Chapter 11: A Constant Ache
Nevaeh:
I’m so humiliated. I just want to run and hide. I wish I had never kissed him. I’m a mess. That’s the best way to describe how I feel right now. As I rush to the library, I find a quiet corner and make sure that no one else is around. After what happened with Travis, I’m wary of my favorite spot. Tears blur my vision as I slide down the wall and curl into myself. I’m such an idiot! I press my palms against my eyes, hoping to stifle that incoming tears and take a few deep, calming breaths. My vision blurs, but somehow, I manage to keep them from falling.
How am I going to face him next period? Just as I feel myself breaking apart, Aaron Sanders, our golden boy quarterback, passes by. Noticing me, he moves closer.
Aaron is boyishly handsome. He’s tall, muscular with golden-colored eyes. The girls at school love him. Unfortunately, he knows it. “Hey, Heaven.” He says with a charming smile.
Freshman year, Aaron figured out that my name spelled backward is Heaven. Ever since then, he’s called me that. I let him get away with it because that same year, he was my Lit partner, and we were reading the book Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Anyway, we were assigned to act out a skit. I was Cherrie Valance, and Aaron was Ponyboy. During our practices, Aaron and I would speculate that Cherrie was secretly in love with Ponyboy. We would joke around, exaggerate our lines, and pretend to look into each other’s eyes, making them look really big while we fluttered our lashes. I will never forget the day we did the skit. We were saying our lines when Aaron grasps his heart in an overdramatic fashion and screams out, “I love you, Cherrie!” Continuing with his ploy, Aaron gets down on one knee as if to propose. It’s hilarious how quickly the class went silent. Mrs. C shook her head in bemusement and gave us an A. It was one of the best times of my life. I’ve called him Ponyboy ever since.
Somehow Aaron’s familiar playfulness lightens my mood. Aaron has always been a nice guy; too bad he’s such a man whore. Rolling my eyes, I smile. “Hey, Ponyboy.”
Aaron sits next to me and nudges my knee with his. “What are you doing here looking so sad?”
I shake my head. “It’s nothing. Just having a bad day.”
Aaron leans closer and wraps his arm around my shoulder. “Pretty girls shouldn’t have bad days. Especially you, Heaven. Is it Travis? Want me to kick his ass?”
He rises as if to find Travis, which makes me laugh. I roll my eyes and pull him back down by the arm with a shake of my head. “No, it’s not Travis. I’m just stressed.”
Aaron runs his gaze across my face, wraps an arm around me and kisses my forehead in a comforting gesture. “Well, you know I’m here if you need someone to talk to.”
Giving him a thankful smile, I lean back into his arms. Unfortunately, the end of the period bell rings, and we have to separate. Sighing, Aaron rises and offers me his hand. “Let’s get you to class, Heaven.”
I don’t argue when he wraps his arm around my shoulder again and ushers me to Literature. Somehow being with Aaron gives me courage. As soon as we get to the classroom door, Aaron kisses my temple and whispers, “Remember, babe, I’m here for you.”
He can be so sweet when he wants to be. And considering how shitty my morning has gone, it feels like a balm to my wounded soul. Smiling, I roll my eyes and push him playfully. To my horror, Aaron snickers and screams out. “I love you, Heaven!” Heat rises to my cheeks when every eye in the class turns to me.
Mortified, I give him a reproachful look and blow him a kiss. Aaron pretends to catch it and throws one back to me, which makes me chuckle. Unfortunately, my good mood deteriorates as soon as my eyes meet Mikhail’s. It’s going to be a bad day.