What I Couldn't Tell Him

29 - I Wont Panic

ALDEN WOLFF

We lean casually on the wall near my bike. Despite it being a Monday morning I feel lighter than usual. It still feels like a dream that, yesterday, in the middle of the night, she kissed me in a romantic forest. That has never been my style, but I can't say I mind. I walked away because I was scared of this, scared of liking her. As soon as I had walked away, I walked back, unable to keep away and feeling sick with guilt. My pride doesn't matter, she does.

I dont know what happened in her extremely short phone call but I dont know if I should ask or not.

"Earth to Alden?" Jordan clicks his fingers in front of my face.

"What is with you?" Brooklyn laughs.

"What do you mean?"

"Your daydreaming like a girl in love!" Shawn laughs, grinning.

"Wait, what?" Jordan says, working something out in his head. It only takes a few seconds.

"You kissed her, didn't you?" Brooklyn finishes.

I dont answer, I just stare at them with an open mouth. I have lost the power of rational thought, like I did when I kissed her.

"Bloody hell!" They shout, gaining a lot of attention.

"I thought she was way out of your league. I mean, your a complete *sshole and she is a f*cking supermodel! She's one of them mysterious girls too, you know like in books? And you never know what she's gonna do..."

They spend the next five minutes, though it feels like hours, talking about her and how weird it was that she chose me and not some incredible Armani model.

"She could've married a prince or some sh*t if she wanted to, your so lucky that she picked you!" They tease.

"Alright I f*cking get it!"

"Leave him alone!" Shawn laughs, acting like I'm a toddler. He shrugs off my glare.

Then she walks past in some shorts and a blouse and all the eyes in the hallway are on her. She stops to talk to a guy, blonde and handsome, who I vaguely recognise from the athletics team. My chest tightens as I watch them. She smiles and he smirks at her, running a hand through perfect blonde hair. She looks comfortable. She doesn't even know that everyone is looking at her.

"Ooh, someone's jealous." Jordan chuckles, prodding me. I punch him in the gut, sending him bending double, quickly and turn my attention back to her.

The guy is flirting, and she keeps a straight face. He leans towards her, head resting on a locker. Her face is set and she speaks, walking towards us with a roll of her eyes.

"What was that?" I ask, sounding a little blunter than I intended. She recoils, giving me a frown.

"What?"

"With that jack*ss." I answer, pointing to him. She looks amused, holding my gaze for a moment.

"Apparently we were doing an English assignment and I forgot my homework. He wanted me to meet him at his house so i could go get it. Then he asked me to the dance." She shakes her head and smiles but my blood runs cold.

"What did you say?" Brooklyn asks slowly.

"I'm really sorry but I'm not going." She answers plainly, and everyone stares between me and her. Their eyes land on me, expression kept neutral.

"Anyway, I'm meeting Jen at the front. See you."

Then she walks away.

"F*ck."