When October ends

Chapter 3

As I hear the bell ring, I grab my books and get up.

- Mr.Swaine, may I talk to you for a minute?asks Mr.Brown.

Crap. Emily will have to wait for me. I walk up to him and stand in front of his desk. He waits until all the students are gone and talks up.

- So, Mr.Swaine. You were late today, he says.

- Look Mr.Brown, it's really a one time thing. I forgot a book and went back to get it. It really won't...

- You have lipstick on your mouth. You know Liam, a love interest in this part of your life can be a great distraction. And the only reason I am doimg this is because I wouldn't want a perfect student like you to lose his capacities because of a high school crush. You understand?

I try denying it but decide it's better not to.

- Yes, I say as I nod.

He leaves us in a quiet silence for a couple of seconds.

- Thank you. You can leave, he says.

I slowly walk towards the exit of the room and then start running. I get to the women's room almost as fast as I got to my class. I look around to see if anybody's watching and enter the bathroom. I recognize her black leather high-heels sticking out of the stall door.

- Hey, I whisper.

She opens the door. She is smiling. I love it.

- Hey, she says,smiling even wider.

She starts wrapping her hands around my neck. I grab her arm and stop her.

- Don't, I say. What was that all about?I ask.

- I like you, she says.

- Emily, don't. I know you very well. You don't like me, I say.

- Liam, how can you even think you know the first thing about me?she asks.

I sigh.

- Let's not get started with this, I say. What do you want? I ask.

- Look Liam, she says. You may not know me...

Oh believe me, I know you very well.

- ...but there's something you have got to know about me: I never lie.

She stops talking. I stay silent as well. I look at my watch and realize there are only 5 more minutes left until the bell rings. She notices too.

- Look, there's somewhere I really need you to be at 7 tonight, she says.

She takes out a small piece of yellow paper and a pen the color of her lipstick. She starts scribbling something on the paper and crumbles the paper as she puts it in my hand.

- Be there?she asks me.

I don't say a thing for long seconds.

- Be there, I finally say.

She smiles.

- Thank you, she says as she quickly kisses me goodbye. I wasn't wrong about you.

I can barely move. I mean, just yesterday, I was Liam the nerd and today, I'm the dude who kissed Emily Hart-Lawson. How could that happen? I smile. I better get to class.