Page 13 of It Was Always You

"And you believed her?" Harrison asked, his voice incredulous.

"Can I have your attention please, class?" Mrs. Willis's voice cut through the hysteria threatening to take over my mind.

Everyone who had been staring at me and Harrison now turned to face our band teacher. And I was left with my mind scrambling to figure out a way how to make myself just disappear.

I alternatedbetween speed-walking and going at a regular pace as I headed toward the lunch room. And here I'd been anxious all weekend about the possible rumors that might have been started, but that anxiety had nothingon me now. I was in full-blown panic mode after what happened in band.

I needed to talk to Noah. I needed to make sure he knew what was being said about him, and what people were now thinking we were doing since I'd opened my big stupid mouth.

I rushed to the lunchroom as soon as the bell rang and found Noah sitting at his usual table. But since the universe seemed to have a grudge against me, of course he was already sitting with one of the cheerleaders, Raven Rodgers, and she was practically hanging all over him. Her chair was so close to his, her hand perched on his shoulder as she leaned in. Her long, black hair cascaded down her back. She'd been friends with Easton and Noah since the beginning of the school year, and it was pretty obvious that she was impatient for Noah to finally get over his ex-girlfriend Ashlyn so she could move in.

But what I needed to say to him couldn't wait, so I adjusted my glasses and stood as tall as my five-foot-three-inch frame could allow and walked over to them.

"Hey, Noah," I said, my voice breathy with nerves. I still had no idea how I was going to tell him what everyone was bound to be talking about already.

He turned to look at me. When his eyes reached mine, they didn't hold the usual amusement I was used to seeing. Had he heard then? Was he mad?

He was probably regretting the moment he'd steppedin to save me.

"Hey, Lexi." His voice sounded not just tired when he spoke but completely drained of its usual life.

"H-how are you doing?" I rocked back and forth on my toes.

"I've been better."

"So you heard then?"

His brow knitted together. "Heard what?"

I hesitated for a moment, trying to figure out what to say.

"Just spit it out, Lexi." Raven crossed her arms, obviously annoyed that I was distracting Noah from her. "We were having a very important conversation."

Noah moved his shoulder, so Raven had to lean back from her perch, and looked up at me with question in his eyes. "What is it?"

I looked around to see if anyone was watching or listening. Of course, eyes from tables all around were staring right at us.

This was bad. My heart thundered in my chest. This was really, really bad.

But if he hadn't heard about what I'd said in band, why was he looking so depressed?

Images of him standing on my front porch came to my mind. I'd almost forgotten about how strange he'd acted Saturday night, since I'd been so worried about my own mess.

"It's like she forgot how to talk," Raven said, following it up with her high-pitched mocking laugh.

Noah rolled his eyes. "Just let her talk, Raven."

I looked at them both, feeling even more flustered. Why did Raven always have to be around Noah at school?

"So, what did you need to talk to me about, Lexi?" He rested his elbow on the table and lifted his face at me, his shaggy hair falling across his eyes.

He really had no idea. Part of me wanted to just run now and not add to whatever was making his life hard at the moment. But I knew I needed to get this over with before I actually got physically sick.

So, I drew in a deep breath and bent over so I could whisper in his ear. "Did you hear all the rumors? A-about me and you?"

I pulled back so I could watch him. His eyes sparked to life and his lips quirked up into a half smile. "Are you telling me that those girls didn't keep our secret?"

I shook my head. "Pretty sure they told everyone."And I only made it worse.I held my breath, waiting for him to get mad about being lumped in with someone like me.

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