Page 24 of We Thought We Were Invincible
“Anyway,” he started. “I'm heading out. Don't be late to school again.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
Freshman assembly had already started by the time I sprinted up the steps and through the large front doors of the building. The halls were busier than normal. Freshmen were in homeroom meetings and each class was doing different things. Seniors were in study hall, meaning some of them roamed the halls, wearing out the limit on bathroom passes.
I hoofed it toward my locker, throwing my books inside. The slam echoed through the hall, ringing in my ears alongside the rushing blood. I hated being late, yet couldn't seem to help it.
When I pushed through the classroom door, all eyes fell on me.
“Glad you could join us,” Mr.Chase said dryly. “Your partner has been graciously waiting for you at the back of the class.”
Grace was not an attribute I'd ever associate with Jamie, but there he was, looking bored, but remarkably good as he tapped his pencil against the desk.
“Of course,” he said. “They put me with someone who couldn't be on time to save her life.”
“Oh, shut it, Daniels,” I snapped. “I'm surprised you even showed today. No flat waves to go surf?”
It was the wrong thing to say. I saw it in his eyes. Just like mine, his mind went back to that day and the judgments I'd made, however unfairly. For a moment, I wished our memories were shorter than that and we could just focus on what happened afterwards in my room. But then I mentally kicked myself. No, that would be so much worse.
“Let's just talk about what we're going to do for the project.” I sighed as I sat in the empty seat beside him.
“We could write about Colby's party tomorrow since we'll both be there.”
“I don't think that's what Mr.Chase was talking about when he said to do something you've never done before.”
Before I could come up with another idea, I heard laughing coming from another corner of the room. Turning in my seat, I caught sight of Morgan working with Matthew, but at the same time trying not to look like she was working with him.
A couple of her friends watched them and laughed nearby. A wave of sympathy swelled up in me as I took in Matthew's pale face and hunched shoulders. He knew they were talking about him. That was plain. His black shirt was rumpled, and he sported a large bruise on the side of his face.
“I saw it happen,” Jamie whispered, leaning toward me. Suddenly we weren't at odds. Just for a moment, we were on the same side as we watched what was going on.
“Saw what happen?” I asked.
“I forgot. You don't have first period. Matthew met the wrong side of Rick Yellen's fist.”
“The junior, Rick Yellen?”
“Yeah. The one who looks like he's thirty. Him and his buddies have been messing with Matthew for years.”
“Along with everyone else.”
“Pretty much.” Jamie's tone was matter-of-fact rather than sympathetic. There were plenty of kids who were bullied at Gulf City High. I heard about it, but I never saw it, trapped in my own world as I usually was.
The period ended and Jamie and I were no further along with our project. Morgan looped her arm through mine on the way to Calc.
“That was awful,” she said.
“I'll bet.” I hated how my voice sounded, but I hated my words even more.
10
Jamie
Why did I sleep with her?
I needed to dump her, but this was Amelia, hottest girl in school. I'd be persona non grata so fast in those halls. She was the one person with the power to bring me, Jamie Daniels, down.
I didn't care about popularity, but I did care if I ever got a date again.
