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2. Keeping Up

"So when is this due?" I questioned the brunette to my right. Scanning the paper, I found myself excited to complete this project; Paige and I would have to meet up and ask each other questions about ourselves.

"2 weeks, I think on the last day of this semester." She reaches down into her bag to pull out an agenda and starts flipping through it.

"Are you going to be able to squeeze me into your busy schedule?" I joked, smirking down at her and she looked at me quizzically.

"Well, yes of course.." She mumbles, startled by my question, looking back down at her agenda.

"I was kidding, Paige." I can't believe she thought I was being serious, what doesn't she take seriously?

She opens her mouth to say something else when Mr. Reid's booming voice echoes through the room.

"Class, I've changed my mind, I'd like this project back in exactly one week, and I would also like for everybody to present on Monday."

Exasperated sighs and groans were heard throughout the room, but Paige was not one of them.

"Do you run?" She speaks up next to me, and I looked down at her, confused.

"Run?" What does she mean? Is this supposed to be like the 'is your refrigerator running' joke?

"I mean like for exercise, going out for a jog, clearing your head?" I couldn't tell where she was going with this, is this on her questionnaire for me?

"Um, yeah, actually, I do." I looked down to find her sparkling blue eyes shining in mine.

"Well were going to have to quiz each other while we run because that's when I'm the least stressed." A fake smile eased across her face, but I could tell she was being serious.

"Hopefully you can keep up with me." I smiled just as the bell rang and she walked out of the door.

I slowly made my way to lunch, it was never good anyways. Shit, do I have any cash on me? I'll have to check, and if not I'll smooth talk Ms. Smith, the lunch lady.

Standing in the never-ending line, waiting to be served poison on a plate, I noticed Paige a few people in front of me buying a water bottle and a bag of chips.

Paying, she smiled sweetly at Ms. Smith and hung back to wait for her friends that were taking forever deciding what they wanted.

Finally I made my way up to the register, typed in my code and heard a ping.

"You plan on paying for that, Mr. Collins?" Ms. Smith eyed me.

Here comes the sweet talk.

"Well you see, Ms. Smith, I was hoping that you might let me slide today?" Looking up from under my eyelashes always seemed to make her crumble.

"Nope, the rules have changed and I've been told there is no more 'letting me slides'" she sarcastically smiled back at me, she obviously wasn't going to let up.

Just as I went to walk out of the line, Paige's voice rang out beside me.

"I'll pay for it Ms. Smith, don't worry." Paige said as she leaned over me to punch her code into the key pad.

"Alright, Ms. Moore, but make sure you don't let him turn you into a push over, hm?" Ms. Smith, smiled- using teeth.

As Paige turned to walk away from me, I heard a squeaky voice from the other side of the corner.

"Paige, why would pay for his food?" She was obviously trying to whisper and it was not working.

I saw Paige turn to see if I was listening and I looked down at the counter, fiddling with napkins and utensils.

"Why not, Miranda?" Paige's confident voice sang out through the front room.

"Well, he's so- so.." The short haired girl mumbled, obviously surprised by Paige's voice.

"So nothing, maybe he's my friend and that's what friends do for each other, not that you would know." Paige's voice was still going strong, and I could hear her agitation.

"He's a weirdo, why would you want to be friends with him?" The little mouse let out as soon as I turned the corner.

Paige looked up at me, then down at the girl and bent down to whisper in her ear.

What's her name? Miranda? Looked up at me, sulked back to the table that Paige usually sat at, grabbed her black purse and stormed out of the cafeteria.

"Um, Landon, would you like to sit at my lunch table today?" Paige said, looking down at her feet, bouncing on her heels, nervous for my answer.

"I'd love to, Paige." I said, much quicker than I had planned and her eyes shot straight up to mine, full of excitement and I couldn't help but smile at her.

Paige's friends were great, all except that squeaker, who was currently sitting 2 tables behind us, eyeing me from her seat.

I talked to, Tanya, or was it Tamara? I talked to her about music, we basically liked the same types.

I talked to Rose about television, and to then Diane about books.

I couldn't help but think that if all of Paige's friends liked these things, she must like them too.

All throughout the lunch period, I'd occasionally look down to find her staring up at me with those clear blue eyes, completely infatuated with what I was talking about. She'd notice that I caught her, and quickly look back down at her bag of chips, or her water bottle, peeling the label.

"I'll be right back," Paige said as she's stood up from the table.

Almost in slow motion, I saw her trip over my backpack that I had lazily laid on the floor behind my seat.

"Paige!" I heard myself shout while I was leaning over, trying to catch her before she fell right onto the linoleum tile.

Sticking my arm out, I caught her shoulder and stopped her right before her face planted into the ground. Nearly everybody in the cafeteria was standing up to see what the commotion was, but Paige wasn't paying attention to them. Her eyes were burning straight into mine.

"Thank you," she breathed out, not breaking the eye contact.

"Anytime." I sighed, not wanting her to look away from me, I wanted to hold her in my arms forever, it felt so comfortable and easy.

Paige made no move to escape my grasp, not until Tamara, (or was it Tanya?) said, "Paige didn't you have to use the restroom?" Her eyes narrowed towards Paige.

She wiggled in my grip and I let her go instantly, with her head down, she walked to the bathroom, through the crowd of people in the cafeteria.

"Landon, right?" Tanya (Tamara?) said towards me.

"Right, it's Landon." Did I do something wrong? Her eyes were searching in mine.

"I just wanted to let you know that you can't play with Paige like a toy," she spat at me, what was she talking about?

"Why would I do that?" I asked, stunned at the accusation.

"Because you like her obviously, and her feelings are mutual. Duh." I was at a loss for air, there was nothing in my lungs.

I've liked Paige for years. I never made any attempt at expressing my feelings, but they were there. Right when I went to ask if she was sure, Paige's soft vanilla perfume swirled around me, and I saw her hair float next to me as she sat down.

"What did I miss?" She asked with a nervous smile, completely oblivious to the last 2 minutes.