Cold Hearts and Stubborn Minds

2

Friday

Social Studies class. Honestly, I think this is the most boring of my classes, but Dylan's in this class. This is one of the few times I actually see him and get chances to interact with him. It's not much but it's something.

I zone out for a moment, planning out sentences and going through a multitude of thoughts, then I'm brought back by our teacher calling on the class for attention. We're getting an assignment.

"The assignment is not your normal assignment. Each of you are grouped into a pair and will live with the other for a month. After the month is over, you are to write about your experience. I'm going to read the names off and you're to sit beside your partner," she explains, pulling a sheet of paper out. An odd assignment but...

I look over at Dylan and much to my surprise, he's looking at me. Not your average day looking, though. It was like he was investigating every part of me. Why would he, though?

My cheeks warmed and I looked away. I could still feel his gaze on me, though, painstakingly obvious. I can't say I haven't done the same to him. 

Mrs. Nira reads off the partners. I only tuned in when I heard Dylan's name. The rest of the room went silent.

"Dylan and Ryan," Mrs. Nira said, then continued reading the names off, as if she hadn't just delivered the biggest shock of my life. 

"Alright, everybody, partner up," she called, and everybody moved at once. I stayed put. I watched as Dylan rose and made his way over to me. He stood out in the crowd. Everything seemed to be in slow motion and I shifted slightly in my seat, Dylan staring intently at me as he came closer.

Finally, he stood before me, one hand outstretched. He wanted me to shake his hand? I hesitated dumbly, took it and he nodded, shook it, then sat down in the desk beside me. I could feel a lot of eyes on me. Some were burning with jealousy and some were sympathetic. It didn't make me feel any better. I felt antsy as all hell.

I shifted in my seat again then started fiddling with my pencil, then my pen, then whatever else I could find. I heard Mrs. Nira talk about some sheets she would be giving out, but I wasn't really listening.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Not just any hand. This hand was attached to Dylan. My cheeks immediately flushed and he whispered, "Could you stop playing with everything on your desk? You're distracting me," and removed his hand. He continued listening. I was silent and still for the rest of the class.

----- ~~~~ -----

Afterwards, a bunch of the girls crowded around me, telling me how jealous they were and such. It was the start of the month, so I'd be going home with Dylan today. I smiled at them, tried to convince them that it wasn't a big deal, when Dylan walked by and called out, "Come on, Lover Boy. I'm not waiting for you."

My cheeks reddened at the nickname he had given me and all the girls around me giggled. I broke away from the group and speed-walked to catch up to him, some of the guys wishing me good luck.

I caught up to him eventually. "So, where's your locker?" he asked. I look at him blankly. "So you can get what you need."

"Oh, right. Right," I say, cursing at myself internally. "Um, just down this hallway."

He nods and I lead the way. Once we get there, I fight with the lock, as usual. I dump my things in my locker, pull my bag out, and put the papers and my homework in.

"So who's house are we, ah, staying at?" I ask, locking it gain with minimum difficulty.

He smirks a bit. "Weren't you listening?" When my gaze drops because I didn't want to say no, and he must've known I wasn't listening, he says, "Mine."