The Life I'm Running From

9\ Boys Don't Always Equal Love

"I'm heading off to work," Danny said, coming into our small kitchen. "Don't be late to school."

With my mouth full of toast, I nodded to show her I understood. She grabbed her bag and started to pull on her boots. My phone buzzed, a text lighting up the screen. I ignored it—if someone really wanted my immediate attention, they'd call.

It was weird having a phone. I never could use one before, nor did I have people to text or call. Directing monsters to my location had always been too great of a risk. But things were different now.

"Someone texted last night too." Danny zipped up her ankle boots. "Who's Peter?"

I swallowed my toast quickly. "What?"

Danny pulled on her coat, a smile tugging at her lips. "I saw a text from Charlie on your phone. I didn't think you were going to get a boyfriend so soon."

"He's not my boyfriend, he's my Physics partner." I folded my arms. "Don't read my texts."

She pulled her hair out of the collar of her coat. "Sorry. But why haven't I heard of Peter before now?"

I dumped my plate into the dishwasher. "Because today's our first class of being partners. I switched partners with another other girl so he can tutor me in Physics."

"Alright then," Danny said. "Whatever you say."

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A strange feeling came over me as I grabbed my textbooks from my locker that morning. It was unmistakable—yet it didn't make any sense. Why would I be nervous to talk to Peter? This wouldn't be our first conversation. And it wasn't like I actually had a crush on him. All I wanted was a better Physics grade. That was the extent our relationship would reach.

Charlie was running late that morning so I entered the classroom alone. I told Mrs. Treenage that Taylie had agreed, and upon seeing Taylie taking her place beside Zoe Lucky, the teacher accepted the transfer. Peter wasn't anywhere in sight, so I sat down at his—and now my—desk. Something jittery sprung up in my stomach, and I dug out my stress ball from my backpack to tame the feeling. As my muscles clenched, squeezing the life out of the ball, tension and nerves flooded from me. I didn't understand why I felt so nervous.

Just before the bell, Peter entered the classroom. Without looking up, he headed to his usual spot. Not until he was within two desk rows did he notice me. Suddenly unsure, he halted his walk. I watched as his head swivelled from where I was to where I usually sat—then from Taylie to where I was sitting now. Obviously still hesitant, he sat down next to me. I didn't have a chance to explain before the bell rang and Mrs. Treenage began the class.

Throughout the whole class, I could feel Peter sneaking glances at me. He was confused. I tried to not pay too much mind to him however, because I was trying to focus on at least this lesson.

Mrs. Treenage assigned the homework and the bell dismissed us for lunch. I didn't get up though, and neither did Peter. He stared expectantly at me, so I had nothing to do but explain.

"Taylie and I switched partners. She wanted to be partners with Zoe." There was no way I was telling him that my friends had convinced me to do this because they thought I had a crush on him. I didn't think that would register right in his head.

"Oh." He scratched the back of his neck. "Cool." He seemed—not disappointed, I could tell that for sure. It was almost as if he was a bit embarrassed.

I dropped my notebook into my backpack. "I was also wondering if you would consider tutoring me in Physics. That's one of the reasons Mrs. Treenage let us switch partners. I'm awful at Physics and I know you're really good at it." Mrs. Treenage hadn't exactly said that, but she had left the classroom for her lunch break.