The Forgotten One

Chapter Eleven

              Monday morning came quickly and I walked toward school reluctantly. I didn’t want to face Chase or Trystan. I had kept myself isolated in my room all day Sunday, other than my morning shift at the diner. I had eaten after work, stopping at the convenience store next to the school and picking up snacks to get me through until the next morning. I wasn’t ready to face the reality of what had happened between Trystan and I in the hallway, or the kiss that I had cut short with Chase. I felt guilty, even though I knew logically that I shouldn’t. I imagined Trystan kissing Miss Fishman at the end of their date, which brought back memories of the string of girls through his high school career and what he had done with them in the woods, which had made me sick to my stomach. I used to be angry with him for the way he treated the girls, but the feelings had shifted to jealousy somewhere. Or maybe they had always been jealousy, and I just hadn’t realized it.

              “There you are.” Chase stepped out from his street, at our usual meeting place. “Hello.”

              “Hi.” I kept walking, waiting for him to catch up to me.

              “In a hurry this morning?” Chase looked hurt and confused.

              “Maybe a little.” I shrugged. “I want to talk to Amanda.”

              “Okay. I have practice this morning anyway.” Chase didn’t make a move to hold my hand or take my bag from me.

              “I’m sorry if I seem a little out of it.” I sighed, looking over at Chase as we continued toward the school.

              “It’s okay. I had a lot of fun on Saturday. I just wanted you to know that.” His smile was back and I couldn’t help but smile back.

              “I had a lot of fun too. It’s a great place and you did so good on the stage. I didn’t know that you were so talented.”

              “Thanks.” Chase blushed. “That means a lot to me.”

              “I’m gonna go and find Amanda now. I’ll see you later, okay?” I turned toward the cafeteria when we headed into the school.

              “See you at lunch.” Chase waved over his shoulder, heading toward the music room.

              I quickly made my way into the library and found a table near the back. Pulling out my books, I dove into my homework, losing myself in the assignments until the first warning bell rang. I gathered my things and ran toward class, avoiding the hallways that I knew I would see Chase on.

              “Where were you this morning?” Amanda was standing at my locker when I approached it to get the correct books for my first two classes.              

              “In the library. I had some work to get done. And I was hiding from Chase.” I admitted.