The next day, Daniel returns to school with crutches. I knew Daniel needed my help throughout the day, but he continuously lied and said he was fine. As helpless and weak his condition is, I don't understand why he came back to school.
As the first period bell rings, Daniel and I walk down the hallway. I keep my head down most of the time while he keeps this smile on his face, as if he is in no pain. We arrive to his classroom. I look up to him, and he looks down at me. He nods his head as an okay for me to leave. As I begin to walk away, he takes my hand. I look back to him and he kisses my forehead. A smile stretches across my face as I stare at the floor. "I'll see you later okay?" I nod.
A part of me wants to skip first period because Cameron is in it. That's not the worse part. He's my lab partner and I sit right next to him. I'm afraid of Cameron trying to threaten me in some way. But I cant skip, I'm not that type of person and we have a lab today so I don't really have a choice.
As first period flies by, Daniel is constanly on my mind. From the corner of my eye, I know Cameron is looking at me. He's still upset, especially at me. I can't even look at Cameron in the eyes.
...
Finally, first and second period have flown by and I'm still okay. I rush down the hallway to the band room. You could say the band room is my escape from reality. Sometimes. The double doors is open, waiting for band members to exit and enter. Entering the band room, Cameron is waitinf for me. I wanted to walk away, but he walks toward me. A rush of fear has gone over my head, now feeling afraid of him.
He has cornered me against the wall. I clutch onto my binder, holding the tears back that wish to fall. "Sage, listen to me." Cameron's tone very calm and settle. Reaching for my binder I say, "I don't care what you have to say. I have nothing to do with you anymore!" My head falls to floor with tears pouring out. I've never felt this type of pain in the same 24 hours. "Hey." Cameron backs away. Someone standing in front of me has divided the space between me and Cameron. I recognized the voice. A sigh of relief has calmed me. "Leave her alone." I peek behind Daniel's shoulder and spot Cameron. He tosses my binder to Daniel, which he catches. Cameron leaving with a smirk on his face and hands in his pocket.
Daniel turns around looking down at me. My face turns red. I feel my hands getting sweaty. Daniel hands my binder to me. I stare down at binder, trying to avoid eye contact with him. It's hard trying to avoid looking into those hazel eyes. I sigh.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I think. " I lie. I'm not okay. I don't feel safe around Cameron anymore.
"Okay, be careful." He pats my head and walks away. I guess he put his crutches away because he wasn't holding them. I watch Daniel walk away. I want him to stay with me, I'll feel safe...
...
As the day goes by, Cameron has left me alone. He hasn't talked to me and I can't recall making eye contact with him either. I mean, that's a good thing right? Even during band practice he hadn't approached me. A part of me felt guilty throughout the day due to all the awkwardness. I don't try to think about it, but it's just something that has been on my mind.
...
I arrive home from band practice around 7 P.M. I'm tired, exhausted, and all I want to do is sleep. My eyes slowly begin to close as I walk up the stairs. I'm pretty sure I could've fallen asleep on the stairs if I had a choice. My mom rants me about "practicing to much every week." I mean what can I say, I'm a busy teenager, I never really have time for anyone or anything else besides band. What a band freak I am.
As I reach the top of the stairs, I feel my phone vibrating in my back pocket. I take my phone out of my pocket to see what's causing my phone to ring. Of course, it's Daniel. Why is he calling at this time? We just got back from practice, what does he possibly want from me right now.
"Hello?"
"Good evening Sage!"
"Is there something you need? I'm sort of tired and I would like to sleep."
"Well, I think that you should come outside, maybe you won't feel so sleepy." I don't hang up but I walk to the window in my room. It would have been hard to miss the dozen of balloons Daniel was holding.
"What are you going to do with all those balloons?" I ask while letting out a little giggle. "You'll have to find out yourself. Come outside!" He hangs up leaving me with no clue why he's even at my house. I change my sweaty practice t-shirt to a black tank top. I leave my phone on my bed and run downstairs.
"Mom, I'm going outside! My friend is waiting for me!" She turns around and gives me a shocked and suprised expression. "I thought you were tired, and look at you. All hyper. Go, but be back in ten minutes." I nod in approval and walk to the front door. Taking in a deep breath, I open the door.
The weather was very nice outside. There was a slight breeze. The sky was twinkling with stars. Daniel awaits me with his white smile and balloons. I run up to him and throw my arms around his shoulders. He drops the balloons he was holding, that surprisingly didn't float away. He spins in a circle as I hold on tightly to him. My cheeks hurt from all the smiling I was doing but I was getting dizzy too. Daniel stops spinning and I release my arms from his shoulders.
"I came here to ask you two questions." He looks at me with his hazel eyes in excitement.
"And what are these two questions you had to ask me right now that couldn't wait til later?" He smiles.
I begin to smile, but I dont know what I'm smiling about. Sort of funny.
"I... I... I, was wondering if you wanted to be my date to homecoming?" His stutter was kind of cute. I feel the butterflies flying around in my stomach. "I would love too." I plant a kiss on his cheek leaving him speechless. "Now what was your other question?" Yup, the butterflies were flying. "Would you like to be my homecoming date also as my girlfriend?..." A smile stretches from ear to ear on both of our faces. "Yes." He leans toward me. His gentle hand touches my face as my hand meets his other. My first kiss? This was it. I have to admit too, Daniel was my ideal first kiss. Guess my wish came true.
After several moments of our faces being plastered together, my night has been complete. I take the balloons that he had bought for me and walk to my front door. We wish each other goodnight as he kisses my forehead. I watch him walk away from my house to his car. As he drives away, the butterflies in my stomach have disappeared. I walk over to my mom who appears to be sitting down watching "Dance Moms". I put the balloons by the stairway.
"Hey mom."
"Hey sweety. Who's your friend?"
"It was just Daniel. I've mentioned him to you before."
"Ya, like all the time. You guys like each other, right?"
"Why would you say such a thing?!"
"Honey, you left the door open. I heard everything. And saw everything."
"Everything?"
"Everything."
"Oh. Well uhm, do you think I could get money to buy a dress?"
She gives me a smirk.
"Ya sure. Go get a job!"
"Mom!" She laughs hysterically and begins digging in her purse for her wallet. She hands me a one hundred dollar bill. I stare at the bill.
"Mom, I don't need one hundred dollars. Just twenty."
"Sage, you know nothing about prices. You will get no where with twenty dollars. Use the money for a dress, shoes, and maybe accessories if you have enough." I throw my arms around my mom. She starts coughing.
"What's wrong?"
"You smell like cologne. You smell like a boy. It's gross. Go upstairs and shower now. Wash all your clothes too! I don't want that smell in this house."
I laugh a little. I get up from the couch and run to the stairs. Money in one hand and balloons in the other as I reach the top of the stairs. I put the money in my wallet and the balloons by my closet. I can see my phone blowing up with message notifications from Daniel. I read, "One last thing I forgot to tell you. I love you Sage. "
