Tearlet

Chapter 28

Ch. 28-

"I just wanted to drop off something for Skyler in secret," I say scratching the back of my head, embarrassed.

"Well, you're here. Why not you show it to her in person?" She goes inside the house calling out, "Skyler you have a guest!!"

"No no, I'm going to leave right now," I say.

"Oops," Amy says giggling, "Here she comes,"

"Mom, who's the guest?" I hear Skyler say from inside.

"See for yourself," Amy says and disappears into the house.

She comes outside and a smile lightens her face once she sees me, "Hey. What are you doing here?" She asks as she goes down the steps. She stands on the last step in front of me and is my height.

"Um, I got you a present," I point at the bicycle that leans against the front porch.

She stares at the bike for awhile, not the reaction I was looking for. I thought she would have been jumping up and down and thanking me, but instead she tells me what I wouldn't expect she would have say, "I am not going to take it,"

I stare at her shocked, "It's a kind act. I'm not returning it,"

"Well I'm going to reject it. You have done enough kind acts for me," Skyler says, stubbornly.

"But you have done much more. Keep the gift. It's a gift of gratitude for you," I say, sincerely.

She stares at me confused and finally gives in, "Thank you,"

"No problem,"

"Well, maybe you could come inside. My family would want me to invite you," Skyler suggest.

"No, it's okay. I'm going to go home now. I can't be late."

Skyler understands and nods her head, "Okay, goodbye." She says, softly and kisses my cheek.

She bites her lip softly and walks back inside the house leaving my cheek burning with her touch.

~

"Mr.Barber," We say over one another.

Skyler laughs and I remain quiet allowing her to ask the question before class begins, "We wanted to know when the winners for the competition will be announced!" She says, excited.

"Oh, I don't know of that," He says shuffling with the packet of quizzes.

"Then how do we know if we won the essay competition?" I ask.

"All I know is that if we don't hear anything from them up until the day of Christmas that means you two have not won," He says.

Skyler's cheerful face molds away into a disappointed one, "Thanks, Mr.Barber," She says with no emotion.

Skyler told me that if we don't win the prize money she has to continue working at the busy restaurant on Fridays and throughout the weekend, which mean we won't be able to meet up during our break. We sit back in our seats and Mr.Barber begins to pass out the quiz. An idea forms in my mind while I take the test and I switch my answers around. We turn our work back to him and he begins to grade while we work on the classwork given to us.

A few minutes before class ends he returns the test and shakes his head at me. His face is full of disappointment as he slams it on the desk with the back showing. I flip the paper and a big fat red F is scribbled on it. I shrug and watch him leave once the dismissal bell rings. I rise from my seat and turn to Skyler. I peek at her quiz and notice that she passed with a B. I bite my lip as I struggle to form the words that I will say to her that I never imagined myself having to day this to anyone.