Genesis

CHAPTER 37 Don't Look Back

I awoke to "Love of a Lifetime", Ty's ringtone for me, once again cradled in his strong arms, having slept comfortably through another night. After a long hug and his assurance to return with coffee at the usual time, Ty shimmied effortlessly down the corner column, balanced momentarily on the top of the railing, then jumped silently to the ground. I hadn't thought to ask him where he had left his car.

Thankfully, during my first class of the day, Brit Lit, Mr. Joshua decided to play a movie. He said nothing as I moved my chair alongside Karen's and we proceeded to whisper back and forth the whole time. She agreed to take my shifts at the nursery but made me promise to fill her in on all the details after school.

"What did you think of the movie, Esther?" Mr. Joshua called to me as I tried to sneak out of the classroom after the bell rang.

I cringed and turned to face him. "Sorry, Mr. Joshua. I had something really important to talk to Karen about. I'll try to find it on Netflix."

"Don't worry about it. It won't come up on any future tests. Is everything okay?"

"I told Michael that I won't be able to work at the nursery anymore and I asked Karen if she'd take over my shifts."

"I see."

"Please don't make me feel worse than I already do. It's just that there's so much conflict between Ty and Michael and it doesn't seem right to keep spending time with Michael, knowing how he feels about me and how I feel about him. You understand, right?"

"Of course, Esther. You've chosen Ty. For now."

I shook my head. "I've got to get to my next class. See you tomorrow."

"I'm always here if you need to talk. Don't forget that."

"Thanks."

Ty was waiting for me in the hallway. "What was that all about?"

"Nothing, really. He just wanted to know why Karen and I were whispering during the movie instead of watching it." I still wasn't ready to tell him that I had quit the nursery.

"Hey, I have a favor to ask," I announced, quickly changing the subject.

"Anything for you."

I smiled, believing that to be true. "Jennie likes Jace but, apparently, he doesn't know she's alive and she's literally losing sleep over it. Do you think there's anything you can do about that?"

"As you wish," he grinned with a wink. "Just let me know when."

"I'm pretty sure it'll be at lunch today. I told her to come to our table when she's ready and I'd make the introduction. She told me before school this morning that she thought she could do it today. She's really nervous."

"I'll take care of it."

"Thanks. I'll owe you."

"Ooh, I like the sound of that."

"It was a figure of speech. Don't get your hopes up."

We walked hand in hand to World History and took our usual seats next to each other in the front row. Initially, Ty had resisted sitting there, but caved after I put on my best pouty face. I didn't normally like to resort to such tactics, but I needed to sit in the front in order to minimize distractions. Even in an AP classroom, there were always plenty of distractions.

The teacher droned on about Imperialism and I was having a hard time staying awake, preferring, instead, to think about the past two nights. Rather than paying attention, I chose to daydream about Thanksgiving break when we would return to SeaIsland and I could spend every night nestled in Ty's arms without the fear of getting caught.