Page 25 of Taking Care of You
“Sure I do, creep. I like walking you to class. And I was only late the day you were late. My class is at the end of the hall. Chemistry.” I nod, feeling better that I’m not making him late just so he can keep up appearances to help me.
Close to my class, I see Dawn walking in the opposite direction and her eyes nearly bug out of her head. “Is this a joke?” she asks one of her friends loudly, probably hoping Ethanacknowledges her. He doesn’t. He just kisses my forehead and drags me to my class.
I look up at him and say, “She’s mad. Maybe we shouldn’t?—”
“Fuck her. I’m not worried about her feelings.”
When he deposits me at the door to my class, he kisses my cheek and tells me, “I’ll be here after class, creep.”
Nodding, I turn to walk into class, and again, it’s like someone pressed a mute button. No one, not even the teacher, is saying anything. Just staring at me. It’s really fucking weird, but I just sit in my seat and take my books out, hoping people don’t ask me questions.
Thankfully, no one does, and class is as boring and uneventful as it is any other day. After the bell rings, I take my time getting my supplies together, not wanting anyone to accost me to ask questions. When I exit the room, Ethan is leaning against the wall, waiting for me. He doesn’t sling his arm around my shoulder like he has before. He grabs my hand and laces our fingers together.
His hand is strong and warm, his fingers long and grounding. “Todd left a voicemail while I was in class.” I look at him quizzically, not quite keeping up with what he’s saying while he’s holding my hand like this in front of all these people.
Rolling his eyes, he says, “Todd, the one who tailored your suit.”
“Oh.”
“He said it’s ready for pick-up. Want to go grab it right after school? We don’t have practice today since the game is tomorrow.”
“Sure. Can I um…stay with you tonight?”
I really don’t want to go home. It’s not like my mom or dad notice I’m not home anyway. I’m sure if my mom did, she would have called me to come home. I haven’t spoken to her in days. Haven’t spoken to my dad in weeks, probably.
He leans down and kisses my forehead. “You’re always welcome to stay with me, creep. I’ll take you home to get your stuff after we leave the mall.”
The rest of the day passes by with whispers and stares, and outright anger from Dawn. At lunch, she talked loudly about me as she walked past our table, saying that Ethan was just going through a phase with me, and he’ll come to his senses soon enough.
Jaw clenched, Ethan looked at her and she quickly averted her eyes, shuffling off to put some distance between her and his penetrative gaze. He reached across the table and squeezed my hand, but I assured him I was okay.
I tell Crystal I’m going to ride with Ethan so we can get my suit for Homecoming, and she squeals and hugs me hard, excited that I’m going to Homecoming. I curse to myself for not telling her, realizing I’ve been spending less time with her than I was before. I promise myself I’ll fix that.
Telling Crystal that I’m going to Homecoming reminds me that I need to ask Ethan what the plan is. Are we going together? Are we going to meet there? Am I riding with Crystal? I need to know sooner rather than later.
I wait for Ethan outside of school, since I don’t know where his last class is. Elle sees me and waves as she hops in her car to drive home. After I wave back, I notice Mitch staring after her. God, it’s so weird that they won’t just talk to each other.
I laugh to myself, thinking that’s rich coming from me.
“Creeeep!” Ethan yells behind me, making me roll my eyes and my cheeks grow hot. He likes to draw attention to us, that’s for sure. People turn to look in our direction as he wraps me in his arms and kisses my forehead. My hands automatically go up to his back and I squeeze, feeling all the hard muscles under my palms. God, I wish this could be real.
“You’re so extra,” I mumble to him.
The laugh he releases is so relaxed, so pretty and carefree. “I know. You like it, though.”
“I do,” I say quietly, then look at him with wide eyes. I’m not sure if that’s something I’m supposed to let him know. I don’t want to make this fake relationship awkward.
I can’t quite decipher the emotion on his face. Longing? Hopefulness? I’m not sure because it’s gone as quickly as it appears. “Come on, my creepy, creepy friend. We have a suit to pick up.”
He leads me to his car, and we climb in and pull off. I reach over to turn the radio down and Ethan gives me a curious glance. “What’s up, creep? Something wrong?”
“No. I was wondering,” I say, taking a deep breath to fortify myself against whatever answer he’s going to give me, “are we going to Homecoming together? Or am I going to meet you there? Crystal would give me a ride.”
He glances at me with a raised eyebrow. “We’re going together. I thought that was implied since you’re my boyfriend.”
Even though my heart flutters, I murmur, “You don’t have to say that when people aren’t around.”
He glances over at me and opens his mouth as if to say something, but just sighs and says, “Okay.”
