she's mine.

97

"So D is giving you a ride to the gym tonight?" Jonny asked me as he pulled up in front of the school to drop me off. I really need to save up for a car I thought.

"Yes," I reminded him. I had already answered this question a million times this week. Tonight Friday, and the night Jonny had set up a few fights for his teammates to get some work in. I hadn't paid enough attention in the last few weeks to know who exactly it was, but I knew it was important.

"I'll see you tonight, okay?" I told him as I climbed out of the car.

I was walking to class when I got a text from my mom.

Are you having a good day?

She had begun to text me through out the days to check up on me. Even though I couldn't bring myself to give her the replies she wanted, it felt nice to know she cared again.

It's only 8 am.

I reminded her.

Right.
Well I will check again around noon, make it a good one!

My mouth pulled in the corner slightly. She was sweet.

I kept my head down and made my way through my classes and to lunch as usual. Ms. Ike had been throwing different harder topics at me, making me think. I wasn't getting better, but things were getting easier. I had a routine, I didn't have to think I could just move in the motions I needed to, to make it through the last few weeks.

I didn't know how long it had been, maybe two weeks, maybe even five, time seemed to move treacherously slow when you had nothing to look forward to. All I knew was fall was rolling right into winter, as everyone seemed to know in Colorado already.

I heard to girls joke about how there were actually only two seasons in Colorado, summer and winter. They were right.

It was Friday though, and that would never stop the buzz in a building full of teens. It was almost the weekend. Everyone was squirmy and ready to get out of here. I was no exception.

The last few weeks, Eli had been constantly finding ways and excuses to see or talk to me. He came over to my house every night after school to help Jonny with his truck, he would be the one to hand me my homework in class, he even bumped into me 'on the way to the bathroom' at one point when we both know the boys' restroom is on the complete opposite side of the building. Each time I was surged with a mixture of relief at his nearness, and electricity that I tried to convince myself was hate.

But today, he was no where to be found. There was no looking up to see him smirking in my direction, or getting the chills to him whispering you're welcome after he made a point to hold the door for me. He wasn't here.

"He has to help Jonny get ready for the fight tonight," his brother said under his breath as we stood in the fishbowl during passing period. We both knew who I was looking for. I nodded, thankful for him clarifying what I had guessed. "You're going tonight, right?" Jake asked as I watched the other kids be as loud and obnoxious as they could possibly be.

"I don't know," I mumbled. I had thought about convincing D to skip it and go watch movies at her place.

"He won't be there," Jake nudged me.

"What?"

"That's why he is helping now," Jake shrugged as if this weren't a big deal. "Jonny said if he couldn't make the fight then he had to train all day and help prep everything for tonight. I guess it's at their gym or whatever."

"What do you mean he won't be there tonight?" I asked as I finally looked over at the boy next to me.

Jake looked good. Healthy again. He had finally come back to school, and I was sure nobody had twist to his arm to make it happen. He was the talk of the school, the hero really. Although we kept the real story on the down low, the police advised us to not speak about everything until they finished investigating everything, the story we told got him his fame. He wasn't upset when we told everyone he took a bullet for me me from some muggers who tried to rob me. We had the story on lock and key, and it was nice knowing that whenever I looked at any of the kids involved, we all shared a little secrete we were devouringly loyal to.