Thunder & Lightning

Rebecca: Part 18

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"When you go to say hello to nature, put every redundant sound away, for nature is music, and that alone should suffice."

― Michael Bassey Johnson

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Trying to stay away from Devon was like trying to fight gravity.

And, the more I tried to avoid him, the more I became hyper-aware of Devon.

It was like the air became sharper whenever he was around. I found myself not knowing how to act whenever we caught each other's gaze.

He looked at me with such sincerity and worry. I hated it. And, I hate how it only made me want him more.

I was done wasting his and my time. There was no point continuing whatever it was we had because eventually, it would end up just like everything else, in heartache. So I've decided to end it early, now.

I had been ignoring him all week. Always turning to go in the other direction whenever I saw him coming. Maybe I was a coward for running away but I didn't care. All I could hope was that eventually he would get the hint and let me go.

"You look tired." Was the first thing Monica said as she and the girls walked over to me. First period was about to start and I had just finished walking Emma to class.

"I am," I admitted. Jacob and I had been staying at Emma's house for the last few days.

Monica looked at me in worry but didn't ask any further questions. But I knew as soon as Katy and Iyonna were out of earshot whatever questions she had would be asked. And I didn't feel like answering them, not today.

"What happened with you and Sanders?" Katy asked randomly changing the subject.

I sighed.

"Get tired of him already? Watching him still pinning after you is getting pretty sad. He looks like a pathetic dog." Iyonna laughed as if anything she said was remotely funny.

I wanted to smack her. The only one that looked like a dog right now was her, and not a cute one at that.

I tightened my grip on the books in my hands. Stay calm, Rebecca. Just let it go.

"Whatever happened, you def dodged a bullet. He has way too much baggage. I heard he and his friends are into drugs now." Katy said leaning closer to us as she spoke. She lowered her voice as she said the last part.

The warning bell rang.

"I'm going," I announced quickly before walking away from them too fast for them to try and stop me. I didn't even care as I walked in the opposite direction of my first class.

My heart pounded as I thought about the terrible things they had just said. A part of me wondered if they had said those things just to get under my skin.

As soon as I turned the corner I crashed into the one person I had been hoping to avoid.

Shit, how long had he been standing there? Devon looked at me with such hurt on his face. His eyes were wide and sad like a deer caught in headlights. I didn't like it.

I never wanted to see him frowning again.

"How long have you been standing there?" I asked nervously as I looked around us. The hallway was nearly empty now.

"Long enough to hear you and your friends making fun of me."

"I hadn't said anything," I argued looking back at him. He rolled his eyes. "That's part of the problem," he sighed running his hand back his hair.