As the day dragged on I was reminded of one small dilemma. Was I supposed to hitch a ride home with Chad? Or was that a one time thing? It's not like he's one of my close friends and I can just assume these things. After some internal debating I decided it would be less awkward if I just began walking home, not expecting anything. After all, he only gave me a ride this morning because I'd have been late otherwise.
Eventually it was time for English, and I filed into the classroom amid the other students. Chad was already seated, discretely typing on his phone, hidden underneath the surface of the desk. I took my seat just before the bell rang, pulling a pencil out of my bag.
"Alright class, we're going to start off simple this year" the teacher said, passing out a stack of books to each row and turning to start notes on the board at the front of the room: The Great Gatsby.
***
Once the bell rang, I packed my supplies back into my bag and stood from my desk, waving a goodbye to a few other students and making my way out the door. My only homework for the day was finishing the second chapter of Gatsby, so I didn't waste the time stopping at my locker, and instead walking out into the end-of-summer humidity.
I'd walked to the sidewalk leading away from the school, contemplaing another swim when I got home, when I heard a voice behind me, "Arabella!" I knew that voice, and possibly the only person, aside from my mother, that would call me by my given name.
I turned to see Chad striding towards me, looking slightly sweaty from the heat. "Where are you going?" he asked, when he had made it about 5 feet infront of me.
"Home. Why?" I asked, eyeing him. Okay, maybe not expecting a ride home was the wrong thing to do, but how was I supposed to know?
"Well, I was going to drive you, unless you'd rather walk I guess," he said, not really making eye contact with me. Is he nervous? No, that can't be it.
"Um, yeah. I mean, I didn't expect you to, but that would be nice." I explained noncholantly, in attempt to lighten the mood. Walked to his car in silence until I heard my name being called yet again. I turned to the voice, but this time it was Dylan. An easy smile spread accross my face as he jogged over. "Hey, Dylan!" I said happily, when he reached us. Chad was almost to the car now, however I'd stopped a few paces behind him.
Dylan pulled me in for a quick side-hug. "How about that pizza? You free tonight?" he asked, when I was released from his hold. I thought about it momentarily, my mom always got mad when I agreed to go places without permission, but I'm eighteen for Christ sake, she can get over it. It's only pizza.
"Yeah, I've got nothing. What time were you thinking?"
"I get out of practice at 5, how does 6:30 sound?"
I nodded in agreement, and glanced over at Chad, who was now sitting in his car with his music loud and an annoyed expression on his face. I quickly said goodbye to Dylan and hurried to the car. When I opened the door and slid in, Chad didn't even look over, his eyes glued to the windshield. Once I was buckled, he put the car in drive and sped away from the lot.
We made it a few blocks before he spoke, "So is that guy your boyfriend?" he asked, his eyes still focused on the road.
I was slightly taken aback by the tone he used when he asked, almost accuasatory. "Um, no. We've just been friends for awhile." I explained, glad I was free of his intense stare. I took the opportunity to take stock of his features. Striking blue/green eyes, slight stubble, dark messy hair, and full lips. He certainly looked like he was made to break hearts, and I found myself wondering if he even knew it.
Chad cleared his throat, snapping me back into reality. He was now looking over to me, a smirk pulling at his lips. I quickly diverted my eyes, busying myself by picking at a loose thread at the bottom of my shirt.
