Since You've Been Gone

chapter 21- trouble

didn't i- one republic

I had never been more scared for the first day of school in my entire life. I genuinely felt like I was going to vomit all over my car, although I wasn't sure that was just the nerves I was feeling.

"Hope, aren't you so excited?" Layla squealed as I got out of my car.

"Yeah, Lay." I forced a smile onto my face and wrapped her in my arms.

"Good morning, you two." Connor grinned at us and pulled two breakfast burritos out from behind his back.

"God bless." Layla stood on her tiptoes and kissed Connor's cheek, meanwhile, I just shook my head.

"Hope," Connor warned.

"If I want to make it through the morning without puking my guts out, then I can not eat that burrito C."

His deep blue eyes intensely stared at me for a moment, before he raised his hands in surrender, "Okay, okay."

Everyone was so excited to see Connor again and a crowd of people quickly gathered around Layla, Connor, and I's cars. I mean it was no surprise that he had the girls practically drooling over him. He did look like a different person compared to when he left three years ago. Not to mention all of the football players wanted to know if he would be playing with them this fall.

However, the crowd made my anxiety skyrocket through the roof. I felt as if everyone's eyes were on my stomach and the little pudge that was there. Deep down, I knew that wasn't true, and nobody would notice, but we all know anxiety is not practical.

Through a gap in the mass of people, I could make out an extremely familiar face; Jack. Fuck.

Since our conversation weeks ago, we had not spoken. I was sure that meant Jack had questions for me and what I was planning on doing with the baby. I guess he had a right to know, even if he was the last person I wanted to talk to.

As the very obnoxious first bell rang, the crowd dispersed from around me, and I finally felt like I could breathe again. It's not even lunch, and I already want to go home.

"You feeling okay?" Connor walked up to me and hooked his elbow with mine. I leaned my head against his shoulder and sighed.

"Yeah. I'm okay." I whispered. A little lie never hurt anybody.

---

I could have cried tears of joy when the lunch bell rang. Never in my life had I been more excited to go eat in the cafeteria that would be without, a doubt, stuffed to its pale blue walls full of hungry students.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't the ideal place to be (that was my bed), but neither was AP English Lit. My teacher, Mr. Cramerson, sweated like a pig, and I couldn't help but notice his growing pit stains whenever he raised his arms. Poor man.

So, as any normal person would, I practically sprinted to the cafeteria when the bell rang. I couldn't wait to sit with Layla and Connor and listen to them talk about their classes. Layla would probably be complaining about how she and Jaylin weren't in any classes, and Connor well... I don't know. Maybe all the girls fawning over him.

However, my escape to paradise was stalled by all of the freshmen trying to squeeze through the doors.

"It's really not that complicated... one a time," I mumbled.

"They look dumb, don't they." A voice spoke up next to me.

"Hey, Jack."

"Hi, Hope." He smiled. God, that smile. It was one of the first things I noticed about him when we started hanging out. "Can we... talk?"