The Words I Never Said [editing]

2.5

danielle

Jonas grabs my hand as he leads me to the cafeteria for lunch. We get in line, waiting our turn to get food. Ten minutes later, we've grabbed our food and payed for it as well. Jonas and I take our normal seats at a table in the back.

"Seems as if William is taking a bully break," Jonas says as he sits in his seat.

I take out my phone, texting him my reply.

me: I know right? He hasn't done anything in the past week.

"I wonder what he's planning?" Jonas says.

me: You can't just assume that (even though it might be true). He might have something going on in his life, and he might have just forgot? I don't know.

"It's funny," Jonas says giggling, "you can see the best in someone who has been bullying you for years. How can you do that?"

me: I guess I do it, because people look at my mute-ness and label me as a freak. So, I feel if I was to label someone (William) as a son of a bitch bully, who has no heart, I would be doing the same thing other people do to me. If I see the best in people, I'm not one of them. I'm someone who doesn't judge a book by it's cover. Metaphorically speaking.

"True, but what if he is planning something?" Jonas asks.

me: Then I take it like a (wo)man.

"You can't be serious? What if he's planning on hurting you, or punching you again?" Jonas asks, worry in his eyes.

I think for a second before replying.

me: Then I don't want you around when it happens. His posse would hurt you more, considering you're a muscular guy, and they'll think you're more of a threat than me.

"Danielle, I swear to God, if he lays one finger on you-" Jonas tries saying, but the text I just sent him makes his phone beep.

me: Jonas. Don't. It's my fight, not yours. If I get hurt, I'll deal with it. You have to trust me, okay.

me: Promise me you won't step in.

Jonas looks up from his phone. He stares me directly in the eyes. "I'll promise you that, as long as you promise me you won't get hurt," he says, holding out his pinkie.

I grip his pinkie with mine, nodding my head.

"I promise," Jonas says.

He releases my pinkie, and I release his. Then we begin eating, taking bites of the burgers we got.

jonas

As Danielle and I eat, I can't help but reevaluate Danielle's previous words.

How could Danielle say that I shouldn't help her? I would never, ever let someone touch Dani. Especially someone who intends to hurt her. I would do anything to keep her safe, even if it means breaking my promise to her.

I take a another bite of my hamburger, looking back up at Danielle. She has a little dollop of ketchup on the side of her mouth. I take my thumb, sliding it across her face, removing the ketchup. She looks at me, smiling and blushing.

Twenty minutes later, the lunch bell rings and Danielle and I walk to our next class. We stop by each other's lockers to grab our science books and binders. Then we begin our walk to Mrs. Blaire's classroom.

As they enter the room, they notice that all the desks are pushed to the walls, and Mrs. Blaire herself in in the middle of the classroom, holding a ball.