you should know what you're falling for

eleven

I don't get a single disgusted look at my my clothes. Not one.

The v-neck tank purple top is low cut on my chest, and the shorts actually show off my figure.

 "You clean up real nice." I hear a voice behind me.

I tense, but then recognize the tone and roll my eyes.

"Ha ha," I smack Alex's little back, "Get to class, you little dork."

I continue to place books in my locker and my blonde hair falls in front of my face. Because of this, when I feel an arm wrap around my waste, I jump back a bit. "He's right-"

A gasp. It's Josh. 

"-You do clean up nice." It doesn't sound mocking or stupid or little-brother-ish when he says it. Josh's voice is soft and sexy, thus, so is everything he says.

I smile lightly and giggle, "Thanks." As I continue on down the hallway towards the auditorium - there's an assembly going on and we're late - Josh's warm hand finds the small of my back and I blush.

The two of us walk together for a while, and then Josh clears his throat, "All that stuff you told me last night?" he starts.

"Yeah" I prompt tentatively, half expecting him to say he doesn't want to be friends with an abused freaky girl anymore, but he doesn't say that.

"All that stuff about your mom? Geez, you're really brave."

"-And tough, too." I butt in, laughing to myself. Josh grins sheepishly and swings our intertwined hands back and forth. I hope that no one assumes that we're dating, because Sierra would have my head on a platter. 

Biting my lip to keep from smirking, I tug Josh back through the stage stores. Not a single soul is backstage right now, because our entire grade is seated in the seats listening to a lecture on meteorology. I continue back behind the auditorium curtains, where we can find privacy. The lighting is dim, and there's no one else around. 

It's silent. "I know the guy typically makes the first move, but I guess I'm not your typical girl." I whisper. Josh smiles at me, and I take a look at those little oceans he calls eyes. The bench that we're seated on in cool to the touch, and Josh's hand wanders away from mine, to my hair, then to the back of my head, and he's pulling me closer.

I hear a slight noise behind me, but assume its the middle-schoolers heading to lunch outside. Just as our lips touch, we're blasted with a wave of bright light. Josh and I bounce back from each other reflexively, and look out to the source of the blast.

Stage lights.

Remember how I said no one would stare today?

Boy, was I wrong.