Normal people would probably at least acknowledge the girl standing next to him, but for the past three days, I’ve had complete strangers either whispering behind my back or sending me death glares that look like they’re fueled with the power of the sun. I’m not surprised by it, but yeah, still not really in the mood for meeting new people-- especially those that appear to make Kaleb uncomfortable.
Instead, I kneel down to get at my locker, the tile floor hard against my knees. Though bottom lockers aren’t the most popular, I’m grateful to have snagged one. If I had a top locker, I’d need one of the guys to get my things all the time-- or carry a step ladder around.The underappreciated struggles of the vertically challenged.
I roll my lips, pressing them tight against each other, and fight hard not to laugh.Poor Kaleb. Too attractive for his own good, and too nice to tell them to go away.
When the students next to me leave, he leans against the lockers beside mine, creating a few more meager inches between him and the girl next to him. Hints of sandalwood tease my nose, a welcome relief from the scents of cleaning supplies and the lingering cloud of Axe body spray my locker neighbor doused himself in.Seriously dude, if I can smell you before I can see you, you’ve put too much on.
The girl gazes with moon eyes at Kaleb. She looks so sweet it kind of makes my teeth hurt-- and I feel mildly guilty for thinking it. Her chestnut brown, curly hair falls in pretty ringlets around her shoulders, pinned back on one side to keep it out of her face. Her nose and cheeks are sprinkled with freckles, and her big blue eyes are magnified behind retro, cat-eye glasses. She finishes up the look with ballet flats, skinny jeans, a floral scoop neck blouse, and a soft, dark blue cardigan. Everything about her screams kind, smart, and dependable-- and well, slightly needy at the moment.
“I’ll only be a sec,” I assure, plopping my backpack on the ground in front of me.
A tight smile barely holds on, as he replies casually, “It’s fine.”
Sure it is.
Neither of them are saying anything, so I keep talking like I’m not part of this bubble of awkward. “Thanks for offering the ride, by the way. Nolan’s driving is a little much for me.”
“Except for Donovan, I think Nolan’s driving is a bit much for everyone.” Kaleb’s smile for me is more genuine, but his fingers nervously tap against the cover of his book.Pride, Prejudice and Zombies. Cool.
The pretty girl gives him a significant look, like she wants to tell him something, but not in front of me.I really hope she’s not planning to profess her undying love, because she’s gonna get some bad news.
Unable to take it anymore, I ask, “Want to introduce me to your friend?”
Before he can open his mouth, she holds out her hand with lighting speed and introduces herself. “I’m Rachel.”
Even her voice is sweet-- light with a singsong quality that makes me think a flock of bluebirds will appear any minute.
“Callie. Nice to meet you.” I shake her hand, trying to figure out what I’m missing, because she isn’t looking at me like I’m the devil incarnate, unlike Nolan’s admirers. Now, I really feel bad, since she seems friendly, if not somewhat manic.
“I know who you are,” she titters while she withdraws her hand. “New girl in a small school.”
“Right-- hard to be incognito under those circumstances,” I reply, not knowing what else to say.
Kaleb clears his throat. “Thank you for waiting with me, but Callie’s here now, and I wouldn’t want you late for the student council meeting.”
“Right,” she chirps, tucking her hair behind her ears. For a moment she looks at her feet, then seems to gather enough courage to look up into his eyes. “I just…” She takes a quick breath and places one hand on his arm. “I just want you know that I’m here for you-- if you want to talk to someone, you know.”
And the plot thickens.
The muscles in his shoulders tense and his smile turns brittle, but he sounds patient and polite when he replies, “Thank you, Rachel. I… appreciate your concern and offer. I’m dealing with things my own way, but if I need a shoulder, I know you’re there for me.”
“Always,” she answers, with a mixture of warmth and longing. “We’ve been through a lot, so…”
“Yes… we have,” he admits, rolling his shoulders.
Now, I’m also wishing they had this little conversation when I wasn’t around.Oh my god, please go. I’m getting second hand awkwardness over here.
I can’t handle the spectacle anymore and go back to digging through my locker, trading out my joke of a Jewelry 1 textbook for my Pre Cal book. It’s my turn to do the math homework, which I’m so not looking forward to. Mr. Harris gave us an additional ten problems he made up himself so that we couldn’t look up the answers in the back of the book.
In his ever pompous manner, he told us, “Life won’t hand you the answers. You have to figure it out yourself.”
I’m starting to understand why they trade homework assignments.At least Nolan is in charge of US History today.
Kaleb and Rachel are still murmuring quietly to each other when I finish collecting what I need for homework tonight, so I begin fiddling with the keychain attached to my backpack that I made in class today. It consists of four river stones of varying sizes, and though it’s not awful, especially for the first piece of jewelry I’ve ever made, it’s… understated compared to some of my classmates.
Some girls chose really nice beads made of abalone and combined them with bits of crystal, so they cast rainbows when it caught the light. A few other classmates made Native American inspired keychains with small beads woven into intricate patterns. One girl made a freaking dreamcatcher! I’ve always performed well in school, but no amount of studying can make me artistically gifted.
I really hope I get points for participation.Maybe I can get a book with better patterns than the hideous ones in the textbook, because making it up as I go is so not cutting it.
