Lovestruck (EDITING)

32: Another Round of Hell

The remainder of drama class is spent discussing our first assignment, a report on a particular style of theater which will be assigned to us in the next lesson. Landon ended up sitting with Ben when we returned, leaving his seat beside Shana, and we exchange glances throughout the lesson. The bell rings and I head to study hall, deciding to get a head start on my Spanish homework.

My first-ever productive study hall is over quickly and I go to my locker to put away my books before heading to the cafeteria for lunch.

"Skye! Hey," I spin around to see Jayden walking towards me, wearing a well-fitted grey sweatshirt and black jeans.

"Oh, hey Jayden," I say, my eyes lingering a little too long on the way his sweatshirt hugs his arms and stomach, displaying his muscular build.

I lean on the locker beside his as he pulls his locker open and begins tossing books into it.

"I was hoping to run into you," he gives me a half smile and I can't help but smile back at the idea of him thinking of me. "So, lunch?" he offers, pulling a brown bag out of his backpack and holding it up, and I nod enthusiastically.

Jayden holds a bench for us in the cafeteria while I stand in the lunch line and I can't help the smile that creeps onto my face at the sight of him sitting alone, occasionally checking on me by glancing my way. I finally make it to the front of the line and get my food before navigating my way through the busy cafeteria aisles to get to the bench Jayden is sitting at.

"I really think this school should employ more than one lunch lady," I say as I sit down, gesturing towards the intimidating crowd of hungry and impatient teenagers in the lunch line.

"Yeah," Jayden agrees, cringing at the sight of the lunch line, "I'll just stick to my brown paper bags."

"I admire your commitment," I nod, taking a bite of my quesadilla.

We eat in silence for a while and I don't feel the need to speak at all. It's nice to just be able to enjoy Jayden's company like this, and I've really missed being his friend through all this recent drama.

"Skye!" Dani rushes over to our table, holding her purple lunch tray, with a wide grin on her face.

I almost fall off my chair at the sound of her high-pitched squeal, disrupting my calm state.

"Hey Dani," I force a smile through gritted teeth before downing a mouthful of water from my bottle.

She slides onto the seat beside me, slamming her lunch tray down, and begins to chat my ear off.

"What happened to you in drama class this morning? Were you sick? I was sick last weekend, maybe I'm still contagious. Anyway, I think that we should partner up for the new assignment. I call Shakespearean theater. Who's this?" Dani blurts out questions too fast for me to process, and I'm left with a headache.

"Uh, this is Jayden," I manage to say, not remembering any of her other questions, "Jayden, this is-"