15 Days

Day 6

Day 6

When I got to school the next morning I was immediately attacked.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were taking Sadie to the festival?" Margie's eyes were accusing and dark. Her hand was firm on my forearm- so firm my fingers started tingling as they lost feeling.

"It's not like it has anything to do with you." I muttered, pulling my arm back sharply. That and the harsh words of my response made her flinch back, eyes full of hurt. "I'm sorry." I said as soon as I saw her expression. Margie shrugged and looked away.

"You're right. It's none of my business." She didn't say another word.

~~~

The weirdest thing happened when I passed Sadie in the hallway that afternoon. I was walking quickly down the hall, worried that I would be late to my next class because I'd stayed back to ask my teacher something in my previous class. I heard her before I saw her.

The soft pad of flat-footed boots came first, followed by the scent of roses and then a sharp intake of breath. I looked up from the notebook opened to a page of notes, my hand rising to nudge my glasses up my nose- and I stopped short. We looked at each other for a long time, both unsure what to say. My fingers tightened on the spiral of the notebook, the wire cutting into my skin.

I had said good night yesterday before Sam dropped Sadie off, but that was it. I wasn't really sure where we stood now.

Eventually someone ran by, shouting something over their shoulder about a test. Breath rushed back into my lungs at the reminder that I had class to go to and I quickly offered her a smile. To my surprise she returned it without hesitation and opened her mouth as if she was going to say something. I waited with baited breath, but she simply closed her lips and started to walk past me. I followed her gait with my eyes as she came close, so close, and then started to move past.

My hand twitched and before I knew it, I had caught her arm, turning her to face me. We were alarmingly close; my eyes couldn't help drifting down to her lips a few times. I was tempted- honestly for a second there I almost did- leaning close, so dangerously close that our breaths mixed- and stopped. I dropped her arm, feeling my face become bright red and turned away, practically running to my next class.

~~~

"So how was the festival? I heard you went with Sam, Tristan, Sadie and Gia." I stopped walking at that voice. My hands fisted around my lunch tray, breaking into the styrofoam. He was not. He was not jabbing at me. Not now. I spun to face Eugene and smirked.

"It was great. I danced with Sadie and I think we might have really connected. Feeling close to someone is great. You should definitely try it sometime." With that I turned and walked to our lunch table before the tray could break completely and splatter on the ground.

"Bobby, don't be mean to Gene." Margie said quietly, slipping into the seat next to mine.

"Why shouldn't I?" I spat angrily, stabbing forcefully at the mac and cheese on my tray.

"Because he helped you!" I was surprised at the force in Margie's voice and for a moment forgot that I was angry. "If Eugene hadn't challenged you then you never would have had the courage to speak to Sadie, much less invite her to the Renaissance Festival! Come on, Bobby use that brain of yours. Gene was trying to boost your confidence and make you feel surer of yourself. Don't spit on him now." She shook her head, shooting me a look of disgust and left to sit at a different table. Gene joined her moments later.