Page 60 of Clichés & Curses

We managed to watch two episodes before we got too tired and decided to call it a night. We wished each other goodnight as we headed for our rooms.

After finishing my skincare routine and brushing my teeth, I went to my bed and checked my phone one last time before turning it off.

There was a new message from Colton, sent almost thirty minutes ago.

Colton:

I’ll be looking forward to it.

That night, I lay in bed with a smile on my face, the six words floating around my mind as I drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Thirteen

For the first time that semester, I sat in ASL class with an empty seat next to me.

And I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.

On one hand, I was hugely relieved that I didn’t have to face Colton just yet, when the events of last Saturday were still fresh—at least in my mind they were. Even though we had texted on Monday, conversing with him through a screen was a lot easier than facing him in person.

Because, whether I wanted to admit it or not, I couldn’t deny that something had shifted between Colton and me that night. Although, I would have loved to just write off that night as a wonderful memory and never bring it up again, I wasn’t sure if Colton felt the same. So, if his absence meant I could postpone the inevitable conversation, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for it.

But on the other hand, I was sad that he wasn’t there that day, along with the fact that we wouldn’t be able to practice ASL the same week.

While our ASL practices had started off as a necessity for the class, it became something I looked forward to each week. Thatmight have more to do with the person I was practicing with, thanactuallyabout practicing ASL.

When the class was dismissed, I slowly packed up my things. From what I remember, there wasn’t any class after that, and I was not in any rush to leave just yet. I had some homework that needed to get done, and the library seemed like a good option. As much as I wanted to go home right away, I knew the ambiance in the library would make me more productive.

The library was, thankfully, not too full. Considering it was a little over two in the afternoon, most people were probably still in classes, but my guess was the space would slowly start to fill, once people finished their classes after four.

Making my mind up to stay until at most 3.45 p.m., I pulled out my laptop and started my work. I put my phone on airplane mode, and started on the questions, with music flooding through my earphones being my only companion.

When I hit the thirty-minute mark, I gave myself a break. I turned my phone back online to check my notifications and saw one completely standing out among the rest.

It was a text from Colton.

Colton:

How’s my partner doing this week without me?

I could sense the smile appearing on my face as I read his text.

Clara:

Great! It’s been a while since I got this much peace on a Wednesday.

Colton:

? ? ?

Have mercy on my heart here, partner.

I couldn’t help but laugh at his reply, but stopped right away when people started shooting me with sharp looks.

I forgot I was in the library there for a moment.

Clara:

Just kidding.

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