Faking Confidence

Chapter 7- "Family stuff"

The minute the bell rings for third period I run out of the classroom and collapse against the nearest wall. I take deep breaths and try to calm myself down before anyone notices. Luckily Emery rushes out a few seconds later and sees me, otherwise I probably would have had a breakdown right there in the middle of the hallway.

"Come on lets get you out of here..." She helps me to stand and starts leading me to the bathroom, not saying a word about the poem the whole time. Instead she tries to make pleasant commentary about how lucky we were to not have any homework in English as she's pretty sure Mr. Frankfort was just rambling the whole time.

When we finally get to the girls bathroom she leads me over to the big stall where she gets in with me and locks the stall door. I immediately head to the corner of the stall and plop down with my arms holding my knees to my chest. She doesn't say anything until I'm completely situated. "You want to talk about what happened out there?" I don't say anything at first, just stare at the sequins on her shirt. "Amelia?"

"Sorry it's just..." I sigh and run a hair through my already knotted hair. "That wasn't the poem I turned it, I'm not even sure how he managed to get it but I have a pretty good feeling Kimberly's involved." She frowns and moves to sit next to me. "Kimberly? The bottle blonde who sits in the back always popping her gum?"

I nod causing her to frown. "What's her deal?"

"She saw me with Oliver the other day at lunch and I think she likes him." She nods as if this makes total sense. "So she's jealous of you?"

"Maybe not of me but...."

"Amelia she's jealous you're an actual decent human being who managed to talk to a decent boy. She's jealous because she's not decent enough, or capable enough for that matter, to do that." I smile at her twisted compliment. "Thanks I guess." She smiles back. "What are friends for right?"

I nod and get up from the bathroom floor. Emery follows suit and stops in the middle of the tiny doorway, blocking me from leaving. "Are you good? Like are you sure you're alright to go to your next class? If not I can totally drive you home, dads at work so we could just chill-"

"Emery," I say cutting her off "I'm good, I promise." She smiles and puts her hands up in mock surrender. "Okay, just making sure. My offer still stands if you need it though." She says while moving out of the way. Just as I walk out of it I hear the third period bell go off. Emery curses and hurriedly grabs her things off the floor.

"Alright, you go have a fantastic lunch with Oliver okay? I want all the details later this afternoon. And don't forget you still have to finish telling me what happened on your date. I'm off to art now, love ya!" She blows me a quick kiss before sprinting out of the bathroom.

I smile slightly and decide I should also be on my way to third.

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My computer class was boring and I couldn't wait to get out of it. So you can only imagine how excited I was when the senior lunch bell rang, allowing us out of class slightly earlier than the lower classmen. I sped walked to the cafeteria and had to hold back a smile the whole time I was looking for Oliver.

But I couldn't find him. I looked past table after table. The ones in the corners, the rectangle ones, the circle ones, I even looked outside at the benches, but he was nowhere to be seen. Feeling I had no other choice, I quietly walked up to his usually table.

Everyone was there from the day I ate lunch with them. Everyone except Oliver. "Excuse me." I mumble. They don't hear me so I clear my voice and try speaking a little louder. "Excuse me?" I get the attention of one of the girls, the one who called me short, and she motions for everyone else to be quiet. Having there full attention I ask them if they've seen Oliver.

"Um no actually, he wasn't in first period."

"He wasn't in Environmental Science either." Someone else pipes in. I frown and rock back and forth on my feet unsure where he could be and where I should check next. "Oh okay thanks for your help." They nod and go back to their original conversation.

Running out of ideas and having no where else to go, I head over to the library. Part of me hopes that he will be there with his lunch tray waiting for me like last time, but when I walk in I don't see him. Or anyone for that matter. Besides me and the student helpers no one else is here. "Okay that's odd." I mumble as I walk over to the sign in sheet and sign in.

"Hey Amelia!" The girl working behind the counter chirps. "Hey Kate! Where is everyone today? It's oddly empty." She nods her head in agreement and types something on the computer. "Oh haven't you heard? There was an assembly for the lower classmen today. And sense that's pretty much all who comes in here besides you, business is pretty slow."

That makes sense I guess. Occasionally there will be an assembly here and there, usually scolding a grade for doing something. And that one assembly usually spreads to all of the grades, so it's only a matter of time before seniors get called.

"Ah, well I'll see what I can't do to support your business. I'll be in my usually section if you need me."

"And I'll be here." I smile and start walking to the Non-fiction section. Kate is nice and everything but we're not really on a 'friend" basis. More like acquaintances because we don't ever speak to each other outside the library.

I sigh as I plop down against the musty bookshelves and pull out my cell phone. I open the contacts up and scroll through until I see Oliver's name.

Hey, missed you today. Where were you?

I send, receiving a replay only seconds later.

Had to deal with family stuff, I'll probably be out of school the rest of the week. Sorry :(

I frown wondering what he could mean by family stuff. Not wanting to pry, I send a quick text telling him I'll miss him and turn off my phone. The minute I do there's a crackling over the intercom and an announcement is made. "Attention all seniors please meet in the auditorium for an assembly, thank you."