Blockage (hiatus)

Chapter Six

The cool metal of the locker was a welcome relief to my flaming skin.

English class passed in a blur of hidden eye contact and sweet smiles. Already, the wall I'd created around myself crumbled and only a few shaky foundations remained. Rationally, I knew better then to place all my hopes on these boys, but it didn't seem my heart agreed and every moment spent with one of them caused me to lose myself in reverie.

Kota and Luke stood in front of me as they exchanged in easy conversation. I knew it was just a ruse, but it was kind of them to pretend. Resting my back further against the locker, I watched as Kota's brows furrowed in frustration before he pulled out a cell phone. At Kota's distraction, Luke turned his attention back to me.

"So, cupcake," my new nickname rolled smoothly off his tongue, "You sure you don't want me to walk with you to class?"

A part of me did, but he'd already admitted to having class the next hallway over. There was no need for him to be late for me, though my mind selfishly disagreed. Similar to Luke, Kota's next class was in the science hall. Both boys had offered very generously to walk with me despite this, but as much as my heart longed for it, I knew I needed the time to think.

Now it was just a matter of sharing my thoughts.

I tugged on my skirt self-consciously, "Thank you, but it's alright. I— I need the time to digest all this anyway."

Emerald green eyes flicked up to my face. With a slight hesitance, Kota nodded in acceptance, "We understand, Sang. We're just worried," he looked over his shoulder at the grouping students, "I've gotten the impression this isn't the safest school."

"... It's okay," the lie slipped through my lips like honey, years spent practicing denial and self-delusion kicking in, "Thank you for the concern, but it really isn't that bad."

Kota didn't believe me. The subtle lift of his brow, the tilt of his head, the narrowing of that analytic gaze. Everything pointed toward suspicion and for a moment, I was stumped. I'd assumed he wouldn't be able to tell, but apparently, my hypothesis wasn't the case. Tongue drying, I glanced toward Luke only to hastily look away. His easy-going smile was soiled with the same disbelief.

"You've really got to work on your poker-face," meandering up to me, Luke held out a hand. I looked at him enquiringly and he promptly explained, "I wanted to see your phone, so we can meet up for lunch."

Oh. My hands tightened on the hem of my skirt and my gaze traveled desperately down the hall. The words slipped with a tilt of confusion, "I don't have one?"

"You don't have a phone?" Luke's voice rose a bit in surprise and he shared a glance with Kota, "Well... that makes things difficult. Huh, what's your fourth period again?"

When I looked at him, Luke looked genuinely curious, but it was Kota's expression of resignation that hinted toward something other than pure motivations. Judging from the excited gleam in his eyes, Luke's plan wasn't spiteful, but my hands still traveled up to securely latch around my bag's handle. Kota's lips twitched into a tiny smile at the action.

"..." my words were hesitant, "AP History with Mr. Jenkins."

"Awesome, that works perfectly," clapping his hands together, Luke's grin grew several centimeters wider, "Gabe's in that class, right Kota?"

Kota gave Luke an impressive expression of bemusement as he slipped his phone back into place, "You know he is."

"I just wanted to make sure," Luke shrugged, but he radiated humor, "We were talking about changing our schedule around earlier."