Second Chance

Second Chance Part 9

When I walk into the hallway its like everything is moving in slow motion. My head is spinning and my heart is racing so fast I think I may pass out. The bell rings. It's the five minute warning to get to class. I dodge out the side door that leads onto the breezeway. As soon as the cold air hits my face I feel my heart slowing down. "What the hell just happened?" I ask myself. I set down on the sidewalk and put my head in my hands. What did she mean about Max. I mean she is a habitual liar so it was probably just a way to get a rise out of me. Right? I don't know though why would she confront me now? She's had the opportunity since last spring if this was all really about Brady. My coffee suddenly isn't settling well. I grab my hair just in the nick of time, I throw up right in front of me. I wipe my mouth and look around to see if anyone noticed me. Luckily there isn't a soul in sight. How am I supposed to go set in class with Max after all of this. The late bell sounds. "Shit" I mutter under my breath. I stand up and take a couple of deep breaths. I have to go to class, I have to face this. Allie is probably just making shit up anyway. I walk back into the school and the hallways are bare. I hate being late to class, its not really a big deal, but I hate the attention and having to answer for where I've been. I close my eyes and take a deep breath right before opening the class room door. "Oh how nice of you to join us Ms. Ross." Mrs. Kay says with a sideways glance. "I'm sorry." I say scurrying to my desk. Max looks at me confused. I don't say anything and slide in my desk. Mrs. Kay doesn't say anything else about my tardiness and instead continues on taking attendance. After she describes the lesson for today we have to split into pairs to go over our test material. "Partners?" Max asks grinning. I smile a half hearted smile. "Sure." I say. He turns his desk around to face me. "How come you were late to class?" I look around the room trying to decide what to say. Should I tell him what just happened? "Um, this girl Allie kind of corned me in the bathroom." I say. I decide to go with the truth for a change. His eyes widen. "What? Are you okay?" His eyes travel up and down my body looking for a sign of injury. "Yeah I'm fine, it was really weird." I swallow hard. My anxiety is through the roof right now, it's like a have a stick in my throat. "What did she want?" he asks still confused. I don't know what to say. If I tell him what she said and ask him about it, it will sound like I'm accusing him of something, but if I tell him and act like nothing is different than I'm a fool. "She is one of the people who gave me a pretty hard time after prom last year, she made a comment about me wearing your number and said I have a type." I search his eyes for a reaction. To my disdain he stays completely level. "I don't even know an Allie." He says knitting his brows together. He's not addressing the important part here. "Yeah I didn't figure, she said some of her friends went to school with you." I look down at my paper as Mrs. Kay walks by so she doesn't bust us for not working. "Ken, I have no idea what she is referring to." He reaches across the desk and grabs my hand. I want to believe him so bad, but I have terrible trust issues, none of which are his fault, but still. "I hate using this word to describe girls because I feel like its super sexist and overused, but she's crazy." I say. He runs his hands through his hair nervously. "You believe me right?" He asks. I can see pain in his eyes. We are just now trying to give things an honest go and now some random has planted seeds of doubt in my head. "Sure." I say unconvincing. "Please don't give up on me before I even have a chance to show you who I am." he whispers. I feel like I could start crying at any moment. I don't believe Allie I really don't, but why should I be so quick to believe Max? We just met this week and on more occasion than one I've been shown men really aren't shit. "I'm not giving up." I say forcing a grin. He still has hurt in his eyes, but he forces a smile too. "Thank you for my brownies, I've never had a girl do anything sweet for me before." I had already forgotten about the brownies. Even though it was less than thirty minutes ago it feels like a lifetime has already passed. "You're welcome, I've been so backwards this week I just wanted to try and show you how much I like you." He smiles. "I like seeing this side of you." I smile back trying to just focus on him and forget about what Allie said.