Flowers and Pop Rocks

16

p o p p y

I expected Blake to be in the classroom when I walked into English for the first period but was surprised by the empty seat where he usually stayed.

Maybe he just didn't wake up from his alarm.

I texted him to ask if he was going to be late to school and also if he was okay. Much to my dismay, Blake didn't respond. At least not before Ms. Walter started the class, and I shoved my phone into my bag.

I wasn't too worried about him. He could handle himself. But it was a little weird that he wasn't in class. I'd never seen him miss school before.

Caleb actually took the seat beside me today.

It had been empty earlier in the year because there was really an extra seat in the class, and I sat in front by the window, which isn't really a seat people want to be at, mostly because it was in the front. It helped me see the board better.

It took everything in me not to check my phone every five minutes for a response from Blake, but I managed to stay focused on the lesson.

If he wasn't coming to class, he'd need someone to catch him up on what he missed.

I hadn't even noticed Caleb's sneaky glances at me until I turned to him to ask if I could borrow an eraser.

~~~

"What do you mean he's not in class?" Levi furrowed his eyebrows. It was the period before lunch, and I still had no idea what was going on with Blake. I figured his cousin might.

"Exactly that. He wasn't in English this morning or in Chemistry, and he hasn't replied to my text either," I explained further.

"Maybe he's just feeling sick," Levi reasoned.

"Don't you two go to school together?" I questioned.

The two did live together at the moment, so it was reasonable to think that they went to school together too.

Levi shook his head. "Not today. He was gone before I left for school."

"Aren't you worried?" I wondered.

"He's probably just home," Levi waved off. "Bri's birthday is coming up. Maybe she came home and wanted to spend the day with him."

I nodded. "Oh, okay. Yeah, you're probably right. Just sucks he won't answer my text. He usually replies right away."

"Yeah, don't worry too much, Pop," Levi messed up my hair, making me frown. "I'm sure your boyfriend is fine."

"Still not my boyfriend, Lev," I clarified.

"And the Queen went to my third birthday party," he rolled his eyes.

~~~

Blake was off my mind for the rest of the day at school. It didn't feel so weird not having him beside me at lunch because him eating at our table was a once in a while thing. Either way, I did still want him there.

Angel was left behind at school because she was doing some student council thing.

She told me that she'd hitch a ride with one of her friends, so it was just Kayley and I together on the way back home.

I went up to my room and was starting on my homework when my phone started to ring. It was Levi calling me.

"What's up?" I answered the call.

"What are you doing right now?" he cut straight to the chase.

"Well hello to you too," I laughed. "Doing homework, why?"