My Heart Skips a Beat (completed)

Chapter 18: The Finale

“Where are ya going, Claire?” asked Grace.

“Going to meet Jonathan. He asked me yesterday to meet him outside the Vernon café,” I said.

“When’d you see your brother?” questioned Ashley, who was drawing hearts on her cheeks with Grace’s lipstick.

“Yesterday after Mr. Murphy questioned me for his little SAT investigation,” I explained. “Jonathan’s still trying to get Skip to talk to him after what happened.”

“I know that I’m incredibly unclear on the drama going on between your little triangle, but it sounds like that getting back together with Skip isn’t gonna be that easy for ya, Claire,” commented Grace.

I glared at her. “Thanks a lot, Grace. That makes me feel so much better about our breakup.”

“I’m sorry! But how do you feel about this entire thing?”

Now, Grace would probably be the valedictorian of the Foxfield half of our two schools. Vernon and Foxfield Academies had a combined high school graduation, and both schools produced a valedictorian and salutatorian. It made graduation twice the fun.

“Well, Skip and I truly had a forever in our life path together. And I feel like forever just ended right when it started.”

I glanced up at the clock Ashley brought to Foxfield after Christmas break. Jonathan would be expecting me in two minutes. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and turned towards the door. “Bye,” I said, shutting the door to my dorm behind me before either of my roommates could respond.

I walked over to Vernon Academy, trudging through the woods to stay hidden. I wrapped my arms around myself, as it was particularly cool for a February day. I hid behind a tree just as Skip Burroughs stomped out of the Vernon café. Through the windows of the building, I could see Roger Smith and Roscoe Johnson clapping loudly and standing up, the rest of the students in the gym/cafeteria following their lead. Then Jonathan trotted out of the double doors to the café, resting a hand on his shoulder. His mouth was moving up and down, but I, of course was too far away to hear. By the look on his face, Jonathan was mocking Skip, trying to be buddy-buddy, but a jerk at the same time. Skip’s body just remained rigid, like he was frozen and trying to break out of the ice.

Jonathan walked six inches behind Skip, pinching his cheeks and twiddling his ears mockingly as they walked down the sidewalk towards the Connector. I walked along the edge of the woods, following them and trying to get a hint at what my brother was saying. Skip just remained silent.

Jonathan laid a hand on Skip’s shoulder and crossed in front of him, talking to him. Skip just shoved him out of the way and kept walking. Jonathan followed him, and all of a sudden, Skip whipped around and shoved his fist into my brother’s nose, easily knocking him down. I was close enough to hear them talking, or yelling at each other.

“You son of a bitch, you went back to her even after you knew who she was,” Skip spat, leaving Jonathan holding his bleeding nose on the ground.