Daemons in the Mist

Chapter 13 - Reality Check

13

Reality Check

Monday, January 16th

PATRICK

                        

By Monday morning I had convinced myself it had all been a dream. Even the ring under my shirt was not enough to convince me anymore. I had spent most of Sunday sitting at the computer waiting for Nualla to do something, anything. Change her profile status, add a few innocent pictures of us, hell, even just send me a little message.

I was pacing in front of the steps of the parking lot entrance to the school by the time Connor showed up.

“Hey man, how was your weekend?” he asked, punching me good-naturedly in the shoulder.

What I wanted to say was, “Great! Went to Vegas, married the girl of my dreams, can’t really complain.” What I actually said was, “Did something really stupid that I will hopefully never live to regret.”

“Really? What?” Connor asked, unable to conceal his interest.

The girls showed up before I could think up a reply. “Tell you later,” I said out of the corner of my mouth.

“Hey Connor, Patrick.” Jenny’s tone sounded slightly irritated when she said my name. I couldn’t think of why though. “How was your weekend?”

“Mine was boring as hell, but Patrick’s was apparently interesting,” Connor answered as he smiled conspiratorially at me. I silently vowed to beat the crap out of him later for saying anything.

“Really? What did you do, Patrick?” Sara asked as she slid her thumbs down the straps of her backpack.

I just stared at them blankly as I racked my brain for something I could say that wouldn’t get me in trouble. I was so busy trying to think of what to say in fact, that I didn’t notice Nualla’s approach until she was only a few feet away. “Hi Nualla, how was your—” was all that I was able to say before she slid her hand around my neck and pulled my lips to hers.

Her kiss made our previous one look like a peck on the cheek and hinted at things I couldn’t quite remember from Friday night. It was definitely not the type of kiss one did in front of a crap ton of people at school that’s for sure.

Eventually, Nualla pulled away slightly and smiled up at me. “Did you miss me?” I just stared at her dumbly, trying to regain my composure—or any brain function really. She reached up and brushed a piece of hair away from my eyes. “Care to walk with me to my locker?”

“Sure…” I answered unsteadily.

With a smile, Nualla slid her arm through mine and started walking toward the building. I didn’t even resist; just let her pull me gently forward. I turned back around to see my stunned friends gaping at me, along with half the school. Today was becoming a very interesting day, and I hadn’t even made it into the building yet.

By the time we got to her locker, I had mostly gotten over the shock of her sudden display of affection in front of the school. Hell, who was I kidding—I was still completely stunned.

Nualla opened her locker, and I leaned against the one next to it.  She placed her coat inside as she looked at my hand. “Where’s your ring?”

“Here,” I answered, placing my hand over my royal-blue tie that poked out just above my black sweater vest and hid the lump of the ring completely.