Learn To Love

7. Never Have I Ever...Care This Much.

Paxton's POV : 

It's been about two weeks since I've spoken to Devi. I haven't seen her in school so I assume she's still in the hospital. Although I haven't spoken to her, I've been texting her - just no response. 

Ever since our break, I haven't had the energy to really socialize so I've been just in my jeep until class starts. If anything, being in the car is so much better than around people that constantly asks about Devi and I. I scroll through the messages I've been sending Devi since I had nothing else to do while waiting for school to start. 

Hey, how are you feeling? 

Mr. Shapiro asked about you today and gave me the assignments to pass to you. I gave it to Eleanor though. 

Hey! I aced my biology test today! 

I really miss you. 

Can you please reply? 

When are you coming back to school? 

I turn my phone off and just look at the chilly weather surrounding the school campus. Then, something caught my attention. 

My eyes stare at a girl with long brown hair with loose curls. She's wearing a maroon sweater and a plaid skirt with black stockings underneath. It's Devi. I immediately leave my car and run towards the school entrance. Devi's back. 

Right when I enter the hallway, I see Devi getting surrounded by her friends as they welcome her back. My girl is back. 

Without thinking, I walk towards her and clear my throat. I notice my heart was starting to beat a little faster but the thought disappear when she turns around with her big smile and pearly white teeth. 

The tiniest bit of happiness disappear though when I saw her smile went out. I clear my throat once again to decrease my nervousness. 

"Hey Devi, you're back. How are you feeling?" 

She fully turns around to me as her friends watch from behind with judgmental and confusion expressions. "Hey..I'm feeling good. A lot better than I thought I would be." She jokes quietly. 

I just nod and breath out from all the running I just did. Right when I was preparing what to say next about how much I miss her, Devi backs up from me a bit. 

"I gotta go. I need to see the teachers before class to see if I've been missing anything else." 

I just nod and give her a wave. "Yeah, for sure. Do you wanna meet during break or something?" 

"Uh...sure. I'll see. I'll let you know." 

And just like that, I watch Devi walk away from me with her friends. She's not gonna meet with me. I just continue walking to another direction away from her and space out. I shouldn't have agreed to this little break. It seems like we're distant now and I hate it. I absolutely hate this feeling. I miss her smile. Her charm. Her intelligence. Her goofiness. Everything. 

I notice there's only about 3 minutes before class starts so I rush to class even though I know I'll see her there. Usually I would be excited to see her in class but with the current situation, I'm nervous. 

...

It was finally break so I decide to relax in my car once again. Even though I ask Devi to meet her, I pretty sure she doesn't want to. I flip through my notecards, trying to memorize the new terminologies for biology when my phone starts ringing. I place my notecards onto the center console and reach for my phone in the pocket of my backpack - it's Devi.