A Cursed Love

V

The next three days are filled with stress, DaNesa still hasn't come back to class and rumors begin to circulate about Jasmine and I having a fight. Jasmine also started avoiding me and would even walk out of rooms when I enter.

Friday morning, I head to DaNesa's house before school.

"Kris!" DaNesa's mom opens the door as soon as I arrive at the step, "it has been a long time."

"I'm sorry, school has been crazy. Do you mind if I see DaNesa?"

"She has been in her room sick the past few days, a friend might be just what she needs." The mother guides me up the steps and down the hall to DaNesa's room, "'Nesa, someone is here to see you." Almost as soon as the words are out her mouth, the mother turns around to leave.

"Who is here to..." At the first sight of me, she falls silent and starts to close the door.

Sticking my foot into the door, I speak to her through the crack, "I quit the little group and I also tried to get others to leave with me. I told them that everything was fine until we started making a deal of it and that we should let you sink back into the background like you were."

I walk into the room after she lets go of the door and continue talking. "I was serious about what I said last time and what I said in the letter and want you to let me prove it to you." In response, DaNesa just stares at me so I continue. "You can talk to me, I don't care about getting sick."

"I find it hard to believe you," her soft, yet angelic, voice fills my ears. "How can you suddenly have such a strong feeling towards me that you will risk your health for me?"

"I can't explain it, but when I saw you crying it hurt me. That night, I had an ache in my chest that wouldn't go away and I kept thinking of you. I know I can probably never make up for what I did, but I would like to help you going forward."

"Are you sure?" She gives me a questioning look and I can tell that she has never had anyone that she can believe in before.

"Yes, I promise."

"Okay, but if you give me any reason to doubt, I am never going to trust you again. And I heard you have spent a lot of time at the hospital, stop. By now, your body should be used to sickness to a point where you can fight through it."

"Your right, after our last talk I was able to function the whole week and mostly go about doing what I usually do."

"That is because you built up an immunity. Now how are you going to help me?"

"I was thinking that I could just be your friend. If people were to see us talking and associating, they would be less likely to bother you than if you were alone."

"You really think that will work?"

"I think it is worth a shot. We will start today, let's go."

As we walk down the street, a pain begins to burn inside my head. Continuing to talk, I find out that we both have a variety of similar interests; we both enjoy old-school, reading and watching documentaries, volunteering our time and we both keep an African necklace under our shirt. When we arrive at the school a flurry of whispers begin at the site of us; before we even make it to the classroom, I hear a theory about us being secret lovers.

"I don't think this will work," DaNesa's voice drops as she looks at her feet. "They are only going to talk about you now."

"So," I grab her hand and start pulling her the rest of the way down the hall towards the classroom. "I never liked most of them anyway."

Before I can take my seat, Jasmine grabs me and pulls me back into the hallway. "What are you doing with her, are you suicidal?"

Removing her hold from me, I start to walk back into the classroom. "I told you, I don't want to hurt her." Taking my seat, I wait for class to begin.