{COMPLETED} ✔ December Bloom

twenty'nine

I tapped my pen on the cover of one of my exercise books, tapping my feet on the floor quietly as I waited until the bell rang to signal that it was lunch. I glanced at the clock…

3...

2...

1...

Commencing bell ringing.

I jumped up out of my seat and grabbed my books, filing out of the class and walking to my locker at a brisk pace.

It'd been 2 days since the night Norah and I had…talked.

When I had gotten up in the morning, she was gone and Braden had had no recollection, whatsoever, of anything. All he said that he could remember was falling asleep and that was it. He didn't even remember Norah.

I hadn't talked to him yet like I said I would but I just guessed that there was no need for me to, seeing how well Norah and Braden seem to be getting on now. They seem to be talking more and have now dissolved back into their usual couple puke-making relationship.

Norah and I have now altogether avoided the subjects that we were talking about that night whenever we see each other.

I blame it on the pasta for making me say all those things and generally making me into being…not Nichols and more like someone else.

"Hey baby…" I heard a crooning voice next to me and I turned around to see Ella latching herself onto my arm.

I was able to quite easily disguise my frown and turn it into a large smile, flinging my arm around her shoulder.

"Hey."

"What say we later go somewhere and do something, by ourselves?" she whispered suggestively to me.

I may dislike Ella but I have to admit, she's a good screw for when you need one and right now, do I ever need one.

"Why not?" I whispered back at her and heard her giggling lightly.

I looked away from her, grinning as my arm snaked its way around her waist, dropping as low as I dared to in public…

My smile wavered at the sight of a laughing Norah and grinning Braden as they stumbled down the hallway, Braden pushing her against the wall and attacking her neck with his lips, Norah squealing and hissing for him to get off but laughing anyway.

I felt something coursing through me again, much like the other night but shook off the sensation although the sight of the two of them fooling in the halls burned me in a very painful kind of way.

"Dante?" Ella questioned, waving her hand in front of my face. I tore my gaze away from the couple and looked down at Ella with one raised eyebrow.

"Yes?"

"Why are you looking at those two?" Ella asked me, her finger pointing in the direction of a fooling around couple.

I blinked at the couple seeing that they weren't Norah and Braden and instantly felt confused. They were there just a second ago…

"Where's Braden and Parker?" I asked aloud.

"Braden's waiting in the cafeteria, hurry up!" Ella tugged on my arm impatiently and I let her drag me but not before glimpsing one last time at the happy couple who were now walking down the corridor and holding hands.

Where'd they go to?

It's called hallucination, dummy.

Who the fuck are you?

Your mind, der.

Go away.

If I could, I would.

And I had to get a smart ass conscience, didn't I?

Excuse me oh stupid one, you do realize you're basically talking about yourself?

…

Whatever, anyway, where did they go? I swear I saw them…

You are so dense, it's not even funny.

What?

"Mr Nichols, I would like to see you, please." the teacher beckoned me so I followed, ignoring the questioning looks my many friends gave me as they filed out of the World History class.

"Yes, sir?" I asked as I approached his desk.

"You've been tutoring Miss Parker for quite some time now and I would just like to congratulate you on teaching her well. Her grades have picked up quite a bit, it's quite a miracle really seeing as how poor they'd been before, when she'd first started this class.

I guess that what I am trying to tell you is that I feel Miss Parker no longer needs a tutor for this subject. I actually have her for the next class," here, he glanced down at his watch, frowning at the clock face for a second before looking up at me with a big grin pasted on his face, "so I will tell her then after. Thank you so very much, Mr Nichols, see you next lesson, yes? Good day." he dismissed me and I turned, walking out of the class as this new information sunk into my brain.

I thought of how I wouldn't have to struggle to get her to memorize just a couple of dates. I swear, that woman is secretly an 80-year-old granny in disguise. She can't remember a single fucking thing when it comes to dates!

Or even have to try and get her to understand a couple of words…

So why am I not that much relieved that I have one less subject to teach her?

It's 'cause you have less time to spend with her.

Are you on crack?

As far as I know, no. Do you really feel the need to ask me something like that?

You know what I mean.

No I don't because I'm a dense idiot that doesn't know what's standing right under their nose.

Shut up.

No.

Yes.

No.

Yes!

No!

"Nichols!" I was jolted out of my crazy argument with my brain to see my Sports coach thundering towards me with a very pissed look on his face.

Damn…

"Where were you?" he hollered at me.

I regarded him with a blank look.

I was late for my swim practice. Yes, I'd signed up for swim practice because apparently, I needed to do something productive and for the school in order to get into a good university.

At least, that's what my parents are always telling me anyway, never getting off my back. I tell you, it's so annoying.

"Where was I when, Coach?" I asked him, innocently.

"You know what I'm talking about! Argh! Look, just get into those swimming togs of yours and swim!" he ordered and I nodded before scurrying off into the direction of the boys' locker rooms to get changed into my swimming 'togs'.