The Boy in the Hall

Chapter 18

Samara's P.O.V

Georgia did my hair and makeup. She loaned me the dress too. The earrings are mine though. My grandmother gave them to me before she died. I loved my grandmother; she was my world. Never once did she make me feel like I was different. Now I'm the black sheep of the family.

I walk through the school doors feeling absolutely ridiculous. Why am I here? I don't belong here. I have never gone to a dance before. Why did I start now? I know why. It's because of Ty.

I try so hard to push him from my mind, but he's the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing when I go to sleep. He's the first thing I see when I walk through the door too. He looks so beautiful. I try to look away, but he has me locked. Those ocean blue eyes look faded and sad. Fortunately Kali comes running up and walks me away. Why does he look so broken?

"How are you doing?" Kali whispers to me.

"Fine," I mutter under my breath.

"You don't look fine." She says a little louder. It's true I'm not. Ever since Ty and I broke up I have been a mess. I haven't stopped crying and I can't stop thinking about him. We haven't talked all week and I think he's over me by now. I looked at him every time I got the chance to. I know he looked at me too. I felt his eyes burning in the back of my head in English. "Samara?" Kali says snapping me back into reality.

"Fine," I repeat. "I'm fine."

We walk back to the entrance and Kali runs off to dance with David. I stand alone for a minute before Ty makes his way over. Oh no! What should I do? Should I run? No just stay there. Then Jillian comes running up and steals him away. I'm alone for a moment before Mr. Davies comes up behind me. He's one of the chaperones.

"Good evening, miss Kissinger." He greets in his usual monotone voice.

"Hello," I answer back slightly startled.

"Samara, might I ask you something?" I nod. "Your poem, uh, it wasn't for Remembrance Day, was it?" I shake my head. I can't seem to talk; I'm afraid that if I do I'll cry. He continues, "it's Mr. James right?" I nod again.

How does he know? I thought that he was like every other English teacher; turns out, he's very insightful. "Miss Kissinger, a wise person once said: 'never give up on something, you can't go a day without thinking about'. You might want to think about that." He leaves without another word.

I walk to the doors of the gym. The dance is in full swing. I lay eyes on Ty, struggling to get away from Jillian. I have to laugh at the face he makes when she grinds up against him. Then she pulls him back and she kisses him! I can't look anymore. I think I'm going to be sick.

I run outside as fast as I can into the fresh, cool November air. Ty comes out of nowhere. "Samara," he says Sort of out-of-breath. I have my back turned to him. "Samara?" He repeats again, but quieter.

I turn and face him. We stare at each other for a moment before I say, "wanna go for a walk?"

He pauses then nods. We walk down the street; destination unknown. We don't say a word until we reach a park. We find a bench and take a seat. The awkward silence grows stronger and stronger. "I miss you." Ty says leaning forward. "I miss your smile, I miss your laugh. I miss your lips."

"You basically miss my mouth, right?" I say sarcastically.

"No, I miss all of you." He pauses again. "Even the scars." I look at my arms. How could he miss something so ugly? He sits up and looks deep into my eyes "Samara, I was a dick; a big dick. I regret every word I said and I was wrong." I forget all the words I had planned to say when this moment came.