I felt a little guilty as I went through the rest of my classes for the day. Well, guilty, but also deeply intrigued by that girl.Anita.I had thanked her for doing what she did, but that didn't feel like enough to me. Besides, I wouldn't mind sitting close to her even if all I got to do was watch her. Her clothes weren't a slim fit and didn't show much skin, unlike a lot of the girls I saw every day, but I was starting to think that underneath those clothes, she had delicious curves just begging to be explored.Fuck, don't think like that.Pushing the thoughts aside, I headed for detention. Class was over, but I wasn't in a hurry to go home, and it wasn't the first time I'd ditched my friends over a girl either, so it didn't matter to them when I said I was busy. They misunderstood what I meant, and gave me annoying catcalls and wolf whistles behind my back. I ignored them.Stopping outside the door, I knocked, then pushed it open. A teacher was seated at the front, and a f
I woke up early in the morning. Not because I re-membered to set my alarm clock. These days, I didn't even need to.My parents were arguing, and even with my door closed, the noise was hard to muffle. I groaned and rolled off the bed, and went to take a shower. Not for the first time, I was glad to have my own bathroom. I didn't have to get out there with them to get ready. I was ready way too soon, and I picked up my stuff. It was too early for school, but I couldn't stay there any-more.Mom and Dad had moved their argument down-stairs. I heard something like glass break and hurried over. I stuck my head into the kitchen, but it was noth-ing. A glass just fell, and neither of them noticed. Mom was probably the one who threw it. I looked at her, and it took less than a second to realize she was drunk.Mom? Already? My thoughts turned sour and I knew my day was ruined already.I said nothing as I ducked back out, and felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out, and scoff
"So, what do you like to do in your free time?"I was surprised he was talking to me. Hell, I was surprised he'd driven all this way just to pick me up for school. I'd even wondered if I was dreaming and pinched my arm just outside the door before I jumped in, and I was subtly rubbing the small red mark."I read," I said after a minute. My tone sounded normal, but I couldn't be any further from calm. My heart was beating wildly in my chest, but I was a better actor than I thought."What do you read?""Um," I frowned, thinking quickly. "I'm in the mid-dle of a book called Christine right now. I circle different authors, and when I find ones I like, I go through the backlist, but not all at once, and I'm back on Stephen King for now. After that one, I'll read Carrie and The Shining, then find something else to read.""Really?" Evan said, glancing at me, a wide grin on his face. Before I could ask why he was so happy, he told me. "I love Stephen King books. There are some newer
"I still can't believe you're hanging out with that girl," Abe muttered. "I thought people were kidding, but I saw you."I rolled my eyes and looked away. We were on the football field even if it was out of season. A habit that never died even during spring and I pretended to be en-grossed with the runners doing laps around the track."Why do you say that like it's a crime?"He smirked. "It's just unlike you, and it is all over the school. Girls keep coming up to me and asking me about it like it's any of my business in the first place."Abe smacked my shoulder, and I frowned. He was a quarterback on the team, and he was a big guy. He was also one of the guys I regularly hung out with.Mason, the team's linebacker, grinned as he smacked me on my other shoulder."Tell the truth; she's the same girl you've been blow-ing us off for, right? Tell us her name.""Would you guys shut up," I grumbled.I knew people were talking about it, and I guess it was big news. It had been
My hands twisted together as I stopped outside of the pharmacy. Even with Hayley by my side, I wasn't sure I could do this. Hayley, as always, seemed to be able to read my mind."You have to do it," she murmured. "Even if you're scared, it'll be worse if you wait for your stomach to start showing before you start to make plans. It's been a month by now, I think. Better to start planning early."I bit my lip. I was totally afraid of it, but I knew she was right. What would I do if I had to go to school with a giant belly? People might assume Evan was responsible, especially with all the recent rumors flying around about us, and while it was true, I hadn't told him yet. What would he think?"Can we just wait out here for a minute?" I whis-pered.Hayley pursed her lips, but at my pleading look, gave up with a sigh."Fine, but we are not turning back," she warned. "Not after I finally got you to come here. Honestly, I al-most thought you were running away from me or some-thing."
I waited patiently, but the way my foot tapped on the floor said that was a lie. Still, I waited. The last bell of the day, the bell for those that had been given de-tention, would soon ring and Anita's time in detention would be over. I'd made sure mine would be the first face she saw as I waited at the door. I'd left my own class early, after the teacher left when she was called to the office. I had to see Anita, see her face. I wasn't disappointed. When she came out of the door her face scrunched up in the cutest way and her jaw dropped. I have that effect on people, what can I say? Anita was good though, and the shock was quickly replaced with a grin.The difference from when we first met to now was so huge; I unconsciously smiled back."Hey," she said, walking over to me. "What are you doing here?"Her curly red hair was in a pony tail on top of her head, soft, glossy curls caught my attention before I glanced down to see those eyes of her smiling up at me.I grinned
"Would you mind if I came over?"My head snapped around to stare at him. I was strapping myself into the seat, and I froze with the seat belt pulled across my body."What?" I said, stunned.He smiled. "I'm asking if you would invite me over to your house. If your Mom is there, I'll just walk you over to the door. I still feel like I should apologize and explain things to her, though, if she was really mad at you."Mom was never really mad, though, just worried. While the neighborhood we lived in wasn't the best look-ing of places, and certainly not at night with a lot of the streetlights gone, it was pretty safe. Still, Mom didn't like me being out late, especially after dark, which was why I didn't spend a lot of time on afterschool activities. The walk back alone was pretty long, if I had to do de-tention or even an after-school club, I'd walk and arrive home late."I guess it's okay," I said slowly.I didn't know what we could do at my house, but maybe I could just talk
I sat down on the bed, bouncing a little. It squeaked in protest, but I ignored it. The bed felt hard under me, nothing like my own big, soft bed. I almost wished I could take Anita to my room, but that might not go down well with my parents. I didn't want her to see what my home life was like, either."There isn't much in here." I'd noted the absence of pictures or the other wall hangings I'd noticed in the bedrooms of others girls I knew. It wasn't like my sis-ter's room at all; hers had been covered with ribbons she'd won for a variety of activities, and other mementos from her time in high school. Anita leaned back against the door and crossed her arms over her chest."I don't need a lot of stuff, to begin with. All I ever do in here is sleep or study.""Hmm."Our gazes met and held, and the small space be-tween us grew charged."Come here," I said, motioning with my hand for her to sit next to me.The bed was pushed against the wall opposite the door, but there was