Breathing Water

CHAPTER 32

I keep myself together until lunch. Sitting down I can't hide the sadness in my eyes from Glimmer. She looks at me worried and says "What happened?"
"Um, tell you some other time. I'm sure everything will be okay." She nods at me and takes the last bite of her burrito. Shelly sits down next to me after hugging my shoulders. My lips curve into a small smile.
She says "What happened?" Her voice is more stern but still concerned. I look at her and mouth the words 'Mason attack'. She nods understandingly and I am silently thankful that she knew what I said. I notice out of the corner of my eye that Glimmer is giving us a very wide smile. My cheeks warm as I look at her and she says "Oh! You guys are adorable, but I have to go. See ya later."
I look down to hide my face as she gets up to walk away. Several fingers gently touch my chin and coax my face to look at Shelly. She smiles at me and I can't help but smile back. Her happiness is so heart warming that I could not avoid being apart of her joy.
She leans forward as I lean back. "Remember? No PDA." I stay serious but smile at Shelly. She frowns slightly and sits up.
I take her hand and hold it while eating with my non dominant hand. Her smile returns and she begins eating her small lunch. "So what happened with Mason?"
"All I can tell you right now is that I almost got in huge trouble, the rest will have to wait until after school."
She huffs and says "Fine, but I want to know as soon as possible. As your girlfriend I can't protect you unless I know what has already happened."
I sigh a little at the phrase 'protect you'. "How about we defend each other rather than protect?"
She fakes a thinking faces and strokes her chin before saying "Okay, I think I can live with that." I give a small laugh and finish eating. We continue to talk until Shelly finishes her lunch just before the bell rings.
Waving 'good-bye' to Shelly you was blowing me a kiss, I hurry off to English. Entering the room I ignore the glares coming from Macey. Before I sit down she says "So I hear you've got a date tonight. Has to be a joke, right?"
I think back to Shelly's request for a date tonight and ask "How did you hear about it?"
"I have my sources but the primary would be Mason himself."
Realizing what she is talking about I say "Well you need better sources because I turned Mason down."
"Not the way he tells it. He says that to keep it a secret you told him no in front of other people, but as soon as you were alone you attacked him. Then Mr. Rumble rudely interrupted with the lesbian who tried to hide herself with him sophomore year."
"Well, I guess his words the law. I mean why else you I have declined to keep my own plans, and resisted when he threw me into an empty classroom, in front of the 'lesbian' of sophomore year?" I make sure to do air quotes around the word lesbian.
"What plans could you possibly have? Also, if you aren't going to take him, then can I have him? And what was with the air quotes?"
I ignore her other questions and focus on the one. "Sure, go for it - if your into disgusting perverts. On second thought you two are perfect for each other." At first she is filled with joy at my response, then just before the bell rings she realizes what I meant with the rest of the words. Her mouth drops open to make a refute, but she is cut off by the bell and the teacher beginning the lesson.