The Life I'm Running From

20\ Pre-Christmas and Pre-Problems

Everyone was happy the last day of school before Christmas break. The noise level in the bus climbed fast, and the bus driver had to regularly tell us to shut up. We were all excited to get a three week break from schoolwork. Of course, I had another threat on my mind. Tonight I would spy on the meeting between Ravenyx and Spider-Man.

The bus screeched to a stop, signalling it was time to get off. Everyone stood up, elbows and backpacks jostling. I shrugged on the strap of my bag. Harley, who I had been talking to since I boarded, followed the crowd out the bus with me right behind.

I pulled my gloves on tighter as I stepped out. The temperature was freezing, and I had a strong desire to get back on the bus. Someone in front of me slipped and fell almost comically. The sidewalk was slick with ice, and I walked slowly and carefully. They should cancel school when it's this cold.

"McKinnley?" Harley was leaning against the bus, earbuds loose around his neck. The whole bus ride he had looked half asleep, but now his face was serious.

I stopped, looking back at him. "Hmm?"

Harley adjusted the strap of his backpack. "What's with you and Peter Parker?"

Frowning, I turned fully to Harley. He had shoved his hands in his pockets, and was studying me carefully. "What do you mean?"

Harley pushed himself upright from the bus. The engine roared and the yellow vehicle pulled away from the curb, leaving us alone on the sidewalk. "You seem to hang out a lot."

"He tutors me in Physics," I said. "I suck at it, remember?"

A gust of wind blew past, throwing streaks of blonde into my face. I brushed my hair away. When I looked back at Harley, he looked relieved. Since I was shivering and it seemed this conversation was over, I headed for the school doors. After a moment, Harley jogged up to catch me.

"So," he said, his brown curls lifting in the wind and ears red, "does that mean you'd be open to dating someone?"

I stopped abruptly. The wind cut around me, chilling my arms through my coat. Had... had Harley just asked what I thought he had? And was he implying what I thought he was?

Harley turned to me, but his eyes were on the grey sky to my right. I couldn't tell if his cheeks were red from embarrassment or the cold.

My pulse had quickened, and I wasn't sure how to respond. "Are you asking me out?"

"Depends." Harley shrugged, and continued walking. I kept pace with him, wanting to know what the heck was happening. We walked in silence for a bit, and I assumed he was waiting for me to speak. But no way was I responding after his 'depends'.

We reached the front doors. Harley turned around, leaning his back on the door. "Think about it, 'k?"

Then he walked inside, leaving me in the cold.

★彡 ★彡 ★彡 ★彡

I thought about what Harley had said all day. Had he really asked me out the last day before break? He must've been planning on me thinking it over Christmas, because he hadn't given me a chance to reply. Which was good. Because I didn't know how I was going to respond.

The topic at my lunch table today was Christmas plans. Skylar had already detailed all of her family traditions—cookie decorating, family games, watching Elf, etc.—and Charlie had started to tell us about her extravagant and expensive vacation.

"We'll be in Hawaii, at a private resort." Charlie flicked a ringlet from her face, her silver bracelet glinting in the light from the cafeteria windows. "But you'll never guess who my parents invited."