The Religious & The Damaged

43

Elias

  I walk into Algebra class. I don't look back to see if Joseph's there, I just take my seat.

  Jillian smiles at me.

  "Hi." She says.

  I smile back. "Hi."

  I look in front of me when the teacher begins the lesson, and I feel Jillian's eyes still on me and I look over.

  She noticeably blushes.

  "Do you want to hang out after school?" She asks in a hushed voice.

  I look in front of me briefly; Nick told me to go for it, then I think back to my conversation with Joseph yesterday.

  I should move on.

  "Yeah. Okay." I answer.

  Her smile grows, and she looks in front of her. I look forward too.

  I stand at the school gate after school, my back against the pillar and my body trembles at the sudden rush of wind.

  I shove my hands deeper in my hoodie pocket and look over when I hear Nicks voice.

  His arm is wrapped around Spencer's shoulder. "Sup, man. Ready to go?" He asks.

  "Can't. I'm hanging out with Jillian."

  He grins and opens his mouth to say something that I think would be some sort of joke, but I'm quick to interrupt.

  "Fuck off." I say.

  He huffs out a laugh. "Yeah, alright. Text me how it goes?"

  "Sure."

  "Bye, man."

  He holds out his fist to me, and I smile softly as I collide my fist with his.

  "Bye." I reply, and I smile over at Spencer.

  He offers me a slight nod before they walk off.

  I look past my shoulder, toward the school and see Jillian walking towards me. I stand upright and turn. She smiles at me.

  "Hey." She greets me.

  We begin walking alongside each other.

  "So, I was thinking we could hang out at my house?" She suggests.

  "Okay." I reply.

  Another rush of wind blows past us, and her shoulder touches mine as she leans close.

  "God. I hate winter." She says in between a shiver.

  I keep my hands tucked in my hoodie. "Yeah." I sound so awkward.

  And it's not because I'm nervous, I just simply feel awkward about the touch of our arms, but I don't move away or bring attention to it because it doesn't really matter.

  I just assume it's because I'm a very awkward person in general.

  "Did you have fun the other night?"

  I gulp lightly, and my gaze falls to the ground.

  "Yeah, it was a lot of fun."

  If only that was true—every time I think about it, the more depressing the night gets.

  "Good." She says.

~•~

  We stop at her house and she walks through the door. I follow.