I walked next to her locker waiting for her to shut it, I held the blue rose close to my chest and gently moved it closer to her as she shut her locker looking at me than the rose.
“Zeke you've been doing this for a week now” She sighed and took the rose hiding a smile behind her hair as she reopened her locker setting it in there.
“I told you I'm not going to hide it anymore.”
“Yesterday it was my favorite chocolate then the day before it was a card and don't think I forgot about the guys in the truck with the sign.”
“Do you forgive me yet?”
“I forgive you a long time ago… but I can't be with you”
“Then I'll keep doing this”
“What have you been watching romance shows recently.”
“... No”
“Oh my god you have” She laughed quietly and started walking to our photography class.
“Your laughs beautiful”
“Zeke..” Her voice was quiet and was interrupted by Carson.
“Hey Beautiful this murder bothering you”
“Leave me alone Carson”
“If he is I can always send more friends to teach him another lesson.”
“What are you talking about?” My hands clenched into a fist as I pushed him against the wall with my arm to his chest.
“Ooo feisty, you didn't put up a fight last week.”
“Zeke let go of him” Lindsey grabbed my arm and I quickly let him go baing off.
“Sad your ex-has to pull you off” I glared at him as he laughed and walked down the hall to class.
“What the hell was that about” She looked at me. I looked away and slowly and gently lifted up my shirt showing my bruises and cuts.
“Zeke!” She touched my side which made me wince in pain.
“Why didn't you tell me”
“I haven't told anyone, they cornered me and beat me up one day I just managed to hide my face enough to where I barely got hit.
“Zeke you need to go get that checked out.”
“No I'm fine” I dropped my shirt and finished the walk to class with her at my side.
“Hey Lindsey” Jane head perked up as he saw her and he stood up meeting her in the doorway. I made my way to my seat but kept my eye on them barely making out what they were saying. After a few Lindsey came and sat down near me.
“What was that about?”
“Just invited me to a party that's all”
“Cool,” I said nonchalantly not looking at her. She smiled and looked at the teacher as he walked in.
“The goal of today is to find 5 true emotions in your photos.”
“Do they have to be 5 certain ones” kid in the back of class asked.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“No, it can be sadness, anger, happiness, pain, overwhelming any emotion.”
“You can work in partners or by yourself.” He sat at his desk after unlocking the cupboard to the cameras. I stood up and grabbed a camera walking over to my desk.
“Zeke why don't you join us,” James said looking at me as he stood next to Lindsey.
“Sure” We walked around for a little bit before my phone started to buzz.
“Hello?” I answer my phone confused.
“Hey Zeke”
“Whos this”
“Oh come one you can't forget your old man.”
“Yes I can and I will.” I reach to hang up but he stops me.
“Wait Zeke please hear me out.”
“You have five minutes”
“I'm sorry for leaving you all those years ago but I want to be back in your life now.”
“Why now”
“I feel horrible for leaving you all those years for never talking to you.”
“So”
“Zeke I’m dying, I have cancer stage 4”
“What?.....”
“Please give me a chance to make it right to you” I sighed and closed my eyes tightly.
“Fine, but you only get one chance”
“I'm hoping that's all I need, Goodbye son I'll contact you soon” He hung up the phone and I ran my hand over my face sighing heavily. I look over at Lindsey she looked sad and worried as she watches the conversation I just had. I looked at James who turned the corner Lindsey must have noticed this too since she started walking over to me and stood inches away.
“Zeke are you ok?”
“I’m fine Princess.”
“Zeke…” She rested her hand on my cheek as we looked into each other's eyes for what felt like hours.
“Hey, guys I just got a picture of a guy happy because his new girlfriend agreed to go out with him.” We quickly pulled away from each other as James walked up to us.
“Awesome that's three now all we need is a two more.” I held my camera up at James and Lindsey they tilted their head slightly confused.
“Confusion that's number four”
“Awesome now the last o..” The teacher hollered over the intercom for all photography students to come back to class.
“Great now we don't have the last photo” Lindsey groaned walking back to class.
Lindsey's P.O.V.
We shuffled our way back into class with the other students as we went to the printer printing the photos we took, I grabbed the four photos and laid them down on my desk as Zeke snuck out to the restroom and James stood next to the printer. I looked back at James then back at the photos as he hovered behind me.
“So we got confusion, sadness, happiness, and stress.”
“And love,” James said
“What do you mean?” I looked up at him as he set down a picture of me and Zeke with my hand on his cheek.
“James I was just trying to calm him down.”
“You're still in love with him”
“I..”
“I'm sorry I just can't pursue whatever this is if you still love him” He kept his voice low but I can tell he was hurting.
“You can't come to the party tonight” He walked to the door of the classroom just as Zeke walked in bumping into his shoulder. Zeke watched him leave then looked at me. Walking over to my desk. He looked down at my desk picking up the photo.
“Lindsey I”
“It's ok Zeke, really” I looked up at him smiling.
“I'm going to be ok”
“Come over today, We'll hang out watch some movies or play games, I keep my flirting to a down low for tonight” I smile and laugh quietly.
“Sure why not” He smiled and sat down next to me.
“Can't wait?” He said looking at me. I giggle and look down at the photos staring at the photo of Zeke and me.
“Throw it away” Zeke spoke softly looking at me.
“Why?”
“Because that's why James got mad is because of that photo”
“I like it actually’ I smiled and tucked it into my bag. I could see his face grow slowly redder and redder I laugh quietly and stand up. Slowly the day went by every time I saw Jaime in the hall he either turned away or looked away from me avoiding my eyes even after I chase after him.
I tightened my hand into a fist as I walk outside to get on the bus. I look down at my phone about to put on a song when Zeke came revving up to me.
“Guerrero you scared the shit out of me!” I yelled at him and everyone looked at us weird as he took off his helmet and handed into me.
“Your carriage awaits m’lady”
“Your such a geek” I laugh and grab the helmet swinging my leg over his bike as I put the helmet on wrapping my arms around him. I could feel him tense up then relax as he started riding off quickly way quicker than the school's speed limit.
“Zeke!!” I yelled as loud as I could but he was oblivious. I hugged him tighter closing my eyes putting my head against his back. Before I knew it we were back home and he stopped the bike.
“You ok Princess”
“Not that nickname again: I slowly got off the bike losing my balance a little but collecting myself as I took the helmet off. He laughed as he looked at me.
“Nice helmet hair”
“You ass hat” I push the helmet against his chest and walked past him and inside.
“Ouch Princess such foul language” He followed me laughing as he ran and flew over the back of the couch laying down on it taking up the whole couch. I walk around it and motion of him to scoot a little and he scooted back but stayed laying down I sit on the very edge of the couch but he wrapped his arm around me pulling me against him.
“I don't bite” He laughs jokingly. I turn on the tv and flip to Netflix putting on my new favorite show Dexter. My eyes slowly got heavier as we watch the show.
“Are you getting tired?”
“A little but it's ok”
“Come on I’ll take you home” He sat up halfway to where his chest was against my back.
“Zeke I'm fine I promise” He sighed and laid back down looking at the tv but I could feel him looking at me every once in awhile. I leaned back against him putting my legs up on the couch.
“You can lay down, I'll keep my hands to myself I promise” He laughed quietly and I slowly laid down next to him my back pressed against him so I wouldn't fall. He kept his hand on his side keeping his promise
“Lindsey?... Lindsey”
“Hmmm” I murmured
“You're falling asleep”
“No, I'm not”
“I'm taking you home” I could feel him getting up and crawling over me to be able to stand up.
No, I'm fine here”
“Lindsey please”
“No”
“At least go to sleep in my room” I groaned but never moved, SLowly he put his arms under me and lifted me off the couch. I pressed myself against him, my eyes ached for me to just fall back asleep as I almost did when he gently set me down on his bed.
“You're stubborn you know that,” He said as he covered me up.
“You love me”
“...... Yes I do”