Promise I Will

26

My legs fell into sync with Wyatt's and my heart beats in anticipation.

What was he going to say? What did he mean other boys? What shifts? Wait... Carson put this together? What is this, anyways?

The silence was thick in the air, and I huffed out a grunt. "Are you going to start talking?"

"Oh yeah, well, what do you want to know?"

"Um first off... Shifts?" I couldn't help but slip out a small chuckle.

"Oh, yeah. Carson puts us all on shifts. One of use for each of your four classes. I have your first period, Liam has your second, and Bailey has your third. And Carson has your fourth and anything in-between. So, lunch and whatever else." He speaks quickly, I'm surprised he has time to suck in a breath in between his words.

It was silent for a few minutes and I thought about what he said.

Liam? Who's that? Why did Carson pull him into this? He just agreed to walk me to class every day?

"Okay, so Carson put this together?" I asked, my eyes trained on the floor ahead of me. Its clean sparkle shinning in the light coming from the windows. Although we were starting winter, and it was about to snow soon, the sun still shined bright and gave a comforting warm feeling.

"Yeah. He told us... About some stuff." I hung my head and stared at my moving feet. The heat rose in my cheeks. I knew what he was talking about.

I take notice to his attire. His light blue denim jeans rolled only twice at his ankles. He wears a black shirt under a plain buttoned shirt that rolled to his elbows, open to show the faded design of Spider-Man.

"Oh." I utter out. "So, the other boys? I know you and Bailey but who is the other one?"

"Liam." He states. He doesn't elaborate, instead he stops walking and looks at me.

"Why'd you stop?" I pondered.

"Your class. You have history do you not?" He says with a joking tone and shows me his plastered white teeth.

"Oh." I say looking at the familiar door.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He whispers pulling me into a quick embrace.

My face is placed on his chest and his arms wrap around my torso. The faded design scraps my cheek as I'm pressed into him. I'm shocked by the gesture that the only sound that leaves my mouth is a grunt from the abrupt movement in his arms.

Say something Anna!

After the brief moment he pulls and away looking at me and backs away smiling. "Bye Anna."

Bye...

* * *

The class goes by quick. Mr. Chance went on his long lectures going on and on about a man named Sir John A. MacDonald. My eyes drooped and my hand slid from its position holding my head up. I could have fallen asleep if it weren't for the retched bell going off and scaring the devil out of me.

As I jump from my seat, I gather my things in my tiny arms and bring it to my chest and glide my feet out of the hallway. As I step out into the busy, packed halls, a boy with brown, short hair latches my arm through his almost knocking my things out of my hands and onto the floor. I hiccup a breath and a squeal as I meet eyes with the boy.

"Wha-wha-wha..."I scramble for words. My breathing is ragged, and I can feel my heart beating in my chest.

"The names Liam." He smiled bright showing his plastered white teeth through the crack of his lips.

"Anna..." I say in return, still unsure of who he is and what he wants.

"I know. I here to take you to your next class." At first my mind is jumbled, and my forehead makes crease lines from confusion but then I remember the name of Wyatt. He said I have someone walking me to each of my classes.

"Oh." I say once again not knowing what to say to the strange unfamiliar boy.

"Well, do you need to get your things?" He asks motioning me to start walking. I realized we only have a few minutes to get to my next class, so I start moving as he follows closely beside me.

"No, it's just art. I have a pencil, so I'm set." I give him a small smile and look away as soon as I set eyes with his.

"That's good because we only have a few minutes to get there and the art class is on the fourth floor at the other end of the school." He gives a small, soft, friendly chuckle as he says this.

We walk to the stairs and start our climb for glory. I stare at each step as I climb them. I was worried I might miss one and fall down. I look up and pause, quick before continuing my walk up the steep stairs.

Two more flights, I tell myself.

"So, do you know why Carson put us up to this?" Liam asks suddenly out of the blue I scrunch my mouth to the side in thought, still with my gaze pointed at the stairs below me.

"No. I don't." I answer, hoping that the boy now known as Liam would be able to tell me such a small detail as such.

"Oh." and that's it. No further elaboration. Just 'oh'. I wonder all the possibilities that would make Carson come up with such a plan.

Did he feel bad about me? Did he think he owes me? Does he like me?

I smile at the thought of the last one being true. Then I shake it out and laugh at myself for such a crazy thought.

Yeah, right, Anna. Like anyone would like you.

"Ladies first." Lam smiles and gives a small bow before I pass through the door. I smile and give a small inward laugh.

"Why thank you kind sir." I joke. For the first time I actually feel happy in a school hallway.

He pretends to take an imaginary hat off his head in a funny manner and places the invisible object back on his head. We walk side by side together down the hall and around a few corners. I can't help but notice the casual jeans and long sleeve shirt he is wearing. I smile at how laid back all the boys that Carson knew, were.

"Here we are." Liam stops in front of the art room. The windows are covered with painting from years of work for children who have graduated.

"Thank you." I smile looking into his eyes and pausing to admire the friendly glint his eyes held. "I mean it."

"Thank Carson." He says before patting my arm and slowly walking away from me and in the same direction as we see from. I couldn't help but wonder what his next class was and why he agreed to walk me to class. Or why any of the boys agreed to walk me to class.