The Ghosts of Dearheart: Book I

Chapter 9

Hartley felt euphoric over the course of the following day. It practically pained him to part ways with Tieran in the morning as they went off to their respective classes, and as much as it sucked that they wouldn't even be able to see one another until after football practice that evening, he still felt...untouchable. Something in his life was finally going right. He had an inarguably good thing going for him and nothing else even registered. He was fucking happy, maybe for the first time ever. He spent the whole day fawning over the idea of a relationship, feeling his heart pound with every text he got from Tieran telling him how bored he was and how much he missed him, which he reciprocated with enthusiasm to the point where he was glared at by his math professor for having his phone out.

He found himself starting to agree with Tieran more and more. He didn't know what this thing was between them, but he wasn't sure it mattered. It felt good. It felt right. Maybe he did still want to know, but it didn't seem as important as it had just yesterday morning. He rode the extremely pleasant buzz throughout each class, half paying attention and half daydreaming about the next time he'd see Tieran Barba and all the things they might get up to over the weekend. He texted Jasmine on his first break and she decided to skip class and meet him there so they could do lunch together. Normally he'd tell her not to, but what the hell? She was an adult, and anyway, he was sort of dying to see her. She met him on a bench near a taco truck where he was already waiting with two full orders and drinks.

"Hey," he said brightly when he saw her.

She gasped at him, sitting down. "You got me food?"

"Yeah."

"Are they pulled pork?"

"What else?"

She dug through her box of food and pulled one out excitedly. "This is why you're my favorite uncle."

Hartley grinned. "What class are you skipping, delinquent?"

"English 102," she said around the bulk of a taco she was biting into. "It feels just like high school. I've already done the reading for the next six classes and finished a paper that isn't due until next week. I'm bored. I can't wait to be done with this general crap."

"Eh, don't worry. You'll be struggling in no time."

She snorted. "Hey, thanks. How's your day been?"

"Great," he decided. "My classes are half over, the sun's out, I got tacos. No complaints."

She smirked at him. "Well, well, well, optimism from Hartley Bates. Dare I ask what's got you in such a mood?"

"Can't a guy just be grateful for tacos?" Hartley asked, cramming one into his mouth.

"If he's getting some sausage on the side, sure."

Hartley chuckled and crumpled up his wrapper, reaching for his soda cup.

"I knew it. You are dating him, aren't you?"

"I don't know," Hartley said honestly. "But...I think I wanna be."

Jasmine stared at him expectantly. "And...?"

"And what?"

"Are you going to gush about him or what? Come on, let's hear it." 

Hartley hesitated, looking around before sighing. "He's...really nice to me. He acts like I'm the coolest guy he's ever met, which I don't get at all, but what am I gonna do? Correct him? It's like he can't get enough of my attention. Like, he actually likes it. He—he likes the whole punk thing, he likes the art, he likes the tattoos, he thinks I'm funny. And he's so fucking hot, Jasmine, I mean seriously, what the fuck. He smiles and my brain just goes to total shit."