Taking Chances

Chapter 2

I took a deep breath as i got out of my jeep. It had been a week since the bonfire, which meant it had been a week since my stupid confession to stupid Tyler Mattingly. Since then, i have been dreading this day. The first day of school.

I hadn't seen any of my classmates since... the kiss. Nor had i wanted to. After i got home that night i ran to my room and had a panic attack until the early hours of the following day. Suprisingly though, after i lost control for those few hours, i was fine. Great actually. It was nice to know that i had actually takena risk, and it was good to know that something between me and Tyler would never happen and it was just a dumb fantasy. I felt like i could now move past that chapter in my life. It was over, done. I mean sure, i still loved him, but i was trying my best to move on, to someone more in my league. I decided that i was too good for Tyler anyway. He didn't deserve all of my awesomeness.

Reminding myself of my awesomeness, i headed for the big doors in the front building. My senior year would be great, no matter what. Even if people stared at me or laughed at me for what i did, i wouldn't let it get to me.

I entered the building, head held high. All week i had been picturing everyone getting silent and quietly whispering "that's her" as i took my walk of shame down the rows of lockers. That didn't happen. Actually, nothing happened. I was still the unknown girl. Everyone just carried on getting their books and chattering away. I'm not complaining though! I hate being the center of attention.

I continued down the hallway, happily. I kept my eye out for someone i knew. I didn't have really close friends, just people i knew and talked to, i didn't mind though, i liked being a loner. I smiled and waved at the few people i did know, but for the most part i just kept focused on finding locker 217.

Finally, i found it on the right. Unfortunately, there was a huge crowd of people talking around it, so i had to shove my way in. Oh, great, i must be by some extremely popular kid who has all of their little minions follow them around. This had better not be a regular thing, because having to push through a wall of people would get old, fast.

"Excuse me." I mumbled as i forced myself towards my locker. No one even noticed me, and they all just kept chattering away. I realized that they were mostly guys, which meant that the person i was next to was probably so popular dude. Or a really hot girl i guess. Well, i was fine as long as it wasn't...

Tyler Mattingly. That's who my locker is next to. Oh that's just fan-freaking-tastic. This would happen to me. He was just unloading his books into his locker, and throwing his backpack in when i walked up to mine and turned the dial. Maybe he wouldn't remember me! Or he wouldn't acknowledge me at all. He glanced sideways at me, then did a double take. Well, i guess he remembers me. Then, he surprisingly smiled at me. I guess it was better than him looking at me in amusement.

I looked away from his beautiful smile quickly, not wanting to blush. I'm sure i was already the color of a tomato, stupid blushing!

"Hey, Lacey." Tyler said. I could still feel him looking at me.

"Oh, hey Tyler." I mumbled. I tried to sound nonchalant, but i probably failed miserably. Inside my heart was racing, and my brain was working double time trying to figure out why the heck he was talking to me. So far, i had one answer, and i prayed it wasn't that reason.

"So about last week..." He began. Well, i guess my prayers went by unanswered. This world hates me! No, no, t's okay, i could just play it cool, and act like it was nothing. Yeah, good plan.

"Oh right. Listen, that was nothing. Forget it happened. Please?" I said quickly, still not looking at him. Before he could respond, i threw my backpack in the locker, grabbed my math book, shoved back through his crowd of friends, and booked it away from him. Maybe the was some way i could time it perfectly so that i wouldn't be at my locker the same time he was. Only for a couple of days of course. I wasn't pathetic enough to let all of my actions be centered on some guy.