Emerald Eyes (On Hold)

(Chapter 19)

                The rest of the week went by in a flash. No one at school seemed to be surprised when they saw Brandon and I walking hand in hand through the hallways. No one seemed fazed when he walked me to class and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead before the late bell would ring causing him to run off to class while he thought up an excuse for being tardy. At lunch we sat next to Abby who never so much as glanced my way. She spent her time eating her food silently and talking to Brandon when she had the chance.

The only person that seemed to steer clear of us was Nate. I hadn’t talked to him since the day that we had hugged at lunch. I know that it was only a simple hug but I couldn’t help the guilt that consumed me. At the time it had felt like so much more. I enjoyed being around Nate but I couldn’t see myself actually falling for him. He was handsome and fun to be around but he was no Brandon. I just didn’t feel that special connection with Nate that I felt when I was around Brandon. I know that sounds silly and cliché but it’s the only way that I can my feelings towards Nate without confusing myself.

On Friday during lunch Abby addressed the lunch table for the first time that week and stated that she was having a “small get together” on Saturday before her parents came back on Monday.

“Everyone’s invited,” She passed a few flyers down the lunch table as she spoke, “as long as they have cash with them. It costs ten dollars to get in at the door but if you have a flyer then you get in for half price!” She hastily shoved the remaining flyers into her tote bag and clapped her perfectly manicured hands together happily. “I hope everyone can come! It’s going to be the party of the century!” Her big blue eyes twinkled as she glanced over at Brandon who was too engrossed in picking the pepperonis off of his pizza to even notice. “Brandon,” She cooed flirtatiously, “do you think you can come to my party?”

Brandon looked up with a dumbfounded expression on his face. His eyes examined my face for a moment before he turned to Abby with an amused expression on his face. “Sure Abby,” If it was possible, I could have sworn that Abby became even more excited than she already was, “We’ll be there!” Brandon laced his fingers through mine and held up our intertwined hands for Abby to see. At the sight of our hands, she scoffed and glanced down at her lunch tray; not saying another word until the lunch bell rang.

After lunch, Brandon and I gave each other a quick kiss outside of the cafeteria before we went our separate ways to our last class. As we kissed I couldn’t help but remember that Nate had comforted me in that exact spot not more than a week earlier. As I approached my classroom, I shook the memory free from my head and walked through the door to take my seat next to Nate.

He was slumped over with his bronzed arms crossed on the desk in front of him while his head rested on top. His hair had grown over the week and was spiked naturally as he squeezed his eyes shut tight, pretending to be asleep. A rhythmic thudding was coming from his ear phones and with a sly smile I leaned over and pulled one free from his ear. I watched his face as his eyes tightened and I stuck the ear phone into my ear waiting for him to acknowledge my presence.

The soft music that filled my ears was instantly recognizable and I couldn’t help but quietly sing along to the words that I had long since memorized.

“I won’t hesitate no more, no more, it cannot wait, I’m yours.”

                I was so into the soft music that I hadn’t heard in so long that I did not notice when Nate opened his eyes. He stared at me with his eyebrows furrowed together for a moment causing me to abruptly stop singing. The look on his face was a look of confusion. It was as if he was trying to solve a very complicated math problem. Nate carefully rearranged his features until the look had completely vanished from his face and a look of disappointment took over. He shook his head slowly and held his hand out for his ear phone when it was suddenly ripped from my ear.