Deadlines

Deadlines: Four

NOT EDITED

Chapter Four: Cursed

     What happened yesterday had gotten me completely exhausted. Clarissa managed to get me out of the house anyway. We went shoe shopping and then went to Martha's Ice Cream Shoppe where my vanilla cone dripped all over my hands until Rissa snatched it away from me and threw it in the trash bin. 

      We met up with Zach, who immediately started sucking face with Clarissa, and his best friend Marcus, who stood beside me as we acted like complete third wheels to our two friends. When Zach and Clarissa finally pulled a part, Clarissa came to my side and said we were going to see a movie. Honestly all I wanted to do was go home, curl up on the couch next to Grandma and fall asleep. My feet were aching and I was tired. Clarissa told me that all this being out and about would be good for me. It'd help me get Dustin and Aaron off my mind. 

      To be completely honest, I haven't thought about Aaron all this past week. He hadn't come into my mind once, and when Clarissa brought him up, my heart broke all over again. All the soul mate bullshit he was talking about was just that: bullshit. Who does he think he is? Breaking up with me for some girl that's probably all the way on the other side of the world. The nerve he had. 

      But that was yesterday. And now here I am today, sitting in a desk in Mr. Flynn's AP Bio class, doodling stars, hearts, and squiggles all over my page of notes. I don't know why I bothered coming back to school. We only had a few more days until Spring Break. I should've come back after break, I'd be fine by then, I hope. I still couldn't get thoughts of Dustin and Aaron out of my head, and it didn't help that one of those guys was sitting diagonally from me. And I'll give you a hint, it isn't the dead one. 

      I couldn't help but stare at the back of his head. Such an idiot. Good luck finding that soul mate of yours, you giant ass, you're going to need it. "Ms. King?" He breaks up with me after we dated for so long, just because he has this inkling that his freaking soul mate is around. Yeah, I don't think so, buddy boy. "Ms. King." Damn you Aaron DeFina. "Payton." I rubbed my eyelids and looked up at Mr. Flynn. I coudl feel the entire class's eyes on me. "Payton would you like to go to the nurse? Or the guidance counselor?" 

      Tears pricked my eyes. No, I didn't need to go to the nurse or the guidance counselor, thank you though Mr. Flynn for making everyone focus on me. I hated the sympathy looks I got from everyone. I just wanted to be alone. 

      Without saying a word, I picked up my things and walked out of class. I walked fast down the hall, needing to get out of here. I could hear my keys jingling in my backpack and I thanked God that I didn't leave them in my locker after lunch. I don't think I would be able to stop at my locker and get out before the tears started. 

      I could hear footsteps coming after me. It was probably Clarissa, wanting to make sure I'm okay. She tried to talk me out of coming to school today, even after she dragged me out of the house yesterday. I should have listened to her. "Payton." I began walking faster, because it wasn't Rissa's voice behind me. "Payton, slow down, baby, come on."

      "Don't call me that," I hissed back at Aaron. 

      "Sorry," his cheeks tinted pink. "Old habits die hard, I guess." I made it out to my car and put my back pack the hood, digging for my keys. "Pay, why'd you come today. You should've just stayed home for a little while longer. I can tell that you're still --"

      "That I'm still what, Aaron? Heartbroken? Dying on the inside? Tired as hell because I haven't been able to sleep more than three hours this entire week? Yeah, I feel like shit, thanks for pointing out the obvious," I snapped, turning to dig for my keys again. I was starting to sweat. I was upset and nervous and angry and the fact that I was wearing sweatpants in this warm weather wasn't helping. There was no way in hell I was wearing shorts though, not with the Japanese Cherry Blossoms taking up more than half of the skin on my leg. I didn't want to share them with anyone. I haven't even shown Grandma. I'd finally gotten tattoos and I don't want any more attention than what I've already gotten this past week.