Maybe This Time

Always

I decided to skip second period, because I was late anyway. I was still in the bathroom staring at my reflection, thinking how pathetic I was for crying over Oliver for the Nth time. But this time it was different, it was all those sleepless nights  combined, and became one huge session of crying. Does that even make sense? It was like, feeling all the pain over again. Like being hit by Miley's wrecking ball. 

Imagine Miley Cyrus constantly sticking her tongue out as she hits you with that huge ball. 

Ouch. It hurts so freakin much that I might as well just hang myself and die.

Such a hideous way to die. 

I shook my head to erase the thought. I can't keep on thinking about the pain. I'm a strong girl now right? I should not let the past ruin my present and my future. What happens in the past must stay in the past. I have been holding on for too long, It is time for me to move on. Oliver was a jerk. He left. He walked out of my life, and he must stay out of it. For good.

I splashed some warm water to my face, and rubbed my super puffy eyes gently. I pulled out some tissue paper and pat my face dry. I watched my reflection stare back at me. Gosh! My eyes are so puffy. I probably might skip 3rd period too. It's a good thing I'm such a nerd. When you're a nerd, you are also a teacher's pet, and I know my teachers wont really mind of I miss today's lessons.

I sighed audibly and left the bathroom. The hallway was empty. Everyone was in their respective classes exept me. Again, I sighed.

I headed for the library. I sat on one of the empty tables, and rested my head on it. I was so tired, my eyes were weary and were sooo heav.. hmmm.

--

"Zoe..." I heard someone whispered.

"Zoe. Are you up?" the voice continued to whisper. I felt a soft touch on my cheeks, and I felt my hair being tucked behind my ears. I groaned. Where is this voice coming from? Why is it disturbing my sleep? 

"Zoe..."

Again. I groaned. Ugh!

I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Ouch. That hurts. I tried to open it too, but It felt like I was carrying the whole school using my eyelids. I gently rubbed it some more, and blinked a couple times. That's when I saw tables, and people. Where am I? I looked to my left, I saw some more people and shelves. Bookshelves. Library. I'm at the library. I fell asleep at the Library? I dont even remember coming here! The last thing I remember was I was crying in the bathroom. 

I looked to my right, and I saw familiar blue eyes.

"Hey.. Are you okay? What happened?" He asked softly, his voice full of concern. 

"Yeah. I'm fine." I muttered, my voice sounding hoarse. Probably from crying too much. Oh, and I'm pretty sure my eyes are really puffy too. I still feel like carrying the whole school with eyelid. 

"You dont look fine. What happened?" He asked again. Do I really look that bad? 

I sighed and answered his question with another question.

"How long have I been asleep? What time is it?" I asked. 

"Uhh. I actually just got here a few minutes ago. I looked for you all over the cafeteria after third period, you werent on your usual lunch table, so I started worrying and.."

Before he could finished, I held up my hand and scrunched my eyebrows. "Hold up, it's lunch time?" I asked, staring at Levi like he had grown another head.

"Yes. It is. How long have you been here?" He asked, confuse with my reaction.

"I dont know. Wait. When was the last time you saw me?" Wow. I feel like we're solving some serious mystery case here. When infact I just want to know how long have I been sleeping here, and why I haven't drooled. 

"First period. You said you'll see me during lunch. You ran out of class, and the new kid ran after you. Then I didn't see you after that. You weren't in your 2nd and 3rd period classes." Levi explained. How can he know all this? Has he been checking up on me? How sweet of him. I'm starting to really wonder why Levi is suddenly so concern of me. Why he shows me that he really cares about me. Dont get me wrong though, I like it. I like the fact that someone cares. I like how someone as popular as Levi Evans would actually check up one me. 

But wait, lets go back to our mystery case. So I have been at this library for an hour and 30 minutes? It wouldve been for a longer time, if Levi didnt come and wake me up. So, I mightve gone here after my crying session at the bathroom after first period. I didn't exactly sleep last night, so that didn't help either. I was probably too tired and dozed off..

"Are you okay?" Levi interrupted my thoughts. "Whats with you and the new kid anyway? I heard he used to be your bestriend." He continued.

I am not sure if I should tell Levi everything about me and Oliver. What if I scare him off too? I dont wanna lose any more friends. He's my only friend right now, and I wouldn't want to risk that.

I looked at his concern and curious expression, and gave him a small smile. 

"That's something I really dont wanna talk about right now, Levi." I smiled. 

He was quiet for a while, and then he flashed me his crooked teeth and shrugged. "Okay. I understand. But I hope he doesn't hurt you again. Because if he does, he could start looking for another school to transfer to, now." 

I giggled for the first time today. Levi is just so sweet and thoughtful. For some unknown reasons, he is in my life. Making me laugh, and making my heart jump up and down. I couldn't be more happy. Though, I am pretty lucky that no girl has ever tried to kill me yet.

"Why would you say that?" I asked curiously.

Again, he shrugged. Such a shrugger. "Because!.. I am sick of this society we are currently in. I hate watching mean people hurt the nice ones. I have always wanted to stand up for you. I hated watching people push you around, because I knew you were such a nice person. But I was a coward back then. No offense, but I was scared that if I help you, it would ruin my reputation as the star. But you know what? I came to realized that the friends I made out of my popularity meant nothing. It came to a point where I got really sick of the fake people surrounding me. I realized, I needed a real friend. Someone who would want to be friends with me because I am me, not because I'm a star." He said, looking at me with sincere blue eyes, sounding as if he meant every single word.

I almost fainted when he put his hand over one of mine, not breaking eye contact. With the softest and most sincere voice, he said, "It was you, Zoe. It was you I wanted to be friends with. Because I always thought you were strong, nice and most of all, I knew you were real. And this is me, making up for all the years Ive let people push you around. I will never let anything or anybody hurt you now Zoe. I promise." He finished, as he gave my hand a squeeze.

I squeezed back, holding back tears. My emotion was all over the place. I have never expected to hear this. Especially not from the basketball star Levi Evans. I haven't had any friends for years, exept my Mom, my brother, and my cousins. Do you have any idea how touching it was to hear everything he said? LEVI FREAKIN EVANS wants to be my friend. 

"Levi. I...." I searched for the right words. I want to thank him and tell him that this means a lot to me. As in a lot LOT. But right now, my brain is not functioning well, and so does my tongue.

"You dont have to say anything, Zoe. Just tell me we that you are my friend, my real friend, and that I can always count on you as much as you can count of me." He said, smiling.

"Ofcourse, Levi.." I answere and assured him with my sweetest smile.

"Always..."