The Ponytail Stranger

Secrets

"Nev I was going to tell you something but I'm almost positive you figured it out on your own." Aaron rolled his eyes, which I could no longer help but stare at for as long as I could, now that he knew I loved him, there wasn't a point in trying to hide anything.
"Yeah, it doesn't look like your trying to hard to hide it, of course no one else has noticed because obviously you have been discreet enough. So no worries. Oh and don't worry about hanging out with me after school, you two lovebirds can do what you want, I can find something else to do." Nev smiled at the both of us, I smiled back happily.
"Thanks, that would be great-but uh- I stay after school for a little while to get some extra stuff done, so I could be from fifteen minutes to an entire hour. If you want to hang out even for a little while with Aaron while he waits for me, I don't mind." I shrugged, and smiled at the two of them, my words flow so much better now then they did before, I feel so safe with them. Especially safe with Aaron.
"What do you do during that time anyways?" Aaron turned to me curiously.
"Oh, uh, t-that doesn't matter." I waved my hand in the air and shook my head nervously, hoping they wouldnt ply further.
"...okay then." Aaron said suspiciously. I just shrugged and smiled at him, trying to hide the anxiety that threatened to creep up onto my face.
"I have a date after school anyways. So even if I wanted to hang with Aaron, I dont have the time." Neveah smiled mischeiviously.
"What?! With who?" Aaron almost stood up, I looked at Neveah with surprise as well.
"A girl~!" She lowered her voice and leaned in, with a smile stretched on her face.
Me and Aaron both looked at eachother and laughed.
"Congrats! And good luck!!!" I say happily, suddenly the bell rang loudly in our ears. Signifying the end of lunch.
"See ya!" She saluted us and ran off all giddy.
"Bye." I said sweetly to Aaron, he smiled. We couldn't do huge acts of affection, like hugging, in public but we could do little things. The little things counted for more than people would realize.
"See you later." He smiled sweetly and walked in the direction of his class, I waved and walked away as well.
~<··°··>~
The bell rang, all the kids rushed out of their seats as the teacher yelled at them to wait. I slowly packed my things and put my sketchbook in my bag. I got up from my seat and smiled at the teacher. He gave me an appreciative nod, since I was usually the only one who respected him. I quickly walked to my locked and put anything I didnt need into it and anything I did need into my bag. I paused, standing without moving. I secretly watched each student leave as normal. Making sure I waited until most of them were gone. Very few students lingured after school, and the club kids always got to their respective rooms quickly. So it seemed like the school was nearly abandoned after it was over. Perfect for what I did everyday. I snuck around the halls, avoiding all teachers and students that were still there. It wasnt hard of course, since there werent many of either. Even most of the teachers seemed to clear out or hide away in their classrooms after the school day was over. They had longer days of course, since they still had to do things after the students' school days. I finally get to my destination. The hallway was lined with lockers on one side, and on the other there were mostly only vending machines, tightly packed next to each other. Only little space left between each of the machines. A perfect hiding place, I looked around and slipped between the middle two machines. I went all the way back to the wall, I turned around and sat with my back against the wall. I let the thoughts flood into my head, my terrible mistakes. Everything I couldve prevented, could have done. I thought of all the good things I did, but thought how I could have done them better. I hugged my legs tighter, tears flowed down my face. I recalled everyone around me, all their faces, their words. I thought about how they probably felt about me, how they really felt about me. I knew everyone hated me, or barely tolerated me. I know I'm a mess up, a mistake. An error in the source code of the world that needs to be altered. A mistake in a story that needs to be deleted. The tears came like they would never end. I would do this at home, but I knew I couldn't. I wouldn't want to stress out my aunt or worry my little sister. They already had enough to deal with. They both have enough to worry about, to stress over. Its better to be alone in an empty hallway at school. In a hateful environment with bullies and judgement. I deserve to be in such a hateful place while I cry like a baby over things I couldve done better, people who probably hate me and talk about me behind my back. About how Aaron probably doesn't actually like me, and once he realizes he doesnt. He will leave like everyone else in my life has, like my parents have, like my friends have. I feel a warm hand brush a tear off my cheek. I look up.
"A-Aaron? It- I-" I stop, he was barely able to fit between the vending machines. He backed up out of the space and held a hand out to me. I put my hand in his and he pulled me up out of from between the machines.
"I-" I started as he pulled me up, but he pulled me into a hug to my surprise.
"Dont hide anything from me please." He said sadly, I felt tears flow back out of my eyes, I nodded and buried my face is his shoulder. I put my arms around him and squeezed him tightly.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to worry you. The truth is..I have social anxiety, and I try to keep it in all day while I'm at school- but its really hard. So I kind of have anxiety attacks after school. I hide here during them though." I said quietly. He pulled out of the hug.
"You dont have go bottle all this up anymore okay? If you feel like your going to have an anxiety attack, dont bottle it up. Tell me, I can get you away from the situation and we can go somewhere private while you calm down. Okay?" He looked around the hallway, making sure no one was around. Then he kissed my forehead. I nodded, my face heating up.
"Whats that look for?" He laughed.
"I'm just very happy now." I smiled with overwelming happiness and content.
"Want to go hangout somewhere now?" He smiled and grabbed my hand, walking down the hall towards the front of the school.
"Yeah, that sounds nice." We both walk, hand in hand, to the front doors of the school.