How to Save A Life (On Hold)

5. Second Chances

I dreaded going to school on Monday, but I did it! I almost got through the entire day without bringing any attention to myself, but something happened in chemistry and just kinda wrecked the whole day for everyone.
I sat alone at lunch, which is something I haven't done since before Alexia and I started dating.
Like I said, I don't have a lot of friends, but when I started dating Alexia, the friends I did have, slowly stopped speaking to me. I guess we both just didn't have time for each other anymore.
I had one friend named Jacob, we had been friends since kindergarten, but life happens and people grow apart, I guess.
I'll pass him in the hall and we won't even look at each other, it's sad how it got this way.
After lunch, I have chemistry. I'm good at chemistry, it might be because my teacher, Mr. Lewis, is an awesome teacher, or it could be because chemistry and I have chemistry.
I'm sorry, that was a lame joke.
Anyways, I'm sitting in class, and watching the clock tick, waiting for the bell to ring, when Drew comes and stands beside me, " Is this seat taken?" She asks if nothing had happened on Friday between us.
"Uh, yeah, sure," I answer with three very awkward pauses. She sits down on the stool and places her hands, folded, on the tabletop. She looks straight a head and does not
address me in the slightest. "Uh, look Drew-"
"I'm sorry," she cuts me off, and turns her head to look me in the eyes. Her eyes, beautifully blue, make me lose my train of thought.
"What?" I finally manage to ask.
"I'm sorry," she repeats in a whisper, " I know you were just trying to defend me and I'm sorry I was such a bitch about it." 
"No, you were right, it wasn't my place to get involved, I actually don't do that much-" I say quickly in a loud whisper.
"Then why did you?" Drew cuts me off again. Her eyes study my face.
"Uh, I don't know." I search my mind for the right words. I decide that if I tell her I have a crush on her, she'd probably tell me to fuck off or something. "I guess, I was just tired of Alexia pushing everyone around."
"Oh, so that's what you're telling people now?" I hear Alexia shout from the front of the classroom. She walks quickly toward Drew and I. "Do you want to hear the truth about this one?" Her tone is loud and very aggressive.
"Alexia, don't do this," I plead.  I silently pray that Mr. Lewis would walk in any second now, but unfortunately for me, he's always late to class. He uses the washroom, grabs a cup of coffee and hits on the librarian before coming to class.
"I'm going to do this Luke, and there is nothing you can do about it!" People start to flood into the classroom. Some belong to the class, others are here to see the drama that's about to unfold.  "He's a fucking liar!" She shouts and people mummer quietly.
"Hey, me too," Drew shrugs nonchalantly. I smile and watch Alexia's face turn six different shades of red. I've never seen her this angry.
"And he's got a crush on you!" She announces to everyone like this is middle school. She still manages to make me turn ninety shades of embarrassed. "That's why he broke up with me! He's got some sort of creepy crush on you." She adds matter-of-factly. Drew doesn't even flinch.
"No, I'm thinking the reason he broke up with you is because you're a psychotic bitch," Drew snaps back without stumbling over her words or her voice catching in her throat. It's like she's been preparing for this moment and now it's finally come.
Alexia scoffs,"excuse me?" Her eyes are wide, like she didn't expect Drew to respond. I realize that this is the first time they've really spoken to each other. They didn't even say anything to each other at the party because I guess Alexia was to focused on asserting her dominance over Drew by giving me a hickey.
"I'm pretty sure you heard me," Drew answers as calmly as possible. "Now walk away before I set your hair on fire." She takes her cigarette lighter out of her jacket pocket and flicks it on.
Alexia smiles and says, "this isn't over."
"I certainly hope not," Drew blinks slowly at her and she takes a seat over by Julie.
For the remainder of the class, nobody dared to look at Drew, not even me, but I couldn't help but wonder what was going on inside of that dark, but beautiful mind.
In art, she's not there.
I'm pretty good at art so I try and paint her picture. Well, it's almost her picture. I didn't want to come off as creepy like Alexia had described me, so I used different objects to capture Drew's beauty.
It kind of looks like her, but you would never really guess if it her or not, and I wasn't about to tell her it was. When I finished, I let it dry and went to go clean my paintbrushes in the janitor supply closet.
We aren't allowed to use the bathroom to clean our brushes because the paint gets everywhere around the sink in the bathroom and it's a pain in the ass to clean up. Its just easier this way.
I take my time cleaning the brushes because I don't have anything to do when I get back to class. I make sure that every drop of paint is out before attempting to clean my hands.
After they're clean, I go to dry my hands with a piece of paper towel and someone taps me on the shoulder.
Before I know it, the stranger is pressing their lips against mine. Afraid, I open my eyes and see Drew, her eyes are closed and her full, red lips are against mine. One of her hands is behind my neck and the other is holding my hand for support. I tilt my head down to give her better access to my mouth because I'm taller than her, even in her boots. I realized at that moment that my eyes were still open, so I closed them and tried to enjoy what was left of this unexpected kiss. She pushes me up against the wall and moans against my lips. I can tell she's enjoying this as much as I am.
Seconds later, she pushes me away from her, and smiles. " I needed to know what it was like," she says and then turns around and walks out of the supply closet.
I stand alone in shock, leaning against the sink, I analyze ever aspect of the kiss. Why she did it, why now, why me? I find it weird that she doesn't taste like cigarettes at all too, but nothing makes sense right now so why would that?
I close my eyes and imagine her smile all over again. Then I realize that, that was the first time I had ever see her smile.
My god, it was beautiful.
After school I look for Drew, she again, is nowhere to be found. I drive home alone and wait to go to work.
I have decided that the days I work will always be the same. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; and of course every Sunday that I am requested. I like things that are consistent and work must be one of those things.
I get home after work and crash into my bed. I am so tired, all I want to do is sleep and never get up again, but I check my phone and there is a text from someone.
The text reads: meet me at the street corner -Drew
I remember that I had wrote down my phone number for her that day I fixed her bike. Maybe she needs another repair? Why didn't she just come to the shop then? Regardless of the reason, I make my way down the stairs, into the kitchen, tell my mom I'm leaving and out the door I go.
I walk to the sidewalk and see the outline of a female figure in the distance. I know right away that is Drew, but I approach her with caution.
I slowly make my way over to were she's leaning against her motorcycle. "Something wrong with your bike again?" I ask. She shakes her head and doesn't say a word. I stop about four feet away from her and say, "then what are you doing out here?"
She doesn't answer again for a while and then says softly, "you wanna go for a ride?"
"On that?" I reply. Drew nods and I think about it for a moment.
"Just get on!" She commands, her softness is gone again.
Before I know it, I'm on the bike behind Drew with a helmet strapped on my head and a lump in my throat.
I'll admit, I am nervous. I've never ridden on a motorcycle before and I don't know if I trust the stability of this one.
Drew starts it and rolls gently back onto the street. She drives slowly for me and then gradually starts to pick up speed. I feel the warm breeze rush against my face and I have my body pressed against her back. I can feel the warmth of her against me. She doesn't seem to notice and makes her way through the city traffic.
I always liked the city at night. The lights are bright and beautiful, it's like nothing wrong could ever happen when they're on. I mean, except for light pollution and stuff, but other than that they are perfect.
Drew zooms to the industrial side of the city and stops at a dead end. I don't ask why we stopped here or why we went on this ride at all, all I do is follow her further into the darkness.
There is no light left for this day. There is only the light of the moon and the beam of a single street light. As we walk farther, the light fades and all that's left is complete darkness.
She stops again at a large rock and takes a seat. I sit down beside her and try to start a conversation. But maybe she doesn't want to talk, maybe she just wants to sit here and think. Or maybe she's dying to tell me something, I don't know. All I know is every second with Drew is a new mystery.
I have so many questions right now that I am just dying to ask her.
I want to ask her why she kissed me.
I want to ask her why we're here.
I want to ask her how she sees the world around her because I feel like it's a different perspective from everyone else's, but all I manage to get out is, "I see the bike is running fine." Again she nods to me, doesn't look at me, she just nods. I want to say something that will make her smile, I want to see her beautiful smile, I want to see it again, but my mind goes blank and my heart beats fast.
"I don't date," Drew says, seconds later very gently.
"What?" I reply.
"I'm not going to date you," she says again, this time firmer.
"Okay," I reply disappointedly. I wait a moment and then say, "I'm going to change your mind though." That's not usually something I would say, I would usually just agree with her because I know that it wouldn't start a conflict between us, but that bridge has been crossed.
She doesn't reply to my statement, she just sits there quietly, like I've been doing my entire life. I try to figure her out.
What happened to that girl who kissed me spontaneously in a janitors closet or smoked a real cigarette inside a public school? This is a side of Drew I've never seen, actually everything Drew does is a new side of Drew that I've never seen.
One moment she's dangerous and mean, saying mean things to people, the next she's quiet and soft, barley uttering a word.
This was one of the soft and quiet moments.
I sit on that rock all night with her. We don't talk, we don't move, we don't even look at each other. We just sit.
I was tired before, but now, I've never felt more awake in my life.