Morning at School

Opening my locker, I pulled out the books I’d need for morning classes. A hand sliding against my back caused me to jump. Turning my head, I found Kaylee moving around me to lean against the lockers.

“Morning,” she said with a smile. I was temporarily mute as I processed the surprise. This was new.

“Good morning,” I finally managed, feeling my face start to heat. Being face-to-face with her was tough. I couldn’t look at her without remembering the other night. Not to mention she was my girlfriend now. It looked like she was having the same trouble because she was nervously brushing at her hair as she lowered her gaze. It seemed like we had nothing to say after greeting each other.

I finished getting my books and closed my locker. “You have math first, right?” I asked. I already knew the answer, but the silence was driving me crazy.

“Yeah.”

“I’ll walk you there.”

It looked like she was trying to hide a smile. “Isn’t your first period on the other side of the building?”

“So?”

“Won’t you be late?”

“I’ll be fine. Mrs. Krendle is pretty lax if you’re late as long as it isn’t a habit.”

Together, we made our way down the hall. I slowed my pace so she didn’t have to work to keep up with my long strides.

“I’ve been thinking,” she said quietly as we walked. I noticed her grip the straps of her backpack tighter as she glanced over at me. “Do you think we should keep our relationship a secret?”

Eyes wide, I met her eyes. This was unexpected. Questions began to run through my head as I felt my heart race. Was she already regretting things? She had asked me in the heat of the moment. Maybe now she was realizing that maybe what she was feeling wasn’t what she thought they were.

Before I could answer, she looked away and continued talking. “I only ask because I’m kinda high profile here at school. I don’t know how people are going to react when they find out I’m in a relationship.”

‘With you,’ my mind added. She didn’t say it, but I thought it was pretty clear. I knew my status here in school was invisible and I preferred it that way. The only way people knew me was because I was Kaylee’s shadow. The ones who followed the basketball team might be a little jealous of me being so ‘close’ to the team, but none of them were particularly interested in me. Well, Ellie might have been, but she seemed interested in just about anything with a dick.

My head hung low as we walked. “Is it a bad thing that people know?”

She looked surprised. “No! I just—I know you’ve tried to keep a low profile in school. That might change when people find out we are dating. I want to make sure that’s what you want.”