Zach and I agreed to keep our new relationship a secret, even though it was hard to stay apart at school.
Jessica took the break up with Zach very well. But Jesse didn't take our talk very lightly.
"Jesse can I talk to you for a sec?" I asked.
"Make it fast, I've to get to class," Jesse said, not looking at me.
"How come you have time for Jessica and not me anymore?" I asked.
"What's your point?"
"James said he saw you and Jess kissing at all the mall," I said. I could feel eyes watching us, probably Zach's and Audrey's.
"How does he know it was me?"
"You were wearing that awful shirt no one else can find or wear," I said.
He was silent for a moment. "Well, he's lying."
"James wouldn't lie about this," I said.
"Nora, what kind of a relationship do we *have* if you don't trust me?" Jesse exploded.
"Maybe we don't even have one," I shot back.
"Don't talk to me right now," Jesse said and with that,he stalked off with Jess following not far behind.
I felt Zach's arm slip around my waist as Audrey said, "He is so cheating on you."
"I can't believe that Jess and Jesse are doing this to you," Daisy said.
"You were right to break up with Jess, Zach. It's not like she took it really hard," Chaz added.
"Why don't you just break up with Jesse, Nora?" Brad asked.
"You don't understand, Brad," I replied, but Audrey cut in.
"Brad are you stupid? You know how Jesse is. He gets pissed off really easy. You saw how easily he blew up at Nora."
"We all saw it," Alan said quietly.
"Just think of what could happen if Nora broke up with him," Audrey said.
"He'd probably get seriously pissed and start doing weird stuff, like get all obsessive and call your house over and over or something," randy added.
I drew in a sharp breath, just thinking about what could happen. Zach must've noticed my gasp and said, "You guys, don't. Nora's getting freaked out."
Randy smiled apologetically. "Sorry."
"That's okay," I replied.
The bell rang. As we began to walk toward our lockers, Zach's arm stayed firm around my waist. It felt good, his arm just sitting ther, making me feel wanted and warm inside. It had been so long since I had had someone's arm around me.
Once Zach and I were done at our lockers, he walked me to my first period class. He looked around quickly and dropped a sweet kiss on my mouth.
"Bye Nora," Zach said and smiled at me as he raced down the hall.
As I took my seat, Lynn Kemp rushed up to me. "Ooohh, Nora! Doing a little two timing I see."
"Um, what are you talking about?" I asked, praying she hadn't seen the little kiss Zach had given me.
"You know what I'm talking about. You're seeing yet another older guy Nora. I envy you," Lynn said.
"I *don't* know what you're talking about, Lynn," I insisted.
"You *know*-you sophomore Nora being kissed by junior Zach."
"We're just friends, Lynn."
"That's what they all say, Nora."
"No seriously. It was a friendly kiss between friends," I explained.
"Whatever you say Nora," Lynn smiled at me and went back to her seat.
"Is she annoying or what?" Daisysat in the seat behind me.
"Tell me about it," I agreed.
"Being all snoopy about that kiss, I swear," Daisy snorted, shaking her head.
"You saw that?" I asked.
Daisy nodded. "Yeah. The one Zach gave you, right? Yeah, Randy and I saw it. We know it was just a friendly kiss. Unless there's more to it and that's the reason why it was longer than a peck on the cheek and the reason for it being on your lips."
"There is *nothing* Daisy. *Nothing* going on. I mean it," I said forcefully.
"You sure?"
"*Yes*."
"you can tell me. I love the idea. Well both ideas anyway. The idea of you and Zach together-that is so awesome. And the idea of you two timing on two timin Jesse," Daisy said.
"*No* Daisy. *There* *is* *nothing*," I replied.
"Okay. Just remember-you can tell me. Jesse won't ever know," Daisy said and sat back in her chair. |
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