“So, how’s it going?” Leah’s voice broke my concentration.
Wow so much had happened since Leah and I’d connected. “Nothing much, just buried in homework of course.”
“Really, because Nicki saw you at the basketball game with Tyler.” Leah’s brows moved up and down, “She said you guys definitely looked like a couple.” Her smile spread wide across her face.
I looked back down at my book. “Yeah, I guess it was sort of a date.”
She fell into the chair across from me, “So spill! I want all the details.”
I tried to decide on the fly how I was going to handle this. On one hand, I wanted to share with Leah, but on the other, the much more dominate hand, I didn’t feel I needed to. Afterall, Leah was gone so much with her outdoor group, she and I had started to drift apart. Really, without anything changing, our tracks had drifted apart. No longer running congruent.
“Leah, there isn’t really anything to tell. How was the hike?”
“Oh no, you are not getting away that easy. What happened?”
I rolled my eyes. “Really nothing. And that’s it. We just don’t really click, ya know?”
“But Nicki said she saw you leave, like visibly upset. What was that about?”
So, this Nicki was a total busy body and had attention to detail.
Awesome. “Well, maybe if Nicki had paid attention a little closer, she would have reported back that I’d gotten sick.” Partially true.
Leah touched my hand, “Oh my gosh, did he slip you something?”
“No!” Wow, had Leah always been like this? “I’d done a few Jell-O shots with Cam and Darcy before the game. Not a good idea.”
“Cam? The track girl?”
“Yeah, she is really cool. She came and checked on me when I got sick.” I took this as a possible exit on the Tyler road of conversation. “She is super funny. And so nice.” I shook my head, “She pushes Crystel’s buttons and it is hilarious to watch. She’s a really great person, I’m glad I got to know her.” And now for the official shift in the conversation, “So tell me about the hike? Any hot guys enter the picture?”
That did the trick. Leah prattled on about the entire trip, which honestly, made me so glad I had opted out. They ate camas root soup with pine nuts and bitterroot.
“It started to really snow, so we packed up and didn’t stay overnight. The professor was a little worried about what gear we’d brought. It was so much fun though.”
I tried to look understanding and show excitement for my friend, but eating weeds for fun made my excitement feel incredibly fake. “I’m so glad you found this group. You’ve really loved it.” That was sincere. If Leah hadn’t found the outdoor club, she would be hounding me to go do all this stuff, and that wasn’t happening.
Leah chuckled, “So I take it you’re still busy when the next trip is scheduled?”
“Definitely.” I laughed, “but seriously, if I don’t get moving on this paper, I will be eternally busy because I’m still trying to pass Western Civ.”
Leah grinned, “Stats. I hear ya,” she stood up, “Catch up later, k?”
“Deal. See ya.” I went back to my paper, trying to collect my thoughts from before Leah showed up. I’d lost a good half hour chatting, and my anxiety started to build.
“Hey, can we talk?” Tyler’s voice interrupted my string of ideas that had begun to reform into sentences.
My sigh wasn’t meant for him, but set the whole tone of the conversation, “Not really. I have got to get this paper done.”
His lips curled into that adorable, and incredibly annoying smile. “I see.”
“Tyler just forget about last night. I’m fine. Everything is fine, all is good, ok?” Why did my words sound the opposite of fine then? Why did the tone of my voice sound like we weren’t even friends anymore?
Tyler’s face showed the same read on my statement. “I see. Well, then-I guess it was nice knowing ya, Savanah.” He knocked my book with his fist. “See ya round.”
I reached for his hand, “Wait, that didn’t come out right.” As I looked up at him, I saw his passenger standing directly over his shoulder. The cold traveled through me like a rocket, and my blood left my head. I placed my other hand on the table to steady myself.
It happened so fast and had taken me off guard. I drew a much-needed ragged breath, as my eyes started to see stars.
“Savanah?” Tyler’s hands were on my shoulders, his eyes met mine. “Savanah? What happened? Savanah, look at me.”
My eyes fluttered open and Tyler’s concerned expression met mine. He was so close. His lips were right there. The edge of his baseball cap blocked my view of the harsh lights above us. I tried to focus past his adorable curls that peaked out of the edges of his hat. Tried to look past his perfectly shaped eyebrows. Tried to not get lost in the deep green of his eyes. What happened?
I pushed myself up, still surprised that I was on the floor. How did I get on the floor? Shards of memories began to fill my mind. Falling slowly into place.
“Right.” I pushed myself up. “Sorry, I guess I didn’t eat.” Yeah, that would be a reason, “Or drink anything really.”
Tyler was still locked on my eyes. Complete disbelief clouded his expression. “Ok, seriously. Spill. What is really going on with you? Are you like a mutant or something?”
My jaw locked, “Mutant?” That was just downright insulting.
His ears turned red, “Yeah, like in X Men. The chick couldn’t touch skin?” He shrugged. “It’s like every time we touch you pretty much lose it.”
