The Runaway

Chapter 6

 Tuesday

November 21

6:32 A.M.

            As I walk up those steps I think about Colby and what he wanted to ask me on the phone last night. I walk through the door and I head to the cafeteria. I see Colby and his friends. I see Shane, a blond boy, a boy who kind of looks like Justin Bieber and an emo girl.

            “Hey Isabelle, how are you feeling?” Colby asked as he approaches me. All of his friends looked at me. The girl was smiling.

“I’m doing well, still sore and limping. But other than that I’m well.” I said as Colby hugged me. The girl was still smiling.

“Well Isabelle, this is Josh Dental.” He pointed to Mr. JB. Josh is wearing some gym shorts (what is with boys and gym shorts?) and a striped black sweater with some running shoes. “That’s Mason Kealy.” The blond boy waved at me. He is wearing a Fairhaven Grizzly (Our mascot.) sweater with some sweats. “And that’s well Emily Dental. Josh and Emily are brother and sister. They have a weird history.” The girl smiled and said a shy and light hi. Emily is wearing netting leggings and demine black shorts. She is also wearing a ‘Hi I’m Awkward’ shoulder shirt, combat boots, and netting gloves to match her leggings. “And you probably know Shane Davis.” He pointed to him and I nod.

“It’s nice to meet you all.” I smiled warmly back at them.

“It’s nice to meet you, too, Isabelle. Colby was with us yesterday and would not shut up about you.” Emily said as I stared at Colby. Colby smiled sheepishly. We all sat down on one of the breakfast tables.

“So, Colby, You wanted to ask Isabelle something?” Mason smiled devilishly.

“Mason! Stay out of it!” Emily yelled.

“It’s okay Em. I do need to tell her, but not in front of all these dumb bows.” He said pointing to Josh and Mason as they looked right at him.

“Really? We are dumb bows?” Josh said as Emily and I laughed. Josh gave Emily a look. Mason gave all of us the puppy dog eyes and pointed at his face. “With this face, I cannot possibly be a dumb bow.” All of us laughed so hard at this, that people who walked by us stared at us like we’re crazy.

After we were all finished with our laughing fest, Colby took me to the court yard so he could tell me something. The court yard is huge! There are English vines on every side of the court yard and it almost reached the roof. There are also six cherry trees, three on one side and three on the other. Also they have two benches on each side. I realized I was looking at it for a long time when Colby waved his hand in front of my face.

I closed my mouth. “So, what do you want to tell me?” We walked over to a bench. I sat down and smiled at him, but Colby didn’t smile back. He didn’t sit down either. He stayed standing up for a while. Then he sat down and finally spoke.

“Well, I don’t know what your reaction is going to be or how you will feel, but I am going to risk it all.” He looked straight ahead, and then looked at me. Holding my gaze. “I love you, Isabelle.” He looked down at the ground like he was the biggest loser in the world. But when he said this, I almost cried.

“You love me?” I croaked. Tears started to form at the corners of my eyes.

            He looked back into my eyes again. “Yes, I love everything about you. Your smile, your eyes, your laugh, everything. I love how you look at the ground when you’re shy. I love it when your face lights up automatically when you’re happy or excited about something. I love every little thing about you. I know we just met but…I love you.”

            I started to cry as I look into his big green orbs. “I love you, too, Colby Hanson.”