*** English Class
Since that interaction, I couldn't stop myself from thinking about Ayden. There was nothing else I could focus on.
The good thing about the first few days back is that you don't have to worry about that too much.
His hoodie felt safe, almost like if someone had their arms wrapped around me, but everywhere. I thought about having his arms around me, which made me blush, so I covered my face with the sleeves so nobody could see.
The cologne he wore was so strong when I inhaled, the scent lingered in my nose.
*** P.E.
Not much had really happened during the day until the fourth period had rolled around.
As I headed towards the locker room, I found myself face to face with Phoenix again. I tried walking around him, but he stepped in front of me, blocking the way.
Man, this guy just won't quit, huh?
"Um, can you move?" I say, gritting my teeth.
"Why? Scared I'm gonna spill something on you again?" His finger jabs into my chest.
He looks down at the hoodie I'm wearing, intrigued.
"Speaking of which, did you cry to your mommy so she'd come bring you this?" The corner of his lip curls into a smirk.
I roll my eyes, uninterested, having heard all of his snarky remarks in the book at this point.
"Can't you come up with something better by now?" I shrug. "Now move, I got places to be."
His face alone tells me he has no words left to say, so I quickly move past him, feeling the adrenaline I'd just had start to fade.
I need to get out of here.
Phoenix growls and slams my back into the lockers. "Oh, you're not going anywhere."
"What the fuck!? Let me go asshole!!"
Ba dum Ba dum
My heart is beating so fast.
Before I knew it, my hand had punched straight into his diaphragm, causing him to stumble backward, gasping for air.
Oh fuck. What do I do?
***
I ditched.
Genuinely, I couldn't think of anything better.
Honestly, if anything, he had it coming to him. Since day one, all Phoenix did was weigh me down and belittle me.
I'm not sure why, but he always targeted me the most.
I found myself in the bathroom again. Quickly, I rushed towards the sink and splashed my face with cold water, staring at myself in the mirror.
Fuck, can this day get any worse?
"Ez?"
Hearing his voice made a faint blush appear on my cheeks. I turn around and see Ayden leaning against the wall holding - is that a weed pen? -
"What are you--"
He quickly cuts me off.
"Before you say anything, I know what you're thinking. It helps keep the nerves at ease." He takes a long drag.
I can't help but laugh a little. "It looks like you're just ditching class, but okay if you say so." I teased playfully.
"You look like you need this more than me." He jokes.
For the next hour, we hung out in the bathroom together and talked.
I'd never smoked before, so I wasn't sure how I would react to it. When he asked if I wanted to try some to see if it would help, I hesitated but tried it anyway.
And it did.
A little too much, actually.
"So yeah... I ended up knocking the breath out of him. I panicked, so I ran, and well.. you know the rest." I looked away and sighed. "He's probably already reported it to the principle, and I'm gonna get suspended on my first day."
Shit... I hadn't even thought of that until just now.
"Hey. What you did takes guts. You shouldn't ever let anyone take advantage of you. It's good that you did."
I turned my head towards him, I knew I was blushing so hard, but at the moment, I didn't care. All I could see was his vibrant blue eyes.
Ba dum Ba dum Ba dum
Then I kissed him.
I don't know why or what made me do it. It just felt right.
My eyes shot open the second I realized what I was doing. I flung back, covering my mouth with my hand.
"I-- fuck, um- I-I don't know why I did-"
I couldn't even bare to look at his face and ran out of the bathroom.
*** Lunch
Ba dum Ba dum Ba dum
I can't breathe...
Everything spins around me in a circle, and I feel like I'm about to pass out, quite literally.
The bell rings, and students flood in every direction, trying to get in line for lunch. I try to make my way through in a panic, bumping into my friend Dakota.
"Oh my god, Ziek- are you okay?? Wait a minute-- are you high right now!?" She exclaims, staring into my eyes.
I give her a look that says, 'I have so much to tell you right now.'
Wait... she cut her hair.
"Kota! Your hair looks so good!" I deflected, admiring the way her dirty blonde hair draped in front of her left eye.
"Oh yeah- I didn't tell you!! I figured I'd do something new." She says, grinning. "Now c'mon! You gotta catch me up on everything."
*** Cafeteria
As we sit at a table, Dakota stares intently, listening to every word, all while stuffing her mouth full.
It's almost impressive, really.
"You can NOT be serious right now!" She says with a mouth full of food.
"Shh, keep your voice down--" I blush, pulling the hood over my head.
"Oh right, my bad... so what are you going to do about the new kid?" She whispers.
Honestly, I had no idea.
What the hell is wrong with me? He's never gonna want to ever see my face ever again.
I shrug hopelessly.
"I guess I just have to avoid him."
***
The rest of the day was basically a game of cat and mouse.
If I saw him, I turned the opposite way. I kept my head down, didn't speak or interact with anyone else.
When the final bell rang, I was out faster than anyone. I booked it to my mom's car.
"Hey sweetie, how was your first day back?" My mom asks, pulling out of the school parking lot.
"Eventful, that's for sure..." I laughed nervously.
*** Home
As soon as I got home, I went to my room and plopped face down onto my bed.
What. a. day.
Rolling onto my back, I take a deep breath before getting up to change my clothes.
I put on a white tank top with black pajama pants, then grabbed my stained sweater from my backpack, and threw it into my laundry basket.
Looking over at my bed, I see Ayden's hoodie, and the dread finally sinks in that I'm going to have to face him tomorrow to give it back.
I quickly folded up his hoodie and placed it on my dresser before getting into bed. I didn't have much of an appetite, so I went to bed without dinner.
*** Dreaming
I can feel someone's hands wrap around my waist, their fingers eagerly moving up my sides. As I shiver underneath their touch, I get pushed onto the bed. The stranger gets on top of me, leaning down to kiss my neck. I can feel the warmth of their breath against my skin, and I let out a gasp. The person feels strangely familiar, but I can't seem to make out who it is - until I hear his voice.