Numb ✔️

12: Away Games

By the end of second period I still hadn't heard from Kent.

The bell rang and I slowly gathered my things from my desk and headed towards my locker that was on the second floor.

Ayla, Kassie, and Kade were already there waiting for me.

I shoved my things in the white locker and slammed the door shut.

I'm pretty sure the upset look on my face answered everyone's unasked question.

Kent still hadn't answered.

"Oh Ashlyn." Ayla sigh giving me the same look that Caiden had given me earlier.

"Why hasn't he answered me?" I whined, as she pulled my into a tight hug.

I wasn't going to cry. I had felt like crying the whole morning, I wasn't about to do it now.

But that didn't mean I wasn't upset.

Releasing her grip on me we headed in the direction of the cafeteria.

As we idled in the long food line, thoughts of this morning plagued my mind.

Why did Caiden all of a sudden care so much?

And why did I feel so weird when he touched my knee?

My thoughts were quickly interpreted by my phone vibrating in the back of my pocket.

I slid the device out of my ripped jean pocket.

Kent Langsten ♥️ flashed across the screen.

I frantically swiped the screen and held it to my ear.

"Hey." He said slowly, as soon as I picked up. "I'm- I'm sorry."

I didn't say anything. I didn't know what to say.

"I know I owe you and explanation and an apology. Can I meet you in the front courtyard in ten minutes?"

"...yeah." I breathed, before hanging up.

Kassie was giving me confused stare as I shoved my phone back in my pocket.

"It was Kent, he wants to talk." I said keeping my face expressionless.

She nodded and we advanced in the line. I reached into the fridge and grabbed my usual salad.

Chicken Cesar-salad, with no croutons.

Swiping my credit card I walked out of the cafeteria, telling Ayla and Kade that I'd see them in biology later.

I spotted Kade sitting at one of the nearby picnic tables, his back to me. The hood of his football sweater was pulled up. The only way I could tell it was him was by the number and his last name on the back.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

I wasn't about to cry.

Especially when my makeup looked this damned good.

"Hey," I slid onto the bench across from him, setting my salad in front of me. "What's up."

My voice was quiet and dull.

"I'm so so sorry Ashlyn." He sigh.

His hair was disheveled, and he had dark circles and bags under his eyes. He looked like he had just woken up.

" I ran out last night when my neighbor texted me and said she found my mom passed out in the kitchen. When I got there I thought she had overdosed or something. I spent the night in the hospital with her, and I just woke up like a half hour ago. Caiden and you had both texted me and I feel so bad, I'm so sorry. I'm such a fucking idiot." He rambled in practically one breath.