The Hidden Pocket {ruel van dijk}

chapter nineteen

"This sucks." I say as I stand on the school lawn, clad in the same uniform as everyone else.  It's a pleasant day with blue skies, a stark contradiction to my mood. Ruel stands next to me, running a hand through his hair.

Somehow he always seems to be calm and confident. I guess when you're that tall nothing troubles you.

"It'll be okay. Only thirty one more days." He says and sighs.

"Thirty one too many."

"You're dramatic." He rolls his eyes

"And you're—looking forward to this?" I ask intently.
It's a pleasant day with blue skies, a stark contradiction to my mood.

"Not necessarily. Though I do think that we should be enjoying the rest of this school year. We graduate next year. It's a lot." I look up at him and see some sort of disparity on his face.

"You're right. I almost forget how old I'm getting sometimes." I say and rub my arm, staring off at the stream of kids pouring into the school.

"Me too. I turn eighteen in about four months." He even seems overwhelmed by this statement.

An awkward tensions hangs in the air around us.

"I don't know how old you are." He says.

"What!?" I say and burst out laughing.

"I don't know how old you are. Why haven't we covered this? Why don't I know this? What other couple doesn't know how old the other person is?" He sputters.

I laugh some more.

"Well I know you're seventeen. You'll be eighteen in October." I say easily.

"How come I don't know the same about you?"

"You never asked." I shrug.

"I'm the worst. Please break up with me." He begs sarcastically.

"What? No. It's okay. It's not a big deal."

"So when is your birthday?" He questions and runs another hand through his hair.

"February first."

He takes a step away from me and throws his hands in the air.

"What the fuck!" He shouts. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wouldn't tell you that it's my birthday, that's like begging for attention. Besides, nobody here knows me so it's not like you would've found out anyways."

"What did you do for your birthday this year?"

"Nothing. It was a school day. I just did homework and sat around. I don't typically celebrate it so it's okay."

The amount of pity in his eyes is quite unbelievable.

"Don't look at me like that. It's okay, I promise. I'm okay." I say then twirl around once or twice. "See?"

I smile when he pulls me close into his chest and wraps his arms around me tightly.

"Can I throw you a birthday party?" He asks. I can feel his jaw moving on top of my head as he speaks.