Titanium Promises

Five

It was awful, I rant, being only slightly overdramatic. I almost KISSED him. How could I be so stupid?

You're not stupid, Rebecca says, along with an eye-roll emoji. He's the one who gave you the Look with a capital L.

A capital L? How serious.

I'm serious! If a girl gave me the Look, I'd kiss her in a heartbeat.

I think back to how my first kiss went. Right before I kissed Shawn, there wasn't a Look, more this long silence filled with tension. We leaned in at the same time and bumped foreheads. Laughing and kissing came soon after.

He made it very clear he didn't think of me that way.

Really? He flat out said 'Don't touch me, I never want to see you again'? 

I don't respond. 

Exactly, Rebecca continues. Remember, HE asked to call YOU. HE asked for YOUR number. Not the other way around. That has to mean something, right? He wanted to talk to you even after it was supposedly awful.

I smile. Ok, ok, you're right. Thank you for rooting for me.

Ofc! You seem so happy when you talk about him. Even if I've only known you for like a day, I know that you deserve to be happy.

The moment you get a crush on a girl, I'm going to be all over it. Face times, first date gossip, you name it.

I'm excited. Now go to sleep! It's past midnight.

I look at the time on my phone and, sure enough, it's 12:08 A.M. I saw Luke over five hours ago, and yet, it feels like mere minutes have passed.

I put my phone on the desk next to me—the desk with a picture of me as a child standing next to a sheep in some petting zoo. I don't remember that day, but I must have enjoyed it because I have the biggest smile on my face in the picture.

Sleep comes easily after I close my eyes. It's easy to fall asleep while thinking about the person who brings you a level of happiness you didn't think possible.

⧫ ⧫ ⧫

For once in my life, I'm not dreading school as much as I usually do.

I wave goodbye to Dad and Silvia through the window before pulling out of the driveway and starting towards school.

The parking lot is almost completely full except for a spot near the entrance. I feel relieved to know that I can get out of here quickly if I need to. After getting out of the car, I triple check to see if I've locked the doors before walking inside the school.

I stop in my tracks.

He's wearing a Letterman Jacket and laughing his ass off with them. They're high-fiving him and hyping him up as he flips up the collar on his jacket.

No, please no.

Then Luke spots me. "Reid! Hey!"

Everyone else's smiles disappear as Luke walks over to me. 

"Cool, right?" he says, spinning and showing off his jacket. "I came for a tour yesterday, and these guys recommended I join the football team. Can you come to the game this Thursday?"

I can't answer. I just stand still, stuttering and not making eye contact with him. His face twists, and he attempts to take a step forward when a hand appears on his shoulder.

"Let's get out of here, Luke," the tallest one says. The one who always aims for the head. "You don't want to deal with people like him."

"What—?"