Live While We're Young

Chapter 22

I continue through the day, everyone staring and pointing. 

'Are you really dating Harry Styles?!' 'How'd you meet Harry Styles?' 'Did you seriously stay with One Direction in a hotel?!' Are the questions all day. 

I ignore anyone who even remotely mentions them. Not their business. 

I miss that cheeky smile, the stupid jokes, how cute he is when angry.. I miss HIM. 

I can't stop thinking about him. How could anyone in their right mind NOT think of him?! 

"Ms. Nicole, answer please," says Ms. Quinn. 

"Oh. Um.. Was it Columbus?" I say. 

Everyone joins in a fit of giggles. 

"No, we aren't even talking about Columbus anymore! We are talking about The Boston Tea Party and The Intolerable acts. We are on page 439," she says, pursing her lips. 

No wonder she has no husband at age 54. 

Everyone starts laughing. 

"Ha! Cole, you're so stupid!" Someone says. 

I grab my stuff and stand up. 

"Nicole, sit now-" starts Ms. Quinn.

"No." I interrupt, and she gives me an awfully ugly look. 

"The school rules state that if a student feels uncomfortable in a class that they can leave! How can I be comfortable with a class calling me stupid?" I snap. 

"Excuse me?" she remarks. 

"You're excused." I say, up roaring some dramatic 'ooh's from the class. 

Before she can respond I spin on the heel of my (one) red Converse and walk out of the class, awkwardly though because of this stupid cast. 

I rush through the halls and bump into someone coming around the corner. 

"Ouch," I mumble, rubbing my head. 

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," he says. 

"Not your fault, I tend to get injured a lot," I say. 

"Could tell by the cast," he says. 

"Hey now," I say, laughing a bit. 

I look up and see a boy with medium length, straight-side swept, beautiful blonde hair. 

"My name's Cody," he says, offering me a hand. 

"Nicole Butler," I say, grabbing his hand. 

He pulls me up easily. Am I really that light? 

"Wow, you're light!" He says. 

I guess I am. 

"How about we hang out this Friday? We can go roller skating or something," he says. 

"I'd love to, what's your number so we can figure things out?" I ask. 

I hand him my phone and he punches his number into it. 

"What grade are you in?" He asks. 

"I'm in twelfth, and I'm guessing you are too?" I say, grabbing my phone. 

"Yeah I am. Really? You're super short! And I never see you around.." He says, seeing how short I am. 

"I know, I'm only 4'11," I say. 

"Wow, you are SUPER short!" 

"I knowwww, my twin is even taller than me! She's 5'3, that lucky little wanker..." I mumble.