Paperthin Hymn

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

   My heart was literally about to fly out of my chest.

     Oh my gosh.

     I had come to pick her up and walk her to the bus stop for the first day of school. I had tried to remain casual, though I was excited about being with her every day from now on and a little worried at the idea of Lexi having to keep quiet during class. I was deep in thought, imagining her getting detention for talking to much on the first day, when the door opened.

     There she was in a navy blue uniform, her hair neatly twisted into two long braids and her skirt brushing the top of her knees. Cream colored socks were pulled up her calves.

     She. Was. Adorable.

     "Hey Top!" she chirped, pulling on her bright yellow backpack. "Ready to go?"

     I nodded, my mouth too dry to answer. I needed to hug her. All the way to the bus stop I stuggled to keep my arms to my sides. I stole glances at her, burning the image of Lexi wearing school clothes into my mind in case I was dreaming.

     The night before, I had pinched myself several times to see if I would wake up. How had my life become so perfect? Comparing my life now to a month ago, none of it seemed possible. Everything had changed.I had changed, all for the better. And the girl who had done it all was staying by my side for good.

     The school bus was half full, and as we searched for seats Taeyang called out to us from the back row, waving us over.To my dismay, Lexi sat down right beside him, letting her sunshine-smile beam all over him. "Good morning!"

     Taeyang quickly scanned her up and down, blinking rapidly. Then a light blush crept over his cheeks and his eyes dropped to his hands as he shyly said, "Morning."

     Not happening.

     "Aish, scoot over!" I muttered, practically sitting in their laps at first as I wedged myself between them. The both of them looked at me questioningly.

     "I can't sit in the middle," I lied. "I get neauseous."

     Lexi nodded, but Taeyang didn't look convinced, narrowing his eyes. I ignored it, relieved that it was my thigh was brushing against Lexi's instead of his. Looking down I realized that I could see her knees. I had never seen them before. They were nice. Smooth. Round.

    Wait a minute.I mentally slapped myself. Why the heck was I staring at her knees? Who does that? Suddenly I felt like a creeper, so I forced myself to look away. But it was such a pretty knee.

      "Oh, I made something for you," Lexi said, rummaging through her backpack and pulling out a disc in a green jewel case. She passed it over me to Taeyang, who took it carefully with two hands. "I burned a copy of my DBSK concert dvd from their 2006 tour."

     "Awesome!" he said excitedly. "I can't wait to watch it! This is from their 'O-Jung. Ban. Hap. album, right?"

      Lexi nodded eagerly, making her braids bounce. "And they do some songs from-"

     "Oh, look at that!" I interrupted, point out the window to the left. My arm was almost touching Taeyang's face. They both looked out.

     "What?" he asked, searching for he had no idea what.

     "That dog only had three legs."

     "I didn't see-"

     "I think I'll try to get a little sleep, I was up late. So can you please keep it down?" I leaned my head back and turned slightly towards Lexi, who was smiling with raised eyebrows. I shut my eyes quickly.

     She didn't know what I had done, right? I was concerned at first, but decided there was no way she could figure it out.

     I tiptoed quietly down the hallway towards Lexi's class, clutching my restroom hall pass tightly. She was a grade below me and Taeyang, and I just had to check on her. Was she comfortable? Did she get a good seat? Was she keeping up with the teacher? She had learned hangul well enough, but she was still a little slow.

     Carefully so as not to be seen I approached the door and peered through the small square window. I scanned the group, quickly finding her in the middle row beside the window. Her text book was open in front of her and she tapped her pencil lightly against the desk. Her other hand tugged at one of her long braids. She chewed her bottom lip as she glanced from her classmates to the teacher then back to her desk. Her shoulders were tense and she seemed...nervous.

     I was surprised. She had seemed so excited and ready to go to school, talking animatedly about it all week. But then again, she was in a new school with new people in a new country speaking a language she probably only used with her mother back in the states.

     I stuck my hands in my pockets and headed back to class, wondering which way Lexi felt. Was she happy or sad? I remembered once when I was little Appa and Omma argued about something and Appa went to his study like always. I had followed him and he had told me to never trust what a woman says because she usually means the opposite. Should I apply this knowlege in this situation?

     Back in class I was sitting at my desk, thinking alternately about Lexi and what the teacher was saying, when the boy beside me whispered "Yah!"

     I looked over at him and, still keeping his eyes on the teacher, he passed me a carefully folded note. I took it and waited for him to give me directions as to where to pass it. He noticed me staring and motioned for me to open it.

     I pointed at myself. For me?

     He nodded.

     I looked around the room, wondering who it could be from. Taeyang had been asleep since five minutes after class started. Was it from Jiyong? Did we have the same homeroom this semester? Did he want to meet me after school and get revenge? Anxiously I scanned the room for his blond head but he wasn't there. I sighed with relief. I slowly unfolded the note, hiding it under my desk.

     In scratchy handwriting, it readBack row, second seat to the right.

     Huh? Confused, I looked behind me for that seat. What I found was horrifying.

     Giant smile, squinty eyes, and waving me exuberently was none other than Daesung.

     Oh crap.