Scared of Falling in Love

Explain Yourself

After what seems like the longest day ever, we finally get dismissed from school. I make my way to my locker to get all of the books I need in order to complete homework over the weekend. I finally reach my locker when a voice calls out my name. I turn around to see who it is, and to no surprise at all, its Adam. Adam is another one of your typical high school boys. He's the type of guy who thinks he can charm all of the girls and get anyone he wants. It's still hard to believe that he's had so many girlfriends in the past because honestly, he's pretty much the exact opposite of the ideal guy. He's so immature, disrespectful, doesn't think at all before he speaks, and is not the prettiest flower in the garden.

I bite my tongue after having that thought. I know it's really mean to have these kinds of thoughts towards a person, but I can assure you that I am not the only one with negative opinions towards him. It's not that I hate him. I really don't. I just have a sense of dislike towards him. Yes, there is a difference. He doesn't show disrespect towards me very often, besides the time where he called me really ugly in the seventh grade. It's the way he treats others that really annoys me, especially how he treats teachers. Well, to be fair this is coming from the girl known as the goody-goody.

I let out a sigh and prepare myself to deal with the one person I don't feel like dealing with right now.

When he's about to approach me, as if right on cue, someone grabs me and pulls me into the nearest janitor's closet. In this moment, I'm not sure whether I should be glad that I've escaped Adam or terrified that I've just been pulled into a janitor's closet by God knows who. 

Wait. I've just been pulled into a janitor's closet by an unknown person who I can't see in the dark room. Fear rushes through me. I'm so scared that I can't even move, it's as if I'm paralyzed.

"Ow!", cries a familiar voice after what sounds like someone tripping over a bucket and knocking over a bunch of stuff. I hear a switch flip up as the lights flicker on, and I finally see who the kidnapper is. Jaden.

"Jaden? What the hell! Why did you do that!" , I ask confused and mad.

"Sorry I just needed to talk to you", he says, nervously placing his hand on the back of his neck. "You could've just walked up to me like a normal person, you know", I say reaching for the door knob. I try opening the door but it won't open. I turn back to face Jaden. "The door's not opening", I say with a hint of fear in my voice. "Wait what?", he asks, making his way towards the door. He tries opening it, but it won't budge. "Shoot", he says. I roll my eyes. "Great now we're stuck in here", I say sitting down, fishing for my phone inside of my backpack.

And as my bad luck streak continues, I see that my phone's dead. "Hey, give me your phone. I need to send someone an SOS message."

"I'm afraid I can't to that Giselle", he says, joining me on the floor. "Look. I'll still let you tell me whatever it is you need to tell me. Just gi-" , I start to say before he interrupts me. "No it's not that I'm being stubborn or anything. I got my phone taken away in Ms. Funnylooking's class during sixth period", he says looking embarrassed. "It's Ms. Funayling", I say correcting him. "I still don't know how someone could have a name like that", he says sighing. "I think it's a pretty name", I mumble to myself. "Anyways. How did you get your phone taken away?", I ask, confused. Teacher's have always favored Jaden. Perfect grades. Perfect record. Perfect perfect perfect. "Well I was trying to send you an apology message, but she caught me. She read the text in front of the whole class, which was not the best feeling in the world", he says. "An apology text? How nice and thoughtful of you", I say giggling a little. I'm not mad at all. I just want to know how far he'll go with this apology thing.

"I know. Sorry. I'm not the best with the whole emotional and sentimental thing", he says chuckling. "Same. I don't hug my friends very often. And most of the time I think I'm actually incapable of hugging guys", I say, blood rushing into my cheeks. Now he starts laughing, like actually laughing. "It's not funny", I say laughing along with him. "It's pretty sad once you think about it."

He finally stops laughing and replaces it with serious look. It's really silent and I look up at him. He's just staring at me now. He looks as if he's watching puppies being separated from their mother. "Look I'm sorry for the way I acted during lunch today", he says looking so guilty. Guilt is building up inside of me. I'm not even mad. "Jaden, I-", I start to say, but he's not done. "It's just that Tom isn't the easiest guy to be around. We've been friends ever since elementary, but he's changed. It's like I can't even be myself around him. I have to follow what he does or else I'm going to lose him as a friend. And I can't let that happen", he says, placing his hand on the back of his neck again.

Even though it's probably a selfish thing to do in this moment, my lips curve into a smile. "Wow", I say so softly that it's a whisper. He looks up floor to meet my eyes. "What", he asks matching my whisper. "You- you actually trust me enough to tell me that", I ask. He lets out what sounds like a cross between a sigh and a laugh. "I am trying to earn your trust aren't I", he asks, a hint of sarcasm making its way into his voice. I let out a short chuckle and respond. "Yeah", I say, my smile growing. "And don't worry. I wasn't even mad you know."

His eyes grow wider. " You just made me get all sentimental and you weren't even mad?", he asks smiling. "You're playing a tough game here, Giselle", he says, smiling back at me.

We whip our heads towards the door as it opens. The janitor stares at us for a few seconds. "Uh.. Hey kiddos."