He's Worth It to Me

Chapter 4: Way to Go, Meg

I head to my class to meet up with Riley after I left the library. I am currently sprinting through the hallway as if my life depended on it, because, in a way, it does. If I get one more tardy on my record, I'll exceed my allotted number of absences. If that happens, I get suspended. I look at the clock on the wall as I run past it. 15 seconds. I can do it... I hope. I turn the corner and see my classroom! Thank God! I barrel through the door and bend over, breathing heavy. I look up and am greeted with the sight of 30 people staring at me with looks of judgment. I look at the ground and walk to my seat.

"That was quite an entrance, Megan", my teacher, Ms. Callahan, says.

"Sorry, Ms. Callahan. I lost track of time", I say.

"Ok. I'll let it slide for now seeing as this is your first day back from being ill. Just don't let it happen again."

"I won't let it happen again, ma'am."

"I'll hold you to that, Ms. Jones."

"Yes ma'am", I say with my head hung.

I slowly make my way to my desk, careful to not make eye contact with any of the other students. But my attempt at not drawing more attention to myself failed. I trip over the leg of one of the chairs and start to faceplant, but Riley catches me just in time.

"Girl, you gotta watch where you're walking", Riley whispers to me and then lightly laughs.

"Thanks, Riles", I whisper and lightly laugh as well.

I walk carefully the rest of the way to my desk at the back of the room, right behind Riley.

I sit down and look up. Everyone is staring at me. Damn it. Way to go, Meg, it's your first day back and everyone's attention is back on you. Great.

The teacher starts talking, which causes everyone in the class to turn their attention back on Ms. Callahan. Thank God.

~After Class~

Our class is finally over. Riley and I are walking with each other to the cafeteria for lunch when Riley suddenly turns to me and stops us.

"Ok, Meg. Spill", Riley says in a knowing tone.

"What are you talking about, Riles?", I say as innocently as I can.

"Meg, you know what I'm talking about."

"I still have no idea what you're talking about."

"Meggggggg...."

"There's nothing, Riles."

"Yes there is and you're going to tell me."

We continue like this for quite some time, until I finally give up.

"Ugh! Fine! I saw Nate earlier", I say in defeat.

"And when were you going to tell me this?!", pries Riley.

"Right before lunch..."

"And why that time exactly..???"

"Because Nate is sitting with us at lunch...", I mumble as I trail off.

"What was that, Meg?"

"Nate is sitting with us at lunch, ok!", I almost yell with a blush appearing on my face.

"I heard you the first time, Meg. Just wanted to hear you say it", Riley says with a smirk and wink as she laughs.

"You suck."

"And you swallow."

We both start laughing and the next thing I know we are both on the floor laughing and clutching our sides.

We continue to laugh for what feels like an eternity but quickly stop when we suddenly hear footsteps approaching us. The footsteps stop by our heads and we look up and see a face hovering over us, looking at us with a smile on their lips. It was Nate.

"Looks like y'all are having fun", he says with a light chuckle.

I immediately freeze and feel a blush appear on my face. And I quickly rise to my feet, along with Riley.

I try to regain my composure and respond to him with a shrug and the words, "Uh-huh."

"You ready for lunch?", Nate asks.

Riley turns to me and says, "So this is the famous Nate?"

I feel a blush appear, yet again, on my face, but this time I feel it's much more noticeable because Nate chuckles.

"Yes, Riley", I say normally, but under my breath, I mutter, "Thanks a lot Riley."

Riley extends her hand out towards Nate and shakes his hand while saying, "It's nice to finally meet you."

"So I see you've been talking about me, Megan", Nate says with a light chuckle.

"Well, you did save my life, Nate", I say in response.

"True. And I'm glad I was the one to do that."

We look at each other for quite some time, until our moment was interrupted by Riley saying, "I meant to thank you for that, by the way. I don't know what I'd do without my best friend. She gave me quite a scare. Actually, the word 'quite' doesn't even begin to cover it. The word 'huge' is much more fitting", Riley says to Nate with a face that shows how much I actually scared her.

"You're welcome. I was just doing my job", responds Nate.

"Anyways... Shall we go to eat?", I say, quickly changing the subject.

Riley links her arm with mine and says, "Yes, we shall."

And with that, Riley, Nate, and I start to make our way to the cafeteria for lunch. And with it being just the three of us, it feels how it should be. I finally found two people that truly care about me, and I feel... happy. As weird as that is for me to think and feel, I know I am right. My smiles are, finally, genuine and not forced. I. Am. Happy.