Don't Stand So Close (completed)

Chapter 18

It's been just over two weeks. I haven't heard back from Harry nor from Starla. Harry is having his literature lecture here after Thanksgiving and I haven't signed up this time. It's a new series and I'd love to take it but I can't bring myself to sit through a weeklong lecture with him at the front. It'll be torture, so I'll sit this one out. My life is a joke at this point. I am barely maintaining my gpa to keep my scholarship but that's it. I drag myself to classes and take notes and force myself to eat once every day. I drink coffee all day and sleep the rest of the time. I haven't picked up a book to read in who knows how long. Nothing is right in my world but I know eventually I'll be okay.

I text Harry every night and tell him I love him and that I miss him. I know he hasn't blocked me yet, because my texts are always left on read. Which does give me hope, but the more days that go by the less hope I feel for that little thing anymore.

Today I feel okay. Not good, but good enough. So, I shower and put on clean clothes and get my ass to school before my class starts. I've made it early enough that I wait in the hallway for a bit before going into the classroom and watch the other students pass by. Some stop and say hi to me and others just go on their way, not even noticing my presence. I look down at my phone to see that Harry has still not texted me or messaged me back and I open up Instagram to see what Starla is up to. She hasn't blocked me yet either. I'm thankful that I'm not blocked at least. Her life seems just the same. You would never know she'd gone through a trauma recently, finding out her dad and her best friend are lovers. She and Paul are still going strong and it's cute. I smile lightly at a post that Starla is tagged in from Paul.

Suddenly I get a light tap on my arm and I'm face-to-face with Carter. He's a jock and he's been coming around for a while. Kind of annoying but he's attractive and I know he's trying to get my number. It's like, no matter what I say or wear, or how many showers I skip, he still comes up to me and tries something. He's relentless but he's cute so I tolerate him more than others.

"How's everything in your world today, Anna?" He smirks down at me and I put my phone into my back pocket and smile up at him.

"Uh, alright. And you?" I raise my eyebrows and he gives me a genuine smile, that's more attractive than his cocky smirk and answers.

"Pretty good. I still haven't gotten your number, though. Would love to get that sometime."

I shake my head and laugh, "Ahhh... Still on that are we? Hmm.. I don't know, Carter..."

"Damn... I love it when you say my name. Sounds so pretty when you say it. Don't know what it is about you, Anna. I'm not gonna stop trying you know... Unless you tell me to stop, of course." He goes back to smiling with that dumb smirk on his face.

"Why do you want my number so bad? Is there something you can't tell me in person?" I play into the game a little. He's kind of cute and entertaining but I don't know him and I probably will never give him a chance. I'm all tied up in knots over Harry. It's doubtful I'll ever get over Harry. Maybe in another world I could entertain this with Carter a bit, but not in this one.

"I just want to be able to text you and call you, maybe..." he looks down and then over his shoulder and gets in a little closer to me, "Ever since I saw you in my astronomy class last year I realized how out of this world you are..." he snickers a little and I let out a loud cackle. He really just said that to me and it was sort of endearing, but he continues after shaking his head and blushing – he knows what he said was ridiculous, "... but seriously. Come on. You know you're hot. Look at you. I wanna take you out and show you I'm not just some dumb jock. I have real feelings and a brain you know."

I feel myself blushing a little. Carter's close proximity is making me feel a little nervous but I don't mind it too much. I'm definitely not giving him my number, though. Carter starts to speak again and I look over his shoulder down the hallway and suddenly my fingers go numb and my heart stops. It's Harry looking right at me. I blink a couple of times to make sure that's really him, but it's definitely him and he's walking my way with a cold look on his face that is edging toward anger. I look back to Carter who's still trying to get my number and saying something I'm not hearing because soon Harry is right behind Carter and clears his throat, interrupting whatever it was Carter was saying.