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Chapter 7: Just friends, huh?

Ivory

    We are sitting in the car. Neither of us talk about what just happened. That he just stood up for me like no one ever has. Taylor did all the time but she didn't do it the way Declan did. He made her hate him too now. He said that I had him. What did that mean? He also said he loved people like me. Does he mean me or people like me? He can't love me. I don't even know how I would handle it if he did. I have never even had a boyfriend. Let alone someone who loves me. The last time someone told me they loved me, an hour later they were dead.

    "I'm sorry, I got so mad. It's just, she had no right to talk to you like that. No one should talk to you that way ever. I just don't think someone like you should be treated that way. You are one of a kind, Ivory. Anyone who gets to have you in their life, like me, should... should, I don't know. We should be grateful that we get to be there for you. You handle yourself pretty well on your own. But sometimes you don't have to fight all your battles, some of us can do more than you think," He says to me then turns to the door hops out, by the time I come back to earth he's at my door with his hand out. I take it and when I'm down. I hold it, not letting it go like I always do. I look up at him. His eyebrows are pulled together. I smile.

    I have not smiled like this in what feels like forever. My face hurts from me smiling so much. My stomachs hurts from so much laughing. I wish Taylor was here to see me so happy. I will have to call her.

    "Declan, thank you. For everything. For the new friends. For standing up for me. For the rides. I am grateful."

    "I'm happy to be of service," I laugh at that. I look at my watch it's 9:45. Have to be in there at 9:50 to help set up.

    "You have to go, right?" He asks. I nod. His mood dims a little bit. He still has my hand. I get on my tippy toes to get close to his face but still not close. I put my other hand on the back of his neck that does the trick. I kiss him on the cheek. When I let go of him. The good mood is back and he's red again. He just red so easily. I pull away from him and walk up the stairs.

"Be here at 7:00."

"I will be here at noon to bring you lunch and then be here at 6:50."

"Okay, mom!" I laugh and walk inside.

I head up stairs to the teen room. When I get up there, Mrs. Paige has this big smile on her face. She saw that, didn't she. I don't get mad like I thought I would for her watching me. I feel like I am living on rainbows.

"Ivory, you are later than when you normally are," She says look up at me from the computer.

"I had breakfast with some friends."

"Oh, is that right. It's not that 'friend' from last week, is it?"

I don't answer. I just walk to the window. To see if Declan has left or not. His Jeep is still down there but I don't see him down there.

"Looking for me?" I hear him from behind me. He's so close, I can feel the warmth of his breath on my neck. I am lightheaded for the closeness, I put my hand on the window set, so I don't fall.
"You forgot your bag and I thought you didn't want to wait until, me as your mother, to bring it with your lunch. So, here you go, sweetheart."

I close my eyes I feel something being put on my shoulder. I feel his hand slide down my arm. It leaves a fire after it's trail.

"See you at lunch. Have a good day," He says and it's my turn for a kiss on the cheek. It feels like it was supposed to happen and I did want it to happen, then the body is gone and I let out the breath I was holding. I stay there and open my eyes to watch him leave. He looks at me smiles, waves, then get in his car and drives away. I walk back to the front desk and I see Mrs. Paide's smile even bigger than before.