Breakfast foods and locker dudes

Watson woke up, rolled over and checked his phone. A few missed texts from Taylor last night.

4:17AM [hey, i cant sleep. nothings happening, but maybe there's an off chance you're awake but probably not] [realizing now that was a v weird text to receive at 4 in the morning. promise you werent the first or the only person to receive a text]

[yes like a normal sane person i was dead asleep at 4 am. Sorry you couldnt sleep though, that happen a lot?]

Taylor responds within 30 seconds, seems she never went to sleep at all.

[yeah kinda often, i've struggled with insomnia for a few years, I don't know what 's up. I've taken so much melatonin that my body laughs in its face]

[you gonna make it to school today?]

[ooohh yeaaah imma soldier on, cant keep me down. catch my forehead glued to my desk though. I get the best sleep in class, don't know what it is]

[lolol well i guess i wont see you soon then]

[unfortunately not]

As he got ready, he scrolled through the events of the night in his mind. Did that happen in the bathroom? He's pretty sure it did, but there’s a part of him that thinks it was a dream. Some investigation will have to be done with her at some point, but maybe not over breakfast.

Downstairs the breakfast table is crowded with the women of the house; yogurt, granola, toast, and juice cover the table.

"I'll drive today guys." he announced, picking up a slice of toast.

"Yeah fine." Said Cam.

"About time." Said Cary.

Hm, no strange response from her... Maybe it didn't happen.

In the car: "So can ya’ll wait for me today? Or do I need to find another ride back from school?"

"Who took you last time?" asked Camille from the back seat.

A trap. "Just a friend..."

"Well get that friend to take you again."

"It does suck to have to wait 2 hours to go home." Added Cary.

"Fine, fine...I'll figure something out." He wasn't sure if Helen would bring him home again. Their last interaction seemed to make her question her actions. Seeing her yesterday, he realized that her shame was greater than he realized. He anticipated her motherly instincts would take over and she'd bring him home. But either way, the more pressing issue is how he was going to deal with Mrs. Mellon in Homeroom.

Finally at school, approaching his locker, he sees a figure, a dark hooded silhouette. "Yes? Can I help you?"

Taylor seized and turned around to look at him. The smile on her face was infectious. "What do you live here or something?" He asked.

"Would that be so bad? I could probably fit in the locker if I tried. How are you this morning?"

"Better than you probably, although you don't seem too tired."

"Oh, that's just the morning coffee, it’ll wear off by first period and my head will undoubtedly be on my desk."

"So, you're doing okay?"

"Yeah... I’m doing okay." Behind her words lay a heavy burden. A failing dam ready to crack and flood. Her feelings for him were obvious and in control. But still, she waited for him to broach the issue, to confess his love, to sweep her up and carry her off, to dwell and spin and unbottle everything inside.

"I hear some hesitation."

"Well... there is something."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah..."

"You gonna tell me what it is or am I gonna stand here looking like an idiot."

"It's just--" She blushed.

"What are you doing tonight?

"Tonight?"

"Yeah, come over and we can hang out and do some homework, maybe hang with Cary or something." Sunlight glared through the whites of her eyes. "I do have cross country after class today, so I'll have to--"

"I can take you home!" She interjected excitedly.

"Really? That'd be great. I'll probably be done like around 6."

"That's fine, I'm sure I can find something to do."

"Maybe try to fit in that locker."

"Yes, maybe."