Promise

Chapter 5

- 2 weeks later -

I walked in the school. I saw 2 kids pinning a paper on the school news board. I walked to it and looked at it. The paper was a pretty-bright-green color. I started reading.

Friday Free-Day

LakeBrook's event planning committee (LBEPC) has decided to have a Friday Free-Day this week. It's fun to have a break from all this school work! For more information go to room 308.

"What's up, Lil'L," I heard. I looked to see James. Geez, how did he always know where I was?

"You planning to go to this year's Friday Free-Day? It's kind of childish and honestly, my elementary school would do it, but I guess it's 'ight," he said.

"What is it?" I asked.

"It's a thing the school does. They surprise us with it every year. Looks like they decided to do it in winter this year. Friday Free-Day is when we only have school from 1st period through 6th period. When 6th period is finished, we have like this thing where everyone is free to walk around the school. They can go anywhere on campus. They put out concession stands with free water and snacks, but there's also games. Kind of like a boring ass school carnival."

He was right. My elementary school would do that.

But, it didn't sound bad, "sounds like fun."

He shrugged, "Yeah, I guess."

The bell rung. "Gotta get to class. Bye, James."

"Bye, Leah."

I started speed walking. I looked as people ran to class. Something caught my eye...

Luke.

Another girl. He was making out with another girl. This is the second one this week... it's Tuesday.
I rolled my eyes. I got to first period and started wondering why I rolled my eyes. God...

I'm such a teenager.

•

I ran out the restroom. I'm always late to 6th period. I ran as fast as I could. I rushed in the class. "What excuse do you have now, Ms. Smith? Did you get lost again?" The teacher asked. People laughed. I turned red, "Sorry."

"Good, now we will begin our experiment."

The teacher begun to pour weird looking liquids into a glass container. The room was filled with whispers. "Late again. You should be ashamed of yourself," Luke whispered. I smiled sarcastically, "at least I don't make out with a different person everyday."

"Are you stalking me?" He asked, smirking. "No. You have your make out sessions literally in the middle of the freaking hallway. It's obvious."

He chuckled, "okay."

I looked at the teacher. I tried paying attention, but even thought my eyes were focused one her, my attention was on Luke. I felt his eye son me the whole time. I looked at him. "What?" I asked. "Can I not look at you?" He asked. I rolled my eyes even though I had loved those 6 words he had just said.

"Hey, can I take you somewhere, after school?" He asked. I looked at him. "Uh, no."

"Don't worry, I'm not trying to hook up with you."

I blushed at those words but looked away. He laughed, "I just want to show you something."

I looked at him and took a deep breath. If he was some random guy that I had just met this year then I would have immediately said no. But, I knew him since 2nd grade. We became close in 5th grade.

I sighed, "I'll ask my mom."

•

The end of the school day had come. I felt somewhat excited, yet also nervous. I felt two hands on my waist. I slammed my locker shut and jumped a little, startled. The two hands left my waist as I heard Luke laugh. I turned around. He didn't say anything. He just smiled, grabbed my hand, intertwined our fingers, and soon we were in his car.

"I see you got the car you always dreamed of."

"Yeah. Remember how I promised you I would always drive you to school once I got it?" He asked. I laughed and nodded. He drove off. It was only a few minutes to our destination. I felt a rush of sadness, anger, excitement, joy all mixed together as I saw my good old Middle School.

I sat there and didn't realize Luke had gotten off. He opened my car door and I got off. He smiled at me, "Come on!"

He grabbed my hand again and we ran to the Middle School's football field. We stood in the middle of the field. Luke looked around and then looked down at me. "Remember when you came to my first middle school football game? When we won, you ran in the field and we stood right here..." Luke said.

"You told me you loved me..." he took another pause as I stood there, frozen. Tears fighting to escape my eyes. I was hoping he would say something like, "I know you still love me...and I love you" or, "I miss that. We're in high school now...you promised we would date."

But he didn't.

"I know everything changed. I was just mad that you were gone. I wasn't mad at you. I was mad at the fact that I never got to tell you that I love you too. I know it's different, now. We grew up. I at least want to be friends...it won't be like before, but it'll be something."

I wiped tears out of my eyes. I threw my arms around him. I felt my heart start beating as he hugged back. "I missed you, Luke."

I heard a smile in his voice as he said, "I missed you, too, Leah."

"I knew you would admit it!" I said. He chuckled. I found myself smiling uncontrollably. We looked in each other's eyes. I felt my heart start pacing again. He started leaning in. I looked at his lips. I felt like I was under a spell.

-

"Luke Havens is known as the guy who has played more girls than anyone in this school. Rumor has it, he has sex with most of them."

..."I see him make-out with a different girl every week..."

-

I put my hands on Luke's chest and lightly pushed him away. "Can you give me a ride home?" I asked. He turned a bright shade of red and nodded, "y-yeah, of course."

I felt awkward. It was awkward.