His Only Savior | #Wattys2019

~4~

The day went by relatively quick, the bell rang signaling the end of lunch, so Becca and I waved goodbye to our friends before heading to our last class of the day. Sean walked with us until he needed to go his separate way placing a small kiss on my cheek, "See you after practice babe."

I smiled after him, "Bye, enjoy Calculus!" I always loved teasing him about math, it was the one subject in school he struggled with. No matter how many times you explained it to him it just didn't seem to click. Becca and I had Econ for our last block, so we planned to always walk to class together. When we entered into the poorly lit room, I noticed there was only two seats left open. One was beside Charles, which was the guy Becca had snuck off with at the bonfire and the other was beside Isaac. "Bec, please don't make me sit next to him!"

"What?! Ugh, please don't make me give up my chance of sitting by him," she mocked. Although I knew her well enough to know she was utterly serious in her request.

"Fine, only because I'm not sure which choice is more against girl code, but you owe me." She threw me a giddy grin before bouncing off towards the empty chair. I couldn't help but feel happy for her, she was my best friend after all. Could I really have asked her to give up an amazing opportunity? She had waited her whole life for Charles to notice her, and it was finally happening. I gripped the strap of my bag fiercely as I made my way over to the last open seat.

I did my best to ignore Isaac, but I was failing miserably. I was constantly stealing glances his direction, unable to focus at the information Mr. Lawson was throwing out. "Why don't you take a picture, it may last longer," Isaac's voice was low so only I could hear.

"What? Sorry I'm really trying not to, it's just weird—" I stopped mid-sentence completely unsure of how to end the sentence.

"—that we keep getting shoved together. Yeah, I've noticed it to."

I nodded unsure of what to say so I asked the question that had been bothering me all day, "Why are you playing football this year? I just find it odd you're playing after all these years, you renounced them and your friends, so why now?"

"I didn't renounce them just realized I didn't need or want them in my life," his voice was cold, "I suppose I changed my mind." He gave me one last blank look before closing himself in on the notepad in front of him to write down the information our teacher was providing to the class.

I fidgeted with the hem of my skirt in an attempt to calm my nerves, how could he say something like that to me? Did he not see the pain it caused, did he even care? Apparently not—that's when I felt it, his warm hand gripping mine, nothing else in his posture changed. He whispered while continuing to jot down notes, "Don't say anything just calm down, you're making me uncomfortable."

His hand on mine was soothing, just as it had always been when we were younger. I was too upset to focus on Mr. Lawson's discussion with the class, so I just sat there quietly focusing on the tingling sensation Isaac's touch caused. It felt as if my skin was electrified, which only made me more confused. It had been years since he had showed this much attention to me, and somehow it still caused the same desires to stir within me.

I noticed him jotting down something in the corner of his paper. When he finished he slid it over so that I could see what was written: Can we talk after class?

My heart skipped a beat as different visions of what he would want to talk about flurried through my head. I nervously pulled my hand from his to pick up the pen to write my response: yes.He glanced back and squeezed my knee gently, I had to bite back the smile that wished to escape at the realization that he had not retracted his hand the minute I removed my own.

I finally had the energy to be attentive for the rest of Mr. Lawson's class, taking notes as needed. Isaac never did remove his hand, but I did my best not to read too much into it. It was hard though, Isaac had always had this effect on me. I was victim to his charm, and this only proved that fact further.

The bell rang announcing the end of our school day, Isaac stood before I could and waited patiently for me to gather my things to join him. Becca and I locked eyes as we made our way out of the classroom, but I didn't have time to explain. As we walked into the hall I was pulled to the side by a set of strong arms, "Hey babe."

Sean buried his face into my neck, peppering its length with wet kisses. My eyes shot to Isaac, who was shoving his way down the hall and away from me. "Hey," I finally mumbled, "can you stop please? You know how I feel about PDA."

"Oh come on, for once let me do something other than hold your hand in public," he was clearly annoyed.

"Please Sean, I asked you to stop."

"Whatever, it's not like we get much further than that in the bedroom anyways," he shoved me out of his arms causing me to knock into the lockers hard.

"What is with you?" I spat as I rubbed the shoulder that had connected with the metal.

"Nothing, I'm just tired of being strung along."

"I'm just not ready, I thought you understood that?"

"Yeah, I did, when I was fifteen. I'm almost eighteen now, I have needs that need to be satisfied now," I gasped at his words, utterly shocked by the vulgarity of them.

"Then satisfy them yourself, I'm done!"

"Oh, come on seriously?"

"Yes, I'm not just something to please you. I'm a person and I told you I'm not ready and if you can't respect that then I'm done. Have fun at practice, I have to go get changed for mine." I stormed down the hall and headed for the locker-room, Sean called after me several times, but I ignored him. I refused to be treated like that by anyone.