Linger

F O U R T E E N

"Weird is an understatement." I replied as we walked down the hallway and I tried to wrap my head around what had just occurred moments ago.

Just yesterday Mr. Hayden was telling me how we shouldn't see each other anymore, shouldn't be together and now here we were just last period exchanging glances. He even chose me & Sasha to pass out the study guides, when he clearly could've chosen any other of the twenty something students in the room. Maybe I was looking too much into this, probably over thinking again. But it felt like we were back to square one all over again.

"What was with the corny jokes? He's never like that." Sasha pointed out.

"I know, so strange." He's always in a bright mood, so there really is never a reason or occasion with Mr. Hayden has to be extra cheerful. But today it felt like he was trying to be more enthusiastic than usual & I couldn't help but remember the sad & tired look he worn in his eyes despite his lame attempt at making jokes in class. Almost as if he was trying to hide his misery.

"Hey" A smooth voice brought me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see Tom's blue grey eyes sparkling & a smile adorning his handsome face. Sasha, too, was beaming with a proud smile. He flipped his gorgeous locks from his eyes. "Ready to go to literature?"

"Yeah, let's go." I did my best to smile to smile as the three of us headed down the hallway.

"May I?" Tom gestured towards the book in my arms with a kind smile.

"Oh, sure." I glanced down at my literature book and hesitantly gave my book to him. "Thank you."

"Of course." He smiled, tucking the book under his arm.

Sasha wiggled here eyebrows at me with a smirk & I rolled my eyes, keeping my gaze on the ground.

"Ladies first," Tom sang as we approached the library & he opened the door for Sasha & I.

"Okay, this day is just getting more weird by the hour." Sasha mumbled to me as we walked in.

"At least say thank you." I told her.

"Maddie! Sasha! Glad you can make it!" Chelsea greeted us with her perfect smile when we walked to the table.

Tom pulled out the chair for me to sit & he took a seat next to me which earned an eyebrow raise from Sasha but she was soon distracted when Ben arrived and sat down next to her.

Before I knew it, books were closing & we were dismissed from the discussion. I don't remember much of what we discussed to be honest, my mind was someplace else. Someplace where distant feelings didn't exist and we could be with who our heart desired with no complications. Where disappointment was soothed away & sadness was comforted. Where this mess I suddenly ended up in the middle of was all cleaned away.

"Maddie, you coming?" Sasha's voice brought me out of my daydream.

"Yeah, yeah" I said quickly nodding my head & standing up, ridding myself of my thoughts & reminded myself I was here now, so I may as well make the most of it.

"I got your book." Tom told me as I pushed in my chair & pulled my bag over my shoulder.

"Thanks," I told him with a small smile.

"Of course." He returned the smile and swung his arm around my shoulder.

I immediately tensed at his sudden action and I inhaled deeply, reminding myself this is what I needed to do move on, to forget about him. Tom's hand gently rubbed my shoulder as we entered the hallways & headed toward my locker. Sasha gave me a huge grin as she saw Tom's arm around my shoulder, but a small part of me deep down inside still felt uneasy. I had the most popular guy in school in my grasp yet here I was longing for something else. Don't get me wrong, I find Tom extremely attractive, I just didn't feel that spark between us.

"I'll see you tomorrow, alright?" Tom asked as he pulled me in closer for a side hug.

"Yeah." I gave him a small smile as he pulled away & gave me my book. I looked up at him but something behind him caught my eye. There down the hall was Mr. Hayden exiting the school office, his stare was intense towards us. Feelings of disappointment, regret & sadness seemed to have vanished and were now replaced with something much, much more fierce.

Feeling almost intimidated by his harsh gaze, I turned my attention back to Tom, who's athletic height towered over me, yet helped me feel more at ease than the harsh stare I had just received.

"See you then." He waved to me & my three other friends who had now joined us at our lockers.

"You guys are so cute." Sasha commented as I watched Tom disappear down the hallway.

I giggled at her observation & opened my locker. Tom was cute & very sweet to me, I won't deny that.

"Excited for Friday?" I asked her as she rummaged through her locker. I was trying to look at the bright side of all this. If I could convince myself that Tom was a nice guy to be around & actually look forward to being with him on Friday, then maybe moving on wouldn't be as hard as it seems.

"Like you wouldn't believe! I'm counting down the days!" Sasha exclaimed as she closed her locker turning to me.

The four of us walked out of the building as Sasha rambled on about how we should all meet Friday before the game to get ready together. Once we said our goodbyes to Chelsea & Alice, Sasha & I climbed into her car and drove off.

The rest of the week flew by. Nothing more than glances were exchanged with Mr. Hayden, some filled with sadness, others were intense and it seemed like it all depended on who I was surrounded by at the time. While other glances were filled with nothing but a tired look of defeat.

Tom was his usual charming self & was nothing less than polite to me, never failing to mention how much he was looking forward to Friday night. And Sasha beamed every time he came around & held my books or opened the door for me as if she was the one he was doing it all for. I didn't mind at all, to be honest. With each day passing & the more Tom hanged out with us, I was becoming more & more excited for Friday.

And Friday finally came.

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The song at the top is my fave everrrr omg