Down The Hall

Chapter Fourteen

I catch myself waiting for him to enter the cafeteria. One person after the next, I'm nervous that he will be the one to enter. I want him to catch me looking for him across the lunch room and for his eyes to find mine on him in a sea of pupils. I want him to search for me just as I do for him. I've never felt this way about anyone before.

Sarah sat on the inside of the booth beside me, eating the chicken bowl special that they served for lunch. I ate the same thing, enjoying every bite because school food is one of my comforts. Jada and Tyler were opposite of us, eating each other's lunch and talking about some movie they hoped to see together.

"We could go to that drive-in theater instead," Tyler inquired.

"What movie's playing?" Jada asked.

"Cars."

"I'm coming with you!" Sarah said, shooting up from her food.

"Okay, yeah, you can be the third wheel beside us while we are making out," Tyler sarcastically said.

Sarah scrunched her face, "It's a kid's movie."

"Take the hint," Tyler said back, smiling at her.

"What hint?" Sarah playfully replied. "It can just be a double date." She threw her arm around me and laid her head on my shoulder, nudging into it dramatically.

"Baby, are you finally asking me out?" I asked, playing along with her.

"There's no one else I would be asking babe."

"I'll make sure to cut my nails for tonight."

I was the first to laugh at my joke, but both because it was funny and embarrassing to say out loud. Sarah and Jada dropped their heads in laughter when I started laughing. Each of our laughs was distinct from the others. It was what followed along with it that made it even more special. Sarah stomps her feet, Jada starts clapping, and I slap the table once before it sounds like I can't breathe anymore.

"No way you guys are coming now," Tyler said.

"Babe, I think I could use them coming with us. You don't really do it rig-," Jada couldn't finish her sentence from laughing so hard.

The whole table was cracking up, trying to get jokes out, but they were cut off by the person laughing. I looked around the cafeteria, scanning to see if there were faces turned toward our table since we were being pretty loud. That's when I finally saw him walk into the lunch room.

Henry had his hand in his hair, running it through the fluffiness created by the dry school air, which just seemed to shift as he entered. His friends were talking to him as he walked, but his attention was focused elsewhere, in the rows of students sitting at tables.

A superhero logo was on the front of his blue shirt, just like the one I wore yesterday night. It was a lot like the one he saw me wearing last night. My mouth slightly parted in surprise and then turned up. Henry's eyes finally found mine, and he pointed at the logo on his shirt. I shook my head back and forth in disbelief that he decided to wear a Superman shirt just as I did the other night. He smiled and walked into the lunch line.

"Who is it?" Jada asked, slapping my hand to get my attention.

I pulled my gaze away from Henry and answered, "Huh, it's nothing."

"You can't even stop smiling, who is it?" Jada stood up a little in her seat, trying to see if she could see someone who possibly looked interested in me.

"I'm literally always smiling," I said, exaggerating a smile.

It was true. I am always smiling most of the time. My eyes get small, obvious smile lines appear, and my cheeks turn red from the pressure. It always feels like there is a smile on my face. It makes others feel comfortable, which makes me feel liked.