Racing to You ✓

16 | distance

Mondays were bad enough. 

But with seemingly everyone in the hallway turning to look at you, it made it a hundred times worse. 

"Keep walking, girlie," Joy whispered in my ear. She then turned to glare at a group of people who had started outright pointing. "Why don't you mind your own business?" 

Yulissa was tense beside me, like a cobra ready to strike. She had wordlessly fell to my side after giving me a hug this morning whilst Joy had fussed over me through another lecture and a run-down of their bodyguarding duties. Over the weekend, Sasha had messaged me and offered to spend lunch time with me near the library, where less students usually were, and I had agreed to it gratefully. 

However, even Justin had reached out to me about the incident. I had sensed his judgemental tone when I briefed him on how this whole thing happened, and by the end of our texts, I was bothered by the double standards of how people taking party drugs was 'cool' but when addiction kicked in, they were just dropped like a hot potato and left to fend for themselves. 

So even today, there was still lingering guilt for ignoring Deandre's concerned 'You alright?'  text message. He had attempted to reach out twice over the weekend, but promptly stopped after that. It was a jarring change from my other friends who spammed me everyday checking in on me. I didn't know which I preferred. When I had complained to Sasha, she had smacked an invisible bat over my head saying that I had to stop assuming people could read my mind.

Joy stopped abruptly in front of me and I bumped into her. She whipped her head around to look at me gravely. "Since we don't have Mr. Dubois's class together, you've got to look after yourself."

"Just focus on class, ignore everyone else," Yulissa advised. 

"We'll be back to walk you to the library," Joy added.

I face-palmed. "Seriously? I can handle myself." 

Joy pursed her lips. "If you say so." 

"Hey girls!"

We turned towards the voice, belonging to none other than the upbeat Theo Atkinson. 

Yulissa raised an eyebrow. "Are you in this class?"

"I finally managed to transfer in," Theo replied with a smile. 

"Good timing," Joy chirped, pushing him towards me. "You can sit together." 

Theo paused for just a second, but took it in his stride. "Of course. See you two later." 

Yulissa nodded and directed Ida away. I let out a breath I didn't realise I had been holding. 

"I heard what happened," Theo blurted out. 

I closed my eyes and groaned. "Please don't start." 

"I'm grateful," he said. "That you gave him some company. I wish I had more time to join you--"

"Don't worry about it," I replied immediately. Theo had his own struggles happening at home, and had lots of responsibilities in school as well. 

"I'll definitely try to be with him more in school at least," Theo sighed. "You don't worry."

"Theo!"

Mr.Dubois clapped Theo on the shoulder, and Theo smiled good-naturedly. "Morning, Mr.Dubois." 

"I'm glad to see you made it," Mr.Dubois said happily. "Class is starting though, get inside." 

Theo chuckled and gestured for me to enter the classroom first. We found some seats at the side of the room, which I gratefully took. I did not want to be surrounded by people today. 

"Okay, settle down, class, I'll be marking the roll," Mr.Dubois announced. 

Even before he got to Deandre's name, I had noticed his empty seat. 

"Deandre?" Mr.Dubois repeated, scanning the classroom. "Is Deandre not here today?"

A tired voice called out from the back of the class. "No." 

"Thanks, Tommy," Mr.Dubois thanked, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Anyone know where he is?" 

I could feel the weight of the attention on me, and outright caught people gawking at me from the front rows. I shifted in my seat, and Theo came to my rescue. 

"No clue, sir," Theo responded. "I can try to check on him after class though." 

Mr.Dubois nodded his gratitude. "Alright. Today, we'll be continuing where we left off Origins and Citizenship."

I promise I did try to concentrate in this class, especially with a rather active participant of discussions sitting right beside me. However, my focus kept on zeroing back to the door, waiting for him to show up. 

Ten minutes passed. . Fifteen. Twenty. Twenty-five. Thirty. Thirty-three. Thirty-five. 

He didn't. 

***

"Was that a history class or what?" Theo whistled as we packed up to get to our next class. 

"Hm?" I hummed absent-mindedly, trying to not squash anything beneath my laptop. 

"I love history," Theo gushed. "It really explains why people behave certain ways and it can possibly spread more awareness and empathy in society--"

Mr.Dubois's voice interrupted us. "Deandre!"

Theo and I froze. My heart raced as I peeked around Theo to look at the figure standing in the doorway. 

"I'm sorry for missing your class, sir," Deandre started, but stopped immediately when his eyes locked with mine. His mouth stretched into a thin line -- it looked like he was displeased. 

I looked back at Theo. He gave Deandre a nod. "Hey man, good to see you." 

"LANI!" 

A fierce whisper from the doorway caught my attention. Joy was furiously waving me over and Yulissa was shooting an icy glare at Deandre's back. 

Theo nudged me towards them -- but that meant I had to walk past Deandre. I had two choices -- ignore him and run straight to my girls, or acknowledge his presence as a human being. 

Of course, before I decide, Deandre made the decision for me. He gave me a wide berth and walked up to Mr.Dubois, and started to engage with him in a hushed discussion. 

Wow. 

I glanced back at him, just once, before Yulissa stepped into the classroom and yanked me outside. 

As the girls walked me to my next class, Joy chirped, "The worst is over. At least he seems on board with pretending not to know you. It's for the better." 

Perhaps. But I had no clue on how to feel about that.