The Fate of Our Hearts

Chapter 3 - There She Goes

Gio

1997

Shit! I'll be seeing her twice a week for months!

A zing shoots around my body like a pinball, lighting up different parts in either excitement or alarm. My brain struggles to keep up with the conflicting sensations or even accept the idea that Lauren is in this class.

Why would she be taking Study Hall all by herself? I'm enrolled because of my less-than-stellar report card last semester. The school counselor forced me to take it instead of Woodshop as an elective to help get my grades up. I thought it would be boring as all fuck, but no way—not with Lauren Baker sitting right across from me.

As I follow my friends out of the cafeteria, I can still feel the rapid thumping of my heart. Has she heard the rumors? Or worse—seen it for herself. My stomach packs in on itself at the thought. I'd been dying to run into her months ago, but after what happened, my new plan was to keep my head down and my thoughts away from girls. This definitely throws a wrench into that. But the idea of going up to talk to her without knowing if she knows scares the crap out of me—especially in front of Adam and the other guys. Fuck, I wish they weren't in the class too. If only—

THUMP.

I smack right into Adam's back as he comes to an abrupt halt, not realizing we've already arrived at the bus lineup. He gives me an annoyed glance as we board the bus.

"What's up with you, Regali?" Adam squints at me as we sit down in our usual spot near the back.

I'll need more info before I answer that. "What?" I say innocently.

He rolls his eyes. "You've been out to lunch for the last hour. You okay, man?"

I run my hand through my hair and scratch my neck. "Yeah. I'm fine."

His lips pinch together, not totally convinced. "You gonna go get high with Charlie after school again?"

"I dunno, probably." I shrug. "Why don't you get high with us anymore?"

"I'm done with that shit," he says, fixing me with his cool blue eyes. "Coach had us sign a no-drug use pledge this week, and I wanna make Varsity next year."

"The coach isn't going to drug test you, Adam. How's he gonna know?"

"I'll know, Gio. I just don't want to anymore, okay?"

"Yeah. Cool. Whatever," I tell him, backing off.

"Well, I think you should think about quitting, too," he says, giving me a lame parental look. "If you're still taking those meds... I mean, I don't think it's smart with what happened, yannoe?"

He's right. But I don't like getting lectured.

"I won't go over to Charlie's and get high today, okay?" I bristle. "I'll just go home."

The truth is, I really do just want to go home, be by myself, and think about... things. Turning away from him to stare out the window, a memory flashes into my consciousness of a bus ride three years ago—a very similar situation when I couldn't wait to get home alone, with thoughts of Lauren running through my mind.

♡♡♡

1994

Holy shit, she just obviously turned and smiled... at me!

My whole body is buzzing from the brief eye exchange we just shared. There she goes! My eyes dart out the window to catch the last glimpse of her and Aayla walking down the side of the grassy country road before the bus speeds up, and the broad, leafy arms of the old oak tree block my view.