Across the Maps

Chapter 11

As I rush down the large cramped hallways, I see multiple posters hung on the walls saying that the fall dance is this Saturday. Great! I'm definitely not going. For one thing, I suck at dancing and another, I'm not into social stuff like that.

I make it through the door just as the bell rings and take my seat. Mr. Taylor starts lecturing, but I tune him out and focus on a fall dance poster hung on the wall.

It's a sparkly light purple with bold white lettering. There's a picture of a disco ball on the side of it.

"Are you going to the dance?" A girl with long curled bleach blond hair and dark green eyes. Freckles dot her cheeks and she wears a black shirt with jeans and converse.

I don't answer; I don't know what to say. Finally I say, "Um." I hesitate for a few seconds, contemplating what to say. "No. I'm not going."

"Of course not," she sneers. "Who would want to go with you anyway? Just look at you," she scoffs. She lets out a ragged laugh and turns around to face the teacher.

I can feel tears start to run from my eyes and I wipe them away before anyone can see.

I set my head down on my desk and close my eyes before I start crying non stop.

Finally the dismissal bell rings and everyone floods out of the classroom and into the hallway.

I grab my stuff and shuffle out of the room and quickly fast walk to my locker. After shoving my stuff in my locker, I head to my next class, which drags on slowly like all my other classes. Then finally it's lunch.

I grab my lunch box and tread to the cafeteria, which is crowded like always. I find the table that I always sit at and plop down in a chair.

Not long after I open my lunchbox and pull out my food, Jeremy sets his tray next to me and sits down in the chair beside me.

"Hey," he smiles, his dimples showing.

"Hi," I murmur, not really in a mood to talk.

"What's the matter with you?" he questions, curious.

"Nothing," I lie, my voice going higher. Cole pointed out that my voice gets higher when I lie and I hope Jeremy doesn't notice also.

"You're lying," he points out and I silently curse in my head.

"No," I lie again, my voice shrill. He stares at me and arches one eyebrow. "Fine," I say. "It's just this girl was being rude. It doesn't matter."

"Who was it? What did she look like?" he asks. I don't answer and he grabs my arm. "Tell me," he begs.

"No. It doesn't matter," I speak, my voice a little louder.

"Yes," he insists. "It does. Now tell me who it was."

"No," my voice is harsh, a little too harsh and I regret snapping at him.

"Okay fine. It doesn't matter," he concedes. "Hey are you going to the fall dance?"

"Nope," I reply. "No I'm not."

"Why not?" he asks, his eyes boring into mine.

"I don't do dances." I exclaim as if it's a fact. "Plus I can't dance. And..." I trail off, not speaking for a little while. "I don't even have a date."

"So he says, pursing his lips. "If you had a date to the dance, you would go."

"I didn't say that," I state.

"Well," he smiles. "That's what I heard."

"Then," I say, biting into my sandwich, the peanut butter tasting savory as I eat it. "You have bad hearing," I say, a small smile on my lips.

"Do not," he objects, grinning. "But I do have something to ask you."

Confusion crosses over my face and I question, "What?"

He pauses before speaking, nervousness on his face. "Do you want to go to the dance with me?

"Um..." I say, unsure. I sit there silent for a few seconds, thinking. "Yeah," I reply. "Yeah I'll go with you."