Lag

9.

Camille

     Keenan wipes the tears from the corner of his eyes as his laughter slows into slight chuckles. With the group of guys gone the table went back to their own conversations. "You know what, Cami?" Keenan says shortly.

"What?" I ask raising my eyebrows lazily. 

He lets out another small chuckle. "You're kinda sassy." 

I give him a slight smile, "Thank you. Who was that anyway?" They were the same boys Coach Wood dragged to the office a few months ago. He gives me a nonchalant shrug of the shoulders as he reaches for his water bottle to take a sip. "Anthony. I don't really know the other three that well. I think their names are Nick, Ricky and maybe Stephen."

"Interesting. Are they in your grade?" I have taken note a while ago that I never see them in any of the freshman halls.

He nods his head, "Yeah, unfortunately. Since high school we haven't had a lot of classes together because they stuck to the standard curriculum."

We stand as we hear the bell sound. "That's probably for the best. We wouldn't want Anthony to hurt himself." I say more to myself than to Keenan but he snickers all the same.

We go our separate ways as we make our way down the hall to our classes. I shuffle my way into my literature class and take my usual seat in the back corner. As the bell rang to begin the period some one whispered my name. I turn to the left and see a small petit girl with brown mousy hair and a pretty face waiting for me to answer.

"Hey, Alice." I reply politely without the whisper; everyone was still using their normal tones for now.

She leaned in closer to me trying to make our conversation a little more quiet, though I wasn't sure why. No one was paying us any attention, "I have a quick question for you?" 

"What's up?" I raise my eyebrows expectantly. 

Her face flushed momentarily. "Are you really Keenan Timberland's girlfriend?" 

Oh, she must have been sitting at our table. I let out a small laugh and shook my head, "No. we're just good friends."

Her eyes widened in surprise, "Oh, okay! That's nice of you."

"Not really, he's a cool guy." I say almost defensively. Our conversation, however, got cut short by Mrs. Archers beginning speech on the opening chapters of Beowulf. Alice shot me one last friendly smile before turning her utmost attention to the teacher. I don't think she meant anything by saying it was nice of me being friends with Keenan, she was usually always a very kind person.

By the end of the day I had found Keenan at the front doors of the school propped against the wall waiting on me, "You look cozy." I say noting his relaxed frame that usually remains frigid in the open hallways. He gives me a small shrug and a wide smile. Looking at his face I can tell he's becoming more comfortable with himself, especially out in the open where the rest if the student body can see him.  He goes days at a time without lagging once these days. Confidence looks good on him.

Keenan

 I still had sleep in my eyes by the time Vanessa drove us to school and a massive cowlick on the side of my head that I couldn't tame in time.  There had been a lot on my mind since I left the band room yesterday, I couldn't really explain it but it felt almost as if Iwere lighter. Some invisible weight had been removed and the terrible feeling in my gut didn't seem to ache so much. I even felt taller, although mom says that's because I've stopped slouching almost entirely. It feels like the dance lessons have given me more grace.