(To get a more in-depth feeling, listen to "The One That Got Away" by Katy Perry).
"I don't remember anything," I lie. "We should head back home. I don't know about you two, but I'm cold and tired. Let's talk about this another time."
The boys look as if they do not buy my excuse, but they still give in.
"It is cold, and we are all tired," Jeremy says. "Let's all get a good night's sleep and meet here in the afternoon to continue."
Dylan nods and I stand and wave. "Good night," I fake yawn and stroll back to my house and then to my room.
In bed, I think. About my father. But most of all, I think. I think of Jaime.
--Flashback--
"Hi, I'm Stella-Rose," I greet the young boy. He looks up at me with his green pearls for eyes.
"Jaime," he says bluntly. "Annoying how we had to be put into random groups."
I nod.
"This is a 6-week project. Whether you like or dislike each other, this project must get done. It's worth 50% of your grade this semester. Do I make myself clear?" Mrs. Ronaldo states.
The class nods. "I don't care how you divide the work. Just make sure you each do something."
"So," I clear my throat. "How do you want to split the work?"
He looks at me. "We can each do half."
I nod.
"But we should meet up once a week to get it done."
I flinch, surprised. "Why?"
"Didn't you hear the woman?" He states the obvious. "It's worth 50%."
"I know, but-" The bell rings.
"-Right, so we should exchange social media," he cuts. "Here's mine."
He shows me his phone.
@jjaime.wilsonn
"What about you?" he asks.
I open my phone and show him mine.
@roses_are_stellar
"Cute," he smiles. "I'll text you later."
He gets up, pushes in his seat, then exits the classroom.
I get up as well, thank the teacher for the lesson, then leave.
***
"Welcome back honey," my father greets. "How was school today?"
I look at him with a smile. "The usual, dad. English and Math were a pain and tennis after school was strenuous."
"Chemistry wasn't bad today?"
"Oh, right. She paired us up for a 6-week long project," I sigh.
"Sounds like a pain," my father says. "So, who's your partner?"
"Jaime Wilson," I mutter. "He's my partner."
"Do you like him?"
"I don't like dumb boys," I say. "I'm going to take a shower."
I take my shoes off at the foot of the staircase. Then, I walk upstairs to my room.
I begin to strip to take a shower, but I feel a light buzz in my back pocket.
@jjaime.wilsonn: hey, it's me.
I stare at my phone and take a deep breath.
@roses_are_stellar: Hi.
@jjaime.wilsonn: is typing…
@jjaime.wilsonn: let's meet up Friday after school.
@roses_are_stellar: Can't. Tennis match.
@jjaime.wilsonn: what time?
@roses_are_stellar: 4 pm.
@jjaime.wilsonn: I can wait for you. How about 6 at my place?
I hesitate.
@roses_are_stellar: I need to ask my parents.
@jjaime.wilsonn: Okay, just let me know.
I throw my phone on my neatly arranged bed, then finally strip to take a shower.
When I finish taking a long, hot shower, I dress and head downstairs for dinner, sneaking my phone along with me.
I sit at the table and hesitate to bring up the question Jaime had asked.
I don't talk the whole time and my dad notices.
"What's the matter, honey?" he asks, concerned. My mother looks at me worried.
"Are you sick, sweetie? You haven't spoken or touched your food at all," my mother asks, worried.
I shake my head.
"I heard you have a pretty big project for chemistry. How's that going?" she asks.
"Fine," I murmur, looking down at my pasta.
"Well, who's your partner?" my mother pushes. "Is it a boy? Is he cute?"
I look up and open my mouth to speak, but hear a gentle buzz in my hoodie pocket.
@jjaime.wilsonn just followed you.
I tear my eyes off of my screen and look at my parents. "His name is Jaime Wilson."
My mother smiles. "Do you like him as your partner?"
"He's alright. In fact, he wants to meet up on Friday."
"Don't you have a match that day?" my father asks.
I nod. "He said he'd go to my game and we could walk to his house after 6."
My father looks up from his meal. "What?"
I nod, then look back down at my food. I play around with my fork until my father decides to speak again. "Will his parents be home?"
I look up at him, surprised. I quickly nod and he smiles. "Yes."
"Then, that's fine," my father says, surprising me. "You're growing up. Sometimes, I just need to step down and let you have fun. Plus, this is just school work, right?"
My mother is surprised by this as well. She stares squarely at my father. "Are you sure, Philip?"
My father nods. "I'm fine with it if you are."
My mother nods and changes her glance at me. "I'll pick you up by 9."
I smile, then nod at both of them. "Actually, I have a lot to say. Math was very boring today, and we had to learn…"
When I get back upstairs to my room, I check my phone one more time.
@jjaime.wilsonn: so, what's up?
@roses_are_stellar: They said yes.
@jjaime.wilsonn: cool.
I then took a seat at my desk and finished up my homework.
***
"Look, I like you a lot," Jaime confesses to me on the school roof.
I look down at my shoes and begin to slowly shake my head. "I'm sorry."
He breathes a long sigh before walking away. I look back up, this time at the sky.
When I get back inside for chemistry class, I see Jaime sitting in his chair, faced away from me.
I take my seat. A girl comes over to talk to him. He gets up and walks outside with her. My heart beats drastically as I await his return.
"What was that about?" I ask.
"Nothing," he says. "Just another confession."
I nod and feel butterflies in my stomach.
For the past few weeks, hanging out with Jaime has come to be so normal for me. We became closer than expected, but it still didn't get rid of the mass vultures that smile and giggle when he walks by.
"Meet at your house after school?" I ask.
"No, I have plans," he states.
"Weekend?"
"All week's busy, sorry."
"Then at least meet me on the roof," I say and raise my hand to go to the bathroom.
I make my way up to the roof and a few moments later, so does he.
I turn away from him and look towards the blue sky. "I like you too."
"What?" he seems surprised. "But you said you didn't feel the same way."
"I was scared," I fired back. "I was scared because I haven't done this before."
Jaime takes one step closer to me and touches my hand, then grabs it in his. "Don't be."
His voice is a soft whisper and he leans to press his lips onto mine. The kiss is sweet and calming. Like him.
"HEY!" a voice yells. "What are you two doing out there!"
We break our kiss and run back inside.
"Get back to class!" the voice yells once more.
I giggled and Jaime let out a breath it seemed like he was holding in for a while.
"You go in first, and I'll go in a few minutes after," he says. "So, they don't suspect anything."
I nod and give him a peck on the lips once more. "Bye," I whisper.
He smiles, warmly. "Bye."