Nametags

Chapter 24

          When I got to school on Monday, Jadee was there. She was looking a bit better, wearing makeup and her hair all done up nice. But there was still something wrong. She still wouldn't raise her hand in class, but she smiled, for my sake. And then, as I walked into Homeroom, I lit up. Tony was there! He smiled at me and waved as I walked in. I sat down at my desk and gave him a happy, but questioning book. "Why weren't you here? Why didn't you answer my texts?" I hoped to ask with my facial features. He just lifted his eyebrows. Class was about to start, so I sat down in my usual seat, near the window, and Tony sat in his, near the back of the room. All throughout class, I snuck Tony glances. He seemed absorbed in reading from his textbook. He must have been trying to catch up on what he missed. The class seemed to drag on. Finally, the bell rang and we all stood up. Tony went to the front of the class to get the homework he missed, and I had to hurry to my next class, so I couldn't ask him now. I'd have to wait until free time.

          The school day dragged on. It felt like years. I just wanted to talk to Tony. And Jadee. I wanted to find out what was wrong with Jadee. I wanted to find out why Tony didn't reply to my texts. I wanted to give Jadee a hug. I mentally listed all of the things I wanted to achieve by the end of the day. I sighed. So much to do. The teacher called on me, pulling me out of my thoughts. "What is the answer? Do you know, Cherry?" I didn't. "Uh, C." I guessed. "Yes, good, Cherry." I smiled. Yes! Today was going great already.

          In the class right before free time, I watched the clock until it was 5 minutes to the bell. Then, I raised my hand. "Mr. J, I need to go to the bathroom!" He paused and looked at me. "I've been teaching school for a long time, Cherry, I'm not stupid." He remarked. I knew what he was thinking. "You're not going to deny a girl a trip to the bathroom, are you? Fine. It's your  floor." He rolled his eyes under his glasses and said "Fine, go. Take the hall pass." I stood up and walked to the door. I went to my locker and wasted time. I wanted to be the first outside this free time. I wanted to be the first to the bench that Tony and I always met at. I started walking to the doors that led outside. I stopped in the girl's locker room and got a soda pop out of my gym locker, then sat and drank it until the bell rang. then, I rushed outside as fast as I could. I was the second person out the door (somebody had my same idea), and I sat down on our bench, waiting for Tony to come. 

          A few minutes later, He came out the door. I waved him over, and he headed my way. The air was crisp, but not quite cold, and the wind was blowing in gusts. I smelled Autumn on the air. He walked over and sat next to me.

"Hey, Cherry!"

"Hey, Tony! Oh my gosh, Why weren't you at school Friday?"

"Oh, It was nothing. Just visiting my old house."

"Oh. Ok. Why didn't you answer my calls?"

"I left my phone. Sorry about that."

"That's ok. I'm glad you are back!"

The bench was out of sight (That's why I chose it), So I could hug him safely. He petted my hair. When I pulled away, I opened my mouth to say "I love you" when I saw something for the first time. I gasped, Unable to move. It was there, plain as day on his jacket.