The Jock and the Bad Boy (COMPLETE)

SIXTEEN

Thayer doesn't show up to math (again).

~

He's there when I walk out of school. He's standing off to the side, feet planted like he owns the place, wearing sunglasses and the jacket he wore the day we met. He doesn't look bothered by anything, and I'm struck by the same sense of "what the hell" that I experienced the first time I met him. I don't know if I'll ever understand how he works. He always seems so sure he's right, only to bolt when it finally looks like he's not. It must be such a turbulent way to be.

If I were someone, anyone else, I'd kiss him right now.

"Faye said you wanted to talk to me about something?" he sighs.

"Well, not like, a specific thing. Just to clear the air. Actually, I mean, I, uh... I wanted to talk about Saturday," I tell him.

He hardens. "What about Saturday?" He asks. "I told you, it was a mistake. It didn't mean anything. You can relax."

I take a deep breath. This was a mistake. Faye said he needs people to wait for him. I'm waiting. I make sure to keep my voice down, but no one is paying attention to us. "Why are you so convinced I didn't want it to mean anything?" I hiss.

He scoffs. "You can throw a rock and hit hundreds of other boys, all better ideas than me. Trust me, El."

Fucking El, again. That asshole. "I'm not six, you can tell me no without being fucking condescending."

He does a pitiful sort of laugh-sigh and rubs his and down the full length of his face. "Jeez, I'm trying to give you an out."

I roll my eyes. "I don't want a fucking out," I hiss. "I want an answer."

"Have you ever been into a guy like me before?" I don't answer. "Because I've fallen for guys like you before. It doesn't end well. It can't." I move toward him, just to touch his arm or something. He dodges me. "I'm sorry," he whispers.

He turns to leave. "Come back to math class, at least?" I ask.

He smiles sadly at me. "Only if you don't hate me."

"I don't," I answer honestly, "I couldn't."

-

a little bit on the shorter end, but the last few have been a little bit longer than normal so this'll shake things up. thank you for reading!