Saved

46. Memory

I didn't sleep at all last night. I knew that I would have a nightmare and knowing that Paige wouldn't wake me up kept me staring at the blades of my fan spinning around and around.

When the light came into my bedroom from the window and I rolled from the side of the bed that Paige slept on and stared at my clock until my phone alarm went off.

My morning went slowly and I dragged my feet throughout my house. It was quiet and empty and sad.

"Goooood morning, this is-" my radio blared when I started my car and I slammed my hand into the button that shut it off.

Paige would be disappointed in my choice of clothing. A ratty old shirt and some jeans that I found laying on the floor of my bedroom. I'm not even sure that I brushed my hair this morning.

I hit every single red light on the way to school and I stealthy maneuver around slow cars with one hand on the steering wheel.

My house was too quiet to stay home, it was empty and lonely. At least at school, I'd be surrounded by chatter and people, unable to lose myself in my own thoughts.

"Collins, how'd you get the shiners bro?" The tattooed guy who belligerently bothers me stops me as I walk onto the campus.

I shrug his hand off of my shoulder and walk to the locker room. I really shouldn't be running, now that I think about it. But, sitting out by people who will only ask me questions makes me want to hurl.

My feet move under me to the track and I take a seat on the bleachers. Watching all of the football players condition on the field interests me only for a minute. I turn around and lay flat on the seat, staring up at the sky.

Wolf whistles make me roll my eyes and groan. I wanted peace and quiet, sitting at the top of the stadium seats alone.

"Ow, ow!" I hear a couple guys call out, and then more whistles.

Who the hell could they be talking about? There's very few girls here who actually even catch the slightest bit of attention.

Fuck. When I sit back up, I rest against the chain-link fence behind me and almost puke all over myself.

It's Paige. Of course it's Paige. She's on the track. Purple baggy shorts and a tight tank top. I watch her for a minute, maybe more, completely engulfed in her.

She's not jogging for the fun of it, hell, she's not even jogging for that matter. She's full-forced running. Her long legs striding across the ground, graceful and effortless.

The bell rings, signaling the end of my gym period. I watch Paige for another minute, expecting her to slow down and start heading off of the track, but she just keeps going, ignoring the football players who call after her as they head to the back house.

History, I remind myself. I head to history, trying to get out of the stands as quick as I can.

Mrs. Wright huffs as I walk in right as the late bell rings. I walk to my empty table in the back of the room and stare at the seat Paige usually sits in.

After however long, Mrs. Wright is talking about the Cold War and the door opens. It's Paige.

I drop my head to the table and groan inwardly. Paige doesn't come and sit next to me, not that I expect her to. Mrs. Wright continues her lecture after a moment and I lift my head again.

Paige quickly whips her head back around to the screen and I frown. Her hands rest on the side of the table and as I stare at her back, I notice that her hands are shaking.

Paige's POV

I can't do this. I really can't. I didn't expect him to come to school today. I planned on just skipping all of my classes and running the track until my legs fell off.