I looked at James now, he seemed sincere but still, he’d hurt me like no one else had before.
“I’m sorry,” he said again, putting his warm hand over mine.
“I know you are. But I still remember every word you said and all the pain and hurt you caused me. Not to mention the two years of my life that you purposely ruined,” I told him, letting him leave his hand over mine. It wasn’t soft but it was warm.
“It’s only been a year and eight months,” he said trying to lighten the mood but it didn’t work, not this time.
“Why now?” I asked skeptical. I didn’t understand what had changed, just a few days before he was treating me so horribly. Why now? Was this some sort of cruel trick?
“Why now what?” he asked genuinely confused.
“Why not a year and eight months ago?”
“Because I was still an idiot then.” His hand warmed mine and sent tingles coursing through me but in a good way, like he always used to. We opened our lunches after a while and I gave him the three chocolate chip cookies that I’d packed for Derek. I’d have to bring Derek some another day.
“Oh man, these are even better than I remembered!” he said, devouring them and savoring each bite, I laughed at that.
“I’ve improved the recipe.” I explained and with that comment he looked sad but his mask was only down for a second before he acted like nothing was wrong but I’d caught a glimpse and knew he felt it.
“So has anything happened with the evil step sisters, Mouse?” he asked smiling and like that, we were back to normal like nothing had ever happened and that year and eight months apart disappeared and that truly scared me. That we could fit back together after everything and it be so normal and like before that easily, and that all my repressed emotions could ignite so fast, that he still held that kind of power over me.
In history everyone watched me, and Em kept pestering me for news and details about James and I, gossip had spread like wildfire throughout the school. I ignored Em but gym with Tara was a little harder.
“Mike! What happened?” Tara kept badgering.
“What happened?” James asked, coming up behind us and scaring us both. He smiled at me I found myself smiling back against my will.
“Oh, er, nothing.” I blushed at nearly being caught.
“Sure.” He grinned brilliantly and then took my hand. I didn’t mind like I thought I would have, like I would have with other people. But then again James wasn’t other people, he was my James and nothing and no one could change that. Tara left us because apparently Shannon was calling her, we both knew it was just so she could spread some gossip but I didn’t mind because that meant I got some time to be alone with James. Until Derek showed up, ruining our moment and disturbing our conversation. Derek looked James up and down, the disappointment clear on his face.
“So, James why are you here?” Derek asked rudely.
“Because of Mickey.” James smiled at me.
“Mike,” Derek corrected.
“No, Mickey, like Mickey Mouse,” James said looking pleased that Derek and no one else knew how much I hated being called Mike, it was a boy’s name. Derek looked confused but didn’t question it.
“So again, why are you here? You’re not wanted here,” Derek said, putting his hand on my arm.
“Derek!” I said very angry now and pulled my arm out of his grasp. I hated it when people spoke for me, it was one of my top pet peeves. James smiled knowingly, while Derek looked rather pissed himself.
“Don’t ‘Derek’ me. I’m the one who’s trying to look out for you, so you don’t end up getting hurt. He’s an ass and you know it. He spread all those rumors about you. You’re an ass,” Derek said, getting more and more furious and then jabbed his finger into Jame’s chest. “If you’re staying, I’m leaving,” he decided firmly.
“Well, I’m not going anywhere, Derek, I guess you’ll either have to live with both of us or without either of us,” James said, looking at me passionately. I felt a blush come over me, red and hot. Both Derek and James saw it too, making Derek leave, thankfully. James and I finally got to be alone. James had held my hand all the way through his speech and now he brought it to his lips and kissed it softly.
“If that’s okay with you, of course,” he whispered, giving me the chills. I didn’t know what to say but Mrs. Larson blew her whistle, saving me. We all got on the court to play against each other. Thankfully, today we were playing badminton, a sport I was a lot better at.
Derek avoided me all class and every time I’d look over to him, he was sulking or giving James a death glare. I hit the birdy at James and he hit it back, we managed to keep this up for fifteen rallies and then he missed the smash I’d been working up to. He dove for the birdy, not going easy on me; he never did but still he wasn’t quick enough.
“No fair, that was a total cheap shot!” he joked.
“Nu-uh. It was fair and square, you’re just jealous of my mad skills,” I said posing for him. He laughed a nice happy laugh.
“Yeah, what mad skills?” he shot back. I feigned shock and clasped my hand over my mouth.
“Okay, there’s only one way to settle this. Best two out of three, my house tonight,” he decided cheerfully.
“You’re on,” I agreed without thinking. It was just like it used to be with us, but it can’t be, I reminded myself. When you go there, you’ll see how much it has all changed, part of me thought sadly. Derek humphed
