HIM

CHAPTER 35

And that is how weird the day got for the both of us in school that following day. We ran into each other over the short break session.
"Hi, wasn't expecting to see you."
"Uhmm, me neither."
Then there was the pretty awkward silence, and we popped up at the same time,
"I am going to go now,"
"Oh, yeah, sure."
And we parted ways.
At lunch, I found myself with just Gabby. I kept looking around to see if I could find him, but he never came to view.
"You seem distracted today Linn, what's up?"
"Uhmm, haven't seen Flen, that's all."
"Oh, maybe he's got something keeping him busy so he couldn't make it to lunch," he reassured like he believed it.
"Yeah, could be a possibility."
Then we just ate in total silence and walked our different ways.

Then I think I saw his back right ahead of me, and just as I was about to pat him, a guy approached and called out, "Bruno."
That confirmed my desperation. I don't know what was going to happen next because this was not a good sign, hallucination is never a good sign.
I walked away from the alley and took straight to the corner in the library.
I leaned against the wall, and sighed a great relief like I really needed it.
Then slowly took in fresh gulps of the cool crispy air with my eyes closed. It felt really good.
When I opened my eyes, I saw the last thing I was expecting to see here in this corner.
I mean, this is a place where people don't come around so regularly, I don't either. But the grass has all the evidence you'll need to show for that. It was a discreet place, more like never disturbed even.
But there was someone.
The guy who'd asked me to be his girl, the one who was causing me the earlier hallucination, and just maybe the guy who was starting to drive me crazy.
My chest went fluttery, my eyes in one clear direction, I didn't even move an inch. Maybe because I thought this was another big hallucination. I swear if it's one, am screaming my head off this time.
Then he just kept drawing closer, and closer, till he was just but a meter away from me.
"Hey, am really sorry if I rushed things for you Linn, I don't want us to be this weird because of that. I'll withdraw my statement, and we'll get back to normal."
Why in the world was he talking too much?
"You haven't even asked me what I want you know," I mentioned.
"You hang up on me last night, that was enough to tell me I scared you away."
"Oh, last night had nothing to do with you."
"I still want to be your friend, so if I'll have to stop saying what I said I will, is that okay?"

And then another perfect timer like my grandma sounded;the bell. The lunch break period was over!
"Let's get to class Linn, we'll talk about this later," he said.
It wasn't fair. Why didn't the bell and my own grandma want me to just make this one big decision for once!
It was infuriating!

May noticed I was uneasy the whole afternoon. In fact she complained that all morning I had been avoiding her.
What was my excuse?
I thought for a second and felt like a little genius when a solution popped in my head.
"Hey May, we need to talk."
"God! That's scary. What is it about?"
You could read the tension on her face.
"I won't give you a clue, just find time."
"OK, I am already scared, after school then."
That should make my life easier because I'd tell her about Bill,then live free to be Flen's girlfriend.
Oh, so I was going to say yes you mean?
Sounded very big in my own brain already, I wondered how it'd come out.
Then the stupid smile just came in.
May noticed it.
"Hey, you're hiding something," she said poking my belly.
I just laughed lightly and said a plain no. She didn't ask anything further.

The worst that could happen was that when the bell rang for home, we had all walked out as me, May, Daisy, Frances and Miranda.
But before we got any further, the sweet little devil appeared and stole her. It was as if he'd got a clue I was to spill out everything today. He just said hi, and swept her off her feet literally. She laughed, she was happy.
Maybe it could wait till another time.
Then he gave me that evil look, as if smiling at my failure.
His days were numbered, I gave back a daring look.

But it didn't have to end entirely so bad. Because I got to be Flen's girl after all.
I said yes.