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Authors: DelSheree Gladden
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through me.
“No,” I say, sounding a little strangled. “I dance, though, so I’m not totally uncoordinated.”
Noah smiles. I kick the back of my foot on accident and stumble forward. Red flushes my face. Yeah, I totally look coordinated. Noah’s smile brightens some, but he doesn’t say anything. I remind myself not to take his talkativeness at face value. He may think he saved my life, but at some point he’ll realize what really happened and bolt. I can’t let myself believe he really wants to be my friend. That kind of delusion will only end up in me getting hurt, again.
In a moment of sudden paranoia, I wonder if Noah’s interest has anything to do with Ivy. Before I let myself get carried away on that unlikely train of thought, I remember why Noah’s last name seemed so familiar. He has an older sister that’s Zander’s age. She was friends with Lisa before…I shake my head and try not to think about that. Noah’s family has been here for years. I push away imagined connections and make a decision to end this conversation. Before I can say anything, Noah speaks again.
“I can show you a little about martial arts sometime. I’m not really sure how to make a whole scene out of it, but we can get started at least.”
It would almost be sweet, if I believed his motive weren’t born from saving me and now feeling responsible in some way. That will wear off soon enough. We’re right in front of Ms. Collins’ door when I stop and turn to face him.
“Look, Noah, you don’t have to be nice to me just because of what happened in the alley. You don’t even have to work with me. I’m sure if you tell Mr. Littleton you want to do something on your own, he’ll let you. I know you’ve heard about me. Regardless of what happened the other night, I’m still the same girl everyone tries to avoid. Thank you for helping me, but you and I both know this isn’t going to work.”
“I…what?” Noah looks rather taken aback.
I sigh, frustrated by this whole conversation. “I just don’t want to be the subject of your curiosity, or pity, or whatever it is that’s making you talk to me.”
“It’s not any of that stuff,” Noah argues. “I just want to talk to you, get to know you better. What’s wrong with that?”
“Because nobody ever just wants to get to know me,” I admit. “You have to have heard the rumors about me. Everyone has.”
Noah shrugs. “Sure, I’ve heard them, but they’re just rumors. I don’t believe everything I hear in the halls.”
My sigh startles me with its profoundness. Just like in the alley, he’s blind to the truth. Sadness I wasn’t prepared for brings tears to my eyes. I turn away from him and say, “Well you should believe the rumors. They’re true.”
I must have shocked him pretty good, because Noah doesn’t follow me into the room right away. He’s a good fifteen or twenty seconds behind me. There are two empty desks on the opposite side of the room. Those should be his goal, but Noah surprises me by slipping into the desk next to me. He doesn’t say anything, but he does look over at me when he sits down. A few more students file in, and class gets started. I find it completely impossible to focus with Noah looking over at me every few minutes with his crisp green eyes. Eventually, I settle for hunkering down in my chair and pretending I can’t see him.
Normally, I’m pretty happy to get out of math class, since algebra isn’t my favorite subject, but as I watch the clock wind its way toward the bell, a nervous flutter starts growing in my stomach. What is Noah going to say…or do? His possible reactions are all I can think about as the last few seconds tick by.
When the bell rings, I stay seated half a second longer than everyone else. It feels like I’m moving on autopilot when I finally stand and sling my bag onto my shoulder. The sound of Noah’s voice almost makes me jump.
“What do you have next?”
“PE,” I say,
“No,” I say, sounding a little strangled. “I dance, though, so I’m not totally uncoordinated.”
Noah smiles. I kick the back of my foot on accident and stumble forward. Red flushes my face. Yeah, I totally look coordinated. Noah’s smile brightens some, but he doesn’t say anything. I remind myself not to take his talkativeness at face value. He may think he saved my life, but at some point he’ll realize what really happened and bolt. I can’t let myself believe he really wants to be my friend. That kind of delusion will only end up in me getting hurt, again.
In a moment of sudden paranoia, I wonder if Noah’s interest has anything to do with Ivy. Before I let myself get carried away on that unlikely train of thought, I remember why Noah’s last name seemed so familiar. He has an older sister that’s Zander’s age. She was friends with Lisa before…I shake my head and try not to think about that. Noah’s family has been here for years. I push away imagined connections and make a decision to end this conversation. Before I can say anything, Noah speaks again.
“I can show you a little about martial arts sometime. I’m not really sure how to make a whole scene out of it, but we can get started at least.”
It would almost be sweet, if I believed his motive weren’t born from saving me and now feeling responsible in some way. That will wear off soon enough. We’re right in front of Ms. Collins’ door when I stop and turn to face him.
“Look, Noah, you don’t have to be nice to me just because of what happened in the alley. You don’t even have to work with me. I’m sure if you tell Mr. Littleton you want to do something on your own, he’ll let you. I know you’ve heard about me. Regardless of what happened the other night, I’m still the same girl everyone tries to avoid. Thank you for helping me, but you and I both know this isn’t going to work.”
“I…what?” Noah looks rather taken aback.
I sigh, frustrated by this whole conversation. “I just don’t want to be the subject of your curiosity, or pity, or whatever it is that’s making you talk to me.”
“It’s not any of that stuff,” Noah argues. “I just want to talk to you, get to know you better. What’s wrong with that?”
“Because nobody ever just wants to get to know me,” I admit. “You have to have heard the rumors about me. Everyone has.”
Noah shrugs. “Sure, I’ve heard them, but they’re just rumors. I don’t believe everything I hear in the halls.”
My sigh startles me with its profoundness. Just like in the alley, he’s blind to the truth. Sadness I wasn’t prepared for brings tears to my eyes. I turn away from him and say, “Well you should believe the rumors. They’re true.”
I must have shocked him pretty good, because Noah doesn’t follow me into the room right away. He’s a good fifteen or twenty seconds behind me. There are two empty desks on the opposite side of the room. Those should be his goal, but Noah surprises me by slipping into the desk next to me. He doesn’t say anything, but he does look over at me when he sits down. A few more students file in, and class gets started. I find it completely impossible to focus with Noah looking over at me every few minutes with his crisp green eyes. Eventually, I settle for hunkering down in my chair and pretending I can’t see him.
Normally, I’m pretty happy to get out of math class, since algebra isn’t my favorite subject, but as I watch the clock wind its way toward the bell, a nervous flutter starts growing in my stomach. What is Noah going to say…or do? His possible reactions are all I can think about as the last few seconds tick by.
When the bell rings, I stay seated half a second longer than everyone else. It feels like I’m moving on autopilot when I finally stand and sling my bag onto my shoulder. The sound of Noah’s voice almost makes me jump.
“What do you have next?”
“PE,” I say,
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