The One For Me(40)

“I won’t see you back here again, will I?”

I shake my head. “No, ma’am.”

She nods. “Okay, then you’re dismissed.”

I nod and walk out of the office. Mr. Fringe follows me out. He walks beside me in silence. I wish he would say something. When we get to the classroom, Mr. Fringe grabs my shoulder. “Katy, I know you were sticking up for yourself. You understand I had to send you to the principal’s office don’t you?”

“I understand, Mr. Fringe.”

He smiles. “Well, off the record, I’m glad you threw that at him. He deserved it.” I laugh. “Now, get in there and apologize to the class. Since I’m sure they’re all so torn up that they got out of learning about sex.”

“Do I have to?” I whisper.

“Yes, now get in there.”

I walk into the class and everyone stops talking. Jen thrusts her fist in the air and mouths victory. I roll my eyes. I walk to the podium and stop. “Okay, guys, I just wanted to tell everyone I was sorry for the disturbance.”

A few people snicker. “And that I will never hit someone in the head with a book again,” I say.

More laughter. “Okay, okay, class, that’s enough. You can have your seat, Katy.” Mr Fringe pushes me toward my seat. I get a few high fives and winks. When I sit down in my seat I glance to my left. The empty chair seems emptier than before.



Jen hasn’t stopped talking since we got out of Science. She has showed me her best fighting stance at least eight times, I push my food around on my plate and pretend to watch her. I hear the chair next to me scoot across the floor. I look to my left. Hayden glances down at me, smiling.

Good, God.

“I heard about you throwing that book,” Hayden says. “Justin better be glad that I wasn’t in there.”

What the hell. Jen opens her mouth and moves her index finger around her temple in a slow motion. “What are you doing?” I ask, sitting up straighter.

“Eating lunch, like we used to.” His eyes avert to Jen. “What’s up, Jen?”

She shrugs her shoulders and pretends to eat.

“Okay,” I say, “let me rephrase that, why are you sitting with me like we used to? Nothing has changed. We. Are. Not. Getting. Back. Together. Did you not get the hint in class today? You’ve messed up enough, I don’t want to be near you.”

Hayden closes his eyes and shakes his head. “It has changed. You’re single and I’m single. We still love each other. I don’t get you. You moped around after we broke up. I miss you and I know you miss me, too.”

“Speak for yourself, Hayden. I love someone else,” I blurt out. I don’t mean to say it. Because I’m not one hundred percent sure myself, but it slips out. Like vomit. I might as well have vomited on Hayden’s lunch.

“You don’t love him,” he says. “You don’t even know him.”

“You don’t know him either. But, I do know that I’m not a disposable rag that you can just toss out and come back to get. Get over yourself, Hayden. I don’t want to get back together with you now, nor ever.” When I glance up the few tables surrounding us are all staring at me, mouths opened wide, eyes bulging out of their skulls.

Hayden makes this weird sound in his throat and places his hand on mine. “You don’t mean that, you’re just upset because Liam broke up with you. You will get over it,” he says.

Is he delusional? “Hayden,” I say, “no, I won’t. I won’t get over this. Just take a hint and take a hike. I’m serious. I’ll go get the principal. I just want you to leave me alone.”

Hayden stands up, slamming his fist down on the table. I jump. Jeez. “This is your last chance to come with me. If you don’t now, I’m leaving for good.”

Where you gonna go? You have to finish the rest of the year. I smile to myself. “Okay, then, go. Shoo,” I say, waving him off.

I turn my back to him. Jen is smiling ear to ear. “Is he still standing behind me,” I lean over and whisper.

“Yes,” she says lightly. “He looks like a fire hydrant he is so red. It’s kind of funny,” she says.

I bite back a laugh. “Well, he’ll just have to get over it.”





Chapter Nine



“Sam is my favorite,” I say and grab a hand full of popcorn.

“How predictable,” Jen says.

“What, why? Finn or Puck would be predictable. Who do you like Jane and Henry?”

“Gasp, that’s racist,” she says, smiling. “Thank you very much I like Artie. Look at those big glasses…swoon.”