab my French textbook.

"Yeah.. That must be so hard." I say trying to mask the sarcasm.

He nods and looks like he's about to respond when Chase stands directly between us and faces me. "You don't know me." He says sternly.

"Um, excuse me. We were talk.." Jordan starts but Chase continues.

"You don't know me, and you don't know everything about the universe because you were raised a prissy little church girl."

I slam my locker shut and Jordan walks to the side of Chase looking up at him, his cheeks flushing. "Really, Chase? You're angry at me telling me I don't know everything but you're calling me names like you have any idea what's going on in my head?"

"Dude you need to leave her alone." Jordan says, the chipper boy long gone. Chase shoves Jordan effortlessly to the side and he flies what looks like six feet over. My jaw drops and I look up at Chase who has yet to take his eyes off me.

"What is wrong with you!?" I shove him, but he doesn't even move. I walk over to Jordan and lace my arm through his pulling him away before the monster that is Chase comes after him again.

"Are you okay?" I ask him as we walk away.

"He's strong, man." Jordan says as he rubs his shoulder. I nod and put my hand on his arm as I stop walking.

"Thank you for sticking up for me. You don't even know me. That was really nice of you." Before he can start rambling about anything again, I kiss his cheek and walk into French class.

I sit in the same desk I was in yesterday and the class is mostly full already. I pull out my books and notes and try to keep my head down so that I have no reason to accidentally make eye contact with anyone. When class is started and the teacher has started her lecture I finally shift, letting my eyes wonder. Chase is in his same seat as yesterday and the same girl is talking to him. Today he seems to only respond with short fast nods and shrugs here and there. When I see that the minutes are coming to an end, I start closing my books up so that I can be ready to bolt.

When the bell rings I'm out of my seat before anyone else, and out the door. I don't look back to see who is behind me as I make my way to the patio for lunch. Walking to the nearest vending machine, Tracy approaches me.

"Jesus, could this week go by any slower?" She groans, and I laugh.

"It's Tuesday. You have a ways to go." I shove my dollar into the machine and press the coordinating button to receive a cactus cooler.