Across the Maps

Chapter 19

"It looks great," I say, gazing around the room.

His king sized bed rests beside the large window, a wooden bedside table with yellow knobs beside it. His small white bookshelf, which is already crammed full of books, is by the medium sized wooden desk. A small couch sits in front of a the small television, which sits on a glass stand.

"Thanks," he smiles a small grin. "It's a lot bigger than my old room," he comments. "But I like it."

"You did a good job," I compliment. "It's late. I should get to sleep."

"Okay," he says. "Night."

I saunter to my room and get ready for bed. I'm asleep before my head hits my pillow.

The week passes quickly and finally Mom and Dad got Cole enrolled at my school. Today's Monday, also his first day at my school.

I bite my lip out of nervousness as Dad drives us to school. Most of the trip is silence, except Hallie sneezes once, but that's it.

Finally Dad pulls up into the parking lot and I take a deep breath. This is it. I hope it goes well. I've been worrying about this since Cole moved in a week ago.

We grab our bags and get out of the car. "You ready?" I ask, asking myself more than Cole.

"Yeah." he smiles a fake grin and I let out a laugh. "Let's go."I nod and we start walking to the building side by side.

I am happy that I have most of my classes with him, but still, my nervousness doesn't ease up.

The bell rings and Cole and I wiggle through the crowd and to our lockers, which are beside each other because the principle thought it would be easier for him to find.

We grab our stuff and head to class. Mr. Taylor introduces him to the class and tells him to sit between me Veronica, a girl with blue eyes and dark brown hair that is almost black.

She smiles a fake smile and waves at Cole, batting her eyes. The gesture makes me start coughing.

"Are you okay?" Cole asks me, his voice quiet.

I nod slowly, letting out another cough. "I'm fine," I whisper back.

I turn back around and listen to Mr. Taylor lecture, but it's hard to concentrate because out of my peripheral vision I see Veronica watching Cole. She looks as if she's seen a celebrity, letting out small sighs and watching him with her large eyes.

He's just a friend I remind myself, trying to stay calm. Cole doesn't seem to notice her, but she's all I can think about. Her and her large eyes and perfect lips and high cheekbones.

The longer she gazes at him, the more frustrated I become. I ball my hands into fists and clench my teeth so hard I think they are going to break.

Finally the bell rings and I get and and grab my books. When I turn around, I see Veronica talking to Cole.

"We should hang out sometime," she smiles.

"Yeah maybe," Cole says, standing up and grabbing his stuff.

"Okay," she says sweetly and then trots off into the hallway, smiling.

"What was that?" I ask him.

He shrugs. "I don't know. Just this random girl talking to me."

I let out a little laugh at how he refers to Veronica. "Come on," I say, relieved to be going to the next class. "Let's go."

The next classes are boring for me, but Cole seems mesmerized by all the information. He stares at the teacher with large eyes, taking in every word the teacher says.

Finally, it's lunch. Cole and I grab our lunches and then head to the cafeteria. We sit down at our table and pull out our food. Then someone sets their tray beside me and I look up. It's Jeremy.