Where we left off

Chapter 3

I wasn’t fine. Waking up the morning after I saw Ryder had me in a complete emotional mess. I couldn’t get out of bed the next day after Eddie went home to shower and go to practice. I couldn’t get up to go the gym after the run back home because my legs were too sore to walk. In fact, I haven’t left my room since for the remaining of the weekend.

Eddie would drop by, but I was always too out of it. I was tired most of the time because I’d spend the time he’s not here cry, so when he comes over I’d be too sleepy and too tired.

On Friday, I lied to my mum and Eddie and told them that I’m not feelings well. On Saturday and Sunday, I faked a stomach flu. My mum and dad would sit next to me on the bed and talk to me and try to make me open up; Sammy would sit next to me and talk to me about the cute boys in she met while she was in the mall with mum shopping for back to school; and Eddie, he’d mostly just bully me into getting up and eating most of the time.

Monday was the day I didn’t want to get up on. It was the day I wish I have left my excuses for. I didn’t want to go to school. I didn’t want to face the so called new kid. I didn’t want to run into him and stir up all my emotions.

I stayed in bed, curled up in a ball at 7 a.m. hoping that maybe everyone will be so busy on their first day preparation and excited about Sammy’s first year of Freshman year that they will forget about me.

When the door opened, I heard a sight before Eddie sat at the edge of the bed “Are we really back to this now?” He asked “What happened, Z? What got you this upset again?”

I shook my head “I don’t want to go” I told him “I don’t want to get up”

“It’s the first day of our last year in high school” he said “You need to get up. We can skip the first day”

I shook my head.

“How about I pick something out for you to wear?” He asked “I promise that I will be waiting for you by the door after every class before you even finish class. I won’t leave you. I promise”

I shook my head again.

He then gave my leg a little squeeze “I don’t want to do this without you. I don’t want to start my last first day of school without you. This means a lot to me. We started this phase of our lives together and we should end it together”

I slowly moved out of bed with a sigh followed by a nod.

By the time I came out of the bathroom after taking brushing my teeth and washing my face, Eddie already picked out an outfit for me to wear to school. He does that something, when I’m in a bad mood or not feeling myself, he would pick out my outfits because he knows that I will don’t feel like picking anything myself or I’m going to overthink what to wear for 30 minutes straight.

Giving him a silent thank you smile, I picked out the pair of blue straight leg jeans, white short sleeve shirt and black pullover then went back into the bathroom to get dressed and gathered my hair into a messy low ponytail.

Sammy was next to my window when I walked back out, she was steering at reflection in the mirror and fixing her outfit. She was dressed in a cropped red pullover and a pair of black skinny jeans with her hair perfectly straightened and down her back.

“You’re going to freeze in class with that so called top” I told her as I started to put on my necklace and earrings.

“I won’t” she argued “Plus, Eddie said it look good. It’s all about first impressions. I need to make a good first impression if I want to be on the cheer leading team”

Eddie chucked “You’re already on the cheer leading team. It’s an automatic thing really. If you were apart of the cheer leading team in middle school, you are basically guaranteed a spot on the team in high school”

I agreed “Yeah. Just ask like everyone and anyone that have been in your position before. These barbies don’t like outsiders and new people on their teams”

“They would’ve taken me into the team even if that was not the case. I got talent when it comes to cheer leading” she said before dramatically exiting the room.

It wasn’t easy walking through the school’s doors knowing that I will run into Ryder at some point of the day. He could be in one of my classes, he could have the locker next to mine, he could have the same free period as I do, or he could be sitting on the same table I usually sit at with Eddie and his friends. There was endless possibilities of how I will run into him today.

I kept looking over my shoulder most of the day at school. Despite not running into him by lunch time, I heard his name everywhere. In the morning when I walked through the halls, girls were talking about him and how hot he is. By free period, guys were talking about how he joined the basket team tryouts and will most probably be given the captain position this year. In Geography, girls were whispering about the rumors about him being a play boy at school. By lunch, everything was talking about how he was flirting with Penelope Mayers.

I didn’t let Eddie walk me from class to class. I told him that I want to have sometimes to myself while I walk to my classes. It was mainly just time for me to gather myself and try and figure out what to say or do when he approaches me.

I was the first one to be seated at the table during lunch time. Everyone was busy gossiping and talking about the new kid while standing in line to get their lunch.

“So I guess that the reason you didn’t want to get out of bed this morning” Eddie said as he took a seat next to me

“How long have you known?”

I poked at my mashed potato “Since the basket ball game” I told him “He was on the other team”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He asked concerned “I couldn’t done something”

“You’re done enough” I told him “I hate how I’m the reason you’re always worried. You already have too much on your plate and just bring that up would be so stupid”

“Did you talk to him yet?” He asked.

I shook my head.

“Have you seen him yet?” He asked.

I shook my head.

He sighed before leaning back into his head next to me “He’s already the talk of the school and on the basket ball team too”

I shrugged “Wasn’t expecting anything less” I said “Everything just drops on his lap without him even asking for it”

The bleachers were empty today. Usually some of the guys would sit around the bleachers and watch the cheer leading practice everyday, but today everyone’s attention was on a certain someone in the school’s gym probably.

It was really easy to pick out Sammy from the girls auditioning for the cheer leading team. She was dressed in her gym cloths with her hair tied up into a pony tail. Everyone was stretching or waiting for something to happen, so as soon as

Sammy spotted me on the bleachers, she waved with a smile before jogging up to me.

“Did I miss it?” I asked her.

She nodded “They basically told me that I’m in but it will be officially announced in a few minutes”

“I’m happy for you, SamSam” I said with a small smile.

She looked back at field nervously before looking back at me “Did you see you?” She asked.

“I heard” I told her.

“I didn’t know that you know who is back into town” she said “I was surprised when I saw him this morning on my way to class”

I nodded before looking down at my fiddling hands.

“He asked about you” she pointed out “He was looking for you and asked me about your classes. I told him that I’m not sure about your classes, we haven’t shared schedules and that she leaves before me so he wouldn’t wait with me after school till you showed up”

“Thank you!” I told her feeling grateful “I think I will stick to avoiding him for now”

She nodded “He moved two house from ours” she told me “He said he tried to come over but was surprise when he found out we moved. I didn’t tell him our new address though”

“This won’t last long though. He will eventually pass by the gym” I told her “But thank you for covering for me. I owe you”

She smiled as she took a seat next to me “About that” she started “I need to go to a party today. The cheer leading is having a welcoming party and I need you to cover for me with mum and dad. Maybe you can tell them that I’m with you at Eddie’s house?”

“Sure” I told her “Just this once though”

She nodded as she gave me a side hug before she left to join the cheerleaders again.