Keepsake

Chapter 19

 Alysia Evers

My locker was giving me trouble. It was the first time and I was already to the point of hitting it hard hoping it would bust open if the thing could even do that. I finally walk away in disappointment and decided to leave it alone and get to class.

The halls were empty from anxious students rushing to meet their friends in class, and see their teachers, I was late. I get down the hall and freeze when I find Ms. Shannon leaned against a wall and another man talking to her. She had an obviously flirtatious smile and her feet were rubbing against each other the way most students do.

The guy was dressed like a teacher and had his long hair loose in a bundle of light brown curls. His eyes looked to be blue, but I couldn't be sure. He was doing a whole lot of smiling while speaking sweet words to her. His hand touched behind her ear and she obviously enjoyed it.

I try to back step and ease my way around the nearest corner and hide myself, but Ms. Shannon turns her head my way. She steps away from the wall and signals the other teacher with a hand gesture. He says bye before strolling off.

Ms. Shannon waves to me and I approach her hesitantly. "Don't be afraid," she tells me. "I noticed you there the moment you turned the corner."

I look behind her and see that he is gone. "Who was that?" I ask.

She shows a smile that seemed to have a secret message in it. "He's Mr. Douglas. He teaches Fine Arts upstairs. A real piece of fine art if you ask me." She pats me on my shoulder. "Walk with me."

We stroll through the halls and I feel that Ms. Shannon didn't have to explain anything to me, but she must've felt like she did. She talked about Mr. Douglas and how they spend time together. The occasional date here and there is where they were free to be themselves. Though the two of them officially weren't a couple, it was obvious that they shared some kind of bond on a more mature level.

She told me all of this with a song in her voice. Then I realized everything in her and outside of her seemed better. Her skin, tone of voice, her walk and mannerism had changed in the last few weeks and I hadn't really noticed it. She was happier.

I didn't think twice about skipping a class since I was talking with Ms. Shannon. It would be a worthy excuse if anyone asked.

"Well, I've been talking about me this whole time. Tell me about you."

"I don't have anything to say," I tell her feeling like I wasn't being fair for not sharing.

"Don't think I haven't noticed you either, Alysia," she said bumping my shoulder. "I'm experienced in this area, so I know what to look for when I see that you're involved with someone. So, who is the lucky charmer?"

Maybe telling her wasn't the best thing to do. I said it anyways. "His name is Marcus Evers. He's studying to be an architect."

"Hmm, I've seen him before. Handsome young man. How serious are the two of you?"

I laugh. "Pretty serious."

She watches the look in my eyes when I answer her. "You seem very happy. It's all over you."

I try to confide in her in the hopes of getting answers. "Can I ask you something? What do you do when your relationship is hiding something? Something that other people just wouldn't understand, or maybe they just don't want to understand. For fear of judgment, what would you do?" I ask her.

She looked puzzled. For a few seconds her eyes were straining while searching for an answer. She finally spoke. "Alysia, you don't have to reveal everything that you are experiencing or doing in your relationship. Do you get it? Whatever it is that you and Marcus are doing or thinking about doing doesn't require other people's approval."