Illusory | ✓

i l l u s o r y : 11

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I L L U S O R Y : 11

Later in the day, after third block passes, Bridger and I head in the direction of where the courtyard is. Close nit together, I feel my heart piddle paddle within its ribbed cage when he throws his right arm against the both of my shoulder blades and his right side of his body is pressed against my left side of my body. I can slightly smell the scent of cologne against his body. The earthly scent waffles throughout my nostrils as I can't help but take a quiet whiff of the scent that is Bridger Willis.

When we reach the doors that lead out to the courtyard Bridger glances over his shoulder at the teenagers passing us before he looks at me. "Jamal and Darby are already at our table. I'll meet you in a second, I'm going to go get my food." I nod my head, allowing him to know that I understand before he turns on his heel and makes his way towards the cafeteria to the left of us.

Before I can open the door though I hear a clearing of a throat. Turning my head, I'm welcomed by Isabella Thomas standing in front of me with perplexed eyes before she smiles softly at me.

"Lovely day, don't you think?" Isabella asks me as I take a step away from her and notice that she's wearing red lipstick today, with a red turtle neck sweater and her trademark denim skirt that hits the floor. Her cross necklace shimmers in the light from the sun beaming in through the windows and I can tell that there's something off in her brown eyes.

"Yeah, I guess so. Kinda cold though," I reply back as I scrutinize her every detail, seeing her hitch her brown purse higher on her arm before she nods her head, agreeing with me.

Isabella glances at the sidelines before she turns back to me and gives me a deep frown. "You're not fooling me at all. I know that you are in companionship with the devil. It is never too late for you to turn away from your horrid ways and be blessed and saved by our beloved Creator, the Lord Almighty."

I don't have time to respond to her before she crosses herself at me and whispers a quiet prayer to herself before she spins on her heels and stalks towards the cafeteria with determination.

Shaking my head at the little comment given to me by the most religious girl in school, I roll my eyes before opening the door and head outside towards my table where Darby and Jamal are already sitting at the picnic table with cups of coffee in their hands and their lunch trays filled with food in front of them.

"Hey little mamma!" Jamal greets me as I smile at him and sit down on the opposite side of the couple, finding that both of them have on their heavy coats. There's really no one else in the courtyard, the fact that they can actually stand the cold was a turn of events. But we're in the south, the deep south, so it's practically warm to northerners.

"Hey, Jamal and Darby," I greet them back before I open my backpack and pull out my lunch. Sitting it on the picnic table I look back up at them and find that they are staring at me with interest sparked in their eyes.

"What? Do I have something on me?" I ask them as I reach my hand up and let it hover over my face in case I forgot to wipe some toothpaste from this morning from the corner of my lips. They shake their head and Darby flickers her eyes towards the courtyard doors before she clears her throat.

"So...tell me about your relationship with you and Bridger. It seems as though the both of you have gotten cozier with each day that passes," Darby notes as I blush and dip my head downwards. My heart quickens in my chest at the thought of us looking as though we have something more than a friendship with each other.