Chance

Chapter 10 - Strong and Bound

Sylver Allynsha Armstrong

Finding Adam Brown at all was difficult that day. His name was on everybody's lips, his name was on the tip of everyone's tongue. Some were in awe, some wanted to beat him up. I wasn't one of two.

I didn't know if I should've been proud or scared. He was so unpredictable.

The rest of the day was a blur. I heard that Kyle was sent to the nurse's. Shei was alright. Adam Brown was nowhere at sight. Nobody had seen him after the incident and it had only been an hour and a half.

While I was walking to my locker, from the corner of my eye, I spotted Shei opening his. I looked around. Everyone was staring at him and whispering things to their friends. There wasn't a single smile on anyone's faces. They weren't making fun of him or anything. They were probably going to start rumours.

I walked towards Shei. "Hey, Shei right?" I asked. "Yeah, hey. Could you not talk to me?" he said without looking at me. "Excuse me?" I said, taken back. He shut his locker and left without another word. I watched him walk down the corridor as people still kept looking at him and whispering. Their attention slowly turned to me. I quickly walked back to my locker, gathered my books and left for my last class of the day - Geography.

I hurried into Room 402 and waited as everyone entered and took their seats. By now everyone has probably heard about the fight. How the valedictorian sucker punched the king of the jocks. The buzz about the fight seemed to have grown into a spiral of twisted truths and lies. Some said it happened because Shei had refused to finish Kyle's assignments for him, some said it was because Shei was hitting on one of Kyle's chums. Some said it was because Adam Brown was taunting them and Shei was defending him, some said it was because Kyle didn't like Adam Brown defending me when he spoke ill of me. The last one scared me the most.

Ms. Hill came into the room and the class fell silent. I couldn't concentrate because my mind kept drifting off to what Adam Brown's face looked like when he punched Kyle. He looked so passionate with disgust. It made me adore him more. He looked so honourable. He looked so much like a man. It scared me a little that he could be like that, but it made me feel oddly secure.

A man like Adam Brown, with him spaghetti like arms and long legs, no one would've assumed him to be strong (mentally or otherwise) at first sight. He was very smart and a very good person. He was humorous and thoughtful. He was a delight. He was a treat. And I felt like I would get a cavity of some sort very soon if I didn't let him go. But I couldn't.

Adam Brown was a pole star. In a dark sky, the only one shining. There was no one quite like Adam Brown. Given his entire history, he was very strong, he was very Adam Brown. And the best part was, he was very mine. Even if we were in hiding.

I took my phone out and quickly texted Adam Brown, just to be sure he was okay.

I saw what happened today. Kyle is a jerk, I know. But what you did... I'd be lying if I said I'm not a little scared of you right now. I was just checking in if you're alright. Where are you? I haven't seen you since the incident. You worry me, Adam Brown.

I kept my phone on the table and looked up. Ms. Hill was explaining the origin of the earth. Adam Brown was the salt of the earth, to me. He seemed like everything. This boy whom I didn't look twice at when he walked past me. This boy, this man whom I didn't bother knowing. This man who's mother was my mother's ex-lover. Why did he suddenly become so important?

I decided that if Adam Brown didn't reply to my text, I'd go over to his house tonight. I wanted to make up for not running after him. I felt like an idiot for going with this social norms. If I was developing feelings for this man, I'm sure I could puff my chest out and walk with him down the corridor, holding his hand.

Then why didn't I?

If I did it now, wouldn't it seem a little rebellious? But I liked Adam Brown. Maybe more than liked. I simply adored the guy. He was crazy in the best way possible. I was going to have a serious talk with him today. I was going to share these thoughts with him.

My phone buzzed.

I'm alright, thanks. I'm sorry I missed lunch.

I smiled and looked up at the ceiling. The fan blades were spinning and it made a racketing sound. I looked at my right, this kid was taking notes with such vigour that he gave competition to Adam Brown's writing speed in AP English. I looked at my left and saw this boy, Art, slyly eating crisps. I looked at Ms. Hill who looked tired and bored. I felt bad for her. She was a lovely lady. Then again, after Adam Brown came, rather barged, into my life, I found everyone, even the most hostile of people, lovely.

Can we have dinner tonight? I need to talk to you about a few things.

I got a reply almost instantly.

7 o' clock? My place?

I was going to make things right. I wasn't going to make him do things he doesn't want to do (such as stay in every time we have a meal together). I wasn't going to make him hide with me and make him feel less than. He deserved much better.

I'll pick you up at 7. Wear something semi-fancy. Don't ask to pay. Don't ask any questions.

And I was going to treat him better.