Falling For You

Chapter 15: The Feelings

The next morning, Jenna picked me up for school. The drive to school was silent at first, the only sound filling the air was the soft hum of the engine. I gazed out of the window, lost in thought, my mind racing with the events of the past few days. Just as I started daydreaming, Jenna noticed my far-off look.

“Hey, you okay?” she asked, concern lacing her voice.

I nodded, forcing a smile, but it didn’t quite reach my eyes. Jenna, determined to lift my spirits, turned up the music. The upbeat tunes filled the car, and I couldn't help but tap my fingers against my thigh.

“Let’s make this ride fun!” she declared, her enthusiasm infectious.

As she sang loudly, her voice filling the car, I played along, joining her in song. I knew she was trying to cheer me up, and it felt nice to have her beside me, reminding me that I wasn’t alone.

Arriving at school, Jenna parked in our usual spot, and as we stepped out of the car, a familiar voice sliced through the morning air.

“Oh, look!” Roxanne sneered, leaning against her car with her minions flanking her. “Didn’t come with your ‘boyfriend’ today? Maybe he finally realized he’s too good for you after that little incident yesterday.”

I clenched my jaw, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks but tried to ignore her, signaling to Jenna to do the same. Roxanne’s smug expression was hard to ignore, but I was determined not to give her the satisfaction of a reaction.

As we walked past, I could feel Roxanne’s eyes boring into me, her disbelief palpable as we continued on, pretending she didn’t exist.

A few seconds later, a familiar car sound roared into the parking lot, and my heart skipped a beat. It was Mateo. He stepped out of his car, a picture of calmness, and quickly made his way over to us.

“Morning,” he said, glancing between Jenna and me.

Jenna shot me a knowing smile before excusing herself, claiming she needed to meet someone in the library. I knew she was lying but appreciated her giving us a moment alone.

Mateo and I walked side by side to my locker, chatting about mundane things, but an awkward tension hung in the air, making every word feel heavy.

After a moment, I mustered the courage to ask, “Did your dad say anything else about what happened?”

Mateo shrugged, his expression serious yet reassuring. “He was okay with it, actually. Said I did the right thing by standing up for you but warned me to avoid fighting in the future.”

Hearing that eased some of my worries, but the awkwardness remained. When we reached my locker, I hesitated before speaking again. “You don’t have to walk me to class today,” I said softly, not meeting his eyes.

Mateo looked surprised, and I could see confusion flickering across his face. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice betraying a hint of disappointment.

I nodded, turning away from him, wishing I could shake off the tension that clung to us. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Thanks, though.”

As I grabbed my things, I felt his gaze lingering on me. I could only imagine the questions swirling in his mind, but I didn’t want to discuss it. I was already feeling guilty for putting him in such a complicated situation.

Throughout the day, I continued to avoid Mateo, keeping my distance and trying not to look his way. I didn’t want things to become more awkward between us. I also made an effort to dodge Aaron and Roxanne, hoping they wouldn’t notice the growing distance between Mateo and me.

At lunch, I sat with Jenna, who watched me with concern. “Are you sure everything is okay with Mateo?” she asked, her brow furrowing. “Did you two get a chance to talk about what happened yesterday?”