We sat together in the hallway. He had his arm wrapped around my shoulders but I shifted so that I could face him. Our faces were close, less than an inch apart. Our voices barely above a whisper.
"You should come," He was trying to get me to come to a football game. I hate sports.
"But..." I trail off hoping I won't have to tell him the real reason I don't want to go. And it's not just because I don't like sports.
"But, you can bring your book..." He trails off hoping I'll just give in and go.
"I don't know," I feel my hands start to shake and I hid them in my jacket sleeves. He pushes up one of my sleeves and intertwines our fingers.
"But that's not a no..." He grins as if he won a prize in a game.
"But, that's not a yes," I say with a small smile. I look toward the ground between us, because if I look at him, I'd tell him. He can't know. If he knew, he wouldn't want me anymore. He'd tell people. People would talk. Authorities would find out. They would take me to doctors and the doctors will give me medication. I don't need medication. No. I need the medication, I just don't want it. Taking medication would mean that I gave up. I can't give up. I'll be fine. I am fine.
"No, you're not." I hear the voice clear in my head.
Yes. I am.
"Tell him."
No. He doesn't need to know...He can't know.
"Everyday you don't, you're lying to him. Tell him. Tell him! Tell Him!"
"Im? Imogen?" North has his hands on my arms with a panicked look in his eyes.
"I'm okay," I say even though it's a lie.
"Lie." The voice is back.
"You sure? You kinda spaced out for a few minutes."
"I'm good," I look at the floor so he can't see the lie in my eyes.
"You're positive? Cuz I can take you to the nurse-"
"No. Not the nurse," I answer too quickly. "I mean, I'm fine. Just...thinking." Can you call the voices in your head thoughts? The bell rings. People around us start to get up and head to their next class.
"You want me to walk with you to your next class?" North says while helping me up.
"No," I answer
"Why not?" He asked with a smile because he already knows.
"You know it makes you late for your class," I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss him on the cheek. He turns his head and meets my lips with his. I walk down the hallway to where my next class is and I turn back the way I came. North is still standing where I left him, waiting for me to walk in the door. As I walk through the door, My memories fade away and I return to the present.
