Given Up

Chapter 19

The hall was always noisy at lunch time and today was no exception. The teachers were sat at one end on a table but they never intervened unless there was serious bad behaviour. They liked to ignore us as much as possible during their short time off.

Cassie and I had been eating with the crew here since I had heard from Mr Green that Drew was no longer hanging with them. That had been the main reason I hadn't wanted to hang around everyone, but now the cat was out of the bag, it didn't matter.

I hadn't brought it up with any of them, not even Jax, who was almost as close to Drew as I had been. I can only guess that they were upset with him over what had happened at the party, but I don't know if there had been an exchange of words about it or if Drew had ostracised himself.

Cassie laughed and stuck another sandwich in front of me. She was still feeding me daily much to the amusement of Jax. He seemed to think this meant that we were a secretly loved-up couple. Cassie seemed to be thriving amongst the group: making her own friendships especially with Tammy and Maddie. She was becoming more confident.

I saw him coming away from the tills. He sent a quick glance our way, but looked around elsewhere for a space. There were only a few left at a nearby table and he started that way.

Our conversation yesterday had been playing over in my mind on a loop. I didn't think an apology would have made a difference. I had been so mad at him. I still was, but...

I watched him. I knew him well enough to know that he was sad and uncomfortable.  Without over thinking it, I stood up.

"Oi Drew!"

I felt everyone's eyes at the table looking up at me.  He looked over and a wave of anxiety flew over his face.

"There is space here," I called out and waved over.

His shoulders loosened and he came over quickly.

"Can you scoot down Tammy?"     

The whole table did as I asked and I gestured to Drew to sit next to me.  He gave me a nervous smile as we both sat down.  Everybody was quiet for a moment:  waiting to see what would happen next. 

"Drew, I need to ask you a serious question." I gave him a hard look.

The tension at the table doubled and no one moved.

"Are you going to eat all those chips?"

—-

"Cassie!" I called out to her from where I was waiting by the school gate.

I watched her look around for my voice and locate it. She gave me a wide smile and my stomach did a flip. My feelings for her were growing despite my not wanting them to. I was too messed up to fall for someone, but I was failing spectacularly.

'Good last lesson?" She asked as I fell into step with her.

"Nyah," I replied, shrugging my shoulders. "You?"

"I had PE and you are looking at the best volleyball player in my class....if you count getting hit on the head as a good move?"  She showed me her cheek that was a little pink.

I held my hand up and she returned a high five.

She told me how it happened as we walked back to her place. She had a great storytelling style and I couldn't stop laughing all the way.

"You are great," I said in between laughs. Opps.

She coloured but didn't say anything; just smiled.