4 Hours

Part 3

An hour and a half was left of detention and I was starting to enjoy myself, probably a little too much than I should have at all. In my mind, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much I could not stand this kid up until now where we were actually talking like close friends. It was really weird. I was actually starting to have a crush on him.

I looked over at Eric, who was skimming through the notebook he had brought with him. He had told me something about wanting me to read what he thought was his best work.

The short story he had opened up to was more of a rant than anything, about life. And after reading it, I found myself unbelievably amazed. What I had just read was the most truest of words I had ever read.

“Oh my gosh,” I breathed as I read through the last sentence, soon handing the notebook back to him. I looked up at him, smiling like a lunatic. “That’s...I can’t believe how much I relate to that,” I said as I shook my head.

I was sitting on the table Indian-style while Eric sat in his chair as before, only this time his feet were propped up on my chair. He casually leaned back in his chair, closing his notebook as he tossed it back on his table he had first sat at for this detention.

I saw him give me a half-smile, which made my heart pick up in speed. Dear God.

“Thank you,” he said in almost a muffled-tone.

I ran a hand through the top of my hair, pulling and hair that was in my face away. I clasped my hands together, fidgeting with Sam’s ring on my finger as I thought about all of this detention.

Eric was someone I didn’t think he was. How stupid could I be to forget that everyone is human -- they have their own reasons for being the way that they are?

“What are you thinking about?” I heard Eric ask me softly.

My cheeks reddened as I looked over at him. He was noticing a lot about me all of a sudden, and it wasn’t something I’m used to anyone doing.

Should I erase the filter with him? I asked myself.

“I was just thinking about how,” I sucked in a breath as a way to convince myself I was okay with what I was saying. Maybe I wasn’t. Either way, I guess I might as well screw the whole concept about being safe than sorry, “we pretty much disliked each other until now,” I finished.

He gave me yet another half-smile. “Who says I don’t dislike you?” he questioned in his sarcastic voice.

I laughed nervously and shook my head, looking away.

“I guess it’s the time we’ve been forced to be together,” said Eric next.

I nodded my head in agreement as I wrapped my arms around myself, leaning forward as my elbows leaned on my knees. “I guess so.”

He was watching me again. He did that a lot, like he was trying to figure something out about me or something.

“What’s gonna happen on Monday?” he suddenly asked me, a large thoughtful expression set to his features.

I slightly tilted my head to the side, my eyebrows furrowing. “What do you mean?” I asked him in return.

“Like,” he paused to look away and to now look down at his folded hands, “what’s gonna happen when I see you in the halls -- in class?” he then asked more clearly.

Ah. I see.

I shrugged quickly and chewed on my bottom lip. “I don’t know.” I honestly didn’t.

I looked over at him the same time he looked back up at me, our eyes meeting and locking into place.

“How about this: What are you going to do if I acknowledged you in the hallway or in class Monday?”

“Ignore you,” I instantly answered. I soon regretted it when I saw the anger that flashed across his hazel eyes. I should have given that answer more thought.

“Wow,” he said sarcastically. I could tell he was hurt by my answer.

I winced and ran my hand through my hair once more. “That’s not what I meant. Eric, I can’t just...ruin the reputation I already have,” I told him.

He shook his head. “No, Natalie, it’s your Senior year. We’re nearly to our second semester. After high school, there’s a very slim chance you’ll see all these idiots again. I think that entitles you to have the privilege to be who you want to be -- be friends with who you want to be,” he told me. “That is, if you want to be friends with me.” His voice was more smaller and guarded this time.

I huffed a large sigh. He was right. And I hated it. I had worked my ass off in middle school and my first two years of high school to get the reputation I have right now. Was I willing to throw it all away just to let loose? I can really see myself with Eric in any way possible in the near future. A best friend...maybe someone who likes me back?

“Of course I want to be friends with you,” I said softly. I messed with Sam’s ring again, twisting it around the finger it was on. I avoiding eye contact with Eric now.

“So why let things like your reputation stop you?” He said ‘reputation’ as if it was something worthless and stupid. Maybe it was exactly that.

“You’re right,” I said aloud as I slowly nodded my head, finally allowing myself to meet eyes with him again.

He was smiling at me. Actually smiling. And God, I loved seeing it. It felt like a relief to see something like that from someone like him -- who I once thought was just some tough-guy who cared about no one but himself and so on. It made things better, in other words.

“After this stupid detention, you wanna go somewhere?” he asked me, still wearing his smile.

I returned the smile finally, nodding my head. “That sounds kinda perfect, actually. Anything but have to go home,” I said as I blushed and looked down at my hands.