The Fate of Our Hearts

Chapter 20 - Come and Get It

Gio

My bag skids across the blue metal table, and I step and turn to sit on top next to it—I'm the first one out at our table on Thursday. 

The clouds begin to part, letting the sun out, and I push the long sleeves of my green thermal up my forearms, letting the sun soak into my back, warming me up like a heat sync. It hasn't felt this nice at lunch for quite a while. 

Adam is next to arrive. He's taller and bigger than me now, nearly six-two, and on the JV basketball team this semester. He's been working out at home, and it's starting to pay off—I need to get on that. He slides in next to me. "Hey, G."

He's giving me those concerned eyes again. Shit.

My eyes drop to my hands, and I twist my watch on my wrist back and forth. "Hey."  

"Um, so...look." He runs a hand over his cropped brown hair. "I know you've been avoiding talking about it in front of the other guys, but what's going on with you and that chick, Lauren?"

"Not much," I shrug, trying to play it cool, but I know Adam will see right through it—he's my best friend next to Charlie. I'm just hoping he drops it like he has been.

Adam raises his eyebrows in disbelief. "Come on, man, I see how you look at her in Study Hall. You practically eye-bang her every day, and last time, when she sat with you all class, you got all gooey over her girly magazine."

My defenses go up. "Did not!"

"Did so! And then, you took her around the back of the cafeteria and came back with a boner." 

My body temp shoots up. "Fuck off, Adam. I did not!" 

"Might as well have. I know you, Gio. You were wearing the same face as after you kissed her the night of the dance in seventh grade. You got it bad for her again."

"I do not!" I refute again like a little kid, crossing my arms—trying to show him, and also myself, that I'm not as infatuated as I really am.

He rolls his eyes. "Stop lying." Then he lowers his voice, and his eyes soften. "She's hot, I get it. It's just... I mean, are you sure you should be getting... you know... involved with another girl... this soon?"

He's not wrong. I didn't mean for it to happen. But I just can't seem to help the way I feel about her. She just feels... right.

I let out a frustrated huff. "Come on, Adam. I'll be okay."

He heaves a sigh. "Fine, whatever. Want to come over after school and play Mortal Combat?"

Uhh. "I Can't."

"Why, what else are you doing?"

I look away from his eyes. "I'm, I'm gonna hang out with Eddie after school." 

"Eddie's grounded for breaking that window... remember?" He squints at me. "Fuck man, what are you really doing?"

Shit. I forgot about that.

I pick at a loose thread on the sleeve of my shirt. "Lauren's giving me a ride home."

"What?!" He looks at my face and knows exactly what's happening after school today. "Fuck Gio! You're mom's going to kill you."

"It'll be fine. Ren's a good person, and she doesn't do drugs."

"And what about Charlie?"

"Hey! You know what? I can do whatever I want. Just get off my case, okay, Adam!"

He holds up his hands. "Whatever you say, man. I'm just trying to look out for you."

"I know," I mumble.