Skinny Love (completed)

The entire time ...

The entire time I got dressed I was nervous and didn't want to go to school.

I sat in my car till the penultimate moment then went to class. I peaked into my math classroom and found Miley already in her seat. I closed my eyes thinking of the stupid things we said to each other last night but couldn't gain the courage to go in.

"Hey, Jasmine." My body shuddered at the sound of the strong, big, booming voice. I turned and Tristan was awfully close for just being a "friend."

"Hey, Tristan." I smiled. He slightly smiled and my heart warmed just looking at it. He did say he would smile every time he saw me.

"You going in?" He asked.

"Maybe." He peaked inside.

"Ah," he turned to me and I strained my neck to look up at his early morning face. "You know," he began, "there's an empty seat next to mine. And it's not assigned seating." My stomach did a summersault. Before I convinced myself to say "no," I smiled and nodded.

"Thanks." I simply said. Though he didn't say "sit next to me," I took it as that.

We walked in together and Miley watched us. She looked surprised at first for a split second before allowing her pretty face to distort into a glare. I looked away and just stared at the floor. I followed Tristan to his chair and sat in the desk next to his.

It was so weird. I always thought the high school desks were so big. But Tristan's giant frame could barely fit into the connecting table top and chair.

"I bet you hate these desks." I said.

"Just a little." He huffed as he tried his best to get comfortable.

I watched him out of the corner of my eye grab his Algebra II book out and his binder. The teacher soon came and started class.

Throughout the period, I caught glances from Tristan. He would smile every time and turn his head back to the front of the classroom.

It soon became a game between us. If we caught the other staring, we would make a funny face.

I'd never before had a real guy friend. And I really liked it. I really liked Tristan. Maybe I liked him as more than just a friend.

After fourth block I texted him if it was okay if I sat with him at lunch. I knew some of the boys he sat with, but they were mostly seniors and basketball players. There wasn't even a single girl at the table. Nor did it look like there would be enough room for me to sit down.

I walked over to his lunch table, gripping my backpack straps and taking in a deep breath.

"Hey," I said. All the boys turned to me and Tristan moved a little and had another boy scoot for me. The space between them wasn't big enough for the average high school girl. But I wasn't the average high school girl.

I sat down, sitting closer to Tristan—liking the feeling of being against his hard, long arm—and pulled out my lunch.

"Wow, you're tiny." One of his friends mentioned. He looked like a snotty boy with diamond earrings in his ears and his hair spiked up. He snickered and I noticed myself caving in while gripping onto the bench under my butt.

"This is Jasmine," Tristan introduced me. I smiled shyly and gave them a small wave.

"Kind of shy." The same boy commented. "I'm Josh." He studied me and I blushed from embarrassment. "You're kinda cute. Tristan, how did you attract someone like her?" The others laughed.

"She looks scared." Another commented.

"She's like a cute, little, scared mouse." The boy next to me added. Tristan wrapped his arm around me and pulled me really close to him. Goosebumps rose all over me and my heart began beating fast. His large hand gently sat on my upper arm below my shoulder.