Scrambled

Chapter 13; Dating

Aaron went home fifteen minutes after ten last night. I climbed out of bed and trudged to my closet. I didn't care about looks today. I pulled out my gray sweatpants and my cozy Harry Potter sweater. School. Ugh. I slipped on my boot and one black converse sneaker and knotted my hair in a sloppy bun. I pulled my phone off the charger and went down stairs. Dakota was sitting in the kitchen with a cup of coffee. I giggled at the site, why was she up? She hated mornings. Her head snapped up when she saw me.

"Morning, your up early." She said taking a sip of her coffee. I smiled.

"You know I could say the same about you, what are you doing up?" I asked mock skeptically. Dakota sighed.

"I have a job interview.. And if I get it, then I'll be able to live with you, even when your parents come back." She said. That's when I noticed she was wearing a grey pencil skirt and a white button up blouse. I nodded, cool.

***

I scrambled out of Aaron's car. He grabbed my hand as we walked into our school. People started whispering when we got inside. I squeezed his hand. His hand fell limp on mine.

"Don't embarrass yourself love, they're staring." Aaron whispered in my ear.

"I'm not embarrassed to be seen with you Aaron." I said back. We'd reached my locker. Aaron looked like he didn't believe me. He wiggled his hand out of mine and started to walk away when I called his name. Aaron turned back around and took two steps closer to me.

"Yes?" I closed the space and kissed him, proving my point I was not embarrassed. The halls were crowded so everyone was looking at us and gasped. I broke away and smiled at him. His cheeks were the faintest of pink. Haha, too cute.

"Have a nice day." I said, ask I grabbed my books and closed my locker. "See you in fourth."

I was so happy when the lunch bell rang. I always sat with my friends but since Aaron and I were officially a thing, I was sitting with him, my girls would understand.

Parker apologized to Aaron in the hall between 3rd and 4th period. I was around the corner listening to everything, but out of sight. It made me smile, but it didn't excuse his comment, which I was still kinda upset about. I set my lunch next to him. Tyson and Sloan came a split second after I arrived and Aaron right in their heels.

There was something off about Sloan, her usually classy outfit was replaced with a hoodie and leggings. Her hair was braided and she had no makeup. What the heck?

"Is Sloan okay?" I asked Aaron in his ear. He sighed.

"It's complicated." He whispered back. Ugh. I wanna know!

I couldn't concentrate on anything they said during lunch. I had to know about Sloan. What happened? Why are they keeping it as secret? I was so distracted. But finally, five minutes before the bell, I couldn't take it anymore.

"Sloan what's wrong, your barely talking, I mean you've never talked to me before but still, and your not talking about clothes or shoes or something. And you're not wearing your glamorous clothes. So something must be up,because the boys won't tell me." I blabbed out. Her eyes shot up at me. Aaron stiffened next to me and Tyson's mouth flew open. Sloan did something I wasn't expecting.

She cried. Not a full on scene of tears but enough to make her cheeks stained and her eyes red. Sloan rested a hand on her stomach. Why would- oh my gosh. I didn't even finish my thought before I knew was was going on.

"I'm so sorry." I whispered. Sloan wiped away her tears viciously and stood up from the table.

"Come with me." Those three words, they made my bones freeze. I sat wide eyed looking at her. I hesitantly got up and followed Sloan outside of the cafeteria towards the giant tree in the back, near the track field.