Thunder & Lightning

Rebecca: Part 16

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"If we do not protect the quiet around us, there will always be noise within us."

― Craig D. Lounsbrough

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It had been a few weeks since our first not date and since then we had gone on another at least once a week. Sometimes even two or three times a week.

Anytime I didn't want to go home all I had to do was call Devon and he'd be on his way.

I didn't feel bad about leading him on either because at this point although he didn't accept my perspective he never seemed to get tired of trying.

It was actually pretty ridiculous how understanding he was being about it.

He made sure our not dates were very much not dates. We did small things together like driving his sister Gigi to appointments, or take Gigi and my brother to the park, going grocery shopping, and even just folding laundry at his house while eating takeout. Sometimes we just studied.

And, although all we did were little things he always found a way to make it feel special.

It was exciting. Not just the secret kisses between classes in the library or the way he'd hold my hand when no one was watching. But just talking to him made me feel giddy.

I never imagined that this is how it would feel to be around someone you liked so much and know that they like you just as much back.

If this is what it's like when we aren't even dating I can't imagine what dating would actually be like. Not that I've changed my mind or anything or that at night I lay in bed and picture it. Though if it were a picture I have a feeling it would be a pretty great photo.

But just like any picture, eventually, the image would start to fade.

The more we spend time together the more I struggle to hide just how much I've fallen for him. And whenever I try to stop falling I just seem to slip further.

The school bell rang loudly snapping me out of my train of thought. "You okay, Becca? You've been spaced out all day." Monica said turning to me as she put her binder into her bag.

"It's nothing. I'll meet you in the cafeteria. I have to get Emma." I said quickly barely looking at her as I grabbed my bag and rushed out of the classroom.

As soon as I ran into the hall, I saw him. Devon was leaning against a row of lockers across from my classroom door. He smiled as he saw me.

"Hey," He greeted me as he walked beside me. His bag was casually slung over his shoulder. Although I was speed walking he had no trouble keeping up with me. One of his strides made up the distance of two of mine. Curse his long legs.

"Why are you following me?" I asked curiously glancing at him as I walked around a girl walking in the opposite direction.

"I wanted to know if you wanted to come over today?" Devon asked shyly as I stopped at Emma's classroom door. He quickly stopped beside me. "Em, I'm here. You ready?" I called into the classroom. All the other students and even the teacher were already gone.

Emma turned toward the doorway as she heard my voice. She quickly put the book was she reading down. "Yeah, hold on." She called back to me from her desk.

I turned back to Devon to see him looking at me hopefully. A puppy dog expression on his face. I sighed. "Sure, I drove Em and I today so I'll meet you there after I drive her home when school gets out," I promised.

"Grea-" Devon started to say but was stopped as one of his friends suddenly ran over to us from down the now empty hall.

"Man, I've been looking for you everywhere. You've got to come with me. Levi is having a total freakout in the bathroom. He needs us. Michael is already with him." Devon's friend Daniel said quickly not even sparing me a glance. He didn't even seem to notice as Emma finally walked over to us from her desk.