Always Yours

I was never a fan of skipping school. The guilt always ate away at me. Chewing the inside of my cheek I ignored the retching feeling in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t want to get caught and end up in trouble.

Detention was the last thing I needed.

“We don’t have to skip”. Alice spoke as she slipped her arm through mine.

“I want to”. I didn’t but I was trying new things. Apparently skipping school was my first new thing to try. I had only ever done it once or twice.

“No, you don’t”. She sighed. “Skipping school is not you Aubrey”.

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I jumped when I felt his hand on the lower of my back. I didn’t think he was in school today. I guess I was wrong.

“Franko”. Alice smiled before her eyes landed on mine. “I’ll see you at lunch”.

“I have to get to class”. I turned to face him, so he was no longer touching me. I didn’t like how my body reached to his touch. The goose bumps appeared on my skin the hairs on the back of my neck standing.

“Were you really gonna skip?”. He asked.

I shook my head. “Alice called me boring. Guess I wanted to prove her wrong”.

“You’re anything but boring darling. You need a lift home today?”.

I did but I planned to ask Alice. I couldn’t get into the habit of relying on Franko. Not that I relied on him, but we now had an understanding after last night.

“It’s just a ride home Aubrey”.

“Okay”. I smiled just as the second warning bell went off. “Now I really have to go before I’m late”.

“Come find me at lunch princess”.

..

History was a breeze and I aced last week’s math test. I had to stop by my locker and change my books over but if I was quick, I could stop by the cafeteria and grab a soda.

I always wondered how people got away with skipping class while still being in the school. Franko was sat at one of the tables, Cass sitting in his lap. I wanted to laugh because I expected it.

Only Franko would skip class to make out with some girl.

He wouldn’t change his ways for me. But I had no right to be jealous. He could do whatever he wanted. I got my soda and stopped by my locker to change my books.

I already knew I wasn’t going to be able to concentrate. I couldn’t stop fizzing over seeing Franko and Cass together. How could he say he likes me but still let other girls hang all over him?

Why was I letting him get inside my head?

“We should have skipped this morning”. Alice sighed. “I got detention for not paying attention”.

“I told Franko I liked him”. I chewed the inside of my cheek.

“I fucking knew it”. She grinned. “What did he say?”.

“I agreed to go on a date with him”.

She squealed a high-pitched squeal before she looped her arm through mine. “We can finally double date”.

“I shouldn’t have said yes”. I sighed.

I couldn’t go on a date with him while he was still seeing other girls. I wasn’t okay with that, and I would never ask him not to see other people especially when I told him we couldn’t be together.

I was screwed.

“Aubrey the boys been crazy about you forever. Let him take you on the fucking date”.

I had put myself in a sticky situation and I wasn’t sure how I was going to get out of it. I let my feelings cloud my judgement that was my first mistake. If I go on this date, it was only going to make it worse.

“Aubrey”. She waved her hand in front of my face. “You in there?”.

“I have to get to class”.

“I’m coming over after school. We’re definitely talking about this”. She yelled after me.

It was lunch time before I knew it. I packed up my books and headed for my locker. Tommy had Alice pushed up against them his head buried in her neck.

I rolled my eyes but stood awkwardly waiting for them to move.

“Can you-.”. I paused. “Alice, I need-.”. And then I felt the presence behind me his hand reaching up and taking my backpack off my shoulder.

“Fuck princess what you got in here”. He dropped my bag on the floor which caught Tommy’s attention.

“Shit my bad”. He smirked before moving Alice along.

“Gee thanks”. I picked up my bag and emptied my books into my locker. I had a free period after lunch and then music last.

“I saw you sneak into the cafeteria earlier”. He spoke.

What was he getting at?

“Yeah”. I placed my bag over my shoulder and started walking to get some lunch. He followed. Alice was still occupied with Tommy.

“Cass means nothing to me Aubrey”.

“Okay”. I don’t know why he felt the need to explain himself. He was allowed to see whoever he wanted. It didn’t matter how much I disliked it.

I went to stand in line but with his hand on the lower of my back he pushed me to the front of the queue.

“What are you doing?”. I frowned.

“Getting you lunch”. He furrowed his eyebrows. “You ain’t waiting in that queue”.

A sigh fell from my lips. “I don’t mind waiting in the queue and I don’t like skipping people”.

He shrugged. “They don’t mind”.

That wasn’t the point. I picked my lunch and went to find a table to sit at.

“This way princess”.

No.

“I’m good here”. I sat at the first table I came to. Just my luck Ben was sat there.

“Suit yourself”. He pulled out the seat next to me and sat down.

“What are you doing?”. I asked.

“Having lunch with my girl”. He smirked.

What happened next made me uncomfortable. His friends took over the table. Cass included and a few other girls. I still hadn’t forgotten what they did to me.

I glanced around the table my eyes landing on Ben. I gave him a small smile, but he didn’t return it. Instead, he lifted his tray got to his feet and left with the rest of his friends.

I didn’t want to sit here. I wanted to eat my lunch and read my book in peace. I couldn’t deal with the loudness of their voices and the cackle of their fake laughs.

“Hey Aubrey”.

Cass.

I looked up from my book waiting for her to continue.

“We should go shopping sometime”.

My face must have said it all because there was no way in hell, I was hanging out with her ever.

“No thanks”. I spoke putting my book away and getting to my feet. I lifted my tray and ignored Franko as I went to another table. I didn’t feel comfortable around them therefore I would never be friends with them.

Although I trusted Franko his friends not so much.

Thankfully, the table I picked was full once I took the last seat.

Of course, that didn’t stop him.

Franko’s presence alone was enough to scare people away. The boy next to me scrammed and Franko took his seat.

“Starting to think you don’t want to be seen with me”. He spoke.

I just wanted some peace and quiet to read my book and eat my lunch. Was that too much to ask?

“I just want to eat my lunch”.

“And you can’t do that over there?”. He nodded.

“I don’t like your friends”.

A laugh fell from his lips. “Point taken darling. You mind if I sit here?”.

I shrugged. “And stop stealing my fries”. I swatted his hand away and turned my attention back to my book.

I got to finish my lunch and read my book in silence.

Once the bell went signalling lunch was over, I packed away my things and got to my feet. He didn’t leave. He let me eat my lunch and enjoy the quiet. He didn’t speak but every so often I could feel him staring.

“I’ll walk you to class”. He spoke.

“I’ve got a free period”.

“Wanna get out of here. Go for a milkshake?”.

“Yeah”.

I didn’t think about my answer. Didn’t try and talk myself out of it. I followed him out the school doors and straight to his truck.