Ten

Distracted.

The next day, Emma was waiting for me at my locker. She looked up from her phone when I approached. 

“Hey, babe!” she exclaimed. “Listen, I’m sorry about yesterday.” 

I shook my head and placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay. I didn’t know you drink.” 

“Oh, I don’t,” she said, shrugging my hand off. “I mean, tell me to stop and I will.” 

So, she did drink. “No, it’s fine,” I assured.  

Emma smiled and kissed me on the lips. I smiled at her when she pulled away. Then I noticed Gideon, who was staring at us as he slowly walked past us. We met each other's eyes. 

“I love you.” 

 He sped up, but we continued looking at each other as he passed. 

 

“Riley!” I quickly looked away from Gideon who was now behind me and looked back at Emma. 

“What?” 

“Did you hear what I just said??” she interrogated. 

Did I hear what she said? No. I was too busy gazing at Gideon. “Uh... no,” I replied. My statement came out sounding like a question.  

Emma scoffed before she stormed off, her pink converse squeaking behind her. I didn’t know what I did wrong. 

 

 

~ 

 

 

At the end of the day, I was on my way to my locker when I saw Emma. She was standing by another locker, one of her friends’ I assumed. But then a boy who looked taller than me walked up to her. He had tan skin, thick, jet-black hair that sat atop his head, and full lips. He opened the locker and placed his textbooks inside. I watched them as they talked.  

A few moments later, the boy closed the locker, grabbed Emma by the waist, and started making out with her. I couldn’t believe my eyes! She wasn’t stopping him either. 

 

I slowly walked up to them as they continued making out. “Are you serious?” I asked. My voice had apparently startled them because they both jumped back.  

Emma’s eyes widened when she saw me. “Wait, it’s not what it looks like.” 

I shook my head. I couldn’t believe I’d been cheated on. “We’re done,” I said and started turning away from her. 

“Come on babe, Jose and I only kissed because-…,” she started, but I interjected, “Don’t call me babe.” I walked away toward my locker with a scowl on my face.  

 

When I approached my locker, I noticed Gideon standing at his, so I walked over. When I approached him, he looked at me and I asked, “Are we still hanging out on Halloween?” 

“Aren’t you going to hang out with your girlfriend?” 

“We just broke up.” 

Silence. Then, “Really? I’m sorry.” I looked at him. His voice sounded sympathetic, but his face looked pleased.  

“Yea. I mean... I didn’t even like her, but once again, I got cheated on.” I looked at my shoes. 

More silence. “Has this happened before?” he finally asked.  

“Once,” I replied, without looking at him. 

“Don’t worry,” Gideon replied. “We’ll hang out.”