The Distance Between Us

Chapter 13: What a Little Pervert

Chapter 13: What a Little Pervert

On Monday, the date of homecoming was announced. It was the 23rd of October, which was about two weeks away. When it came on the morning announcement, I had planned to make a subtle comment during lunch about how I hoped a special someone would ask me and then stare longingly at Axel's table. I hoped that Sam would catch on. But when lunch came around, I frowned when I saw that Sam wasn't at the table. Cam told me that he was absent today. I'd have to do it some other day.

However, Sam's absence allowed me to do something I forgot to do during the weekend. "So I told Axel."

"About what?" Cam asked as she slurped her soup noisily.

"My crush on him," I responded and she coughed on the warm liquid. Oliver was staring at me in disbelief while Sidney was struggling to see if she heard me right.

"You're lying," Oliver blurted.

"No I'm not," I responded. "I told him Friday night after he broke up with Victoria."

"Seriously?" Sidney asked me, leaning forward.

"Yeah," I nodded. "Seriously."

"You're crazy," Oliver announced.

"Yeah, she is," Cam spoke as she coughed dryly. "How'd you manage to do that?"

I explained to them what happened, sparing the details of Axel's breakup and everything else personal he wouldn't want said. Once I finished, Oliver slowly shook his head. "I repeat, you're crazy."

"I think you're bold," Sidney smiled. "Confident."

"Do you think he likes you?" Cam asked me.

"No," I told them. "But it doesn't matter because I'm getting over him."

"Maybe he'll ask you to homecoming," Oliver decided to say.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," I laughed but in my heart, I hoped he'd ask.

+++

The week flew by and before I knew it, it was Friday. I was weighed down not only by the stormy weather but by the heavy load of homework in my backpack. I was also down because the guys kept talking about homecoming and who they were going to ask. Isaiah asked a girl named Jessica, who said yes. Isaac asked a girl named Jennifer, who also said yes. Demetrious is going with his girlfriend. Colton, Holden, Dylan, and Miles haven't asked girls yet. Axel, as far as I know, hasn't asked any girls either. I didn't want to bring it up because I didn't want him to feel like he had to ask me.

I was excited for Spanish class so I could laugh with Sam. When I walked in the room and saw him sitting in the back, I smiled and approached him, sitting down in my usual seat. He smiled at me, saying hello as I grabbed my notebook from my bag. "How are you?" I asked him, knowing he just recovered from the flu earlier this week.

"I'm fine, not sick at all anymore," he told me.

"Good, you can't afford to miss any more school," I joked.

"Why? You missed me?" he asked before his eyes slightly widened. He decided not to play it off as he grinned at me, waiting for an answer.

I simply chuckled and nodded. "Yeah." It's true, I did.

As Mr. Gonzalez began to do his job, Sam and I took the notes he wrote on the board, conjugating and translating the words from the new unit. By the time the class ended, my hand was cramped up and I felt like I'd just written a book. When the bell rang and I was able to pack up, Sam waited, walking with me down the hall. Isaiah, Isaac, and Colton were close behind, waving at me and Sam as they wiggled their eyebrows. I guess Axel didn't tell them about my feelings for him. Thank goodness.