Apricity

31 ❥ The Beans

I took a deep breath when I dress for school today. There was a large hand-printed bruise on my arm from where Axel grabbed me.

I had been wearing long-sleeved shirts since this weekend knowing that I would bruise. I was worried I would be questioned for it with my cheer suit but I remembered the weather these days resulted in warmer clothes and I had that excuse to wear a shirt under.

When I thought about the last few days, I came to the conclusion that I let myself be upset for too long. It was a hard adjustment from the weekend but letting myself sulk over it on Monday was a mistake on my end.

I realized too late that it would raise questions from the people that I cared about. And then I would have to explain myself and that goes into a deeper story that I don't know if I'm ready for yet.

So as the school day comes and goes, the same day as cheer practice and the same day I meet up with Roman for our last project work day, I'm good as new. Because that's what I needed to be. I needed to be okay.

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I was nervous to meet up with him. I came into class and talked to him like I usually did but he gave me a funny look. And the way he kept looking at me and hanging on to my every word... It made me feel like I was under a microscope.

I took my time knocking on his door. When he opened up I found myself holding my breath. Sometimes I forget how pretty this boy is. He would look so friendly if he just smiled more.

I also forget how tall he is since the majority of the time we're together it's in sitting down setting.

And so he's just looking down at me with his gorgeous green eyes and those thick lashes and I'm... distracted to say the least. His dark hair is almost dry now from the shower he must have had after practice. He nods his head toward the free space beside him. "You ready?"

I nod and greet him with a smile before I step inside. Roman leads us to the table we studied at last time. I think about the last time I was here and how our study session was cut short because of his mother showing up.

And then I think about how he opened up to me and how I couldn't do the same for him.

I mentally shake the thought from my head. I know I'm going to tell him eventually. It's just a matter of time before I get to it.

Roman and I keep our side conversation short before we dive into our work. This works for me and my nerves simultaneously. When I have something to focus on, I'm not thinking too hard on anything else.

I gasp excitedly as I type the rest of our presentation. "I think that's it. That's everything," I smile to him beside me. He's leaning his head on his fist, close enough to me so that we can both look at the same screen.