To Be

Chapter Thirty-Seven

I can feel his eyes on the back of my neck. I try to ignore them. To ignore him.

My pencil flies across the paper, finishing up my sketch. Stick figures, holding up signs--- rioters. Soldiers standing off in the distance looking through the scopes of their guns. Smoke billowing everywhere.

Once I'm done, I put my pencil down and scratch at the back of my neck. Those metallic gray eyes are still searing into me.

Ignore them- ignore them- ignore him- ignore him.

Instead, I focus on what the teacher is dragging on about. It seems that a classmate of mine asked a question and is getting a lengthy answer.

School is so boring. Luckily, I graduate at the end of this year. What then? I don't know. Hopefully, I'll figure it out.

Life keeps on throwing tough decisions your way and it's up to you what path you choose to take. I feel like I keep on making the wrong choices. But who knows?

I look at the wall clock and smile. Only 4 minutes left to this dead-boring class. Then I can go home sweet home.

The bell rings and I shoot out of my seat, following my classmates out of the classroom.

"Don't forget to do your homework," the teacher calls after us. Someday I'll get his name straight. Not now.

I shuffle along with everyone headed through the hallways and branch off when I reach my locker.

Opening my locker, I begin to shove books inside. Largest to smallest standing tall next to one another.

Once I'm done, I close my locker, hearing the lock click into place. And that's when I notice that I am not alone. Leaning casually against his locker that's beside mine, is Levi. Muscular arms crossed, foot tapping.

"We need to talk," he says.

I ignore him, marching for the doors, heart racing wildly. Hopefully, he won't notice just how nervous he makes me feel.

He gives chase, his loud footfalls right behind me, on my tail.

I run.

The door flinging open.

Crashing, banging.

Panting as I race down the stairs, 2 at a time.

"Shelby," he booms, angry.

A few students who are lingering around the parking lot, chatting, sharing a cigarette, talking on the phone--- look our way. I can feel all of their eyes on me as I trip, falling hard on my hands and knees.

His long legs appear before me and I scream.

"Everything ok over there, Frost?" a boy calls to Levi. I believe it's the first time I heard someone refer to him by his nickname.

"Yeah, nothing to look at. You can all go back to whatever you were doing before Shelby over here came running out those doors. All is good." He flashes everyone a charming smile and I have the urge to scream again, but then he is turning to me and lending me a hand.

I stare at the golden skull on his finger.

"Take my hand," he hisses, obviously annoyed. It's over his face, his metallic gray eyes, a dark storm ready to wipe everything out in its wake.

I shake my head. "No, leave me alone! Or I promise I'll get a restraining order on you!"

Several eyes are still staring. Good. Let them.