Just Breathe (5 page)

“I have biology next.” I answer nervously.

He smiles again and tells me, “So do I, will you show me the ropes in that class too?”

I reply quietly, “Definitely.”

Okay Ever, two classes, at some point, you're going to have to get it together
.

I suddenly remember the day before and frown, glancing at his hands. He looks down at his hands at the same moment then looks at me questioningly. I look away. His hands look normal, I’m just crazy.

He asks meeting my gaze again, “So do you eat lunch?”

I smirk, “Yes.” 

He asks, “Will you show me where the cafeteria is?”

I smile and stand eager to focus on something before I make a fool out of myself for staring.
What is wrong with me
?

As we walk down the hall, I look up and make eye contact with Michael. He is standing by his locker looking from Jack to me and back with a curious look. I take the opportunity and give just a hint of a smile. Ha! Let him be jealous, serves him right. This day is shaping up after all.

We enter the cafeteria and I immediately spot Gabbi and Reggie in the middle set of tables. They are sitting with Jamie and Roberta. I guide Jack to their table and everyone looks up as I introduce him.

Gabbi grabs my arm when we sit and whispers, “He is a cutie.”

My lips turn upward, “I know, right.”

***

My normal lab partner in biology is a girl I don’t really care, but have to put up with anyway. Her name is Julia and she is the obnoxious version of Gabbi, if you can imagine. She doesn’t ever stop talking about other people. It’s different than Gabbi though, because she talks down about them, like she is better than everyone else. She is tall, blonde and skinny. She always has the latest and greatest in clothes, shoes and whatever else, which doesn’t help with her snob problem. Obviously, she has a lot of issues. But, who am I to point fingers.

When Jack and I enter class, I decide to steer us to a different lab table. We sit down and I begin to arrange my things. The next thing I know, I glance up and there is Julia leaning against the table with her arms crossed and a dirty look.

“Well, I guess I’ve lost my lab partner, Huh.” she spits out.

I look at her with an equaling glare and say, “Guess so.”

I feel like we’re five year olds comparing mud pies sticking our tongues out at each other.

Jack speaks up and says uncomfortably, “Sorry I didn’t know, I can find another lab partner.”

Julia looks at him like she just noticed him and turns around on her heel heading back to my old table.

Jack apologizes again and I shake my head, “You did me a favor.”

Our eyes meet again and I feel warmth again. Either I have a huge blushing problem or I'm getting sick as my mom thought.

Class begins and I glance at Jack to find him staring at me. I blush for the millionth time and look the other way. What is it with this guy? I feel comfortable around him yet, the butterflies in my stomach are in full force. After class I tell him to have a good weekend and we part in opposite directions, suddenly looking forward to Monday morning. I think maybe history might turn around for me after all.

***

As I walk to my car, I glance around and see Jack getting into an older, little, yellow convertible 356 Porsche. I know this because that is the car my brother can’t stop talking about. He got his license this year and begs my parents almost everyday for that car. So funny, how things go around in circles.

I don’t know if he saw me as he drove out of the lot because as usual, Gabbi was running to me yelling, “Tell me everything. You didn’t text me. I have been dying.”

I smile and tell her the short truth, “There is really nothing to tell, you saw him at lunch. His hands look normal, obviously I was hallucinating, and he is a nice guy, I am helping with homework, end of story.”

I never mention how the warmth spreads when he smiles at me but then again that is a crazy girl’s thoughts, just like the lights on his hands.

She puts her hand on my shoulder and exclaims slyly, “Ever Harding, I haven’t seen that smile in a long time. Do I detect a little like, with this new boy?”

I shrug her hand off, but can’t lose my smile, “No Gabbs, just friends.”

She nods with her knowing smile, so silly. I climb into my jeep.

“Goodbye Gabbi. Don’t forget to pick me up at seven for the game.”

She starts walking and calls over her shoulder, “Of course I won’t forget.”

On the drive home, I decide to go to the lake for a swim. I need a good swim. I make a quick stop at home for my suit and towel and head over to the lake. I wonder… but then push it out of my mind. It was a fluke that Jack was at the lake the last time I was there.

5

The Lake

When I pull up to the lake, I notice a local fisherman towards the opposite bank. It looks like he is the only other person here, besides me. I knew I couldn’t get lucky three times in the same week with no one here. Oh well, I will just have to keep my swimming on this end of the lake.

I get started and find my groove. The water is still warm. I can feel all the tension falling away as my body moves. I swim for about forty five minutes. It clears my mind and my body glides into my routine. I'm focused and concentrating.

Suddenly I hear a huge splash. I stop and tread water looking around the lake finding the spot, where the splash was made. It was toward the opposite bank. I look for the fisherman from earlier, but he must have left.
That’s weird.

I start swimming again and then I spot it, a very large snake barley exposed in the water, headed my way. Its head looks to be the size of my hand, I’m in trouble. Just great, this is what my mom was afraid of. I start swimming faster to the opposite bank and then I look up. Jack just standing there with his arms crossed, watching me swim for my life. Unbelievable! It looks like he has a smile on his face too. Anger surfaces through me. He should be helping, instead of smiling at me. There must be something wrong with this boy.

My heart is racing and I glance back. The snake is gaining, about fifteen feet away but I’m about ten from the bank of the lake. I push my body to go faster. As I reach the bank, Jack offers his hand to help me out of the water. I glance back and the snake makes a detour to the other side of the lake losing interest in me.

I refuse his hand and look up as his lip turns up for that adorable half smile and warmth spreads through me.

I savor it for a moment then realize, “Were you just going to stand there and watch me get eaten?”

He is watching the snake for a moment. He averts his eyes and stares at me. This time I get a frown that turns into a smile.

“I knew you would be fine, you’re a good swimmer.”

I ramble on, “How do you know I’m a good swimmer, I could have been killed, you should have gone for help.”

He touches my shoulder for reassurance and I jump back. It feels as if a spark of electricity runs through my shoulder where he touched me.

“Sorry,” he mumbles sadly and turns to walk out of the grasses.

I just stand there dumbfounded. What was that?  Maybe this guy is bad news. I probably need to go before something else happens.

I gather my shorts, shoes and shirt and start walking toward my jeep, which is in the opposite direction than where I watched Jack go. He didn’t even say goodbye, whatever.

As I near my jeep, I look up and there he is leaning against it with his arms crossed, obviously amused by something. I keep walking past him, intending to hop in the jeep and leave, I can’t deal right now. He blocks my way when I try to get in and looks at me with sad eyes. I get a chill down my spine.

“What?” I ask him.

He steps out of the way staring down at me and apologizes, “Sorry I didn’t run for help, I just thought you would be fine. Look here you are, fine, minus the bruised ego.”

I whirl around, who does this guy think he is?

“Bruised ego! I could have really gotten eaten while you just stood there and watched.” I say baffled.

He chuckles with his little tilted smile and assures me, “Ever, I would never let that happen to you, aren’t you over reacting a little.”

I shrug my shoulders and say sarcastically, “Guess we’ll never know what you would have done, will we?”

I turn toward the jeep and tell him, “I have somewhere to be, have a good weekend.”

He steps away and does a little wave with his hand.

This guy is way out there and just great, I have to sit with him in two classes.

I glance back at him as I get in the jeep and ask, “Why are you here anyway?”

He is already walking in the other direction, guess he didn’t hear me. I shrug and start the engine, it roars to life and as I look in the direction where he was walking, he’s gone. Where’d he go that fast?

I blast my music and back out to the dirt road that will take me back to the highway. I just want to lose myself in the music and not overanalyze everything like I always do. I try for a few minutes but my mind drifts back to…to his eyes…  Today they were that beautiful blue but something else about his eyes, I can’t put my finger on it. I keep going over everything that happened. That tingly shock when he touched my shoulder. Then I found him at my jeep… when he looked at me, that’s it. His eyes weren’t blue when he looked at me, he seemed so sad. They were a shade of green like mine, I think.

Maybe I am imagining things again. I muse about the shock in my shoulder, his eyes, and the other day with the lights. Maybe I’m not crazy after all and I really saw lights coming from him. I shake my head. I really must be going crazy. Here is this poor new guy and of all the people who could have been paired up with him, he gets dark, depressed Ever Harding, who keeps imagining things about him, lucky guy.

Maybe I should tell him on Monday that it would be better if he finds a new partner for biology and someone else to help him in history. Yes, I decide, first thing Monday morning I’ll tell him. Now I feel better and glance at the clock, 5:30.  I need to get home and ready in time for Gabbi at seven.

***

When I walk into the house and announce I’m home, I’m greeted by silence. This is not unusual. I check for notes in the kitchen and find a note from my mom stating that they will see me at the football game tonight. It’s the first game of the season so of course, the whole town will be there. I get a snack and head for the shower.

As I round the corner to my room I run straight into my brother, James.

“Hey watch it!” he yells.

I back up, when did he become so moody?

“Sorry, are you going to the game tonight?” I ask.

He looks up and says, “Ugh, no, why would I go where everyone else in town will be?”

I shrug my shoulders and head to my room. James used to be such a nice kid. He just changed this year in the past few months. Maybe my parents are losing their touch.

After a shower, I head to my closet for the dreaded wardrobe search. I hate this part of the day. My wardrobe needs some definite improvements. I opt for the usual jeans and an eggplant colored T. This will do. I glance at the clock, 6:30. There is still some time to kill. I take out my computer and check my email. Same old junk emails and an interesting one from Gabbi:

Ever, You will not believe what I found out about your new friend…he was kicked out of his last school in Los Angeles according to Brian who lives three houses down.  Just sayin…be careful girl...maybe he’s a bad boy which you don’t need at this point!  See you at 7.

Leave it to Gabbi to get information on anyone new. I really could care less about where this guy came from or is going, because I’ll blow him off on Monday and that’ll be the end of it.