Author's Notes: I keep forgetting to add author's notes when I post this over here. I should thank my betas iheartbridges and ecouteuse, they read every chapter and keep me on my toes. I also want to thank everyone over here who has been reviewing. That stuff keeps me going on this story when I would otherwise probably just quit it. Don't worry, I'm only just getting started on this, there is much, much more planned. Hope you like this...
Chapter 11: School Days
Luke and I managed to spend the summer in that protective bubble of a new relationship. It was only a few weeks after our visit to the lake before it was time for school to start again. This was Luke's senior year and he was looking forward to just being done with it. I think the only reason he even came to school was to remain eligible to play sports. I was looking forward to another year as a photographer on the paper. With more seniority I would have more leeway to choose stories I wanted to shoot, as opposed to all the athletic endeavors I had to shoot last year. Although, I had to admit, one of those athletic assignments had turned out quite well.
"What's your first class?" I asked him as we stood in the main hallway on the first morning of the new school year.
"English," he told me looking at the form with his schedule. "You?"
"Biology."
"Oh," he sounded disappointed. "Other side of the school."
"Yeah," I said. We were holding hands, so I swung his back and forth a little. "See you at lunch though?"
"Definitely," he smiled. The bell rang and he planted a kiss on my surprised lips. "I'll see you later."
"Later," I said, reluctant to leave but not wanting to be late to class either.
My morning classes were fine, nothing exceptionally exciting, but I wouldn't be drowning in homework all year either. I did realize though, how few actual friends I had. I obviously knew people from classes last year, the newspaper, and even elementary and middle school, but there was no one that I wanted to girlishly gossip with. I never felt the urge to go up to someone and exclaim: "Oh my God, my boyfriend is so hot!" People were nice to me that morning, but everyone seemed to be holding back, a little bit more restrained than even your average, everyday acquaintance. I chalked it up to not having really associated with anyone but Luke over the summer.
By lunch I was starving and dying for some time with Luke. I dropped my books off at my locker and headed for the cafeteria. It was buzzing with all the pent up gossip from the summer. I scanned the room quickly with my radar tuned for Luke. I finally spotted him at a table surrounded by members of the track and baseball teams. They were all chatting and laughing loudly. The grin on my face grew as I approached.
"Luke!" I tried to get his attention.
He looked up and then back down at his food, clearly uncomfortable. He had already eaten lunch. Why had he already eaten without me?
He looked back up at me as he stood up with his tray. His blue eyes locked with mine for a moment and I felt my body turn to ice. Something was wrong. As I racked my brain for an answer he started walking away.
"Luke!" I ran after him, catching his arm. I was vaguely aware of all the other conversations around us quieting until all I could hear was the occasional snicker. "Luke, what's wrong? What's going on?"
He looked like he was going to say something, but then he just hung his head and turned away from me again.
"Luke!" I pleaded. "Please. Tell me what's going on."
He turned slowly. "I trusted you Rachel. I thought that was something sacred between the two of us."
And with that he was gone, surrounded by a pack of burly jocks. My appetite suddenly gone, I stood in the middle of the cafeteria while the surrealness of it all spun around me.
A guy I recognized but didn't know sidled up to me. "Hey baby," he drawled. "Wanna go out to the lake? I hear you like it out there."
I sputtered, my chest heaving in panicked desperation, my face burning. How did anyone...surely no one had...but how would they...My brain struggled to make a coherent thought. I turned and did my best impression of nonchalance as I walked out of the cafeteria.
I spent the rest of lunch hiding out in the dark room of the newspaper, fiddling with a print I had been wanting to make. I sat in the back of every other class I had that day then ran the whole way home after school.
When Dad came home from work I was on my bed staring at the ceiling wishing there was someone I could talk to. I had left several messages with Luke's father for him to call me back, but the phone refused to ring.
"Rachel?" Dad called up the stairs. "You want dinner?"
"No Dad," I yelled back. "I'm not hungry. I had a big lunch."
"Okay sweetie. I'll make a little extra though. In case you get hungry later."
"Thanks," I called back.
I could hear him rattling around in the kitchen as I turned towards the wall and finally let the tears flow.
