Behind The Glasses

Chapter 21 | Just keep swimming.

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“Find yourself a faith. It helps. No... Not just helps. It's everything."
-Princess Alice of Greece and Denmark, The Crown.
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Chapter 21 | Just keep swimming.

It takes a lot for me to be uncertain about anything in my life, especially something as simple as what I am to do next. My next move. Put simply: I'm always certain of my plans for the near future, no matter the magnitude of the situation. Well, as of right now, that statement is not true.

I'm flummoxed and honestly, I don't like it not even one bit. Not one bit. It's invoking certain doubts, certain problems and worst of all, certain -dare I say it- insecurities. Forking hell.

I close the door behind me as I watch Hunter get into his car. Firstly, he throws his backpack into the back seat then jumps into the driver's seat. He hasn't seen me yet as he continues to buckle himself in before finally closing the door. He looks dapper in his black chino pants and checkered long sleeved shirt.

As he starts the car and reverses; I walk humming, 'Hide your secrets, disguise your weakness. And lose yourself inside your busy head. Burn your bridges and leave no witnesses. All alone inside your busy head. Your busy head.' It's almost as if the supposed random selection of songs that play daily to wake me up is somehow not so random and synched with my scrambled brain and my life. That's the only rational explanation at this point because nothing else can explain these supposed coincidences.

After gliding to a stop in front of me, surprisingly, Hunter jumps out and opens the passenger door for me.

"Lovely morning to you, Bow." His grin is infectious and I don't object as I slide into the passenger seat attempting to mirror his grin. My independent women speech will have to come in handy some other time.

"Good morning, Hunter," I reply as he shuts the door for me with somehow an even bigger grin than before. Is he competing with the Joker? If he is, he's winning. No contest.

The drive to school is short and today, we ride it in comfortable silence. I give a smug smile at the fact that the stupid Toyota Corolla and it's occupants aren't on our tail today. At the very same time, I notice my nerves aren't on edge as they'd been since the fire drill. I don't doubt that Ramsey and his buddy had something to do with that. I let out a short breath of relief. Good news on top of good news: I finally finished Harry Potter. Isn't that neat? It took way longer than usual to finish but I'm glad I'm done. I can get the next instalment or start something completely different. The latter is more likely. I've also, summed up my slow pace of reading as 'the consequences of actually living' and honestly, I don't really mind or care. Note to self: Get new novel ASAP.

Hunter parks his car and gives me a gentle smile as we both open our doors to exit the car. When I open the backseat to grab my bag, Hunter hands it to me as I breathe a short, "Thanks."

He quickly gets his affairs in order and rounds the car to join me on our walk inside the school. Once his bag is securely hooked onto his shoulder, his free hand wraps itself around my waist. Well damn. He doesn't pull me flush against him, I don't complain and I look up at him to catch his small smile. I mimic his smile as we make our way to my locker as per routine.

Hunter is the one who breaks our silence as I unload my bookbag into my locker in exchange for my biology textbook. "Hey, Bow?" He starts with a smile.

"Mm-hmm?"

"Can I tell you something?"

"Sure." I'm about to zip up my bag. I look up at him and wait expectantly.