With Him

Chapter Eighteen

^ Tyler's Necklace ^

Tyler's P.O.V

"Okay so I know it's not great or anything but considering you didn't even tell me today was your birthday I think it's pretty good" James says handing me a tiny black box with a little black bow tied around it.

He's leaning whit his back against his driver side window looking at me as i stare at the box. I open it slowly and there's a necklace in it, I gently grab the chain and pull it out.

It's bronze, a medium kind of length, and hanging on it is a rabbit that's dressed like he's from Alice in wonderland.

"You said Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was your favorite book, and Greyson mentioned how you have this thing where you always want to be on time, so you kind of remind me of the white rabbit. There's a jewelry store next to the diner, and they had a Alice in Wonderland line. So I went over before work yesterday and got it" he smiles.

"Do you like it?" I look up at him and smile, "You listened when I said it was my favorite book?" "Of course, want me to put it on?".

I nod handing him the necklace, and turn so my back is to him, I move my hair over to the side and he brings the necklace in front of me then clasps it in the back. "There" he says and I put my hair back and look down at it, the charm lands right above my chest.

"Thank you" I take the charm between my fingers feeling the texture, "You're welcome" I really love his smile.

"What time will the party be over tonight?" I want to stay at work as long as I can, "I think like nine, ten somewhere between there".

"You aren't gonna be there at all?" he looks really sad, "I just, there's gonna be a lot of people and even if I lock myself in my room I'll still hear all the loud. And if I'm home people are gonna try and make me go downstairs I just know it" I look through his windshield and see everyone looking at us.

I feel really uncomfortable and James notices, "So you're helping Vivi with the showcase?" he scoots over to my and kind of blocks my view of all them. "Um yeah" I nod and look down, "I heard about her friend not being able to sing anymore, did she find someone to replace her?" "Uh huh" I nod and look at his jeans.

There's a hole on his thigh and a grass stain around it. I didn't even realize I was moving my hand towards his thigh, subconsciously I guess.

I wrap my finger around the strings sticking out from the hole and twirl ot around my finger.

"What are you doing?" I stop, I drop the strings and look up at him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that" this is really embarrassing, "You're fine I promise" he chuckles.

---

Science went by without any trouble today, Felix got over himself and cut open our new pig today. I got to take notes on the different parts, it was very boring.

I gave James back his headphones in Economics, then fell asleep through the entire class. James said he'd give me the answers to the assignment so I didn't have to worry.

James paid for my lunch again, "James you don't have to do that" and like the last few days we've had this same conversation. "Well too bad, I'm gonna keep doing it" we head over to our table and we sit.

I don't pay much attention to the conversation, Brooklyn is going on about some boy or something, Vivi is glaring at Kyle across the cafeteria. Oscar is complaining about how he failed a test and he's convinced his teacher hates him. Finn talks about how he's gotta go to the office after lunch because his teacher filed a harassment against him.

"Well if you didn't constantly stare at her butt and offer to stay after class all the time she wouldn't have filed one" Felix laughs elbowing him.

"I can't help it she's just so-" "Uh uh, no there's girls at the table don't you finish that sentence" Felix cuts him off and glares at him. After how Felix had acted at dinner last night I didn't take him as the type to be a somewhat of a gentleman.

Finn just rolls his eyes at him, "Tyler you coming" I look up and see Dallas standing and ready to go to the nurse. "Oh yeah hold on" I grab my trash and go throw it away then come back to get my bag and follow Dallas out of the cafeteria.

"You've been weird recently" he says once we hear the doors slam behind us. "What" I drag out the 'a', "Like that, it's like you're high on drugs or something you're not your normal self, you sleep alot and you're just like gone" I just roll my eyes at him.

"I'm fine Dallas I can assure you", "I can't believe you told Felix to grow a pair last night" he says changing the subject. "Well, he did", "He felt bad about what he said you know".

I roll my eyes again, "I doubt that", "He did, once you left he immediately regretted it". We get to the nurses office, and do our stuff.

"So Mr. Green's assignment for this week, I wasn't listening the other day when he talked about it" I say as we leave the nurses office and head to Green's class.

"We have to write a poem" seriously, "Is that all?" like it can't be that easy this is Mr. Green we're talking about.

"Well like we have to present it and it has to be about something we hate" Oh, well.

I nod and we enter the stupid class, but Mr. Green's not here. Instead a lady in like her twenties is sitting at his desk, finally the day has come I won't have to talk to him.

Class starts and I pull out my notebook to start on my poem. I know how I want it to go its just, with Dallas being in here I feel like it's gonna be weird.

"Your necklace is cute" I think it's Gracie, says about ten minutes into class. "Oh thanks my boyfriend got it for me for my birthday" I say and take it in my hand, "Wait, your boyfriend only got you a little necklace for your birthday?" Matthew says looking up from his phone.

"Um yeah, it's the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, It's my favorite book and I'm a stickler for time. He said I remind him of White Rabbit" I smile, "Oh I mean I guess that's cute, but like a necklace that's all he could get you?" Dallas's other friend says. My smile drops, I really like the necklace it was sweet of James. He had listened and thought about me, is him only getting me a necklace a bad thing?

No of course not, it was very thoughtful and I like it, no I think I might love it.

Love? What is love? Do I love the necklace? Do I... do I love James...?

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Tyler's figuring out feelingsssss