Well Beyond Expectation

Chapter Eleven.

           

Weston

It's been a little over a week since the strangely kind of great day with Lena.

I didn't want to admit it, but something about that day had changed it for me. I could tell myself all day long that I was looking out for her because of Beck, but if I wanted to be honest with just myself, I'd admit I'm doing it because I want to. I...care.

The way she'd laughed that day, the way she tilts her head back just a little when she does it, and the way she ran on the beach. I sound like such a tool, even and especially to myself, but when I lay down in bed at night, I replay it all in my head. The way she narrowed her eyes at the water just before running out to grab her sand dollar, the way she screamed when the wave caught her.

  I smile at the memory, even here in the middle of my math class, the place smiles are supposed to go to die. If I concentrate hard enough I can still feel the way her hand lingered on my chest, like she wanted to touch me just as much as I wanted to touch her. It had taken every ounce of my strength not to grab her and kiss her right then. And that was a big thing for me to admit. I wanted to kiss her.

I went to pull my phone out of my pocket, tempted to steal a quick glance at the picture of the two of us that I still had saved on my phone. It wasn't like I looked at it often...just whenever I thought about it, so...ok, often.

The teacher stepped out though and before I could get it out, Joseph was sliding his chair loudly across the tiled floor and smacking me in the shoulder.

"West, what the fuck?" He leans back, crossing his arms and shaking his head in disappointment.

"What?" I shrug, confused.

Joseph drops the act with a laugh, rumbling loudly out of him. Everything Joseph does is loud. "Marco said you told him you aren't coming out with us after the game tonight." He shakes his shaggy brown hair out of his narrow eyes. "You never party with us anymore and tonight is a rivalry game which guarantees that the after party is going to be off the charts. You've got to be there."

I knew he was telling the truth but I shrug anyway. "I think I'm just going to go home tonight, man." I tell him. "I haven't spent any time with my folks lately." The lie makes me feel sick. As if I'd actually want to go home and spend time with those lying fakes. My lie doesn't faze him at all though. He downright ignores it, unrelenting about how awesome tonight will be. Food, and beers, and a party at Marco's, who happens to have the sickest party house in town so it was definitely going to be lit. I had to admit it sounded kind of nice, but at the same time I wasn't really sure I wanted that to be my scene anymore. Parties always make me think of that last party I went to with Beckham, and how that night ended with my best friend lying bleeding on his back on the dirty asphalt. I couldn't very well say that to Joseph though, so instead I go with, "I'll go eat with you all and for a few drinks but I'm not going to the party tonight."

Joseph grins, already pulling out his phone, as he smacks my back. "I'll take it." He says sliding his seat back as the teacher reappears in the doorway.

Time ticks by in excruciating slowness, but finally the bell rings, releasing me from this class and letting me go. I jump in a hurry to get to Chemistry, because I love that class, not because of the pretty blonde with the smart mouth and grey eyes I'll get to see.

It's weird now how seeing her doesn't make me completely sick with guilt and dread. It's still there, a faint gnawing, but there is something else there too that is stronger and wins out over the hurt.

When I turn the corner into the room though, that warm feeling turns ugly fast. Devon Trainer is sitting in my seat, right next to my, well not mine, but whatever, he's leaning in, talking to Lena. Whatever he just said to her makes her lean away, a blush rising to her cheeks as she laughs lightly. When she looks away he takes the opportunity to eyeball her body like a total sleaze, not that I don't do the same thing, but it's different somehow when I do it.